Usagi Yojimbo

From open-encyclopedia.com - the free encyclopedia.

Usagi Yojimbo (うさぎ用心棒 or 兎用心棒 the Rabbit Bodyguard) is a comic book series created by Stan Sakai. Set in Edo period (early 17th century) Japan, where humans are replaced by different animals, it features a rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, who wanders the land on a shogyusha (warrior's pilgrimage) occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard. The character of Usagi has been inspired by the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

The books consist of short stories, with underlying larger plotlines, including the 'Shadow Lord' Hikiji's relentless schemes to overturn the Tokugawa Shogunate. The stories include many references to Japanese history and folklore and sometimes include mythical creatures. The architecture, clothes, weapons and other objects are drawn with faithfullness to the period's style. There are often stories whose purpose to illustrate various elements of Japanese arts of crafts such as the fashioning of kites and swords and pottery.

Usagi has also appeared in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the comic, animated series, and toy line).

Collections

Fantagraphics Comics #1-38

1. The Ronin
2. Samurai
3. The Wanderer's Road
4. The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy
5. Lone Goat and Kid
6. Circles
7. Gen's Story

Mirage Comics #1-16

1. Shades of Death
2. Daisho

Darkhorse Comics #1-68

1. The Brink of Life and Death
2. Seasons
3. Grasscutter
4. Grey Shadows
5. Demon Mask
6. Grasscutter II
7. The Shrouded Moon
8. Duel at Kitanoji
9. Travels with Jotaro

Spin-offs

1. The Green Persimmon Color Special (Darkhorse Comics one-shot)
2. Space Usagi (A futuristic setting involving a descendant of Miyamoto Usagi)

External links:

• The official Usagi Yojimbo website