Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #6
Dark Horse
Words and Pictures: Stan Sakai

I have just two things to say to Stan Sakai about Usagi Yojimbo: Senso… Wow.  And Thank You. 

I mean that.  Wow.  A Usagi Gundam!?  Hells yeah!  Just wow.  And here’s what I loved about that whole scene.  It would have been very easy for another storyteller to put Usagi into that Gundam for the first time and “Boom!” he’s an ass kicking expert in a giant Rabbit Ronin suit.  But nope.  Mr. Sakai plays this about with a sense of realism you won’t find in some books.  And that’s just one of the reasons I say Thank You.  These are some of the most human, fully realized characters you’ll find in comics today.  And I say that fully knowing I’m talking about anthropomorphized critters running around in feudal Japan fighting an alien invasion.  The scene with Jotaro and Usagi is so tragically human it’s nearly perfect. 

Also, a big thanks to Mr. Sakai for not being afraid to let some characters die in this story.  At least five named characters have been killed off in these six issues, and (minor spoiler alert) more die in this issue.  Having that kind of dedication to the story to let characters die when it furthers the story and makes sense from both a story telling view and an emotional one as well is really refreshing. 

I’ve said before, I’m a bit late getting to the Usagi Yojimbo party. (Ok, really, really late, but hey, I’m here now right?)  But this was the perfect story to get me into Usagi.  Filled with outrageous action, crammed with style, and oozing cool and fun in equal amounts, this story has hit on a lot of my nerdy hot buttons.  The good news is I won’t have to wait too much longer for more Usagi action, because the Rabbit Ronin is back in May. 

So Thank You Stan Sakai for bringing us the Senso story.  And please accept my apologies for not realizing just how cool Usagi Yojimbo was until now.  I’m very much looking forward to the next chapter in the Rabbit Ronin’s story.

4.6 out 5 Rabbit Gundams