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Usagi Yojimbo, Rabbit Samurai created by Stan SakaiUsagi Yojimbo is the story of a ronin (masterless samurai)
rabbit whose tales are published in a series of comic books and graphic novels.
Created by Stan Sakai, the samurai, Usagi, roams a mythical, medieval
Japan ( the beginning of Edo period Feudal Japan - early 17th century ).
Wandering the land as a shugyosha (student warrior on a pilgramage) and
otherwise following the honor code that governs samurai, Usagi occasionally
sells his services as a yojimbo (bodyguard). Hence the title "Usagi
Yojimbo". There are great sword fights and cool ninja, from every
animal species as anthropomorphic animals replace humans in the drawing and
stories.
Usagi Yojimbo is that rarity in the world of comics: A
book conceived, written, lettered and wholly illustrated by one person - and
produced not for just a few stories, but over an extended period. Tom Luth
provides cover coloring but otherwise, the story, artwork, coloring and lettering are all done by
Stan Sakai. And this has been going on since 1985, ever since the notion of the Samurai Rabbit
occurred to him. The
character first appeared in the second issue of a limited-run comic called
Albedo. The stories are marvelous and the artwork roams from compelling
to zen-like.
The "Rabbit Bodyguard's" full name is Usagi
Miyamoto. This comic book character is loosely based on the famous
Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, His adventures
draw from Japanese myth, legend, history and popular culture. There are other
fascinating character in the comic books, including the female samurai,
Tomoe Ame (an anthropomorphised cat) who is based on the woman warrior Tomoe Gozen.
Usagi Yojimbo exhibits a strong moral code (and strong
story writing). Usagi Yojimbo also often juggles storylines as it follows
several distinct characters unwittingly meandering their way toward their
ultimate convergences with one another - stories within stories...
Usagi is often attacked by bandits and enemy ninja. These opponents
frequently disguise themselves as harmless peasants, villagers or
priests.
Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo began in 1985 and is still
published regularly, currently by Dark Horse Publishing. Sakai said that Usagi
had been optioned many times over the years and that it was currently optioned
for both a film and TV series. However, the cartoonist cautioned fans that this
meant nothing at all in Hollywood.
Sakai, a third-generation Japanese-American, notes
that he was born in Japan and grew up in Hawaii. His mother, much like his most
famous creation, came from a family with a samurai tradition. If you are looking to read about and understand the
world in which the Japanese Samurai lived, you will get a great glimpse in the
comic books about Usagi Yojimbo. The books consist of short stories, with
underlying larger plotlines which culminate into longer, extended story arcs.
The stories include many references to Japanese history and Japanese folklore,
and sometimes include mythical creatures. The architecture, clothes, weapons,
and other objects are drawn with a faithfulness to the period's style. There are
often stories whose purpose is to illustrate various elements of Japanese arts
and crafts, such as the fashioning of kites, swords, and pottery.
There is beauty, widsom and lots of Samurai action when you
read about the Adventures of the Rabbit Samurai, Usagi
Yojimbo.
About the Author: Scott Harker is the publisher of several websites including: GamesAdventure.org, Mosquito Control, Mesothelioma, Harvest The Sun - Solar Power, and Miley Cyrus.
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