The Wanderer's Road (Usagi Yojimbo, Book 3)

Rating:
Summary: for all ages
Review: I know that saying a book is good for all ages is something of a cliche, but I can't think of another book for which it is more true. In my family, we all fight over who gets to read the new Usagi first, from the children who are enjoying the bunnies to the adults enjoying the culture, stories and characterizations. This is an amazing series.

Rating:
Summary: The bunny with the skills
Review: Just a little clearifying in advance (because I was getting a bit confused myself seeing a title that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 3" and then a subscription that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 2" and THEN a review that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 6", this review is for volume THREE which collects #7-12 of the Fantagraphics volume).

Okay, let's get on with it: I think the strength in this book lies in the fact that it can be enjoyed by people in many different ages and points of interest. It has something for everyone. For some people it's a book filled with fun, easy to follow stories about a Samurai-bunny who wanders around the country and gets involved into all sorts of adventures. Some more seriously (see "A Mother's Love"), some more funny (See "The Tea Cup"). To others it's also a collection of stories with real good characterization. All the characters are portrayed as animals, but the sort of animal each character portrays is far from randomly chosen. The sort of animal is clearly chosen on the personality of that certain character, without using cliches to do so. And the interaction between the characters works really well. Both in dialogue as in 'screenfilling'. Next to that Stan Sakai has also worked in some really nice references, traditions and customs of the old eastern philosophy which will be appreciated by those who have eye for it. Stories about the honor of a clan, the tea ritual and sacred swords. Overall it's like I said a very nice read for many people. The only minor-point to it (for me at least) is that's it over before you know it. For $13 it's an awfully quick book to finish, which is partially due to it not being a very text-heavy book and also partially due to it being a little short (140 smaller-than-regular-comic-format pages. If you know the book "Maus" you know what format I mean). But about the story itself you're not likely to be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: for all ages
Review: Just a little clearifying in advance (because I was getting a bit confused myself seeing a title that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 3" and then a subscription that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 2" and THEN a review that says "Usagi Yojimbo book 6", this review is for volume THREE which collects #7-12 of the Fantagraphics volume).

Okay, let's get on with it: I think the strength in this book lies in the fact that it can be enjoyed by people in many different ages and points of interest. It has something for everyone. For some people it's a book filled with fun, easy to follow stories about a Samurai-bunny who wanders around the country and gets involved into all sorts of adventures. Some more seriously (see "A Mother's Love"), some more funny (See "The Tea Cup"). To others it's also a collection of stories with real good characterization. All the characters are portrayed as animals, but the sort of animal each character portrays is far from randomly chosen. The sort of animal is clearly chosen on the personality of that certain character, without using cliches to do so. And the interaction between the characters works really well. Both in dialogue as in 'screenfilling'. Next to that Stan Sakai has also worked in some really nice references, traditions and customs of the old eastern philosophy which will be appreciated by those who have eye for it. Stories about the honor of a clan, the tea ritual and sacred swords. Overall it's like I said a very nice read for many people. The only minor-point to it (for me at least) is that's it over before you know it. For $13 it's an awfully quick book to finish, which is partially due to it not being a very text-heavy book and also partially due to it being a little short (140 smaller-than-regular-comic-format pages. If you know the book "Maus" you know what format I mean). But about the story itself you're not likely to be disappointed.