Description: In this 35th anniversary month of Usagi Yojimbo, Stan Sakai revisits the very first Usagi story, « The Goblin of Adachigahara, » expanding it from 8 to 24 pages and adding new insights into the characters and events, as well as revealing the reason for Usagi’s pilgrimage back home.
Description: Usagi joins his friend the bounty hunter, Gen, and his partner Stray Dog in recovering a stolen sword, an heirloom of the Higashi Clan. However, they quickly find that possessing the sword is one thing, but returning it is something entirely different as they must fight through a gauntlet of rivals wanting to claim the reward for themselves.
Description: « Tatami, » Part 1 of 2. Usagi returns to his home province only to find intrigue and betrayal! An important tea ceremony is about to take place, but what sinister plan does Lord Hikiji have for it and how are the Neko ninja clan involved?
Description: « Tatami, » Part 2 of 2. Usagi helps guard a shipment of tatami mats for an important tea ceremony when they are attacked by the Neko Ninja Clan who are hired to prevent the mats from arriving to their destination. He, along with the outcast ninja, Chizu, face almost impossible odds to complete their mission, but not all plans go as expected.
Description: « Mon. » Long ago, Lord Hikiji defeated Usagi’s Lord Mifune to take control of the Northern Province. Usagi, now traveling through his home province, still wears the mon (a family crest) of his former lord. But, there are those who still remember the Great Wars with bitterness and threaten to kill any samurai loyal to Mifune. What happens when they come across Usagi?
Description: « The Return, » Part 1. Usagi is back in his home province for a pilgrimage to his late lord’s gravesite, however wearing the Mifune clan crest in Lord Hikiji’s territory has made him an enemy. Now beaten and almost near death, he has made his way to the one place he had been avoiding-the village in which he grew up. Bittersweet memories awaken with his long-time love, until the village becomes embroiled in a plot to assassinate an emissary of the shogun.
RI, c’est « Retailer Incentive » : ça veut dire que pour l’avoir dans sa boutique, le vendeur doit commander une quantité suffisante du numéro « standard »
Description: « The Return, » Part 2 of 4. Usagi’s home village has been taken over by assassins intent on killing the shogun’s emissary to disgrace Lord Hikiji. With the emissary’s death will come retributions resulting in the death of the entire village. Usagi has to save the emissary but, in doing so, may have to save the reputation of the lord responsible for the death of his master.
Description: The assassins have discovered that Usagi is a traitor, intent on thwarting their plan to kill the Shogun’s emissary. They imprison the entire village in the storehouse and are ready to burn it with a moment’s notice if he does not go through with the plan. Usagi is able to release his old friends Mariko and Kenichi, but they cannot return with help in time to prevent the assassination.
Description: It’s an all-out free-for-all with the entire village captured by assassins intent on murdering the Shogun’s emissary and Usagi and Kenichi standing against hopeless odds. However, help comes from a very unexpected source. But is it too late to prevent the killings? Find out in the conclusion of this four-part story arc.
Description: Usagi reminisces about the months, after leaving Katsuichi-Sensei, when he trained under a second teacher. Usagi seeks him out once again but, upon finding him, learns they are on the brink of war!