Summary: Usagi meets the bounty hunter Gen in a bar. Gen asks if he wants to team up to catch One-eye Ichiro, but Usagi insists he is a bodyguard, not a bounty hunter. So Gen hires him as a bodyguard!

They go to a temple to confront Ichiro and his bandits, who are holding a priest hostage. Gen is nearly fooled by a fake priest and gets wounded for it. In the end, Gen and Usagi triumph over the bandits.

Usagi fears Gen will cheat him, but Gen pays him fifty ryo! Usagi is pleased... until he learns he has been stuck with the bill from the inn!

Thoughts: While the issue begins with the usual serious expression on Usagi's face, it this time will not last. The issue introduces humor to the Usagi stories. A welcome element. "Go away!" "Thank you! I will join you!" And soon Usagi himself is laughing. This is generally a fun issue, including a giant melee scene with the anthropomorphic characters. This issue brings an element of charm to the series which will continue throughout, especially with the ending, as Usagi gets cheated by Gen. A charming moment which will form the nucleus of their unlikely friendship.

Usagi identifies himself a yojimbo for hire. The idea of Usagi-as-bodyguard is obviously enshrined in the title, but will become less and less prominent over the course of the series. He is also hired as a bodyguard in "Confession", which probably takes place before this issue in continuity but was published later.

Usagi looks different in every issue. Each issue is another step of the transition from the original drawings to the modern form. Gen is closer to his modern self, but not quite there. Far close than the random rhino bandit Usagi fought.

The opening panel is reminiscent of the first issue. An establishing shot of Usagi approaching an inn. This will become common practice in the series. Reinforces Usagi as a wanderer. Lets us know he's come to a new place for this story. Stan also puts more detail into the background in this panel than the rest of the issue. Bringing our attention to the environment and the town. The rest of the panels in the issue keep our focus on the characters. Clearly intentional.

Two years after the first Usagi story, I think Stan has basically figured out this sequential art thing.

While I was kidding about Groo, I think I really am missing something in the last panel. A couple characters in focus must have some meaning. I also do not know if the characters' names have significance. There are a few famous Japanese people named Murakami, including one of the great current Japanese authors.

Grade: B+

At the very least, it's the first story to give Usagi a real personality, using Gen as a foil.