shaxper
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Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Feb 13, 2016 1:20:00 GMT -5
    Published: May thru November 1991 Synopsis: Usagi attempts to return home again and ends up in a multi-part storyline that, while holding no significance to the larger world beyond his village, ends up holding deep and lasting personal importance for Usagi. Notes: Return of Katsuichi Return of Jei Usagi asked by Mariko not to settle in the village Usagi learns the truth about Jotoro Jotoro begins studying under Katsuichi Discuss the issue and/or post full reviews below! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 25, 2016 12:14:44 GMT -5
I think my favorite part of this whole story was how similar Jotoro was to Usagi, despite barely knowing him. I loved how he befriended the lizard and used his wits to escape and even later named the lizard Spot. I mean, I love the deepening of the relationship between Usagi and Mariko but the simple look at Jotoro really made this story for me. I've said before that the best part about Stan's craft is that he creates such strong supporting characters, to the point that anyone of them could support their own book but if there was to be only one character who was to actually get one I'd want it to be Jotoro.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 24, 2017 9:22:59 GMT -5
I read that arc yesterday and was truly moved by the depth of feelings Stan can convey, even if his characters are funny animals. I never saw the twist coming; a few pages before the big revelation, I had even noticed how Jotaro had grown to be much more like his "uncle" Usagi than like his father Kenichi.
It is fascinating to see how Stan paints layer upon layer of depth in all his characters; as thwhtguardian says, they are a major strength of the Usagi Yojimbo series. I am very glad to see how Kenichi is made to be a honourable man who just has the misfortune of not being Usagi... it would have been so easy to make him into an unpleasant man (well... rabbit), an angry and bitter martinet. But no, Stan took the high road with him. Brilliant work!
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Feb 24, 2017 9:39:09 GMT -5
I read that arc yesterday and was truly moved by the depth of feelings Stan can convey, even if his characters are funny animals. I never saw the twist coming; a few pages before the big revelation, I had even noticed how Jotaro had grown to be much more like his "uncle" Usagi than like his father Kenichi. It is fascinating to see how Stan paints layer upon layer of depth in all his characters; as thwhtguardian says, they are a major strength of the Usagi Yojimbo series. I am very glad to see how Kenichi is made to be a honourable man who just has the misfortune of not being Usagi... it would have been so easy to make him into an unpleasant man (well... rabbit), an angry and bitter martinet. But no, Stan took the high road with him. Brilliant work! I am thrilled you're getting to experience this arc for the first time. In my mind, it's the first and most important turn the series takes, making Usagi a more flawed and human protagonist as opposed to simply being the perfect samurai. What you note about Stan's treatment of Kunichi begins to apply to his treatment of nearly all characters. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Mar 1, 2021 10:00:31 GMT -5
"Circles" turns 30 years old this month...
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