I'm really disappointed that this is all you got out of it. Are you avoiding discussing the ending for spoiler reasons, or did it just not resonate with you?


I was also very impressed with Fumiye's characterization. She felt so very real to me in both her dialogue and in the motions and facial expressions Sakai lent to her. Usagi has encountered many children in his wandering, but Fumiye resonated with me more than the others, even before the ending. He gave her a lot more range and depth in this one little story.

Huh... yeah, I think 'A promise in the snow' is pretty much the best single issue comic ever. Maybe you have to have a daughter to appreciate it? Or maybe me and Shax are just too emotional?

I definitely appreciate the issue less than the two of you. Though I do think it's both a good issue and good ending.

There is an Usagi comic I cite as one of the best single issue comics ever, but we have not reached it yet.

And also an Usagi story I cite as one of the best multi-issue comic book arcs ever, and we're almost there...

"The conspiracy of eight"
Usagi Yojimbo #9 (January, 1997)
Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 11: Seasons



Summary: Unaffiliated assassins ambush a group of Lord Hikiji's samurai. One escapes and falls wounded at Priest Sanshobo's temple, where Miyamoto Usagi is a guest.



Sanshobo speaks of Lady Komachi and hints and romance, which Usagi dismisses with blush.



The unconscious vassal carried a document with names signed in blood, telling of a conspiracy of eight lords against the shogunate, seeking to restore the emperor. Usagi suggests giving the document to Lord Noriyuki, but Sanshobo notes that would condemn the conspirators.

The assassins approach the temple, demanding the release of the vassal. Sanshobo and Usagi fight them off, while Jiro guards the courier.

They let the assassins escape, but begin fortifying for a siege.

The samurai return with a battering ram, but slip on a trap of ice prepared for them. In the confusion, one slips through, kills Jiro and Hikiji's courier and steals the document. He is Kagemaru of the Neko Ninja. He delivers the document to their chieftan, Chizu.

Thoughts: I'm a little confused as to what Usagi is doing there. He had been in the area of Sanshobo's temple and then was seen clearly going somewhere. He was cutting across a mountain and alleged the journey would take several weeks. Yet now we find him back at Sanshobo's temple. Perhaps "A Promise in the Snow" is meant to fit elsewhere in continuity. Perhaps Usagi finished his business and returned? Or perhaps I'm just confused about geography.

Sanshobo questions why Usagi shows such an interest in the affairs of aristocracy when he is a mendicant. It's a fair question. His dislike of Hikiji obviously dates back to the death of Lord Mifune, is bolstered by his friendship with Noriyuki and reinforced by the number of times he has come across Hikiji engaging in nefarious deeds.

Sanshobo's question could be reflected on himself. Both he and Usagi have removed themselves from the affairs of politics, but maintain an interest, brought to a boil in this issue. Usagi has clear loyalties to the Shogun and a distaste for those he calls traitors. Sanshobo seems sympathetic to their cause, but quickly remembers that his place is to be a priest.



Usagi would have killed the attackers. Sanshobo insisted they be allowed to leave. It's easy to think of Usagi as a very kind, moral, and relatable person. But in truth he leaves a large body count behind him. We've seen him kill hundreds with no remorse. He is a warrior. Sanshobo is not so bloodthirsty.

This story is full of intrigue. Plots within plots. The conspirators, Hikiji, the Neko Ninja, Noriyuki, the Shogun, all with their own agendas. With Usagi and Sanshobo caught in the middle, uncertain where their loyalties do, or should, lie. But the time is coming to make a choice.

In many ways, this harkens back to the earliest Usagi stories from Albedo and the first special. A courier with a document pointing to similar intrigue. Sakai wisely backed off those old stories. He was not yet the storyteller he is now and was too fast narrowing Usagi's world, when it first needed expanding. Now that we know who Usagi is, and have a vast world of colorful characters, each given their room to breathe, it is a better time for the intrigue of the first stories.

The moral and political debates between Usagi and Sanshobo are compelling. The intrigue is thrilling. And the tension is clear. It is obvious we will hear from this conspiracy of eight again.

Sanshobo's arc in this issue is truly excellent. Torn between priest and general, as his two worlds collide. He has to struggle to remember who he is now, and question whether his old instincts are still the right ones. He is very quick to insist the document not be turned over to Noriyuki and to start leading his priests as an army against a siege. But also introspective enough to question what is right. He risks the lives of his priests and the safety of his temple. Why? For politics? For the emperor or shogun? Or to protect a single sick man in his care.



And though we see her only briefly, the scene with Chizu is excellent, and speaks to why she's a great character. One of the villains in Usagi's life, but a villain Usagi generally finds himself allied with, and who has a clear attraction to Usagi. She is much more his Catwoman than Kitsune. As chief of a ninja clan, she is and must be ruthless. Except for her soft spot for Usagi. She finds pretense to let him live, because she cares about him. In the final panel, she hopes he does not get involved. She does not want to choose between him and her clan.



Needless to say, I think this is an excellent issue.

(Note to shaxper: A Jiro)

"Battle of Adachigara Plain"
from Usagi Yojimbo Book 4: Dragon Bellow Conspiracy (November, 1990)
Reworked into "Return to Adachi Plain"
from Usagi Yojimbo #10 (February, 1997)
with inks by Sergio Aragonés
Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Book 11: Seasons



Summary: Miyamoto Usagi revisits Adachi Plain and remembers the battle where his Lord Mifune died, the betrayal of General Toda and his confrontation with Lord Hikiji.

Thoughts: I'm embarrassed to note that I've never really paid attention to Usagi's scar before. It just seems like an odd detail line. But of course, Sakai uses no unnecessary lines. And that scar has been there since the beginning.

When we were reflecting last issue on Usagi's conversation with Sanshobo, about why a mendicant ronin chooses to be so involved in political affairs, that was a relevant details. Hikiji scarred him, in addition to killing his lord. Oh, and killing his father. And all the other evil things he's come across Hikiji doing. In fact, it's more of a mystery why Usagi isn't even more obsessive about bringing the battle to Hikiji.

I have never seen the painted version of this story, and only have the Aragones-inked version. It's basically a recap story, so not too much more to say.

Notes: Based on the conventions I've been using, this review is way late. But I missed it the first time. So now seems a good time to swing back to it. The story was originally a painted story from the original printing of the 4th Usagi collection, published in 1990. It was reworked into a black and white story for Usagi Yojimbo #10, which is where we are in the reviewing.

It is presumed it fits right about here in continuity, or at least that Sakai intended it to. At some point I need a map to make sense of Usagi's wanderings and figure out what actually makes sense. It seems he has left the temple of Sanshobo and continued his wanderings.

Most of the details revealed here we knew, many from the very first Usagi story, where Usagi kills the goblin that General Toda had become. The major addition is that Usagi had a confrontation with Hikiji while he was carrying Mifune's head. This reveals how he got his scar and depicts his one and only actual meeting with Hikiji.

"The Crossing"
from Usagi Yojimbo #10 (February, 1997)
Reprinted in Usagi Yojimbo Bool 11: Seasons

Summary: Jei and Keiko take a sea voyage.

Thoughts:



A gleeful depiction of merriment turns into a dark and ominous tale. This story picks up where issue 13 of the previous series left off and continues to build toward an inevitable rematch between Jei and Usagi.

Lord Araki will get referenced several more times after this. Merchant Araki appeared only two issues back and gets referenced as least once more as well. This confuses the heck out of me.




I love when Sakai clouds loyalties and morality. In my mind, this is all practice for Duel at Kitonoji.




We'll get more information about this specific rebellion later, but I don't recall it addressing your question.