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Usagi Yojimbo [ƒ·ÓÃÐÄ°ô] #39
Usagi Yojimbo Volume 39: Ice and Snow
Usagi Yojimbo returns to Dark Horse with this graphic novel!
Following the events of ¡°The Green Dragon,¡± Usagi and Yukichi are still in the snowy mountaintops of Northern Japan.
They are led to the hut of a strange woman hermit who allows them to spend the night. Meanwhile, the maniacal Jei and his familiar, Keiko, are on Usagi¡¯s trail, and they stumble upon a bandit lair and subdue the band of cutthroats and thieves.
Stan Sakai brings his beloved rabbit ronin series back to Dark Horse¡ªfeaturing full color by colorist team Hi-Fi!
Collects Usagi Ice and Snow #1¨C#5.
Following the events of ¡°The Green Dragon,¡± Usagi and Yukichi are still in the snowy mountaintops of Northern Japan.
They are led to the hut of a strange woman hermit who allows them to spend the night. Meanwhile, the maniacal Jei and his familiar, Keiko, are on Usagi¡¯s trail, and they stumble upon a bandit lair and subdue the band of cutthroats and thieves.
Stan Sakai brings his beloved rabbit ronin series back to Dark Horse¡ªfeaturing full color by colorist team Hi-Fi!
Collects Usagi Ice and Snow #1¨C#5.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
160 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2024
6 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Stan Sakai
904?books361?followersStan Sakai (Japanese: Ûྮ ¥¹¥¿¥óSakai Sutan; born May 25, 1953) is an artist who became known as an Eisner Award-winning comic book originator.
Born in Kyoto, Sakai grew up in Hawaii and studied fine arts at the University of Hawaii. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sharon, presently reside and work in Pasadena.
He began his career by lettering comic books (notably Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragon¨¦s and Mark Evanier) and became famous with the production of Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth-century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist (Tom Luth serves as the main colorist on the series, and Sergio Aragon¨¦s has made two small contributions to the series: the story "Broken Ritual" is based on an idea by Aragon¨¦s, and he served as a guest inker for the black and white version of the story "Return to Adachi Plain" that is featured in the Volume 11 trade paper-back edition of Usagi Yojimbo). He also made a futuristic spin-off series Space Usagi. His favorite movie is Satomi Hakkenden (1959).
Born in Kyoto, Sakai grew up in Hawaii and studied fine arts at the University of Hawaii. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sharon, presently reside and work in Pasadena.
He began his career by lettering comic books (notably Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragon¨¦s and Mark Evanier) and became famous with the production of Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth-century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist (Tom Luth serves as the main colorist on the series, and Sergio Aragon¨¦s has made two small contributions to the series: the story "Broken Ritual" is based on an idea by Aragon¨¦s, and he served as a guest inker for the black and white version of the story "Return to Adachi Plain" that is featured in the Volume 11 trade paper-back edition of Usagi Yojimbo). He also made a futuristic spin-off series Space Usagi. His favorite movie is Satomi Hakkenden (1959).
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 23, 2024
After approximately five years of publishing Usagi Yojimbo stories with IDW, Stan Sakai brings the wandering ronin back to Dark Horse Comics under the "Dogu" imprint. Despite this being the fourth publisher swap in the now forty year run of the title, Sakai has maintained a singular continuity for the ongoing adventures of Miyamoto Usagi. Though any new reader can technically jump on with "Ice and Snow" as their first taste of Usagi comics, I'd say the experience is all the more richer having read from the beginning.
"Ice and Snow" follows Miyamoto Usagi and his cousin Yamamoto Yukichi who are both undergoing a warrior's pilgrimage together. Their previous adventures as chronicled in the previous two volumes, Crossroads and The Green Dragon, placed the pair of ronin into the treacherous path of icy mountains and frozen plains whilst they were being stalked by the enigmatic Jei. Usagi Yojimbo stories have often flirted with the supernatural, and "Ice and Snow" is not short on the fantastical elements. Jei's hunt for Usagi is only disrupted by a yuki-onna, or a snow woman from Japanese folklore. There's plenty of twists and turns as Usagi and Yukichi must navigate a group of brigands, the y¨kai, a village filled with demons, Jei, and the freezing cold weather.
Though there is an air of familiarity with the stories of Usagi at this point in the run, Sakai still manages to maintain a deeply enjoyable sense of pacing, adventure and intrigue throughout. It's been five years worth of color stories too, and at this point the use of color in the series feels much more confident. I'm still partial to the black-and-white stories of old for sure, but Usagi Yojimbo going strong in 2024 after forty years of publishing is no small feat.
"Ice and Snow" follows Miyamoto Usagi and his cousin Yamamoto Yukichi who are both undergoing a warrior's pilgrimage together. Their previous adventures as chronicled in the previous two volumes, Crossroads and The Green Dragon, placed the pair of ronin into the treacherous path of icy mountains and frozen plains whilst they were being stalked by the enigmatic Jei. Usagi Yojimbo stories have often flirted with the supernatural, and "Ice and Snow" is not short on the fantastical elements. Jei's hunt for Usagi is only disrupted by a yuki-onna, or a snow woman from Japanese folklore. There's plenty of twists and turns as Usagi and Yukichi must navigate a group of brigands, the y¨kai, a village filled with demons, Jei, and the freezing cold weather.
Though there is an air of familiarity with the stories of Usagi at this point in the run, Sakai still manages to maintain a deeply enjoyable sense of pacing, adventure and intrigue throughout. It's been five years worth of color stories too, and at this point the use of color in the series feels much more confident. I'm still partial to the black-and-white stories of old for sure, but Usagi Yojimbo going strong in 2024 after forty years of publishing is no small feat.
June 17, 2024
As always, Stan Sakai turns in a beautiful, perfectly paced and action packed story in this thirty-ninth volume of Usagi Yojimbo as the rabbit ronin returns to Dark Horse comics. I always struggle when writing reviews for this kind of book, I have been a fan, reading and buying the title month in and month out for over twenty years now. Have I lost perspective? Did I ever have any? Or did I fall in love with the character in a way that refuses to let go? I would say it's the latter and I can't see myself stopping reading the adventures of the character unless Stan decides to stop in his telling.
Special Thanks to Dark Horse Comics and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to Dark Horse Comics and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
December 25, 2024
Stan¡¯s still got it! This was perfectly paced. It just kept moving forward and drawing me along
December 31, 2024
Acclaimed comic author and artist Stan Sakai continues his iconic Usagi Yojimbo series in a big way with the exceptional 39th volume, Ice and Snow.
Miyamoto Usagi, travelling ronin and occasional Yojimbo, continues to wander the lands, seeking adventure and helping his friends where possible. Now travelling with his cousin Yukichi, Usagi finds himself moving through the cold and snowy mountain tops of Northern Japan, having just escaped a confrontation between rival ninja clans in the pair¡¯s last adventure. Determined to return to warmer climates, Usagi and Yukichi once again find themselves in trouble amongst the mountain peaks.
Cold and seeking shelter, Usagi and Yukichi encounter nothing but bandits and mysterious creatures as they continue their journey. Desperate for warmth, they decide to spend the night inside the hut of strange woman, only to find themselves trapped by the cold heart of a dangerous spirit, Yuki-Onna, the lady of the snow, who is determined to feast on them.
However, the attentions of a powerful spirt of the snow are the least of Usagi and Yukichi¡¯s problems, as a far more terrifying monster haunts the mountains. The demonic black spearman Jei, the Blade of the Gods, has long hunted Usagi, believing that by killing the rabbit ronin he will ascend to godhood. Now leading a group of mountain bandits, Jei relentlessly chases after Usagi and Yukichi, determined to end their feud once and for all. Can Usagi once again weather the dark storm that is the unstoppable Jei, or will this be the moment he finally falls to his deranged nemesis¡¯s black blade?
Ice and Snow was another amazing volume from Sakai that provides a cool new adventure for the author¡¯s iconic protagonist. Featuring an excellent main storyline loaded with peril and dark confrontation, Ice and Snow had me hooked the entire way through, especially as it featured Sakai¡¯s gorgeous artwork.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
Miyamoto Usagi, travelling ronin and occasional Yojimbo, continues to wander the lands, seeking adventure and helping his friends where possible. Now travelling with his cousin Yukichi, Usagi finds himself moving through the cold and snowy mountain tops of Northern Japan, having just escaped a confrontation between rival ninja clans in the pair¡¯s last adventure. Determined to return to warmer climates, Usagi and Yukichi once again find themselves in trouble amongst the mountain peaks.
Cold and seeking shelter, Usagi and Yukichi encounter nothing but bandits and mysterious creatures as they continue their journey. Desperate for warmth, they decide to spend the night inside the hut of strange woman, only to find themselves trapped by the cold heart of a dangerous spirit, Yuki-Onna, the lady of the snow, who is determined to feast on them.
However, the attentions of a powerful spirt of the snow are the least of Usagi and Yukichi¡¯s problems, as a far more terrifying monster haunts the mountains. The demonic black spearman Jei, the Blade of the Gods, has long hunted Usagi, believing that by killing the rabbit ronin he will ascend to godhood. Now leading a group of mountain bandits, Jei relentlessly chases after Usagi and Yukichi, determined to end their feud once and for all. Can Usagi once again weather the dark storm that is the unstoppable Jei, or will this be the moment he finally falls to his deranged nemesis¡¯s black blade?
Ice and Snow was another amazing volume from Sakai that provides a cool new adventure for the author¡¯s iconic protagonist. Featuring an excellent main storyline loaded with peril and dark confrontation, Ice and Snow had me hooked the entire way through, especially as it featured Sakai¡¯s gorgeous artwork.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
April 25, 2025
Usagi a Yukichi putuj¨ª d¨¢l a tentokr¨¢t jim cestu zk?¨ª?¨ª Yei, ale aby toho nadp?irozena nebylo m¨¢lo tak i jedna popul¨¢rn¨ª yokai. Kostra p?¨ªb¨§hu je celkem klasick¨¢, ale u Stana je ?¨¢bel v detailech a tak mu to i tentokr¨¢t ?eru i s udic¨ª. P?¨ªb¨§h m¨¢ celkem slu?nou gradaci a i kdy? si r¨¢d u?¨ªv¨¢m u Usagiho i t¨§ch obr¨¢zk? b¨§?n¨¦ho ?ivota, tady jsou nap¨§t¨ª a akce mnohem v¨ªce p?¨ªtomn¨¦. A kdybyste si mysleli ?e jedno dobrodru?stv¨ª je m¨¢lo, tak se hned nav¨¢?e dal?¨ªm, krat?¨ªm ale intenzivn¨§j?¨ªm. A op¨§t se dr?¨ªme folkl¨®ru. Led a sn¨ªh se prost¨§ povedl a st¨¢l za to dlouh¨¦ ?ek¨¢n¨ª. V barv¨¢ch a slu?n¨¦m velk¨¦m form¨¢tu je o to p?sobiv¨§j?¨ª - t¨ªm sp¨ª? kdy? na z¨¢v¨§r n¨¢s ?ek¨¢ par¨¢dn¨ª galerie ob¨¢lek.
March 27, 2025
I like all of Miyamoto Usagi's adventures but there is a special place in my heart for his more fantastical ones. This one is not only one of the more fantastical, but one of the darkest. But every time Jei The Blade of the Gods crosses Miayamoto's path things get dark. What's especially intriguing about "Ice and Snow" though is just when you think our hero has made it, along come some demon cats. Do comics get more fun than this?
September 13, 2024
Stan Sakai turns in another strong Usagi installment. Usagi and Yukichi run afoul of a snow demon while being pursued by Usagi's longtime demonic rival Jei. Some interesting folklore to add a wrinkle to what could've been a simple chase sequence. This one's probably more for the longtime readers who can appreciate the history of Usagi and Jei, but it's still a fun ride.
March 13, 2024
Read as individual issues. It's been a long while since I read any Usagi and the first time in colour. The title has lost none of its charm and is the usual mixture of samurai action, cultural history and, of course, deadly Yokai (monsters). Great fun!
September 22, 2024
Usagi Yojimbo is consistently excellent, but this volume is largely repetitive of what's come before.
October 17, 2024
Wish it had been longer! It felt short, but quality nonetheless.
October 27, 2024
Alltid spennende n?r Jei dukker opp, og artig med var-katter. Men f?ler at det brukes litt mye plass p? litt lite historie.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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