Backing Boards #8 - Usagi Yojimbo #141 (Usagi Yojimbo's 200th Issue)

Reading through a short stack of currently unread Usagi Yojimbo comic books I got to #141 and found out that this was the 200th issue (in total) of the title. WOW! how many black and white indie comics can claim that title?

The rest of this post will spoil the issue (kinda).

So this issue was typical Usagi fare, innocent townsfolk being tormented by powerful bad guys with gangs of thugs . . . with swords and other awesome Japanese weapons . . . a magical formula that never fails making "typical" into completely awesome comics. This time we get bad guy Kaba trying to take over the town with his gang of bandits but a local Artisan has a dream and believes if he makes 200 Jizo statues it will stop the threat of the evildoers. Needless to say a few good fights break out leaving a few dead bad guys. Usagi ends up fighting with Kaba and then chasing him out into the rain amongst the Jizo statues. The weight of the statues causes a mud slide and Kaba is crushed to death under the weight of the statues.

Stan Sakai makes great comics that feel amazingly fun even though they are actually some of the most violent comic books out there. His art is amazing, his stories are simple yet complicated, and everyone that reads comics should be reading Usagi Yojimbo. I am ashamed to say that I don't own all of the 203 issues that are currently out but my 58 issues and an old trade paperback are all 100% awesome.

Usagi Yojimbo
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price $3.50
Created by Stan Sakai

Thanks for reading,
Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright © 2013 Kevin P. Johnson

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