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

Image is copyright © 2011 Dark Horse Comics and are used as Fair Use Review images only. Images will be removed upon the request of Dark Horse Comics.

Backing Boards Returns

Remember that old thing I started doing a long long time ago called Backing Boards? It was where I did a one paragraph summary of a comic I read . . . yeah I didn't think you did either. Well upon review of blog stats that seemed to be the most popular thing I was doing so I plan on bringing that idea back, continuing with #8. Check for it soon.

Thanks for reading,
Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright © 2013 Kevin P. Johnson

Image is copyright © BCW Supplies and are used as Fair Use Review images only. Images will be removed upon the request of BCW Supplies.

Backing Boards #4 - SPAWN

Spawn #185 came out with the news that Todd McFarlane would be back on the book. Now I have not read Spawn in quite a while #119 was the last issue I bought after a run from #88 -119. I missed out on a lot of Spawn over the years before #88 and after #119 but always wanted to read the entire story. Anyway I heard McFarlane would be on and Whilce Portacio would be penciling and longtime Spawn writer Brian Holguin would be writing along with McFarlane. This seemed like a great team to me. So I got in #185 and on the inside cover it say Todd McFarlane digital inks this made me happy because Todd doesn't do much art anymore (for published comics anyway) so this is a nice thing for me because I always liked his work and will take what I can get.

I read the issue and it was a pretty fast read but eventful and I'm excited to get the next issue. I had heard that this issue was the start of a reboot for Spawn and it would be a great jumping on point so I wasn't worried about being lost or anything (I had a few questions) but it seems like this is going to be a fun comic again. If you have not read Spawn #185 yet I promise you will be blown away by the end of the issue and wondering what's going to happen next.

I'm ready to be a Spawn fan again and as long as Image keeps it coming out every month I'll stay on this book for a while.

- Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

Backing Boards #3 - The Amazing Spider-Man 3 Times A Month

Well for the third Backing Boards I thought why not mention The Amazing Spider-Man from Marvel Comics. I had been behind on Spider-Man comics for a while (what's new right) but was collecting all the main titles anyway and reading a bit here and there. When I heard that Spider-Man was going to only one title "Amazing Spider-Man" three times a month I had a happy thought now its all together and going to be easy to keep up. I came in on the three titles to read the "One More Day Story Arc" and although many people don't agree with the outcome of that story it has provided us all with an Amazingly fun and exciting Spider-Man title. Besides we all know that Spidey and Mary Jane will find each other again someday and everyone will be happy again.

Spider-Man is now usually the first thing I read every month when I get my DCBS order in and I've been nothing but happy every step of the way. I wish Marvel would do this with the X-Men titles all under the Uncanny banner and it wouldn't be that bad with the Avengers either one Avengers title three times a month would be ok even if it is an extra comic every month.

- Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

Backing Boards #2 - Moon Knight

I think I have mentioned before that Moon Knight is one of my favorite characters and that his current series has been much more than less than satisfying. I told myself that if it didn't turn around by issue #20 that I'd have to consider dropping the title. I was sick of every issue being about how crazy Moon Knight is and the constant harping on it. I think we all get it and after the first story arc it would be nice to move on and keep the crazy as that back story thats always there but not the focus of everything. Issue #20 came out and it was to be a Werewolf By Night story...I was happy when I heard this because I've never read those original stories. Well the issue was great and surprisingly the first appearence of Moon Knight was reprinted in the back of the issue...it was pretty terrible but I loved it anyway because it was fun. #21 was good stuff too because the baddies are finally here and Moon Knight is back to being a hero who fights the bad guys and not just his personal demons. Hopefully this keeps up for a long, long time.

- Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

Backing Boards #1 - Action Comics

I have collected Action Comics since issue #835...but have never read an issue until #866 the first part of the Braniac story arc. That seems like a quite waste of money to me but someday I plan on going back and reading them. I decided to collect Action Comics around the time I really wanted to learn more about the DC Universe. I chose Action because I thought I needed a Superman comic and this one has been around longer than anything else. I've never been a huge fan of Superman, I like him but I just never got into him. The Braniac story seemed like a good place to jump on being I know nothing about Braniac at all this seemed like I couldn't lose. Well the story is really good through three parts (I think its 4 parts) and I do want to keep up on Action Comics now. My only complaint is that Superman looks like Christopher Reeve. I liked Christopher Reeve but I never thought he looked like Superman but I can live with it for a while.

- Kevin P. Johnson
Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

Backing Boards - A New Segment

Well it seems that I never have time to really get into blogging but I don't want to abandon the blog so I have come up with a new segment that I hope can get me going. Instead of doing a long review all the time I thought maybe just do a short post about something I read or something I'm thinking about in the comics realm. I'm calling these post Backing Boards and will give each post a number and try to keep it down to about one paragraph.

- Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson