Booknote: Usagi Yojimbo: Thieves and Spies

Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo: Thieves and Spies. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Books, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-50670-048-9.

Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: adventure, feudal Japan, anthropomorphic animals
Format: trade paperback
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library. 

This book, volume 30, collects issues 145-151 of the comic book series; these are presented as five stories in the volume. A nice thing about reading this is that you do not need much prior experience to pick up the volume and start reading.

Usagi is a ronin samurai. As a wanderer, he gets into all sorts of situations from helping out a bride to meeting a one-armed samurai. My favorite story was "The One-Armed Swordsman," which is about the samurai with one arm. It has a great ending that is very satisfying. In the series, wherever he goes, Usagi strives for justice and making things right.

The comic does have some light violence, but it overall it is good for most ages. I liked the simple art style that is still very evocative of feudal Japan. It also has some nice humor. Overall, I really liked this one, and I will seek out other volumes in the series.

4 out of 5 stars.

Book qualifies for these 2016 Reading Challenges: