Every time I read Usagi Yojimbo, the same thought occurs to me: I have a lot of reading to do. See, I'm a latecomer to Sakai's rabbit ronin, and there's a definite feeling when reading the new stories that I want to see more of what went before. Surprisingly, this desire to see some of the backstory doesn't come with any confusion about what's going on now, as Sakai keeps things wonderfully accessible, making reference to past events but always making sure that the important story points and context are delivered to new readers as well. This particular volume re-establishes a relationship between Usagi and his current young traveling companion Jotaro, explores the relationship that Usagi has with his teacher and has some very intriguing insights into the code of Bushido that drives Usagi and the society that Sakai is writing about.
The easiest assumption to make about Usagi is that it's some sort of funny animal comic. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Sakai's stories deal with simple notions of good and evil, largely in that Usagi is almost always in the right and his villains are usually despicable, but the other trappings of the stories tend to be of a more morally gray type. This particular volume has an especially brutal moral conundrum, as Usagi must witness a conflict between two honorable warriors, not based on a misunderstanding but on a code that demands that they know which of the two of them has more skill.
This particular volume has some really interesting insights into the code of Bushido. Sakai does an excellent job of making this strange code seem logical and important in the context of this society, even though the notion of dying to see who is better at sword-fighting seems ludicrous in modern times. Because the skill of these warriors is so notable, it can be difficult to give them real physical threats, but when their conflicts come from within, from difficult moral choices based on an inflexible and harsh code, it makes for much more interesting and unusual conflicts.
Which is not to say that all the stories center around the titular "Duel at Kitanoji" or that they lack physical conflict. Quite the opposite, as Sakai maintains his usual style of issues that can stand on their own and some truly spectacular physical battles. In the course of these stories, Usagi runs afoul of bandits, has an encounter with an old ally and gets embroiled in political conflicts between two clans, and there's always a nice element of mystery to what's actually going on and what Usagi is being told is going on. Sakai also really delivers on the inevitable conflicts, with some terrific group battles between sword-wielding samurai and bandits. The artwork in general features expressive characters and beautiful detail touches on the clothing and backgrounds that make the setting come to life.
"Duel at Kitanoji" is only the second full Usagi Yojimbo volume I've read, but it's my favorite thus far. In addition to the stories of Usagi and friends battling bandits and other villains who would take advantage of the poor or the weak, it has a strong running story about two noble warriors forced into conflict with one another. Whether you're a newcomer to Usagi or someone who has been reading his adventures, "Duel at Kitanoji" seems to have plenty to offer, and the stellar reputation that Sakai has earned seems more than justified after reading this volume.
