3 out of 5

Stunning art doesn’t buck this one out of predictability, though with the forever Usagi caveat that predictable for this book suggests a norm, and the norm for UY is a high bar.

Yukichi and Usagi emerge from colder climes into greenery, and soon interrupt a waylaid man from being set upon by five brigands. He offers his thanks; the duo head on their way to the local town which proved full of brigands – including those they chased off… and Gen and Stray Dog!

It’s soon revealed everyone is hanging around to capture a big bounty: a pretty devious criminal (with, notably, a pet crow) who of course matches the description of the man Yukichi and Usagi had saved.  While it’s admittedly a bit of a wrinkle that Usagi joins the hunt, it’s also a sign of where this story disappoints: none of the details really amount to anything. Some very standard UY supporting types feel almost habitually included; the story is a template we’ve followed before, without any real story / character / comedy / action highlights to set things apart. The premise has the elements of something more epic, but it’s as though Stan got tired of that and retreated to something linear.

The art, as mentioned, is fantastic, though. It’s a huge cast, and Stan avoids a lot of his shorthand for that, going in on details and differentiating many of the brigands. It gives the story more weight in its drama and action, which helps to balance the otherwise lightweight story.