Usagi Yojimbo: Difference between revisions

* [[Author Avatar]]: Stan Sakai shows up as a character named Masa in the 141st issue of the Dark Horse run (and number 200 overall) as an artisan who dreamed that creating 200 small statues of a god will save his village from bandits that have taken over. With Usagi's help, the 200th being used upside the leader's head and a mudslide, the dream comes true. His character then states that he'll continue his work after reaching the milestone until he's unable to hold the tools of his trade.

* [[Backdoor Pilot]]: Usagi's guest shot on the original Ninja Turtles cartoon was supposed to be a set up for his own cartoon show, but the show was never made due to creative differences between Stan Sakai and Playmates. His appearance on the 2000's TMNT show carried no such aspirations; it was just a treat for the fans.

* [[Badass]]: Miyamoto Usagi.

* [[Badass Preacher]]: Sanshobo, who was a samurai until he took his vows. Priest Jizonobu was also a samurai and still an excellent fighter {{spoiler|before he became Jei}}.

** Genosuké could arguably be labelled a walking berserk button. His questionable character traits tend to set off more Usagi temper tantrums than anything else.

* [[Big No]]: Usually before a dramatic death scene.

* [[Bittersweet Ending]]:

** Gen's story ends with {{spoiler|Gen discovering that the swords he stole from Oda house's were his father's swords, Gen explain that the only way Oda could have obtained them were killing Gen's father}}

* [[Deliberate Values Dissonance]]: Invoked by the author in order to accurately portray the era and culture of the characters. Certain things considered right and honorable would be deemed harsh and cruel by modern standards. {{spoiler|A good example is Sanshobo, whose son commited suicide in order to make up for his father's perceived failure in not successfully rescuing his master's own son.}}

* [[Disability Superpower]]: Zato Ino, "The Blind Swordspig", who can "see" things thanks to his sense of smell -- a common trait of the blind being the heightening of their other senses.

* [[Due to The Dead]]: In the story "Broken Ritual" (plot by [[Sergio Aragones]]), a village is haunted by the ghost of a general whose ''[[Seppuku]]'' attempt is interrupted by a squad of enemy soldiers. The ghost is exorcised when Usagi waits for its next appearance and helps complete the ritual.

* {{spoiler|[[Dying As Yourself]]: Inazuma. She even gets to make peace with her family.}}

* [[Eyepatch of Power]]: After losing his eye in the battle that makes Usagi think he's dead, Katsuichi Sensei covers it with a sword guard.

* [[Face Framed in Shadow]]: Lord Hikiji {{spoiler|and Jesus on the crucifix}}.

{{quote| "A ninja's duty in life... is death!" }}

* [[Fantastic Foxes]]: Kitsune, although she's just really skilled. ''Actually magical'' kitsune have appeared only briefly, and never as named characters.

** There ''was'' [[Shout Out|Kuzunoha]] in one story, a traditionally [[Femme Fatale|evil and seductive]] kitsune.

* [[Gentleman Thief]]: Kitsune, her sidekick Kiyoko, and Nezumi.

* [[Give Him a Normal Life]]: Usagi does this for {{spoiler|the son of a lord and his courtesan, Lady Maple, when he gives the child to Inspector Ishida}}. He also did this unknowingly for {{spoiler|his son Jotaro, and decided not to tell him for pretty much this reason}}.

** Sakai has said Hikiji is mostly kept off panel because he feels the character works better as a Sauron-like figure, manipulating things unseen. As far as the Europeans go, his Nilson Groundthumper strips take place in that part of the UY Earth. The characters there seem to be of a wide variety of species. It should be noted the Nilson stories predate the Ninja Turtles by a few years, despite the latter often being given credit for at least partially inspiring UY.

* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: {{spoiler|[[Ninja|Saru]] and [[Retired Badass|Ikeda]] both do this in ''Journey to Atsuta Shrine'', but for different reasons}}

** {{spoiler|Lady Maple throws herself in front of a scheming lord's sword to save her son; unfortunately she didn't know Usagi had brought a doll in his place. For double irony points Usagi had already dealt with a doll-double and hated people sacrificing themselves for it.}}

** {{spoiler|The secret Christians are willing to put their lives on the line to get one crucifix to their followers; if any of them were caught they would've been crucified themselves.}}

* [[Hit Me Dammit]]

* [[Honest Axe]]

* [[Knight Errant]]: Usagi

* [[To Be Lawful or Good]]: The story "The Death of Lord Hikiji", where Usagi runs into a couple of other former vassals of Lord Mifune. They are planning to kill Lord Hikiji to avenge Mifune's death, and Usagi has to decide whether or not he wants to join them.

* [[Loads and Loads of Characters]]: Oh, boy. Easily into the hundreds of characters just from the ones who are ''named''.

** {{spoiler|And they both know of Jotaro's true paternity, but they don't know that the other knows.}}

* [[Magic Knight]]: Sasuke (not [[Naruto (Manga)|that one]]) the Demon Queller.

* [[Miyamoto Musashi]]: The inspiration for Usagi.

* [[Mood Whiplash]]: Not only does the story itself do this, but the art style is very suited to quick, seamless transitions from detailed dramatic images to humorous cartoonish ones.

* [[My Master Right or Wrong]]: Captain Torame from "The Dragon Bellows Conspiracy."

** And to some extent, Kenichi. After Hikiji killed the old village headman (Usagi's father), he appointed Kenichi in his place. Initially taking the assignment out of fear, Kenichi now serves out of duty (though Hikiji probably doesn't pay much attention to the town). Usagi sometimes feels guilt that Kenichi has shouldered burdens Usagi feels honor-bound to walk away from.

* [[Recurring Extra]]: The omnipresent woodcutters. Groo, on occasion.

* [[Recycled in Space]]: ''Space Usagi'' features descendants of the main characters and puts them in a [[Space Opera]] setting.

* [[Ronin]]: Usagi and many secondary characters.

* [[Samurai]]: Usagi, Tomoe, and ''so many extras besides''.

* [[Scars Are Forever]]: Usagi is consistently drawn with his scar from the battle at Adatachi Plain (even if other such scarring he acquires eventually heals). Katsuichi loses his eye and wears an eyepatch ([[Rule of Cool|made from a sword guard]]) from that point on.

* [[Scooby Doo Hoax]]: The Inn on Moon Shadow Hill.

* [[Walking the Earth]]: Usagi travels the shogyusha -- the warrior's path.

* [[Wax On Wax Off]]

* [[Whip It Good]]: Sakura.

* [[Worthy Opponent]]: Captain Torame in "The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy". He's so [[My Master Right or Wrong|loyal]], he'll stay with his lord even though he knows his plans are evil.