Second volume in the series gives us first longer story arc - origin story for the Usagi. We follow him as a kid aiming to become a renown samurai warrior. While on his way to the famous Dogora sword fighting school he will come across Katsuichi, mysterious warrior challenged by the very Dogora students. Witnessing the ease with which Katsuichi defeats the gang, Usagi decides that Katsuichi is a master he wants to learn from. What follows is what in my opinion are the best parts taken from many martial arts movies, of young student learning the art of war and life from a reclusive and wise warrior.

Art wise nothing much is changed from the volume one. What catches the eye are more panoramic shots and more truly cinematic views - entry pages, for example, showing Usagi confronting a samurai from his past are truly fantastic.

Highly recommended to fans of adventure stories. ( )

Ah getting back into this series! The majority of the book was Usagi reminiscing about when he started training as a samurai, being the king's guard and the reason why he killed the other king's guard two years later. The side stories were great as well especially the Zylla. Wonderful graphics and looking forward to the next one in the series! ( )

Another great installment of the Usagi Yojimbo series. Maybe a little better then the first volume too. I say that because we get a full origin of our hero Usagi. The previous volume I thought was a good story, but it was brief. I think this origin story was longer because this volume collects the first issues of his solo series. I liked the writing in this volume better too.

I'll say this again, Usagi is a samurai who lost his master at war, a ronin if you want to get more technical. In his first appearance we knew this already. However, what we didn't know is how becomes a samurai. As a young boy (rabbit), Usagi saw Katsuichi defending himself in the fields and wanted to be just like him. Katsuichi was hesitant, but knew of what Usagi would become.

The last three chapters with-in this book are not as serious as the first chapter, but more of Stan Sakai's humor side. There's horror like story of a kappa who is terrorizing people y not letting them pass the marsh. There is a rather cute story about a baby dragon name Zylla who is clearly a parody on Godzilla. And there is a heartwarming story about Usagi saving a town with a cowardly ruler.

What I like best about my current reading of Usagi is how much I'm liking his character. Yes he hold two swards, but he rather not fight. He only fights to defend himself and kills if necessary. Stan Sakai made him a rabbit for a reason. He's not a killer, but a kind and genital warrior. ( )

I saw that I gave Vol. 1 three stars, and it's been too long for me to remember why. Maybe I just wasn't immediately grabbing the storyline, or maybe it's that Vol. 2 really is a bit better. Regardless, I really liked this collection, and as I read I was reminded one more time that I need to get this for my nephews. ( )

I think this is where the Usagi books hit their stride, with an origin story told inside the now-familiar meta story of Usagi and Gen drinking together at an inn and quibbling over who pays the bill. ( )