Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #4

Usagi Yojimbo: Senso #4
Released by: Dark Horse Comics
Released on: November 5th, 2014.
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When this fourth issue begins, Usagi and Tomoe lay in the ruins of the town just after the last rocket has pretty much demolished it. Amazingly, though beaten, they are not down nor gravely injured - they are, however, buried underneath the mess that resulted from the crash. They attempt to dig their way out but it's dangerous, things are falling down around them. With no one else around, they have a heart to heart about how Jotoro should have been 'their' son but since Tomoe was forced to marry Buichi that was not to be. Tomoe confesses she and Buichi are not in love, their marriage was simply a matter of political convenience to join their two clans, and she asks him if they make it out, if will he tell Jotaro he is his father.

They find their way through the rubble to an entrance into the rocket where they meet and attack its tentacle inhabitant. They head inside where hordes of the creatures await and though they are outnumbered the two samurai find that their foes are weak. Just as they're about to be overcome, however, Jotaro and Motokazu show up to help. Jotarao tells them of Gen's sacrifice from the last issue and updates them on the war above ground, still in progress.

Meanwhile, the serpentine Hebi hurries his forces to protect Black Sun Castle from the alien three-walkers at all costs and we learn what truly happened to Lord Hijiki.

This issue obviously bridges the tragic events from issue #3 to what is going to presumably be the series' big finish coming in the final two chapters and as such, not quite as much happens though in the last few pages, there's a few big reveals that are pretty interesting and even a bit unexpected. There's a fair bit of action in the last half of the issue but the first half does concentrate on the dramatic/romantic tension that exists between Usagi and Tomoe. It helps to further build their characters and make these 'cartoon rabbits' more fully formed and even human. Sakai's always been good at layering his Usagi Yojimbo stories this way and this issue continues that tradition.

Things are also played completely straight in this issue, which may foreshadow a grim finale to the six issue Senso run. The three issues prior all featured at least a little bit of humor but that is not the case this time. Sakai's artwork is as strong as it's ever been and his skills at creating beautiful backgrounds and interestingly designed characters continues to impress. This is good stuff, it'll be interesting to see where it goes from here…