Usagi Yojimbo: Kaito '84 #3
Marcell Hines
Recap
Forced into an impossible alliance, Kait? and Tomoe now face the ultimate test. To escape a sacred shrine, they must overcome three ancient trials designed to push their courage, intellect, and compassion to the absolute limit. With monstrous guardians and spectral demons at every turn, their only hope for survival is each other. But is a partnership between a thief and a cop strong enough to endure a final test designed to break them apart?
Review
With Sasuke’s warning fresh in their minds and the crew’s ancestral memories reawakened, the real purpose of the Blood Kintsugi Spear has been fully revealed. However, when a conversation with the law complicates the original plan, Kaito has to make a decision that could have drastic consequences moving forward.
The stakes are raised even further in this issue, but unfortunately it comes at the expense of the story’s pacing. This narrative in this issue feels very much like it had to rush to get everywhere they needed to be for the next arc. Some minor elements, while minor, that would be instrumental in story progression are just kind of glossed over but there are some good moments such as the expansion on Inspector Ame’s character as well as the tension between Kaito and Yu.
Zack Rosenberg expands the lore of the story well, tying it back to the original Usagi again at the expense of the pacing. Inspector Ame is a fun character that looks like she will get more to do in the coming issues which is good because she feels kind of one not right now. The same can also be said of Sasuke who feels like he’s just here to drop zen and exposition.
Even with a couple of minor hiccups, issue three probably has Jared Collum’s strongest art in the series so far. The tapestry illustrating the battle between Usagi Yojimbo and the demon Jei is wonderfully rendered and looks authentic to its inspiration. There isn’t much in the way of action in this issue, but the slow moments still hit their marks.
Final Thoughts
Kaito '84 #3 might be a slight dip in quality from the first two, but it still rounds out to be an entertaining issue with a few key moments to make up for it’s slightly hectic pacing.
Usagi Yojimbo: Kaito ’84 #3: The Law Won
- Writing - 7/107/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10
