The Goblin of Adachigahara

 

Originally Published in: Albedo #2

Published: November 1984

Written and drawn by Stan Sakai

'The Goblin of Adachigahara'

In Brief: the only reason you've ever heard of Albedo.... 

One snowy night a ronin stops outside a small house in the mountains, asking to stay the night. The old woman who lives there welcomes the samurai, who introduces himself as Miyamoto Usagi.

The old woman explains that she’s lived alone ever since her husband died in the battle of Adachi which took place near by many years ago. Usagi remembers that battle well. His lord’s forces might have been victorious, but General Toda betrayed them and sided with the evil Lord Hijiki. In a last bid to break through the enemy flanks Usagi’s lord was killed by enemy archers. As a loyal retainer Usagi removed his lord’s head and fought his way into the nearby hills where he buried it in secret, so his lord would not be disgraced in death by having his severed head put on public displayed by Hijiki. Usagi returned to find the battle lost, and so began his life as a ronin- a masterless samurai.

His story ended, Usagi asks the old woman about the rumors he’s heard about a goblin that stalks the mountains. The woman dismisses them and offers him a bed for the night.

Late the night a creatures sulks down from the hills, smashes its way through the house and slashes the bed with it claws….only to find a bundle of firewood under the covers. The goblin vows to kill Usagi for this trick.

 

Usagi slashes the creature with his sword and rushes outside through the hole in the wall. Dodging the goblin’s blows he’s able to deliver a mortal blow to the creature. As the goblin lies dead in the snow, the woman runs outside mourning her dead husband!

She admits the truth. Her husband was actually General Toda. After the battle rather the reward Toda for his treachery, Hijiki had him beaten and banished in disgrace. The couple wandered for months until they came across an abandoned house near Adachi plains. Toda decided to live there spot, seemingly to torment himself for his failures. He would spend his nights roaming the mountains, returning each dawn with a little less of his humanity (?). One day he never returned having become the creature Usagi just killed.

She begs the samurai to kill her for betraying him. Usagi tells the woman to summon a priest to cleanse her husband’s soul and leaves her crying in the snow.

 Trivia

• This is the first ever Usagi Yojmbo comic. The story continues in Albedo #3.
• This story was originally published as 'Usagi Yojimbo' with the current title being added when it was republished in the first trade collection (weirdly the big Usagi Yojimbo: The Special Edition has it listed under it's original name)
• The plot of this story was probably inspired by the Japanese folk story 'The Goblin of Adachigahara' (it seems obvious in hindsight I know) or at least the version included in Yei Theodora Ozaki's Japanese Fairy Tales first published in 1903. In that story a monk spends the night with an old woman until he realizes she's the murderous goblin that haunts the area and he flees for his life.
• The events of the Battle of Adachi will be told in full in Usagi Yojimbo (volume one) issue 4.
• Presumably the events of Return to Adachi Plain (take a wild guess what happens) takes place shortly before this story. Unless he happened to make another journey to the site of his lord's death.
  
• While Usagi's lord is unnamed in this story, later stories will give him the name Lord Mifune (after Toshiro Mifune the actor who stared in many classic samurai movies).
  
• In 2019 as part of the series 35th anniversary this story was expanded and retold in Usagi Yojimbo (volume four) issue 6. I can't really recommend it.
• Usagi's kill count: 1 
  

Review:

Like a lot of people I was my first introduction to Usagi was through one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cartoons. In my case it was the 4Kid's one. It wasn't until 2009 when I stumbled onto the TMNT wiki that I discovered the Rabbit Ronin existed independently of the Heroes in A Half Shell though I didn't really care about him all that much.

Still I heard the three things everyone always says about Usagi Yojimbo: 1.It's been running for years and it's still consistently good. 2. Basically any story is the perfect jumping on point, and 3.It tricks you into learning stuff by making it's subject mater seem fun and interesting. Then in 2013 my high school library got a copy of The Ronin and I got to experience the series for myself.

I remember going online and reading a review and being surprised that they called this the series awkward early years if the stories were this good.

Anyway this is a fairly straightforward but effective introduction to our hero and his world. We learn Usagi's backstory, he's a master swordsman and how he's a nice enough guy to spare Toda's wife. Now all of this will be expanded on in the coming decades but we all have to start somewhere.

Art-wise Usagi is more compact than he'll be in later years (Sakai will perfect Usagi's appearance around 1993) and the story looks a bit crude in places. Still it has a lot of character and the fight scene flows well.

This Stan Sakai is going places.....

Important Announcement

Dear readers I have something I need to share with you.

I started this blog to catalouge every Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy story ever writtern. I have finally finished this goal. However various times over the years Stan Sakai has teased a crossover with his other comic Usagi Yojimbo.

I believe that to in order to properly appreciate this as of yet unreleased story, we need to properly understand Usagi Yojimbo. Therefore I will  soon begin covering every Usagi Yojimbo story.

Equine The Uncivilized #6

Published: July 1989

Summary:

That scamp Equine the Unvil's out on a date with his lady friend. If only there was someone who could draw a picture of them....Look it's Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy!

Notes

• Hermy and Nilson's apearance in this story was drawn by Stan Sakai.
• As you can tell from the cover this story also contains a cameo by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That and a bunch of  other character's neither you nor I care about.

Review

Full disclosure I didn't read this comic, I just stole the above image from the Usagi Yojimbo Dojo website.

Nilson 2199

Published In Usagi Yojimbo (volume 2) #9

Published: August 1994

Writterna and drawn by Stan Sakai

In Brief: The greatest science fiction rabbit since Bucky O'Hare.....

Summary:

On a distant world Nilson and Hermy arrive at the town's market place and make their way to the place.

 

Nilson and Hermy have been hired to escort Ambassador Martiopherous  of the Foozul Kingdom to the Termanian territories to negotiate a treaty. The ambassador is angered to learn they'll be leaving his massive entourage behind, and they'll be travelling through the lands of his clans sworn enemy the Greegan (air travel is currently too dangerous as the deadly skidhawks are in mating season)

 

 

Nilson starts to explain there's another part to his plan, but the ambassador refuses to go along with it. Nilson gets ready to leave, telling him that he'll have to explain the negations failure to his lord. The ambassador eventually agrees deciding a violent death at the hands of the Greegan is better than dishonor.

 

And so the trio set out on their dinosaur mounts.  

At sunset they reach the cliff overlooking Greegan territory. An hour later it's time to cross, despite the ambassadors complaining.

 

All of a sudden the guards attack, killing the ambassador's massive stamper with a blast from their lazer. The group take cover behind the beast's massive corpse. According to Nilson everything's going according to schedule.

 

The twin moons rise. Suddenly a strange change comes over Hermy as he turns into a massive monster and starts tearing his way through the Greegan forces.

Nilson explains to the awestruck ambassador that one of Hermy's ancestors once fell into a vat of were-beast tonic, and the trait has been passed down through his family ever since. That's why they had to be here on the night of the double full moon. Now Hermy will clear the way straight to the border, and nothing can stop they from reaching the negotiations.

Notes

• Re-Return of the Wizard is the previous story chronologically. This story marks the furthest point in the Nilson and Hermy timeline.
   

Review

You know Stan Saki is really good at drawing sci-fi locales, technology and monsters. He just doesn't get much of an opportunity to draw it since he decided to make his livelihood doing historical fiction. But sometimes he gets eight page back-up stories which let him indulge in his passions.

Good for him.

Anyway this was a decent enough story, which managed to mix a bit of political intrique in with the comedy. 

It's nice to know that Hermy and Nilson had some kids, and that their descendants are still friends centuries later.

Re-Return of the Wizard!

 

Originally published in Dark Horse Presents (2011) #30

Published: 20 November 2013

Writtern and drawn by Stan Sakai

In Brief: The epic journey concludes!

Summary:

Nilson and Hermy have found themselves caught in a sudden storm. They see a small tower and  hope they’ll find shelter there.

Unbeknownst to our heroes the wizard Senogara created the storm to force unsuspecting traveler into seeking shelter at his tower. He has managed to obtain the crystal sphere which holds Reinave’s Amulet of Power. The sphere can only be broken when the proper incantations are said, but the sphere also holds the deadly Vapors of Hubbell which will kill whoever breaks open the sphere.

He decides Hermy would be the ideal flunky.

 

The pair notice their arch-enemy. Nilson draws his sword and Senogara summons two magical minions to keep him busy while he drags Hermy up the stairs.

 

Nilson manages to kill one monster, but the one with a spear is able to knock him to the ground. Senogara shows Hermy the orb, and instructs him what to do. When he nods his head, hit it with the hammer.  Nilson is able to dodge the spear, and slash the monster's throat. He rushes up stairs to save his friend.

 

He finds.....Senogara dead on the floor!

 

Hermy explains he simply did what the wizard ask him to: hit him on the head with a hammer.

 

Confused, but safe the pair leave the tower. Nilson sure that their futures look bright.

Notes

• The story continues from Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #3. This is the last adventure to star our heroes, though the earlier published Nilson 2199 features their descendants in the far future.
• Sènogara previously appeared in Critters #5 and Critters #16.
• Nilson recognises Sènogara despite not seeming to remember their meeting at the end of Return of the Wizard. Even if he did he never learnt his name.
• Similarly Senogara refers to Hermy and Nilson as having foiled his plans twice before. This doesn't really line up with his first apperance when he just wanted to curse Hermy after meeting him for the first time. Perhaps exagerating is his way of dealing with failure?
• Nilson totally killed those monsters. This is the only time he actually kills a foe. And by stabbing one of them in the throat no less. He does give them the chance to surrender first.
  

Review: 

Well this must have been a nice surprise back in 2013. Stan Sakai's original rabbit swordsman returning for his thirtieth anniversary (....8 months early admittingly). 

Not that most of the readers of Dark Horse Presents would recognise the signifcance of this story, since was the first story to feature our heroes in decades. But I bet after they read it they went "That was fun" and what more do you need from a 12 pages backup story? 

And it helps cap off the Adventures of  Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy trade collection on a high note, allowing our heroes to defeat their greatest (and only) recurring foe and stroll confidently off into legend. We could do a lot worse.

It also gives us a chance to see how much Sakai's style has changed over in twenty years. Hermy is basically unchanged, while Nilson looks a bit less chunky than he used to. It also has a pretty exciting and well staged fight scene, something the stories hadn't really done before.  I guess that's what happens when you spend thirty years honing your craft.

(haha Hermy killed a man. That scamp)

Loxos and Doxos!

Originally Published in Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #3

Published: September 1992

Writtern and drawn by Stan Sakai

In Brief: Our heroes versus the evils of socialism 

Sumamry:

Hermy and Nilson arrive in the valley of Loxox.

Arriving at the castle they learn that their the first outsiders to enter the valley in a hundred years. King Loxo of the Loxos decrees that henceforth the travelers will become their honored guests and live a life of luxury.

As they enjoy the king’s hospitality, he explains that the Loxos live in the castle, while the Doxos work in the field. Many years ago the two groups were constantly at war, but they found a way to permanently stop the fighting. Nilson say that the Doxos all becoming servants doesn’t seem fair, the king starts to explain that there’s more to it, but he’s interrupted by a messenger bringing urgent news.

The Doxos are revolting!

 

Nilson and Hermy run, but end up taking a wrong turn and find themselves trapped in a tower. Nilson tries to lower Hermy down using some curtains as rope, but it’s too short to reach the ground (just barely too short, but Nilson wanted Hermy to tell if he could touch the ground).

Eventually the pair are able to find an open gate and happily escape with lives. Meanwhile King Loxo happily gives up his crown to the Doxo leader. They’ll live in the castle and the Loxos will work in the field….until next month’s revolt when they switch again.

King Doxo wonders where their new friends went and concludes that some people just make lousy guests.

 

Notes

• The story continues from Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #2. For a long time this was our heroes last adventure, but after 21 years they made their triumphant return in Dark Horse Presents (2011) #30
   

Review:

You know Hermy and Nilson do run away and leave their new friend to die at the hands of an angry mob,

They are pretty lousy friends.

Still Lost in A Lost City!

 

Originally Published in Usagi Yojimbo Colour Special #2 

Published: September 1991

Writtern and drawn by Stan Sakai

In Brief:Hermy and Nilson commit blasphamy

Summary:

Our heroes are still wandering the lost city. They decide to split up to try and find something to eat.

Alone Nilson is suddenly jumped by the locals who tie him up, and take him back to their village. They plan to offer Nilson as a sacrifice to their two-headed god, but they’ll need to find another sacrifice before sunset, otherwise their god may grow angry and return to punish them like he did a thousand years ago when he devastated their city.

They tie Nilson to a stake and leave to begin their search. Hermy overhears his friend's cries, and follows the sound to the clearing.  

Hermy manages to untie Nilson, but the returning hunters spots them escaping. They give chase since this is their last chance to appease the two-headed god. The pair try to escape them in the maze of streets and alleys, but Hermy trips and knocks them both down a flight of stairs. After that his ankle is sprained, so Nilson has to carry him.

Suddenly they run round a corner…right into the hunting party, knocking the high priest to the ground. The adventurer’s quickly flee too preoccupied to realize that the hunters have ran away screaming.

 

Later they find themselves at the deserted temple. Nilson is even able to find his confiscated sword. The two muse on how ugly the two-headed god’s statue is, unaware that it looks just like them....

Notes

•  The story continues from Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #1. It continues in Usagi Yojimbo Color Special #3.
• We don't see it happen, but our heroes have find their way out of the lost city by the time the next story starts.
  

Review: 

Another fun little story. Sure the entire adventure is set up for a punchline but I laughted. Also Hermy's antics when freeing Nilson were pretty amusing. 

Nothing else to  really say here.