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.