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)