Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s waiting on Wednesday, I highlight the next awesome volume of one of my favourite comic book series with Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow by Stan Sakai.

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Fans of this blog will know that I am a massive fan of the Usagi Yojimbo comic series by iconic writer and artist Stan Sakai, indeed I literally just published a review for the 39^th volume, Ice and Snow (one of my favourite books of 2024), yesterday.  Following a rabbit ronin who travels around an animal filled Feudal Japan, the Usagi Yojimbo series is a classic comic that combines intriguing samurai focused storylines with beautiful artwork to great effect.

Sakai has been on a real roll of late with this series, especially since he adapted colour to his artwork, and there have been some truly impressive volumes, including Bunraku and Other Stories (one of my favourite books of 2020), Homecoming (one of my favourite books of 2021), Tengu War! and Crossroads (both of which were among my favourite books of 2022) and The Green Dragon (one of my favourite books of 2023).  All these comics have been extremely epic with some inventive narratives, and I have so much fun reading them multiple times.

Due to how awesome I always find the Usagi Yojimbo series, it is a must-get for me each year, and I always grab the new comic the second it comes out.  Usually, fans of the series are forced to wait a whole year between volumes, but luckily for us they are releasing the next inclusion very soon with the 40^th volume in the series The Crow.  Currently set for release in early February 2025, The Crow will pit Usagi against a new dangerous opponent, while old friends return to cause even more trouble.

Plot Synopsis:

The adventures continue for the rabbit ronin Usagi and his cousin Yukichi!

Finally making it out of the frozen mountains, Usagi and Yukichi come across a merchant being attacked by four brigands.

They rescue the supposed merchant only to discover much later that he is really a criminal with a huge bounty on his head! Of course, wherever there is a huge reward you will find bounty hunters Gen and Stray Dog…and other unscrupulous trackers!

While brief, the above plot synopsis is full of potential, and I like the sound of where The Crow’s story is going.  While having Usagi rescuing a merchant with dark secrets is a bit of a common occurrence in the Usagi Yojimbo series, the inclusion of a hidden criminal and the return of Usagi’s old friends Gen and Stray Dog should result in a fun and exciting narrative.  Gen, the surly and greedy rhinoceros samurai is always a great comedic character, especially when teamed up with the bounty obsessed Stray Dog, and it will be great to once again seem them interact with the more straightlaced Usagi.  Throw in rival trackers and other potential villains and The Crow should be another action-packed blast, filled with well-drawn carnage.

To be honest, I already know that I am going to grab this new Usagi Yojimbo volume the moment it comes out and I will love it unconditionally.  I have such a great respect and appreciation for this exceptional series, and I refuse to believe I will find anything to hate in this upcoming comic, especially if Stan Sakai keeps up all the skill and creativity he’s been putting into the last few volumes. I cannot wait to see the elaborate stories contained within The Crow, as well as the awesome and captivating artwork, and I’m sure this will be something special.  The Crow is already one of my most anticipated reads for the new year and it is almost guaranteed to get a five-star rating from me.  Check back in a couple of months to see my glowing review for Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow, and make sure to also check out my other Waiting on Wednesday this week for When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi.