Yes, we’ve seen the rabbit samurai, Miyamoto Usagi (from long-running indie comic, Usagi Yojimbo) outside of his feudal Japan setting before, most notably in Space Usagi and numerous crossovers. However, Usagi Kaitō ’84 is the first time we’ve seen the descendants of Usagi in the 20th century, and what’s more notable is that this seems to be the first Usagi series without script or art from the original creator, Stan Sakai.

Usagi Kaitō ’84 #1 sets up an action-packed storyline in which two Robin Hood-esque, rabbit thieves steal from the real bad guys. When a crime lord makes rabbits Kaitō and Yukichi a tempting offer, they have a chance at a new, less dangerous life. But of course, things are never as straightforward as they seem, are they?

Though I feel like we’re thrust into the story without enough context, and Kaitō’s motivations and morality could do with a bit of clarity from the off, I really enjoyed Usagi Kaitō ’84 #1.

Even though the script is a little lacking in a few places, the dialogue is great and the artwork is simply phenomenal. Jared Callum gives Usagi Kaitō ’84 an absolutely gorgeous, painterly style; though I did have my reservations at the lack of Stan Sakai’s involvement, certainly from the point of view of its art, I needn’t have worried.

It was that glorious, Miami Vice-style variant cover (by Jim Rugg) that drew me in; I’m glad it did. Though I haven’t read a great deal of Usagi Yojimbo before, I have been familiar with the character for decades, and I’m glad to see the series continue in a slightly different way here.

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