Usagi Yojimbo #14

Usagi Yojimbo issue 14 was published in 1988 as part of the original Fantagraphics Books series. Created, written, and illustrated by Stan Sakai, the series follows the wanderings of Miyamoto Usagi, a rabbit ronin in an anthropomorphic version of Edo-period Japan. This specific issue continues Sakai’s signature blend of meticulous historical research, Japanese cinema tropes—particularly those of Akira Kurosawa—and accessible, clean-line comic art.

The design of the series, including the thirteenth and fourteenth issues, was heavily influenced by Sakai's desire to merge his appreciation for classic samurai films with the medium of independent comics. His approach was praised by critics and readers for its consistent character development and its ability to balance lighthearted anthropomorphism with genuinely tense, well-choreographed action sequences. It remains a hallmark of the 1980s independent comic book scene.