Usagi Yojimbo #16

Usagi Yojimbo issue 16 was published in 1988 as part of the initial series released by Fantagraphics Books. Created, written, and illustrated by Stan Sakai, the series follows the journey of Miyamoto Usagi, an anthropomorphic rabbit ronin wandering a stylized version of Edo-period Japan. Sakai developed the character as a synthesis of his lifelong interests in samurai cinema, particularly the works of Akira Kurosawa, and the medium of comic books.

The sixteenth issue is notable for continuing Sakai's distinct minimalist art style, which emphasizes clarity and kinetic movement over dense ornamentation. By this point in the series, critics and readers had widely embraced Sakai’s ability to weave historical research with folklore and adventure tropes. The issue fits into the larger narrative structure of the ronin's travels, maintaining the critical acclaim that established Sakai as a master of the anthropomorphic genre.