The Pull List – Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #7
Usagi and Inspector Ishida figure that Oda the theft would make a trade for Kirishitan bible with Kin the merchant, and the two return to Kin’s compound to retrieve the evidence and begin to close their investigation. But the Shogunate agents have captured Oda and have arrived at the same time as Usagi and Inspector Ishida to Kin’s compound. With the Shogunate trying to silence all traces of Kirishitan belief, Usagi and Inspector Ishida must fight to protect the Kirishitan bible and their lives.
In the final chapter of The Hidden, the moment has come for Usagi and Inspector Ishida to confront the Shogunate agents and their hired men. Previous issues had the Shogunate working from a distance, sending goons to do their dirty work. Now Usagi and Ishida have a chance to pay them back and possibly bring in their key suspects to justice. But the Shogunate agents don’t surrender to local rule. This is a group that is detached from reason and is willing to kill anyone who gets in their way. This issue quickly jumps into the sword fighting when the Shogunate arrives. Usagi and Ishida are able to hold their own, taking on many enemies with their combat skills. All awhile a raging fire suddenly breaks out, increasing the danger.
The Hidden has been a suspenseful and thrilling story, one that is based on historical events in feudal Japan. The reality of the Shogunate trying to eliminate Christianity only drove the followers to become more cunning and daring to practice their beliefs. The Kirishitan followers in the story were hiding in plain sight, afraid of what the government would do if they were found out. This placed a lot of tension on who was willing to help Usagi and Inspector Ishida, and who was willing to hurt them. While the story isn’t all about samurai’s and ninjas, there is enough twist and turns, actions sequences and shocking moments to get the story moving along seven parts. This was an epic story that deserves the casual pacing and is a great addition to Usagi’s journey.