Usagi Yojimbo - "Blind Swords-pig" (1987)

[riddler13]

One character I didn't profile in previous Usagi Yojimbo posts is actually quite a fan favourite - blind masseur pig Zato-Ino. Based upon Zatoichi, a fictional character in a series of films and a television show, he is sort of this universe's Daredevil. His uncanny sense of smell compensates for his lack of eyesight.

He was introduced in a short 10-page story in Critters #7, January 1987, which can also be found in Fantagraphics' first Usagi Yojimbo book, "The Ronin".



Zato-Ino is someone who just wants to be left alone but has fallen into a vicious circle: he killed people in unknown circumstances before, so there's a bounty on his head. People recognize him as an outlaw and attack him, he kills them, becomes more hunted than before, wash, rinse, repeat.

So, another village brings the hope of a quieter life, but it is just an illusion: he is recognized, then attacked. Using his sense of smell, he kills his attackers and destroys the village in his wake. Usagi arrives at the destroyed village shortly afterward ("His irrational attack reminds me of another mindless barbarian I've heard about", mulls the bunny samurai).

Continuing on his quest to reach his home village (it was part of an early arc in which he wanted to return and stay there forever), Usagi sees that someone fell into a hole and helps him out. Turns out it is a blind masseur, who tells the rabbit samurai his story. He also explains how he can "see" with his nose, even deducing that Usagi is a ronin (masterless samurai) because there is too much blood on the rabbit's blade for him to be an employed samurai.



They camp by a river, have dinner and sleep. Zato-Ino smells something suspicious and so is off to an early start. It doesn't take long for Usagi to catch up with him just in time to see the pig surrounded by bounty hunters, and with just his walking stick.



And then it all goes downhill too fast. Shame, because Usagi was fastly becoming Ino's first friend in a long time.



After some time, Ino's back in the game, albeit with a small handicap.



(Two years before Jack Nicholson's Joker demanded a mirror).

Ino was used a lot in the Fantagraphics run (1984-1993), then not so much in the Mirage run (1993-1996), when he was retired by Stan with a beautiful story, and has been absent from the Dark Horse 20+ years run. He still remains a favourite for lots of Usagi fans, including several names in the comic book industry.

Comments

[dragontail]

Zato-Ino's arc has been one of the great, heartbreaking delights of my reading of this series so far... along with Spot, of course. Arrgh.

I also want to take a moment to thank you, again, for introducing me to this series. I purchased all seven digital volumes of the Fantagraphics run and, as discussed, read them during my trip to Japan. It was an amazing addition to an amazing experience, and I'm now looking foward to starting on the Mirage/Dark Horse era. Thank you!

[sanjuro]

I'd like to thank you, riddler13, for posting all of these Usagi Yojimbo scans. For the longest time, I had just thought he was apart the TMNT extended universe. Now I'm looking to buy some of these stories in physical form.

[tripodeca113]

Zato-Ino's story is over now and it would cheapen it if he were to reappear.
Interestingly he made an appearance in an early version of Senso, but was dropped in the final comic.

[riddler13]

And, according to Stan, he did get his wish and his child was a girl

[q99]

-
Ino was used a lot in the Fantagraphics run (1984-1993), then not so much in the Mirage run (1993-1996), when he was retired by Stan with a beautiful story, and has been absent from the Dark Horse 20+ years run.-

Well of course, he's retired! He doesn't need to be brought back into things, he can relax.

[riddler13]

It's like tripodeca mentioned above, his return would cheapen his story. But he could return, yes. Remember that trouble finds him, not the other way around.

[riddler13]

You're all welcome. It is my pleasure to share my favourite comic run here and see people getting into it :)

[bradygirl_12]

I've followed your every post and have enjoyed each one. :)

[riddler13]

Heh, thanks a lot!