The miniseries Usagi Yojimbo: Kaitō 84 arrives like a breath of fresh air in the samurai rabbit universe. This spin-off, set in 1980s Japan, follows a descendant of Miyamoto Usagi, blending the classic spirit with homages to Hong Kong action cinema. Written by Zack Rosenberg and drawn by Jared Cullum, the work avoids being a copy and offers its own visual voice.
Cullum's watercolor as a narrative engine 🎨
The most notable technical aspect of Kaitō 84 is Jared Cullum's use of watercolor. Instead of replicating Stan Sakai's precise linework, the artist opts for color splashes and loose brushstrokes that evoke samurai cinema and 80s noir. This technique, applied to dynamic panels, manages to convey speed in chases and melancholy in empty spaces. It is not an imitation; it is a visual adaptation consistent with the new era.
A rabbit in the 80s? Yes, and without a walkman 🐰
The most curious thing is that, despite being set in the 80s, the protagonist does not use a walkman or style his hair with gel. The samurai rabbit prefers the katana to the cassette, although the neon streets and yakuza with shoulder pads remind us that the era has changed. At least we don't have to see him breakdancing to prove he's modern. However, the fight choreography has more rhythm than any Madonna song.