![]() ![]() However, on the trip there the boys witnessed a confrontation where a gang of arrogant Dogora students attacked a lone traveler named Katsuichi. Eventually the trio went their separate ways when the boys were sent to be trained as samurai in the Dogora school of Bujitsu (en: arts of war). His two childhood playmates were Kenichi, with whom Usagi would have a less-than-friendly rivalry his whole life, and Mariko, one of the reasons for the boys' rivalry. Usagi was born the only son of a village headman. Usagi is a highly skilled swordsman and one of the best in the land. Originally intended to be a human, Sakai was inspired to anthropomorphize the character after doodling a rabbit with its ears bound in a style reminiscent of a samurai topknot. Miyamoto Usagi is the main protagonist of Usagi Yojimbo, whom Sakai has said was inspired by the life of legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. He also placed 31st in The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters in Empire. In May 2011, Miyamoto Usagi placed 92nd on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time. The character has frequently crossed over with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Usagi is an anthropomorphic rabbit ( Usagi is Japanese for "rabbit") and a ronin now walking the musha shugyo (warrior's pilgrimage). Miyamoto Usagi ( Japanese: 宮本 兎) is a fictional character, who appears in the American comic book Usagi Yojimbo, a Dark Horse Comics book created by Stan Sakai. Art by Stan Sakai.Īlbedo Anthropomorphics Vol 1 #2: The Goblin of Adachigahara (1984) Usagi Yojimbo Gallery Edition Volume 1: Samurai and Other Stories HC – $75.Cover art of Usagi Yojimbo Volume 3, Issue 93. Since these are early stories from Sakai let’s hope the sales justify additional volumes. When this was solicited it had “Volume 1” in the title but that was dropped. There is one chapter divider using a Usagi image in the same red as the cover font and the indexes. It’s clean and simple, with endpapers being the same image in tan taken from a panel. Grazzini is credited as designer and digital art technician, which from his foreword means he scanned all the artwork and put it together. The price and UPC is a sticker on the back of the book. The book came shrinkwrapped in a cardboard case with a black and white information sticker. Dark Horse maintains a standard cover and index design for their Gallery Editions and it just works. Sewn binding, just loose enough to allow the book to fall mostly open. Black levels are clearly visible in the early pages but stop in the middle, which seems to be more about how Sakai was inking than the scanning. Very few corrections to be found, but they’re here. All the art is slightly tanned, but it’s not clear if that’s aging or the boards themselves. The art is very clean to begin with, and the aging is mild. Moving in we get the watch the evolution of Sakai’s design and Usagi changes and becomes the look we know today.Īfter the stories we’re treated to a Gallery, with covers, roughs, sketches, and unused art. Not sure who loves that story from Amazing Heroes detailing Sakai’s process, but it starts things off here like it did the Special Edition. As well there is an “About This Edition” that discusses the two pages not from original art and that Sakai trims and cuts his own art boards so there is a varying size throughout. There’s a Foreword by Cary Grazzini, comic art introduction by Sakai, and closing biography. Beginning in earnest with Fantagraphics Usagi Yojimbo Special Edition, continuing with The Usagi Yojimbo Saga, and now this volume of original art reprints.Īll stories here are from the Fantagraphics and Mirage era: For a complete list of all current and announced editions, with review links, please visit our Index.įor fans old and new of Stan Sakai and his creation Usagi Yojimbo there has never been a more prolific period of reprints. This edition includes the art from the very first Usagi story, the complete origin tale “Samurai,” and more!Īs with all original artist’s gallery editions this is a collection of classic comic material and I’ll be reviewing the book and not the story. Hailed as one of the true masterpieces of the comics medium,Usagi Yojimbo gets its first gallery edition, reproducing Stan Sakai’s breathtaking artwork at full size and in living color. ![]()
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