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ContentsThis comic contains the following stories: Letter ColumnSend to: 7563 Lake City Way, Seattle, WA 98115 [Hi! We're a little later than usual with this issue because of a screw-up with our color separator. You almost saw a very blue Usagi on the cover - and I don't mean just bummed out, either. But don't let that think you ill of our color separators, those fine folks at Rayson Films who've been doing our covers for many years. Usually they do a great job - and Tom Luth, who has seen his share of fine coloring jobs mangled by bad seps, concurs. So no hard feelings here. [Those of you who have ordered the Usagi Yojimbo Book Four deluxe edition are probably beginning to wonder where it is. Well, the vagaries of international printing have pushed it back to the point where it may end up in early January. For those of you who were hoping to get it as a Christmas present, my apologies, but quality takes time. It'll be worth it. Incidentally, if you haven't placed your order yet, there's still time: $38.00 postpaid until December 20th, after which the polls close and the book becomes officially sold out! [A few words about the back-up story. Mike Sagara has been releasing his work in 12-page digest-size mini-comics, of which a half-dozen or so are available at present. You can order one issue of his Hey, Neeters! from Saga Graphics, PO Box 1378, Belmont, CA 94002 for $1.50 postpaid, or any four issues for $5 postpaid. A one-year subscription (12 issues) is available for $15.00 postpaid. Make checks out to Saga Graphics. It's good stuff. [For the record: Yes, there will be a Usagi color special in 1991, and yes, this one will be all-new and all-Sakai. In fact, Stan has already finished the story, thereby earning himself the undying enmity of every late cartoonist in the country. (He was six months early!) [About the art in this column. On this page, you've got a nice big splash of Usagi and the Space Ark crew by "Riley," a very talented new cartoonist I'm sure we'll be seeing lots more of. On the following page we've got a drawing by a friend of Stan Sakai and Sergio Aragonés', Manuel Carrasco of Odessa, TX: it depicts Usagi with Manuel's own character, El Coyote. And bringing up the rear is another great shot by Chuck Dillon. [Finally, a quick recommendation: I've just finished listening to The Carl Stalling Project, a collection of soundtracks from classic Warner Bros. cartoons, and it's the wildest hour-and-a-bit of audio frenzy you'll ever come across. Released by Warner Bros., produced by Hal Willner (who also produced last year's great collection of Disney songs Stay Awake), it also features some wonderful background paintings and character sketches as part of the package. Get it, and get it now! [All for this time. See you in sixty or so! [- KIM THOMPSON, ED.] Dear Editor, This is one of those letters I've been meaning to write for almost two years. Every month, at the CAPS meeting (Comic Art Professional Society) Stan is kind enough to give me a copy of Usagi and every month I go "Oh, boy!" and mean it! As I have told him there are only two comics I read religiously: Usagi and Lone Wolf and Cub. It is only a coincidence that they are both about samurai. While I think Tom Luth's coloring is the best he does - and that's excellent - it is Stan's cinematic drawing and interesting storytelling that is the appeal for me. (This from a kid who never read "funny-animal" comics, even as a kid!) Reading Usagi is like seeing a movie. The panels flow and tell the story like a camera under the direction of a good director. His characters are interesting and distinct, their emotions and dialogue appropriate. You understand that this is an unsolicited letter from a professional writer. I mean, I'd read it even if I (choke!) had to pay for it! Stan and Sharon are nice people, but I'd not write this letter of embarrassing praise if I did not mean it. (Embarrassing to Stan, probably, as he is very modest; Sharon might just smile.) May the long-eared Ronin wander forever! Cheers! [Thanks, Bill. In addition to being a prolific writer, Bill is also a terrific cartoonist whose on-the-spot sketches have amused thousands of bystanders over the years. - ED] Dear Stan, ED., and Kim, Ever since I started reading Usagi Yojimbo with issue #4, I have noticed that the stories are becoming better and better. After reading other anthropomorphic animals titles that were either mediocre or downright dreadful, I was wary to try your tale of a rabbit ronin. However, I had heard good things about Usagi, so I decided to give it a trial run. What I read was extremely fine storytelling, and the artwork was perfectly suited to both story and characterization. The art was not cutesy or haphazard, but, instead, a unique and innovative style. Right at that moment, I knew I was hooked on Usagi. Usagi is a title with heart. His stories vary from poignant to hilarious, tragic to almost, or maybe even, inspirational. What is wonderful about Usagi Yojimbo is that anyone can enjoy this book. Nowadays, with several adults-only titles emerging, and the feeling that comics need a gritty, more realistic edge, it is comforting to realize that there is still one comic which defines originality, quality, and most of all...entertainment - Usagi!! The back-up stories are a perfect complement to the regular storyline. I especially enjoy Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy. I hope you consider continuing the Usagi Color Specials, because the first one was outstanding. He looks great in blue! By the way, I liked the Caped Crusader comments in issue #22, such as, "Man, what a dark night!" and the even better "Holy flying furball! It's bats, man!" At least I hope they were jokes. Otherwise I have been reading too many DC comics! Better grab a copy of Usagi Yojimbo Books One-Three. 'Bye for now! [Caped Crusader? Bats? Stan and I have no idea what you're talking about, Thomas. - ED.] Dear Stan, Another fine issue of Usagi Yojimbo (#23), with the best cover of the past few issues. I'd like to praise you for your collaboration with Tom Stazer. You've done a wonderful job on handling the artwork and your version of Lionheart was just as good as Stazer's. Tom wrote an interesting story to accompany the art, too. Hopefully this event will bring further collaborations between you two. Also, a great contribution of Usagi in the 1990 Amazing Heroes Swimsuit issue. Though it looks like he's not having a very good time. I'm surprised there aren't any Usagi stories in the Best Comics of the Decade collection Fantagraphics put out. David DuPerre [As one of the co-editors of that august volume, I can assure you that there was no slight intended with that particular exclusion. Although my co-editors and I had a Usagi story on the semi-final list during much of the selection process, it was ultimately decided, for a variety of reasons, to avoid any adventure-genre comics material whatsoever - even as superb as Stan's. (This was also the limitation that put the kibosh on possible appearances by the Flaming Carrot and Zot!, by the way - and was the reason behind the semi-obscure choices of work from Alan Moore [as opposed to Swamp Thing or Watchmen] and Sergio Aragonés [as opposed to Groo].) Make sense? - ED.] Dear Mr. Sakai, Issue #24 was excellent. I really do enjoy the offbeat stories and the characters. The artwork is really superb. Your publication is one of the few comics that I collect religiously. In issue #24 a person wrote in about the comic saying that it was inhumane for Usagi to kill all his opponents. Well, I say that is wrong: it's part of being a samurai warrior to always win and to slay all opponents. I don't care what anyone says, I think it is one of the best comics put out. Please keep up the excellent work. Rodney Ammons Dear Mr. Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo #24 was the high point in an otherwise bad week. I hope that Lone Goat and Gorogoro will return to these pages. I was surprised by the LoC that complained about the killing in this book. I have never perceived the death in this book as gratuitous, and I was relieved by your answer to this letter. The fact that your stories don't treat 17th century Japan like 20th century America is what keeps me reading. Sincerely, P.S.: I think Usagi would look good with a tail. [The defense of the level of violence in Usagi was pretty unanimous from our readers. (Note the letter earlier on from the reader who sees Usagi as something of an antidote to the "grim-and-gritty" comics that are proliferating these days.) My own take on this is that Stan, despite his frequently humorous depictions of fairly extreme violence - I mean, we are talking about cute little animals being sliced open from stem to stern here - places enough weight and gravity on its consequences, and on the finality of death, to avoid the charge of either trivializing or exploiting a sensitive subject. - ED.] Dear Mr. Sakai, Your issue #24, "Lone Goat and Kid," is no cheap take-off of the "Lone Wolf and Cub" series. Many similarities exist between Itto Ogami and Yagi but one difference is that Yagi is not as immaculate as Itto Ogami. He almost killed Usagi by mistake due to misinformation (something that Itto Ogami would never allow). But it shows a real human trait. I liked the way the story was handled and Usagi now has a real suitable ally instead of Gen the bounty hunter. As for me I enjoy both Usagi Yojimbo and Lone Wolf and Cub. I hardly buy anything else. One last thing, what does the road to hell (meifumado in Lone Wolf) in Japanese religion mean? A pessimistic place or a state of Karma? Clear me up on it. Victor L. Smith [Damned if I know. (Get it? "Damned if I..." oh, forget it.) - ED.] Dear Kim, This is the first time I have been sufficiently motivated to write. for a while, I was hesitant to pick up Usagi Yojimbo because I thought it was not quite straight up. Once I read a couple issues, I was pleasantly surprised with the tone of the book. Since then, I have managed to pick up the remaining back issues needed to complete the run and have been pleased to date. I have been waiting for the arrival of issue #24 for some time. Bringing the ultimate samurai manga characters with the greatest anthropomorphic samurai was something you just knew had to happen sometime down the road. I'm glad it's finally here. It seems like Yagi killed more people in this issue than Itto does in an average issue of Lone Wolf & Cub. Gorogoro certainly seems a lot more bloodthirsty than Daigoro ever has in the past. I was not surprised by the outcome of their duel. It was inevitable that Itto and Usagi would fight to a draw. "Men" of their talent should stalemate, so that the world is not deprived of either of their skill. My vote for the next guest-star should be an acting troupe traveling the land, featuring a star named Toshiro and a director named Akira. In closing, I am very happy that Usagi has maintained an overall serious tone. With Usagi's appearance on the Turtles cartoon show, I was deathly afraid of the book being juvenilized. The Turtles have been parodies of their earlier selves, and I am glad that Usagi Yojimbo has not been affected. Marc Coale [Oh oh. I guess you haven't heard about "Tiny Usagi Tales," debuting from CBS this sprint. They replace his sword with a giant lollipop, see, and... - ED.] Dear Mr. Sakai, I love going through letters in the back of comic books. Reading and finding out what the fans have to say. The neat thing is when you get answered. As I go through your letters in issue #24 ("Lone Goat and Kid") of Usagi Yojimbo, I see a person who writes and says that she'll stop reading your comics because they're so violent. Well, I don't thing they are. In fact, your comics are awesome. It's something new and I look forward to each new issue. I love the way they're told, drawn, and presented. I like the fact that you don't show the person who's getting killed, or who was killed, with his head open and guts flying all over the place. A lot of comics are too violent, but yours are not. I loved the crossover with Miyamoto Usagi and the Turtles. I have also noticed that you show and talk about 17th century Japan and its strict caste system, showing that Usagi must be Hindu or Buddhist. I, myself, am a Christian, but I find the ways of the samurai and ninja very honorable, but sometimes very surprising at times. Well, thanks for listening and keep up the good work. By the way I don't know who Chuck Dillon is, but his drawing was awesome! Lee Stahl [Speaking of whom... - ED] Stan: Referring to #25: Elsetime! [Another knock-out drawing, Chuck. When do you go pro? - ED.] Dear Mr. Sakai, When four members of the Westfield Company staff (the comics mail order company that I use) named Usagi Yojimbo among their favorite continuing titles for 1989, I thought I would see what all the fuss was about. So this month I received Usagi Yojimbo #24 among my regular Westfield shipment - my first taste of Stan Sakai's work. What a thoroughly enjoyable surprise! While appearing laughable on the surface (imagine a bunnyrabbit with a samurai sword!?), "Lone Goat and Kid" was a didactic tale steeped in the rich, profound tradition of samurai. As a student and teacher of the martial arts myself for the past 11 years, Usagi Yojimbo seems to pay homage to the code of honor that is as much a part of a martial artist's repertoire as strikes and parries. With such a treasure embodied in issue #24, I was wondering if this particular tale was a fluke or part of a consistent unfolding of Japan's fascinating history. The letters column answered my question emphatically. One of your readers, James Koizumi, mentions the riddles of issue #15 and "The Second Catechism of the Justification of Rebellion." Another, Tim Welke, wonders about similarities between Usagi and Musashi (A Book of Five Rings). These two letters and each of the others were in their own way a testimony to the depth of this title. It is uncharacteristic of me to get so excited over my first issue of any title. But after more than two decades of reading comics, this is the first title that I've come across that truly touches the warrior spirit within me. Perhaps it is too early for me to label your work on this title a masterpiece, Mr. Sakai. But give me a few more issues under my belt. I don't think my enthusiasm is likely to abate. Good luck on your path. [A good spot to thank our friends at Westfield, who have been great about pushing Usagi Yojimbo. It's through the help of Joyce, K.C. (welcome back to Westfield!), and their like that Usagi has shown significant gains in sales throughout 1990, and we appreciate it. [Thanks for the letter, Jan. We do put a bit of effort into this letters column and we're glad it shows. [All for this time around. We'll see you in forty-five days or so for a very different Usagi tale. Trust me, this one will surprise you! - ED.]
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USAGI YOJIMBO Volume 1, Issue 26
