Fantagraphics Books Usagi Yojimbo #23  The Way of the Samurai July 1990 (Click on the thumbnails to view full size cover art)

USAGI LETTERS Send all correspondence to "USAGI LETTERS," c/o Fantagraphics Books, 7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA  98115

As usual, a few notes to start off with. First of all, you're probably wondering how the Sakai/Stazer team-up that graced the eight previous pages came about. Well, it's as simple as can be: Stan has always enjoyed Tom's "Lionheart" character, Tom has always loved Stan's art, and…there you go! For those curious souls who wonder what happens when an artist illustrates another artist's work, we're printing a couple of pages of Tom's "script" – actually, layouts – below. Sharp-eyed fans can enjoy checking out how Stan changed Tom's work here and there – including the insertion of one bit of heinous libel against the person who writes these very words, and his esteemed partner. Sheesh! Those artists must enjoy pain! "Lionheart" Script Layout by Tom Stazer By the way, if you enjoyed Tom's story, there's plenty of "Lionheart" in select back issues of Critters, listed in the back of the book. For those loyal Usagi fans who ordered the special edition of the Usagi Color Special, we've got some bugs to work out, which is why it's taking so long. Thank for your patience. By the way, our circulation department tells us that Usagi readers are by far the most polite and patient among our customers, so take a bow, all you sweethearts. Sharon and Shanna send you all a big kiss! Lots and lots of people are apparently being turned on to Usagi via the TMNT shows, so, to answer the most frequently-asked question: yes, Stan knew (and okayed, and signed the contracts for, and was paid for) Usagi's appearances on the show. And we're sorry he didn't show up in the movie, too, but he's holding out for his own feature-length animated feature. Now that the "Dragon Bellow Saga" is almost a year old, people are starting to ask when the next collection is due out. Our answer: Christmas…but there'll be some more special announcements about this at a later date. Let's just say you should start saving your pennies. On to the letters! – ED.

Dear Kim and Stan,

I bet you don't get many letters from DOWN UNDER, so here is one now. In Australia we have a major problem. Usagi Yojimbo cannot be bought in any news agency in the whole of the city of Sydney and its suburbs. I travel 30 km to buy one issue that costs me four Australian dollars to buy from a small comic shop. Trust me, it's worth it.

Another problem is that there are no Usagi posters, pictures, shirts, prints, etc. available in Australia. All we have is a computer game. So in my opinion fewer than 100 people in Australia read Usagi Yojimbo. All you need is publicity.

Recently I was reading a book on martial arts, and came across a picture drawn of a woman with a bow, on a horse, done in Japanese style. she is wearing armor and is said to be from the Genji period in Japan. What amazed me was that her name was Tomoe! Did Stan get the idea for the character "Tomoe Ame" from that woman? Anyway, keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Darren McNamara
Sydney, Australia

PS: If you don't print this letter there will be only 99 readers in Australia.

Four dollars? Sheesh! But then, aren't all you guys descended from thieves and cutthroats? I'd commiserate, but do you have any idea how expensive eucalyptus leaves are in Seattle and Los Angeles?

Dear Kim and Stan,

I really don't want to start this letter with the usual "Usagi Yojimbo is the best comic book I've ever read!" Instead, I'd like to say that it ranks up there with my favorites. From Usagi's topknot to his waraji sandals, I've found him to be as accurate to samurai lore as Lone Wolf and Cub. I have one question, though. Why is it Usagi doesn't wear tabi socks along with the sandals? I've only seen characters which are inside wear them. In all the photographs and artwork of samurai I've seen, the vast majority of samurai wore tabi socks in and out of the house. I know the subject of footwear is highly unusual, and for many other (more normal) readers it wouldn't matter, but I'm talking authenticity here.

By the way, why is it we don't see Usagi in happier moods and in funnier stories? (Not that your stories aren't funny, Mr. Sakai, but Usagi's been a part of many serious stories and not too many not-so-serious stories: ex. "Zylla"). True, a samurai's life is filled with much depression, killing, seeing people being killed, etc., but to me at least UY suggests a more humoristic style to it. After all, we're talkin' a samurai rabbit, c'mon! I'd really like to know, without revealing too much of later plots, if Usagi will partake in an adventure containing a more comical point of view. (How ‘bout Usagi Yojimbo and the Fortress of Phelm, for example?) Well, I have a lot more to write about, but if I put them all down in one letter, you'd have to use my letter as a back-up for future issues of UY. Como arigato [sic, see UY Letters Vol 1, #25], Mr. Sakai, for a superb comic book.

Reggie Razote
Spring, TX

I'm sure there will be more humorous Usagi stories in the future, Reggie, but right now Stan is playing it more or less straight, and who are we to say him no? Anyway, the back-ups in the last couple of issues should have injected the required note of levity, I daresay. – ED.

Dear Kim and Stan,

I just went into my comics shop today and was happy to see that the newest Usagi had come out. The cover was great! Is that supposed to be Sergio on the kite?

Anyway, the story inside was good, too. I liked the way it was told in separate parts. Having the story told from the kitemaker, the gambler, and then Usagi's point of view made it more interesting.

The only thing I didn't like about Usagi #20 was the back-up. The story was O.K., but the artwork stunk. I don't think anybody else can draw Usagi as good as you.

By the way, I just saw Mirage Studios' Shell Shock paperback and was wondering if you are going to print that story anywhere else? It looked really good, but I don't want to shell out $12 for a 10-page story.

Well, that's it for now. Hurry up and make a Usagi T-shirt!

Chris Allen
Loveland, CO

"Shell out"? After ten billion articles on the Turtle movie, you're not ashamed to use that pun, Chris? (Okay, to be fair, this letter was written before the movie made it big, and before a zillion uninspired headline-writers had all stumbled across the "shell out" joke.)

Don't know if that story will be appearing anywhere else. Not that I want to encourage the comics equivalent of home taping (which, as we all know, is wrecking the recording industry), but have you thought of buying the comic, Xeroxing the Usagi story, and selling it in a few years when Turtlemania has made it a collector's item?

Yeah, that was Sergio on the kite.

– ED.

Dear Kim and Stan,

I really liked issue #20 (and is that a Sergio Aragonés kite flying on the cover?).

The Tako Kichi Matsuri story is brilliant! But I can't understand why the dice-rolling bear wears a mawashi. Please could you explain why – is he a part-time wrestler or something?

I also noticed a well-known "Mendicant" on page five. How come he didn't manage to ruin the kite festival?

Ewart Solomon
Cornwall, England

Because if there's one thing in the world stronger than Groo's ineptitude, it's Marvel Comics' lawyers, Ewart. Yeah, that was Sergio on the cover. – ED.

Dear Kim and Stan,

Luv your comic. Wow! It's so…"good fun," which in ordinary English means that it's wonderful, terrific, spectacular, first-class, extraordinary, etc., etc.

Well, I was going to ask "Who's Spot?", but I got some back issues yesterday, so never mind. I'll miss him, but there are lots of little tokagé out there, and a lot of stories yet to come in Usagi…who knows.

Question time. I heard something about a comics convention in San Diego this summer. Any truth to that? If so, are you guys going? Are there any Usagi posters out? If so, where can I get them?

And I've been trying to find out exactly what Tomoe Ame's name means. I think "Tomoe" means "turning" or "circle," and I know that "Ame" means "rain." However, there's a candy called "Tomoe Ame," and it's some kind of rice candy. As far as I know, it has nothing to do with "circular" or "rain." Tomoe studied the "Falling Rain" style of swordsmanship if I remember right, so the "Ame" in her name must mean rain, but I thought that "ame" might mean candy because of the "Tomoe Ame" candy. Except I thought the "Ume" meant candy, but I know that "Ume" means Japanese pickled plum. And if you're confused by now, imagine how I feel. Please clear this up. What does "Tomoe Ame" mean?

End of questions. Luv your comic. I'll be waiting eagerly for issue #23…

Dawn Nakamura
Honolulu, HI

Tomoe is named after the hit song from the show Annie. You know the one: "Tomoe, tomoe, I'll…" Ouch! Ow! Okay, okay, lousy joke! Sorry!

And yes, Stan will be at this year's San Diego convention (first weekend in August), as always – and he'll be bringing lots of pens and paper to sign and draw with!

Just enough room for our "next issue" blurb – and here, a picture is worth a zillion words. Yes, it's time for…Lone Goat and Kid! Be there or be square!

– ED.