The Gallery of Maichan

[maichan]

Although I have been a follower and fan of Usagi Yojimbo for many years, I did not really get 'serious' until mid 2011.

I first started buying the comics with Usagi Yojimbo Volume 2 from Mirage and moved on to the Dark Horse publications.

My collection at around the time of this post in August 2011.






During all those years I also began to collect the trade paperbacks, but I never bought a hardcover until last week.

I've been buying comics for close to 30 years, and shopping at Comics Unlimited in Westminster, CA for most of that time. I've known the manager Mark for just about as long. Mark is also a big fan of Usagi Yojimbo and admires Stan Sakai, and over the years he has told me many nice things about Stan. I've never attended a comic con, but since Mark is in the business, I know he goes every year - so this year I decided to ask a favor of him. It was right before the 2011 SDCC that I asked Mark if he could get me a copy of Stan's latest sketchbook or some other sort of souvenir. Mark said he'd attend SDCC on Thursday & Friday, and be back at the comic shop on Saturday. I went to see him that Saturday and he had a signed copy of Sketchbook #8 and a signed JANM flyer for me. I'm very greatful to Mark for helping me step out of the closet and become a true fan of Usagi Yojimbo & Stan Sakai. Within the week, I finally joined the UY Dojo (which I had known about for years, and occasionally visited). I was excited to learn Stan actually took part in discussions. That was when I ordered all the sketchbooks that were missing from my collection, and have also begun to collect the hardcovers.

So, while I've been a long-time Usagi fan, my collection of art and signatures pales by comparison to most of you. Please bear with me while I share my humble collection...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here is my updated list of various Usagi Yojimbo (Stan Sakai) hardcovers...

Hardcovers
Book 1: The Ronin - 385/750 - Ebay, May 2015
Book 2: The Samurai - 559/750 - Stuart Ng Books, CA
Book 3: The Wanderer’s Road – 381/500 - Strand Books, NY
Book 4: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy - 13/1500 - Stan
Book 5: Lone Goat and Kid - 110/1000 - Stan
Book 6: Circles - 7/750 - Stan
Book 7: Gen's Story - 129/500 - eBay
Book 8: Shades of Death - 131/500 - Half Price Books Dallas
Book 9: Daisho - 372/500 - Ratlas
Book 10: The Brink of Life And Death - 343/500 - Amazon
Book 11: Seasons - 68/500 - Amazon
Book 12: Grasscutter - 117/350 - eBay
Book 13: Grey Shadows - 228/400 - Amazon
Book 14: Demon Mask - 38AP/400 - eBay
Book 15: Grasscutter II - 125/400 - Ratlas
Book 16: The Shrouded Moon - 207/400 - Comics Unlimited
Book 17: Duel at Kitanoji - 358/400 - Ratlas
Book 18: Travels With Jotaro - 18AP/300 - Stan
Book 19: Fathers and Sons – AP/300 - Stan
Book 20: Glimpses of Death - 31/300 - Ratlas
Book 21: Mother of Mountains - 26 PC/300 - Ratlas
Book 22: Tomoe's Story - 294/300 - Ratlas
Book 23: Bridge of Tears - 6/350 - Ratlas
Book 24: Return of Black Soul - 91/350 - Ratlas
Book 25: Fox Hunt - 144/350 - Comics Unlimited
Book 26: Traitors of the Earth – 258/350 - Comics Unlimited
Book 27: A Town Called Hell – 151/350 - Comics Unlimited
Book 28: Red Scorpion - 323/350 - Comics Unlimited
Book 29: Two Hundred Jizo - 243/900 - Comics Unlimited; July 2015
Book 30: Thieves and Spies - 557/575 - Comics Unlimited; July 2016
Book 31: Hell Screen - 547/575 - Comics Unlimited; August 2017
Book 32: Mysteries - 12AP/575 - San Diego Comic Con; July 2018
Book 32: Mysteries - 61/575 - Comics Unlimited; July 2018
Space Usagi: 23AP/500 - Stan

Saga Book 1 – 65/900 - Comics Unlimited (sketched & signed)
Saga Book 2 - 203/1500 - Comics Unlimited (sketched & signed)
Saga Book 3 - 176/1500 - Comics Unlimited (sketched & signed)
Saga Book 4 - 539/1500 - Comics Unlimited (sketched & signed)
Saga Book 5 - 251/1500 - Comics Unlimited (sketched & signed)
Saga Book 6 - 221/1500 - Comics Unlimited (sketched & signed)
Saga Book 7 - 350/1500 - Comics Unlimited (sketched & signed)
Saga: Legends - 106/1500 - Comics Unlimited (signed)
Saga: Legends - AP/1500 - SDCC 2017 (sketched & signed)

Sketchbooks
I have all the sketchbooks. Only Sketchbook 1 is numbered:
Sketchbook 1 – 369/750


MISCELLANEOUS

I also have these hardcovers:
> Fanatagraphics 2 Volume Special Edition (sketched & signed)
> The Art of Usagi Yojimbo: 20th Anniversary Edition
> Yokai (sketched & signed)
> THE SAKAI PROJECT (sketched & signed)
> 47 Ronin
> The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy (sketched & signed)
> 2013 Baltimore Comic Con Yearbook - Celebrating 30 Years of Usagi Yojimbo (signed)
> Usagi Yojimbo: Senso
> USAGI YOJIMBO GALLERY EDITION VOLUME 1: SAMURAI AND OTHER STORIES (sketched & signed)
> USAGI YOJIMBO GALLERY EDITION VOLUME 2: THE ARTIST AND OTHER STORIES (sketched & signed)
> Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo - 1st printing
> Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo Expanded Edition
> Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo Expanded Edition: The Sakai Signature variant (sketched & signed)

Roku Toys Series 1
Usagi - 356/450
Katsuichi - 250/350
Tomoe - 233/350
Gen - 247/350
Jotaro/Spot - 190/350
Young Miyamoto Usagi - 285/350
Young Miyamoto Usagi - xxx/350 (boxed)

Roku Toys Series 2
Usagi (armored) - 273/550
Jei - 30/200
Kitsune - 46/200
Zato Ino - 7/200
Lord Noriyuki - 56/200
Kiyoko - 135/200
Kiyoko - 191/200 (boxed)

PRINTS/POSTERS/OTHER THINGS
"Surrounded" Fantagraphics Print - 832/2700
"The Orange Print" - 199/250
TMNT - 1/15 remarqued
Mondo Print SDCC 2017: Sendo #4 - 112/175
The Sakai Project print: Stan Sakai - Usagi & Dinosaur - 34/100
The Sakai Project print: Sergio Aragonés - Groo & Usagi - 73/100
The Sakai Project print: Ricardo Delgado - Usagi Yojimbo - 20/100
Kim Jung-Gi: Usagi Yojimbo - 15/50
Usagi Yojimbo Dojo 20th Anniversary Special - 98/150
A Quiet Meal print (hand colored by Stan Sakai)
Usagi Yojimbo Dojo "Katsuichi" Sketch card by Travis Hanson

[maichan]

The sketchbooks.




Sketchbook #1


Sketchbook #2


Sketchbook #3


Sketchbook #4


Sketchbook #5


Sketchbook #6


Sketchbook #7


Sketchbook #8


The Spanish Sketchbook




Signed Daisho card that came with Sketchbook #1


Signed Japanese American National Museum flyer for Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo exhibition

[maichan]

The first signed hardcover I got:

The Shrouded Moon - Book 16
#207 of 400




Mark happened to have this volume in stock at his shop.


Soon followed by:

Book Two
#559 of 750




Stan actually referred me to a local shop that had this book in stock - Stuart Ng Books of Torrance, CA
Thank you Stan!

[maichan]

And here is one book that's not a Usagi Yojimbo book, but I think it still has a place here:

Sergio Aragones The Groo Chronicles
#946 of 1500

[runnah4life808]

sweet.

[ratlas]

Ah, so that's where that book 2 went. Haha. I ordered that very book through the Stuart Ng website and they emailed me and told me they sold the book in their store and accidentally left it listed on their website. Oh well. At least it was a fellow Dojo member.

[maichan]

sweet.

Thanks!

Ah, so that's where that book 2 went. Haha. I ordered that very book through the Stuart Ng website and they emailed me and told me they sold the book in their store and accidentally left it listed on their website. Oh well. At least it was a fellow Dojo member.

Yep, it was me. When I found out the shop was only 10-15 minutes from my work, I called them to confirm they had the book and drove out there during my lunch break earlier this week. It is a great shop, and I need to go back when I have more time. Their website is www.stuartngbooks.com

[maichan]

Acquired several hardcovers thanks to ratlas...

Book 17: Duel at Kitanoji
No. 358 of 400



Book 20: Glimpses of Death
No. 31 of 300



Book 21: Mother of Mountains
No. 26 PC of 300



Book 22: Tomoe's Story
No. 294 of 300



Book 24: Return of Black Soul
No. 91 of 350

[maichan]

Well, it seems today was Usagi Yojimbo day.

The local comic shop got in the copy of Fox Hunt they ordered for me...

Book 25 - Fox Hunt
No. 144 of 350

[jsfree]

I just ordered UY: Special Edition from Amazon and should be getting it soon. Does anyone no where I can find Hardcovers #8-25 for sale least expensive?

[maichan]

Today I went to the Long Beach Comic Con. This was my first comic convention to attend. The sole purpose was to meet Stan, get some books signed (as well as buy some books from him), and maybe pick-up some artwork - as well as attend his panel.

A month or so ago I bought the Fantagraphics 2 volume set, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to have those books signed by Stan...







Then I purchased two hardcovers from Stan.
Book Four: The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy - no. 13/1500






Book Five: Lone Goat and Kid - no. 110/1000

[maichan]

Of course I also picked up a copy of Dark Horse Comics UY 141 which Stan signed...



The Pièce de résistance however for me was a quick sketch....





I had no idea what to ask for, so Stan took the liberty to come up with this nice winter theme, something I actually liked since I had been thinking "one day I'd like to have a commission of 'seasons'" - Well this is a perfect start and one I plan to have followed by the remaining three seasons. Thank you Stan!

[Steve Hubbell]

Very nice haul! Love the sketch!

(Reminds me as well that I should try to update the list of who has which hardcovers....)

[Ghost9]

Great sketch!!!! So cool to have a commissioned piece from Stan. One day for me.....

[toine]

Super winter sketch... andvery impressive Usagi collection (HC, sketchbooks, ...) !!!