The evolution of Usagi's art style

[OnitsukaTiger]

The art style for Usagi has evolved over the years and I was curious what people think about that. Do you have a preference between old and new? I'm trying to think back and can't recall if the change was gradual or abrupt and how long the original Usagi appearance was around for. Was it limited to the Fantagraphics era?

I've seen this kind of evolution before in other long-running comics. Calvin and Hobbes changed over time and Hellboy has definitely changed too. It's fun to see how a creator adjusts their work after they've had a significant amount of time with it.

[Otter]

I definitely have a favourite style, from when I started collecting in the early 90s. My favourite arc is still the Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, and that's my favourite era of the art also.

Gotta get my hands on that full moon silkscreen one day.

[Mayhem]

Considering the number of original pieces I own, I may be able to Photoshop a little collage together to show some of the progression, especially between 85-90. By the early 90s, Stan appears to have pretty much settled on the look and feel that we still see today, with the odd adjustment.

[OnitsukaTiger]

Mayhem: that would be really interesting to see. Kind of a visual retrospective!

[maichan]

Oh, yeah... that'd be neat.... an Usagi through the Ages or The Evolution of Miyamoto Usagi timeline....

That would make for a fun sketch too.... old school Usagi meets new school Usagi


I prefer the new Usagi, taller, leaner, a little more worn and torn. He's matured nicely.

[Mayhem]

Okay, as promised, I've done a montage for the pieces I own between 1985-1991

(apologies for breaking the right hand side of the forum )

[Maka]

That’s awesome, Mayhem. Thanks! Peace, maka

[maichan]

That's cool! Thanks Mayhem!


Now how we gonna fix that broken right side margin?

[Mayhem]

As I've done it in Photoshop, I may restructure the layout, make it 2x5, add another piece, and reduce the size slightly so it fits in the available area heh. Then again, I have NO idea how it looks on other people's machines, I'm using a Macbook here with 2880 horizontal resolution!

[richarddragon]

Wow, fantastic piece.

Does it end in 1990?

[Mayhem]

Does it end in 1990?

I've done up to 1990. I've got a piece from 1991, and I think one from 1992, but then nothing until 1996.

[Eltanin]

Very cool!
Impressive that you have enough pieces to do a retrospective.

[Mayhem]

Okay, I've updated the montage and laid it out better, so it doesn't break the right hand side. Much heh.