Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

If you've never checked out this website, check it out. It's a daily blog by Silver Age Marvel writer Tony Isabella. He writes on a variety of topics, but mainly the love of all things comic. Isabella also writes a similar column for the magazine, Comic Book Buyer's Guide. (By the way, CBBG is a much better mag than Wizard for info on comics!)

Write now he'd doing a series on the history of Superman.

Check it out, it's a fun read. Here's the link:

http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/

I've known Tony for years. He's a terrific guy--probably the smiling-est man in comics. I haven't seen him in years, though--the last time I was in Ohio.

He is also a strong Usagi supporter, and will mention the comic in his column when he can.

I had a feeling you would know him! That must be great to get to know so many people from the comics field.

Mr. Isabella is willing to sign any comics you send to him with SASE. I went through my collection and found two old Hawkman comics and a Cap & Falcon vs. the Stiltman issue! I sent them with SASE and he had 'em back in less than a week. I gave one to my son and another to a friend.

Andy wrote:I had a feeling you would know him! That must be great to get to know so many people from the comics field.

One of the neat things about my profession is that I have gotten to meet my heroes. I knew Jack Kirby, I work with Stan Lee (the first name I associated with comics), Sergio Aragones is one of my best friends, been to Spain with Neal Adams, Will Eisner wrote an introduction, got to meet and befriend Jack Davis, have gotten to know Hermann, Azpiri, and Jordi Bernet, and even met Tezuka a couple of times (and his studio was our host in Japan). I really am blessed.

I remember one of my early con appearances as a pro many, many years ago. It was a 4-person panel. I was on with Stan Lee, Will Eisner, and Neal Adams. Talk about intimidated. But these guys are such fountains of information and anecdotes, that I kept quiet and let them do the talking.

Sharon still talks about the time Stan Lee came over to her to say hello. Jack Kirby came by a couple of minutes later, and they were soon joined by Eisner. The three were just chatting with Sharon, meanwhile fans where passing by thinking who is lady, and why are three giants in the field talking to her.

Now that you are the "pro", do you spend time with the new generation of cartoonists?

You talk of Tezuka, and i wonder about the situation of Usagi in Japan too?

Fanfan wrote:Now that you are the "pro", do you spend time with the new generation of cartoonists?

You talk of Tezuka, and i wonder about the situation of Usagi in Japan too?

Yes, I do spend time with the newer cartoonists at conventions. Jeff Smith even claims I was the first pro to ever send him a fan letter. And look where he is now.

Usagi is not published in Japan. No American Comic has ever made any significant dent in Japan's manga market. I have done a couple of pin-ups for manga, and have been even profiled in their version of People magazine.

Stan Sakai wrote: Usagi is not published in Japan. No American Comic has ever made any significant dent in Japan's manga market. I have done a couple of pin-ups for manga, and have been even profiled in their version of People magazine.

Are you referring to the two pin-ups listed below, or is there another manga pin-up out there somewhere?

1. Pin-up of Sataoshi Urushihara's characters Shiori, Vic and Carol appearing in Chirality Book #3 July 1999

2. Pin-up of Hiroaki Samura’s character Manji appearing in Blade of the Immortal (Call of the Worm part 2) #9 May 1997

Steve Hubbell wrote:

Stan Sakai wrote: Usagi is not published in Japan. No American Comic has ever made any significant dent in Japan's manga market. I have done a couple of pin-ups for manga, and have been even profiled in their version of People magazine.

Are you referring to the two pin-ups listed below, or is there another manga pin-up out there somewhere?

1. Pin-up of Sataoshi Urushihara's characters Shiori, Vic and Carol appearing in Chirality Book #3 July 1999

2. Pin-up of Hiroaki Samura’s character Manji appearing in Blade of the Immortal (Call of the Worm part 2) #9 May 1997

Those are the ones.

I'm very jealous!

I am fortunate, however to communicate online with at least one of the greats of today!

I don't follow comics much, I'm more of a fan of anime and manga.
But in 2nd place of my favourites is Usagi Yojimbo (after Lupin III) and they are both way in the lead amongst the stuff I like.

I also don't reconise too many of the names but I know a few.
And out of all of them I am glad to know just one of perhaps the most wanted comic series I want to get. It is great to know that Stan will always have an eye and an ear on his fans and to be there when they need him - this is a rare skill amongst comic artists - virtually all the web comic artists who's work I read don't interact with their fans as much as Stan does.

It is an honour and a privilege to have spoken to you on this forum Stan and acknowledge how much time you spend with your fans with your busy schedule. I would love to meet you one day at a con, maybe next year as I am planning a holiday tour around the states next summer.