Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

As some of you know I'm new to Mr. Sakai's work (and to the dojo : ) I really can't believe that I've never gotten into this! I even had a Usagi action figure when I was but a wee lad but I just never found out about the comics. Either way, as an artist I really appreciate the consistancy and style of the art. I find myself very excited about the possibility of my own work after I read an issue. Stan you are my new hero!

Moving on to the point of this post, I found a stash of Usagi back issues at my local comic shop yesterday they were:

#s 25, 28, 48, 51, 52, and 53 there were more there I'm gonna have to go back for later. I also found and read the GN Grasscutter at my local library! Awesome!

Issues 48, 51, 52 and 53 are labeled 'Dark Horse Maverick' are these different from the regular series?

Also, as a new reader is there a series or storyline that I should start with?

Thanks!

Bryan Stone wrote:Issues 48, 51, 52 and 53 are labeled 'Dark Horse Maverick' are these different from the regular series?

No, they are all part of the same series of comics. Dark Horse Maverick was just an imprint (temporary) that Dark Horse Comics used to market their creator-owned comics under for a couple years. I never heard why they discontinued it.

Usagi Yojimbo has been published in three series so far:
Volume 1, issues 1 - 38 Fantagraphics Books
Volume 2, issues 1 - 16 Mirage Press
Volume 3, issues 1 - 90 (current issue) Dark Horse Comics

Bryan Stone wrote:Also, as a new reader is there a series or storyline that I should start with?

The most recommended trade collection is Book 2 (Samurai, published by Fantagraphics Books) since it tells how Usagi learned swordsmanship, became a retainer for Lord Mifune, and how he eventually became a ronin.

Otherwise, the stories are pretty much self-contained per issue or part of longer "epic" stories which end up collected in single volumes such as Grasscutter was. Reading Grasscutter before Grasscutter II is an obvious assumption.

Abayo....

samurai is important, but i love the dragon bellow conspiracy the best!