Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

I had an amazing experience two days ago. Gary and I have been travelling since about the middle of May. Because we have mostly been in small towns we haven't been able to get to a comics store. We missed getting the few comics we would normally buy as soon as they're out, Usagi, BPRD and Hellboy. When we finally got to Montreal we went looking for a comics store. There are several downtown and we hit them all - no Usagi. One place had a few single issues in a bag which the guy managed to talk me into buying for ten bucks (# 85-89) but no issue 103 anywhere. I have to admit I was a bit crushed because they don't hang around at home either and they'll surely be gone by the time I get back (yes I'm going to get a pull list going from now on!!) So we admitted defeat and headded off to the friends we were staying with. Their daughter is into manga and we took a stroll to their local tiny store... and of course they were out of it as well. I told him how I'd been looking for it all over town and that I was travelling. The guy at the counter told me they only get 5 copies and they're all earmarked for specific customers. In fact he showed me three comics that were getting picked up at the time - one was Usagi 103. He said to me that I should go and talk to the guy and see if he would let me have it. I went back to where the guy was but I just couldn't do it so I looked in the Usagi backissues bin for a while. When I looked up the customer had gone to the counter and I was aware they were talking about me. I heard the words Victoria and Usagi amongst the stream of French. The counter guy actually asked the customer if it'd be OK to sell me the comic as I was travelling and in a spot and said that he could probably get another copy for the customer. The customer said that he would if the store could for sure get a replacement copy for him. The counter guy phoned two numbers looking for his boss to find out if they could get another copy but couldn't find him. I was thanking them both very much for trying when the phone rang - it was the boss - he was only 90% sure he could get another copy for the customer. So the customer let me have it just because I am a fan and he is a fan. I was wearing my red Usagi cloisonee pin and I gave it to the guy whose name was Andre with my profuse thanks. He asked me how long I had been into Usagi and I told him only since February. He told me he had been reading Usagi since the first story in Albedo #2 and waited every month for it. He was almost emotional when I told him that I'd read almost every Usagi story in existence, trying to imagine how it would be to read all of it in such a short time span. We chatted a bit about MCCC and meeting Stan and the dojo. I'm hoping he'll join.
That really made me feel a kinship with all the other Usagi fans who seem to be an exceptionally good-hearted slice of humanity.

If anyone else has a story of real kindness or connection with other Usagi fans - or anything related please tell it here. The world can use more good news!

I live in Bermuda, and comics aren't all that popular here, let alone USAGI YOJIMBO. To special order an issue takes two additional weeks. On top of that, the only other guy I've met who reads USAGI is a tad unpleasant in person.

Maybe I'm a little cynical, but the majority of franchise fans I've come across on other forums never share any sort of "connection" - unless you're generally belligerent and have no use for civility and manners. Then you're the most interactive guy on the web.

Don't get me wrong; I seriously hope the same doesn't happen to the Dojo.

poor you Ben. I have several real friends that I met on the internet - all on the Hellboy forum (another rather special slice of humanity). All very talented artists and great and interesting people. I may be just lucky..

I should mention that the counter guy was at least as wonderful and deserving of praise as Andre but I didn't get his name and he declined my poor attempt at giving him something other than my sincere thanks. I don't even remember the name of the store - sigh.

Ah Quebec !

Thanks for this story, we have a big luck to have so great people in this forum and as other Usagi fans (i think like Ben it is not the same way of life everywhere...). There are some guys here that are always so positive like Go, that youn can feel their good vibes.
It is the only forum (except mine ^_^) where i go regularly, because of the atmosphère, and there are always interesting posts.

Of course except Stan i met, i only penpal with some guys and girls there (and mostly with Steve i must confess ), and i had the great honor to have met Amy recentlys, she's a dear.

well thanks for this post, i hope we will see Andre one of those days among us.

I don't know anyone who reads Usagi either.


A lone ly life
Where no one understands you.
But don't give up
because the music do.

Neither did I until the account manager at work spotted me on here during lunch break and said he used to read the comic during the 80s... kinda bizarre, never pegged him as that sort of person!