Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

I have a young nephew and when he is a bit older I want to introduce him to Usagi Yojimbo. What is a good age for that and what book do you think is best? I tend to think starting at the beginning with most stories is best but Grasscutter was probably my favorite adventure of Usagi's.

What do you think?

I'd probably start with book 2, Samurai, so that gives you Usagi's background and let's you find out about him. Sure, he might ask why does Gen know Usagi, but then if he likes book 2, he can read 1 and find out how they met

As for what age, well Usagi has some violence and death, but it isn't really graphic. It's hard to tell, kids are different. I'd imagine by the time he's 7 or 8, he's probably old enough to have the attention span and interest to read the comics, and understand the dialogue.

My son started reading Usagi when he was 10 and started with Book 1. I have been a comic fan for years, but this was the first comic he really got caught up in and had read every issue within a couple of weeks!

When I was able to meet Stan at a UK convention a year or so ago, my first though was taking my son with me, and I t was an amazing experience to meet both his, and my favourite creator. Stan was even gracious enough to sketch a Usagi and Jotoro for me in my Gallery edition, since the father and son motif from Usagi's life has always meant so much to me.

I started reading Usagi when I was 7, but I thought it was kind of frightening when it showed characters getting their heads chopped off (which is only occasionally). I really liked the calmer issues, however. I really got into Usagi when I was 12 or so, but did not own very many issues until I was 14. I would say pick and choose the issues, but for the calmer and more light-hearted ones with less violence, 7 is a good age.

I wasn't sure when I started my daughters but facebook just showed me one of those 7 years ago photos that had my daughters at The Hundreds signing. So my youngest daughter was at least 8 years old. I think we started the oldest daughter at age 8 but the younger one got to start at age 7. They both loved it and burned through the graphic novels and then the issues that were coming out. My youngest has read the series at least three times. As they get older, they still have a soft spot for Usagi and Stan but as teenage girls, they are into other things as well. But I loved that Usagi has played such a bonding thing in our family growing up. We will always have that. . Peace, maka