Mr. Sakai, (UY 93 Spoilers!!!)

[estee]

I'll give you a $1000 for the original art of page 21 in issue 93.

Or name your price.

Please. I am in earnest.

--estee.

[Gaffey]

It is a beautiful page.

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/329/tomoe9hi.jpg

Not knowing much about the Tea Ceremony I was hoping this issue would have been "dialogue" free. Leaving just Usagi's final words.

[Todd Shogun]

It was an awesome story! And that was an awesome page! Another seed has been planted...guess we'll have to wait until the meet again to see how things play out. On the flip side, Stan -- you love torturing us -- what's going on with Tomoe's pending marriange to the buck-toothed one?? Okay, we've established that Tomoe has feelings for Usagi, and vice versa. I can now rest for awhile, at least where that's concerned...but this marriage thing is driving me nuts.

[estee]

Ummm...what about my offer?

That link has served only to reafirm my need, want and desire to own the original art.

Nothing else exists in my life but this endeavour.

I swear Stan can manipulate a panel better than any artist in the industry. His use of perspective is unsurpased. Just loving it.

[Gaffey]

Ummm...what about my offer?

Stan has said in the past that he does not sell his published interior pages (at least not yet). Keep your fingers crossed.

[estee]

Fingers...toes, legs, arms, eyes...I look like a pretzel, but everything is crossed.

[go]

Hello Readers,
Sensei Sakai does not sell his original art from what I understand.
You may wish to ask our Sensei to make one for you especially to buy.
Although I am a big fan of sword play, I loved this particular story.
Thank you Sensei Sakai for giving us all a little more culture.
Best wishes to all!
go
ps. Where did Usagi learn the ceremony?

[estee]

Usagi was taught the tea ceremony by Sensei Katsuichi, it was part of his training as a Samurai.

[Stan Sakai]

I'll give you a $1000 for the original art of page 21 in issue 93.

Or name your price.

Please. I am in earnest.

--estee.

You're really serious? As you know, I don't sell interior story pages, but for this, I'll make an exception.

PM or e-mail me, and we'll discuss it.

[Stan Sakai]

There is much more to the tea ceremony than what I was able to convey in 24 pages, but I did the best I could. The details are very specific, such as the wiping of and turning of the tea bowl. Also, it is very specific about such things as the exact spacing between the tea caddy and the pot, etc. Even the conversation is regulated as to what topics to talk about, and when.

I was doing research to the very end, even redoing a few pages when I discovered that swords were left outside the hut. Additional panels were redone when I discovered different traditions of tea had slightly different customs. That is why I stuck to the Urasenke School of Cha no yu. The Japanese proofreader did not like my calligraphy, and I asked her to do the calligraphy for the wall scroll for which she is credited in the letters' page.

It was a different type of Usagi story, and I wasn't sure how readers would react to it. But I really wanted to do a story revolving around the ceremony, and I felt it was too beautiful to be just a mention or a subplot in a story.

[Inukai79]

Stan. WOWY WOW WOW. Just wow. 10 out of 10.
What a great issue. This issue had so much; it summed Tomoe and Usagi's relationship perfectly (and hinted at future developments?), showed the beautiful art of tea, and demonstrated comic book storytelling so well done Eisner would smile.
One of the best single issues of Usagi ever. It was even better than the kite story.

[Todd Shogun]

Wow, this would mark the first time Stan ever sold an original UY art page. Congrats on your purchase, Estee! You have the envy of the Shogun...send us pictures of it framed on your wall.

[tayocham]

Dangit, I'll have to wait til next week. All of the stores around either don't carry it or sold out. But I can't wait to get it!

[Mayhem]

Now if I suddenly win the lottery... consider an offer too

Anyhow, I've ordered issues #91-93 so they should turn up in a week or so hopefully (I have to bulk order with other comics at the moment to spread out the cost of having them shipped from the US). Then I'll get to see this geek that Tomoe is having to marry and the tea ceremony...

[Ben]

See, this is why being a USAGI fan living in Bermuda sucks...there's virtually no comic book stores to speak of.

Now that I've actually seen an excerpt from 93%, my agony's only been tripled.

(If there was ever a better time for this emoticon, it's now.)