a fan letter for Stan Sakai

[john putnam dinwiddie]

I joined this website today only to convey to Stan Sakai my
admiration for his talent and artistic integrity. I haven't looked at
his work in several years, but today I opened a copy of USAGI YOJIMBO
BOOK 5.

The drawings are immediately startling, unforgettable. This is not
the work of a hack, a dispenser of ugliness and kitsch. Abstracted
into simple line renderings are subtleties in expression, enormous
variety and fantasy. The stories themselves point to decency and
better values but are not heavy handed in that regard.

The rabbit character inspires imitation, and no, not the sword play,
don't try that anywhere, but rather as a true hero in the
existentialist sense of the term, a being who knows and lives what
is appropriate behavior.

When violence is protrayed, it is masked in enough humor to escape
marring the overall mood of the work, which is in the midst of satire
and adventure always elevated. As it reveals aspects of Japanese
culture (e.g., the kite contest, what goes into it) it unobtrusively informs.

Stan Sakai is as his readers know a kind of one man show. I think
that his work will outlive him, but I hope that both it and he outlive me.

Please thank him, if the chance arises.

John Dinwiddie
Santa Rosa, California

[Stan Sakai]

Thank you, John, though I'm not sure about the "outliving you" part.

Have you ever gone to the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa? I was there a few years ago with the National Cartoonists Society. Neat place.

[john putnam dinwiddie]

Yes, a favorite stop for our 12 year old grandson when he visits.

There is also the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco
that I'm sure you know about. Phil Frank is an enthusiastic
supporter of that outfit, he another impressive cartoonist

After having written my earlier note, I went through the
"kite" segment just to make sure that my gush wasn't too
much, and sure enough, it was still fascinating. Could they
really get anything that big up? I would guess so.

Anyhow, thanks again for your fine product, and very best wishes.

John Dinwiddie

[Rabbit Ronin]

As you say, I will thank him when ever i can. So here is a raised glass to the "One man show" Mr. stan Sakai...Sip... Oh and welcome to the dojo john.

[john putnam dinwiddie]

I do believe that last one. I have a background in
the fine arts, was once a student of Karlheinz Stockhausen,
do flatter myself that I know the difference between junk
and the real McCoy. In the early '70s, fed up with the
"certified" fine art scene, I found myself reading Arcade, the
Comics Review, published by Ripoff Press. Always a fan of
cartoons, I began to suspect that this upstart branch was becoming
very assertive. Eventually I learned that it always had been,
that even Feininger once did a stint as a comic strip artist.

I do think that Mr. Sakai fits right in to the best of this art. I am
also recently become an admirer of Patrick McDonnell, whose
tender strip so outrageously low balls its surroundings. He too
can draw like there is no tomorrow.

Thanks for the replies,

John Dinwiddie