Thank you for your patience

[Angilasman]

I wonder if IDW's color reprints will adhere to the previously established volumes or collect the series in some other way?

[Eshbaal]

Well this is certainly exciting. I need to go find out how to fix up my subscription for this in my own comic shop, since I live in Denmark, but still. Hope this opens many other doors.

By the way, speaking of patience: I really don't wanna be that guy, and this is not at all to be taken as a "Hurry up already!" since I know development takes time and all... but has there been ANY news whatsoever on that supposed animated Usagi series by Gaumont? It's been a year since it was announced, and again, I get that the development phase for things like animated shows can take a while, but a whole year without as much as a piece of concept art or a logline or two seems odd.

Has it been canceled? If it has, well then that's a bummer, but I'll live. It's just been on my mind lately that it's REALLY odd to hear literally nothing for over a year. Or at least, I can find absolutely no info on it beyond those first few initial statements.

Again, don't misunderstand - I'm not asking anyone to hurry up or complaining in the slightest. I am just curious and prefer to KNOW if it's not happening.

[Mayhem]

I sent a message to Bobby Curnow at IDW, as he is also part of the TMNT series there, and he doesn't anticipate any variants in the foreseeable future past issue #1, so hopefully that makes life a bit easier!

[Mormegil]

I was a skeptical about the colors until i saw Tom Luth will be doing it. I love his work. This is the first time I've really had to consider double dipping for a series.

[Krash01]

Honestly, I was a little bit surprised, when I heard the news, but I'm sure Stan and Usagi will have a wonderful home at IDW, and I'm very excited about the colorful collected editions!

[Casey Burns]

Hey Stan, will Tom Luth be signed on to color all the older material as well? I realize it would be quite an undertaking for one person, but he's the best ... those blues he uses are such a part of Usagi's visual identity. Crossed fingers for as much Luth as possible.

[Stan Sakai]

Hey Stan, will Tom Luth be signed on to color all the older material as well? I realize it would be quite an undertaking for one person, but he's the best ... those blues he uses are such a part of Usagi's visual identity. Crossed fingers for as much Luth as possible.

I don't know of Tom's involvement in coloring all the back stories. The current Usagi would pretty much take most of his free time. We have not even discussed format of the upcoming trade collections with IDW, except to agree that they will be done.

[Casey Burns]

I figured that might be the case. Thanks for the response, Stan. Really looking forward to the new series.

[jabba359]

Another cover coming in May.

Star Wars Adventures Annual 2019
Cavan Scott (w) - Mauricet (a) - Stan Sakai (c)
A daring rescue mission leads Lando—and his new friend Jaxxon—to the seat of Imperial power, where they must recover an important artifact that will inspire a planet to drive the Empire from their home.
FC - 48 pages - $7.99
Bullet points: Special feature-length tale starring Lando and Jaxxon!

[Otter]

I feel like I need to get this (is this just a stand in image though? It doesn't look like Stan's style.)

I was not a huge fan of Jaxxon in the old Marvel days, but I've grown a kind of fondness for him over the years. Picked up the John Tyler Christopher cover of the new Matvel Star Wars #1 featuring him a couple of years back (as well as Stan's cover).

Now I think of it, I'd actually love an action figure!

[jabba359]

I feel like I need to get this (is this just a stand in image though? It doesn't look like Stan's style.)

Yeah, not Stan's art on the placeholder. I included the "not final art" picture since it since it was part of the press release, but see how it's confusing, so am taking it out.

[Otter]

Right, that makes sense. I was a bit confused. Well, I look forward to seeing the final image.

On another note, how long has IDW been publishing Star Wars comics? What did I miss?

[Grimusaur]

Was starting to get a little worried seeing the solicits from Dark Horse keep coming out without Usagi, excellent news about the move and continuation! That being said though, I'm not sure the move to color sits well with me yet. I seem to recall something being said about the colored issues from Mirage not being Stan's choice as much as it was a decision by the publisher to sell more comics, and given just how long and consistently Usagi's been in b/w I have to wonder if the same isn't true here with the new publisher. I don't really appreciate the language from IDW talking about the comic being colored now and coloring the older stories either, as if the comic being in b/w was somehow inferior and not just a different format. I know it's just marketing speak, but it still bothers me a little bit. However, as long as the move to color was Stan's decision and not something pressed on him by the new publisher, then I'm happy to accept Usagi in this new format. I'd just like to be sure first that Usagi's new home is treating him with the respect he deserves and letting Stan tell his story in whatever format he most prefers. (Of course I can't complain that Tom Luth is the one doing the colors either!)

Do you know if the upcoming comics will ever be published in b/w for that matter? Or is it just not something that's been discussed at this time?

[Stan Sakai]

Was starting to get a little worried seeing the solicits from Dark Horse keep coming out without Usagi, excellent news about the move and continuation! That being said though, I'm not sure the move to color sits well with me yet. I seem to recall something being said about the colored issues from Mirage not being Stan's choice as much as it was a decision by the publisher to sell more comics, and given just how long and consistently Usagi's been in b/w I have to wonder if the same isn't true here with the new publisher. I don't really appreciate the language from IDW talking about the comic being colored now and coloring the older stories either, as if the comic being in b/w was somehow inferior and not just a different format. I know it's just marketing speak, but it still bothers me a little bit. However, as long as the move to color was Stan's decision and not something pressed on him by the new publisher, then I'm happy to accept Usagi in this new format. I'd just like to be sure first that Usagi's new home is treating him with the respect he deserves and letting Stan tell his story in whatever format he most prefers. (Of course I can't complain that Tom Luth is the one doing the colors either!)

Do you know if the upcoming comics will ever be published in b/w for that matter? Or is it just not something that's been discussed at this time?

The move to IDW and color was entirely our decision, and was made as a matter of survival in today's market. In the '90's black and white books were popular, but now you can count the successful b/w books on one hand--the really successful ones can be counted with one finger (Walking Dead). The Mirage color issues were 25 years ago. More recently, Lovern did a terrific job coloring 47 Ronin and Tom did an equally wonderful job with Namazu just a couple years ago.

With the Mirage issues, I compensated for the coloring. I'm not doing that with the IDW series, just as I did not in the case of Namazu. I'm drawing as if for b/w and making the colorist adapt to my art.

[Grimusaur]

The move to IDW and color was entirely our decision, and was made as a matter of survival in today's market. In the '90's black and white books were popular, but now you can count the successful b/w books on one hand--the really successful ones can be counted with one finger (Walking Dead). The Mirage color issues were 25 years ago. More recently, Lovern did a terrific job coloring 47 Ronin and Tom did an equally wonderful job with Namazu just a couple years ago.

With the Mirage issues, I compensated for the coloring. I'm not doing that with the IDW series, just as I did not in the case of Namazu. I'm drawing as if for b/w and making the colorist adapt to my art.

I see, thank you for the clarification. As much of a bummer as it is that such a change is necessary for Usagi's survival, I feel a lot better about it having read your thoughts. The comics market isn't in the best shape all around right now, so I'd much rather see Usagi continue at all. Of course Tom's colored work for Usagi has always been fantastic, so I think it's certainly in the best possible hands for such a change. I'm excited for the comic's return and I'm looking forward to reading all the great stories you have yet to tell, in whatever format they may come. Thanks again for the reply!