Stan says he's in his late twenties. My guess is around 26 or 27.

Stan doesn't know, but it seems unlikely that any character in UY has a tail.

Stan has not explored this yet, but it seems Usagi's mother died when he was very young.

Around 1600 A.D.

Four: T&I, Fantagraphics, Mirage, and Dark Horse.

During the final battle at Adachi Plain between Mifune's and Hikiji's forces, while holding Lord Mifune's decapitated head (Usagi decapitated him so Hikiji would not take Mifune's head for himself), Usagi, making his escape from the battle on horseback, encountered Lord Hikiji himself. It was Hikiji who struck a blow with his sword, going partially through Usagi's helmet and thus cutting him above his left eye.

The crest of the Mifune Clan ("mon").

Stan tells me that he had a two-part Kitsune story ready in #17-18. "Grasscutter" was also planned.

They couldn't get their act together. Okay, so their publishing department went under. UY's in better hands now anyway...

In 1953 in Kyoto, Japan.

Yes, and it will be an in-continuity story. But don't expect to see it for a very long time. Even though Stan has the langauge-barrier worked out, it's still in the prototype stages.

FIXME Really?

No, he consumated his relationship with Mariko, shortly before she ended up marrying Kenichi. It's not certain how long Usagi's love affair lasted with Mariko (it was barely explored), but they did conceive a child, and his name is Jotaro.

Yes, there is a hidden message in #11. What "tribute to Groo" story would be without one? It's located on page 2. If you look at the opening prose, the first letters of each line, when read vertically, spell out "HIDDEN MESSAGE".

Four, I think: the Neko, the Komori, the Mogura, and the Ninjas of the Dark Light (in "Usagi's Ark").

Yes, he paints from time to time.

Steve Gallacci says 2000. But your chances of finding one for sale are 1 in 2 billion.

He loves to see people suffer.

Albedo #1: 2000 copies..... Albedo #3: 10,000 copies..... Albedo #4: 6000 copies..... Albedo #5: 7000 copies.

In 1983. Nilson was created in 1979, but this is debatable.

Tomoe will return in the epic-length "Grasscutter" storyline later this year, along with Noriyuki, Hikiji, the Neko Ninja, Jei, Gen, and the rest of the gang.

FIXME Needs Update

Stan says yes, but in a parallel universe. If you ask me, I think Stan is Usagi's decendent.

Usagi wanders around Honshu, the main island.

He's either a dog or a hairy Tokage.

Since November of 1984, when he made his debut in Albedo #2.

No, mainly because they like Manga only, but there are some fans over there. Usagi's bigger in Europe right now.

Stan says the boys will be rabbits and the girls will be cats.

As of UY Vol. 3, #1, Usagi will be on issue #55.

I sure hope not. I used to think they were, but that was when I used to be a TMNT fan. Stan once said they weren't, so I doufbt if they are.

This is as much as I can get on "Grass Cutter": The name "Grass Cutter" refers to a sword that Susano-o-no-Mikoto (the Shinto deity of storms) used to slay an 8-headed dragon a long time ago. The UY storyline "Grass-Cutter" will be epic length, and will involve the Shogun, the Emperor, most of the major UY characters, and will involve Lord Hikiji. This storyline will span a full 8 issues, will be published by Dark Horse, and will begin with either #12 or #13.

FIXME Update needed

Peter Laird, Jim Lawson, and Dave Garcia. Ken Mitchroney doesn't count.

Well, there's his first love, Mariko, from his village, now married to Kenichi. Then there was Princess Kinuko, now married to Lord Hirano. And there was also Chizu, Shingen's sister, of the Neko-Ninja, who let him have it right on the lips. And then there's Tomoe Ame... but there really isn't anything in the way of a real relationship with them...yet.

Usagi with Mariko (Size: 287x216, 24 KB)	Usagi and Kashira Chizu (Size: 282x210, 31 KB)

Wonder no more! Those pesky moles will be back in UY Vol. 3 , No. 5, coming this August from Dark Horse!!!

FIXME Needs update

First of all, Usagi is a SAMURAI, a member of Feudal Japan's warrior class, but he serves no master, so he is therefore what is known as a RONIN, a masterless samurai. His occupation is a YOJIMBO, a bodyguard for hire. That's what ronin do, usually, is find other jobs like a bounty hunter (Gen and Stray Dog), assassin (Yagi the Lone Goat), bandit or criminal, etc. Usagi believes in serving only ONE master in a samurai's lifetime. That is why he does do look towards serving a lord, like Noriyuki.

It's his trademark "kiai", a shout or battlecry that focuses his physical and mental energies in the fight and also serves to intimidate his opponents.

All samurai carried two swords, together known as a DAISHO. The longe sword is called a KATANA, and Usagi's is named "Yagi No Eda" (willow branch). His shorter sword is a WAKIZASHI, and is named "Aoyagi" (young willow). Obviously, each sword serves different purposes. Usagi prefers to use the KATANA, which is the standard fighting weapon of the samurai. The wakizashi is useful when fighting multiple enemies, and is used in short-range attacks. Both swords are used at the same time when facing of against a group of enemies.

Stan sez... "If Usagi were to, he would just be another anonymous samurai; so I used my artistic lisense to keep the area around his head uncluttered so he'd be easily recognizable." Samurai did indeed wear such protection, but not in UY.

Yes, but not through the mail. If you catch him at conventions, he usually has plenty of original character artwork (both in B&W and colored), and some original pages for sale. Drawings are usually around $25 per character on an 11" X 17" thick stock drawing paper. Original page artwork ranges from $50 to $100 per page, depending on how complex/popular the page is. His portfolio contains lots of art for sale, but he does do commisioned, custom art if you get to the con early. You can also bring your own paper if you so desire. Quick sketches are free of charge, and Stan always signs your books. Visit a con that Stan appears at. It's incredible to watch him draw.

Only at the 1996 San Diego Con. The pins were created in a limited edition of only 300, making it more rare than Albedo #2. When I was there, the cloisonne pins were selling like hotcakes. Here's what it looks like:

Yes, there is. It was first shown at the 1995 SD Con, and is basically a prototype of the proposed Space Usagi animated TV series. This TV series is currently still under negotiations. Stay tuned for more info.

Stan says, assuringly, "No". The spelling of Space Tomoe's name as "Tomoeh" was only intended to clarify the correct pronunciation of her name as "Toe - Moe - Eh". This spelling will only occur in the Space Usagi series, not in Usagi Yojimbo.

As a matter of fact, Mile High Comics has listed in their catalog a Fantagraphics-published UY #0, for about $8.00 in mint grade. To my knowledge, no such issue exists. Stan, when asked, says that he "doesn't know." It could be a misprint, but then again....

FIXME What!?

Absolutely 100% "NO".

As a matter of fact, Joshua (QT Bunny) Quagmire tells me that Stan first approached him before Gallacci about running Nilson Groundthumper as a back-up in QT. Josh couldn't come up with enough dough to pay for it, so he turned Stan down. Stan then went to Steve Gallacci, and had his stuff published in Albedo. Josh says he regrets turning down Stan, but that's life!