USAGI YOJIMBO Volume 1, Number 8

[Before we get into the letters section, I want to mention that Stan has been deluged by request for original artwork to the extent that he's used up his entire inventory of sketches and drawings. Since he's working hard right now to push Usagi up to monthly schedule for the entire summer (May through August!), he doesn't have time to do any new ones. So please, no more original art requests until things have calmed down a little. You may not be able to buy your original piece of Sakai art, but you'll be able to read an extra issue of Usagi Yojimbo this year. Not too bad a trade-off, is it?

[If you really, really need, crave, desire, and want a piece of Sakai art, please note that Critters #27 (see cover on this page) will be featuring a special "Nilson Groundthumper" contest, the first prize of which will be - you guessed it - an original Sakai drawing! Reserve your copy now!

[Okay, on to the letters. - KIM THOMPSON (ED.)]

Dear Stan,

I'm an old friend of [Usagi co-publisher] Gary Groth's and I wanted to drop you a note and tell you how much I enjoy Usagi Yojimbo. When we were in Junior High School, I'd go over to Gary's and we would work on his Fantastic Fanzine (usually ?til the wee hours of the morning). I had seen Usagi in Critters and liked it but really got a good look at the strip when I was down with a bout of bronchitis. Gary was good enough to send a copy of UY Book One. The costumes are excellent, as are the weapons. As a former kendo-player and fan of the old Kurosawa costume epics, I found Usagi Yojimbo a great treat.

I'm also third generation Japanese-American. My father is caucasian and my mother Japanese. I especially get a kick out of Tomoe Ame's name. I can still remember getting the jelly candies from my grandmother. I am curious, though: where do you do your research? Have you ever studied any martial arts?

Here is an old story I heard from a kung-fu instructor once upon a time.

The old Master of a martial arts school is on his death bed and must select a successor to take over the school. So, he gets out of bed and places a pillow over the door to his room. There are three top disciples who are candidates to become master. He calls the first into the room. When he opens the door, the pillow falls and hits him in the head. The Master sends him away. The Master sends for a second candidate and upon his entering the room, the pillow falls. The disciple leaps aside, draws his sword and cuts the pillow in two with one lightning cut. He too is sent away. The Master calls for the third disciple, who, upon entering the room, when the pillow falls, catches it, and replaces it above the doorway, turns, and asks, "Yes, Master, what may I do for you?"

Who do you think was selected to succeed the Old Master? It was the third disciple, of course! The first candidate represented one who is asleep as he walks through life. The second represents one who is quick to react to any sudden surprise with a defensive or violent movement. The third is the aware man who realized there was no threat in a falling pillow.

Well, enough. I'm sure you are quite busy. As an aspiring amateur cartoonist I appreciate the amount of work you have to put into your strip. Bravo once again on some great work...Don't stop!

Jimmy L. Stewart
Fort Washington, MD

[I have had no formal martial arts training, but I grew up with the Japanese culture and I also love the Kurosawa epics, as well as the other samurai movies I've seen.

[I enjoyed the story you related: that's the kind of lesson I want to convey through Usagi.

[- STAN SAKAI]

Dear Mr. Sakai,

I recently bought the first four issues of Usagi Yojimbo. I'm impressed. I've read all your stuff in Critters and Albedo, so I'm not new to your work, so why do I find a difference here? I'll tell you.

Before, you had more limited space to work with. There was a kind of fractured continuity to your work before; no link between them, only Miyamoto Usagi. But in your new book, you have accomplished what few writers can do: you have enmeshed love, hatred, cruelty, pathos, and humor into "Samurai." The result is a charming and warm tale about two begrudging friends and their interactions. The only other writers/artists I have know to be able to do this are Wendy and Richard Pini (Elfquest) and Steven Gallacci.

Thank you for breathing a touch of fresh air into the normally cruel samurai world.

Andrea Feldman
Providence, RI

Dear Stan,

Let me start off by saying how much of a pleasure it is to read your comic. The nice, crisp, uncluttered art shows off great in black and white; don't change a thing.

I enjoy the "young" Usagi stories, too, but please only show Usagi in those two stages. No baby Usagi and astral-planed Usagi!

Your "Nilson Groundthumper" stories are enjoyable also, but I think Hermy is too much of a "nice" cliché, especially with that name. Will there be a Critters Special #2?

Chris Simms
Roswell, GA

[Nilson fans will want to check out the contest mentioned above. No plans as of now for a second Critters Special. - ED.]

Dear Stan,

Usagi Yojimbo is my favorite comic book. The art is great and the personalities of the characters are the best. I first started collecting Usagi Yojimbo in 1986 with the Summer Special. I've been collecting ever since. I just finished reading Usagi Yojimbo #6 and I thought it was great. Will you please explain something to me because I'm confused. On page 14 in issue #6 it states that the Zylla story was in Book One but it wasn't.

(1) Will you ever have the outlaw blind Ino come back to fight Usagi;

(2) Whatever happened to Usagi's mother;

(3) and will Usagi ever settle down and find a wife?

Keep up the good work. >
Lawrence Pendleton
Norfolk, VA

[Dear Lawrence,

[The footnote was made not in reference to Zylla, himself, but rather to the source of Usagi's fortune (which was his half of Gen's reward from the "Bounty Hunter II" story in Usagi Book One). Remember, Usagi's usually a penniless wanderer.

[(1) Ino does indeed pay a return visit in a story entitled "Return of the Blind Swordspig" in Usagi #9 (next issue). It climaxes with a fight in the dark with Ino having the advantage.

[(2) I don't know but maybe he'll tell me someday.

[(3) At the moment, Usagi is a wandering ronin, which isn't the most conducive atmosphere to raising a family.

[- STAN SAKAI]

Hey!

Here's something:

What do you get when you combine every comic book in the U.S. with Miyamoto Usagi? Well, ready for this?

"A juvenile, mighty, amazing, adolescent, nuclear, legendary, new, young, teenage, suicidal, dark, super, uncanny, unexpected, weird, inhuman, anthropomorphic, heroic, incredible, fantastic, strange, epic, extraterrestrial, cute, daffy, cosmic, special, monthly, crazy, laffin', nutty, mutant, radioactive, super-power, evil, alien, prime-slime, spectacular, punishing, invincible, secret, bushido, captain, cyborg, android, clone, cannibalistic, particle, wonderful, how-to-draw, in-country, samurai, barbarian, knight, funny, black-belt, blade-running, kung-fu, ninjitsu, ninja , ghostbusting, more than meets the eye, nervous, psychic, lone, police, first-print, bodyguard, son of death, demon, twisted, transforming, bloodthirsty, fuzzy, marital arts son-of-a-rabbit." (Whew.)

Todd Shogun
Cypress, CA

[Our typesetters thank you from the bottom of their hearts. "Marital arts"? (Maybe you're thinking of Omaha.) By the way, readers, Todd also enclosed a pencil drawing of an exasperated Usagi screaming "No more adjectives! No more!"

[Boy, this would be a good spot to mention who the special cover-featured guest stars are going to be in #10 - the original adjectival quartet themselves. No, not the Rolling Stones! (That's a gerund, anyway.) - ED.]

Dear Stan the Man,

Nice goin' on a refreshing (and nostalgic...) characterization of the old samurai (chambara ) movies that I used to see as a kid at the Toho La Brea, Kokusai, and Sho Tokyo Theatres in Los Angeles. Many Saturdays were spent lost in the "bushido" and Ninja conflicts. Like today's Star Wars epics, they set forth a mytho-poetic code of honor and conduct. It is warming to see that essence communicated toward this generation, even if it is appearing as a parody. ("Zatoichi" vs. "Zato-Ino," and naturally "Miyamoto Musashi" himself.)

Hope to look forward to further enlightening and entertaining issues. Perhaps "Usagi-san" will meditate and set down his philosophy in a similar "Book of Five Rings"...or become infected by burning ambition to create a nation/state and rule as a benevolent despot (like a Greek tragedy).

Well, ?nuff said...jus' appreciate your creative efforts.

Derick Shimatsu
Camarillo, CA

Dear Editor,

Usagi #6 is surely the most enjoyable issue yet. Wow! 28 pages of new Stan Sakai material - the most we've ever gotten at one time! Too bad about "Digger Duckbill," though.

All three stories were very good, but the "Kappa" tale stands out as the most vividly exciting. The ending was a bit "Twilight Zone"ish - one can almost hear the theme tune after reading the final panel - but still, it was an excellent story in its own right. "Zylla" was a little zylly, but fun all the same. The only real complaint I have is against the punchline-spoiling panel reprinted on the inside front cover. It gave away the big groaner - er, I mean surprise.

It's nice to know that Stan will continue to do "flashback" stories occasionally, as with "The Test." These little fill-in tales concerning Usagi's past might be able to explain some things. For example, what is that mark above Usagi's left eye? Is it a scar? He doesn't have it as a child or during his early adulthood. Sometimes it looks like an eyebrow, sometimes it isn't visible, but about 90% of the time it's right there above his left eye, while there is no such mark above his right eye.

And speaking of Usagi eyes, just what color are they, anyway? In the first printing of "The Village of Fear" they're pink. On the cover of the Summer Special they're blue. Then, on the covers of Anything Goes! #6 and Usagi Yojimbo Book One, they're pink again. And now, with issue #6, they're back to blue, though it may just be from the water he's submerged in. Unless Usagi has "mood" eyes that change color according to his emotions, someone really ought to make up their minds. (Personally, I think blue eyes suit him better, even if pink is the traditional eye color for white rabbits.)

The Year of the Rabbit may have come to an end, but I expect to see Usagi continue long after it comes around again. Cheers!

Tracy Horton
Valencia, CA

[Yes, indeed, it is a scar. There is a really unusual story connected with that mark and someday I'll actually think of it. Thanks for the artwork and the origami you enclosed with your letter - your picture of the fox is now sitting on my drawing table.

[Usagi's eyes are indeed pink, but he tends to wear tinted contact lenses, hence the discrepancy. No, actually, I tend to color his eyes pink, while Tom Luth colors them blue. We'll try to be more consistent in the future.

[- STAN SAKAI]

Dear Fantagraphics,

Okay, I'll tell it to you straight. At '87 last San Diego Comicon last August I took notice of the Usagi Yojimbo comics and bought them. It was really nice, and I fell in love with Usagi right away. He's not only the best animal character I've ever seen, he's a great warrior, far better than Kamui and the other scores of mere pretenders. But as the comic has progressed, I've begun to wish that I hadn't spent the money, or at least that I had waited to see if the comic would remain as good as the first issues. I'll tell you why. First, it's a bi-monthly. That's a pain when I feel like reading a new comic. The $2 price tag doesn't matter so much, although it is the most expensive comic I read. I don't feel like I've gotten $2 of enjoyment out of an issue. The back-up stories are a waste of time and useless; I never read them and don't want to pay for them. If you could expand the Usagi stories, or cut the number of pages and the price to $1.50, I'd be more inclined to buy. Finally, with the end of the excellent story which spanned the first four issues, I am wondering if the comic will remain good. Issue #5 wasn't terribly enjoyable. In fact, it seemed to be smaller than the other issues, as well, and I was pretty miffed. That's what prompted me to write.

I'm sorry, Stan, if I sound critical. You're one of the best authors I've ever seen, with a real feel for the story, but I demand more in my comics. I am into serialized plots which move over a series of episodes, important changes over time, such as deaths of major characters (Robotech's Roy Fokker is an example) and other things, and constant, unfluctuating quality. The comic is good, and I count Fantagraphics "way up there" among the small independents. So...I'll tell you what. I'll give you two more issues to catch my interest. If I don't think it's worth collecting the Usagi comics, I'll discontinue.

PS: How about a nice long graphic novel in full color, with lots of Japanese damsels, important historical points (follow the lead of Eclipse's Samurai: Son of Death in your presentation of important Japanese historical events), and mature, inspiring plots. Thanks...

Peter "Leto II" Payne
San Diego, CA

[Well, one thing you could always do is wait for the graphic album collections to come out. (Since we're trying to have at least a year between magazine serialization and book collection, though, it could be a long wait.)

[Sorry you don't like the back-ups. Stan is toying with the idea of going all-Usagi in 1989, after he's used up his collection of pre-solicited back-ups - but we'll see.

[Hope you stuck around anyway, even though there've been no deaths of major characters. There is a long Usagi epic on the horizon, though, so don't despair. - ED.]

Dear Stan,

Will Usagi Yojimbo ever become a color comic? It's great in black-and-white, and I'm a firm believer in pen and ink. But, wouldn't color only complement the issue further, just as it did in Japan's ancient battle press?

Steve St. Angelo
Winter Springs, FL

[Maybe someday. Stranger things have happened. - ED.]

Dear Stan,

Usagi Yojimbo is great! I bought Usagi #1 last spring and I was very impressed with the art and story. What I like the most about Usagi is the fact that you talk about the bushido law and other samurai ethos that are very important in portraying a samurai story effectively. I love stories about feudal Japan and the samurai. And Usagi deserves merit! When I read issue #1 I felt I had learned a lesson in life! Keep on doing stories like this.

Americans need to be introduced to the samurai and Japanese culture correctly. Usagi succeeds in doing so. I have been in Japan and bought many of their manga (comics), but Usagi is still number one! Keep up the good work.

Arigato gozai masu!
Your loyal fan
Johnny Shumate
Elkton, KY

From next issue's story:  The return of the Blind Swordpig!

[And that's it for this issue.  Be here next time around for the return of...the Blind Swordspig!  Snort! - ED.]

Last change: 19. May 2003

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Usagi Yojimbo, including all prominent characters featured in the stories and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Stan Sakai and Usagi Studios. Usagi Yojimbo is a registered trademark of Stan Sakai. Names, characters, places, and incidents featured in this publication either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions, or locales, without satiric content, is coincidental.