Here's a complete listing of Usagi Yojimbo, Space Usagi and Nilson Groundthumper appearances to date. I doubt if I'm missing any entries, but if I am, drop me a note in the DojoBoard!

Usagi first appeared in Thoughts and Images' small press comic Albedo published by Steven A. Gallacci (Writer/Artist of Erma Felna, EDF). The Thoughts and Images issues lasted until #14 and featured other funny-animal greats like Deal Whitley and Matt Howarth. Albedo was published in full-color by Antarctic Press. Rush out and buy some, but don't expect to find issues 1 or 2 of the T&I issues; they are very hard to come by these days. And even though Overstreet has them worth around 10 bucks each, I don't know of anybody crazy enough who will sell them for even near that price. #3 isn't hard to find at all, but #4 can be challenging.

Usagi made his way to Fantagraphics Books when the black-and-white explosion made Usagi Yojimbo a hit. Critters, edited by Kim Thompson, was his second home. Steve Gallacci and Tom (Spaced, Lionheart) Stazer were also regulars in this excellent series devoted to anthropomorphics. Most of these issues are fairly easy to find, with the exceptions being #1 and #3. Go out and buy them!!!

Fantagraphics published this hard-to-find book after Critters #3 came out. It reprints Albedo #'s 2, 3, and 4, and contains a new story. It also features an intro by Mark Evanier and a pin-up by Sergio Aragones. Don't expect to find this one at your local comic shop, however. It is quite rare.

Usagi Yojimbo Summer Special....#1 October 1986: "The Goblin of Adachigahara", "Lone Rabbit and Child" Parts I and II, "The Confession"

* A special note: In order to integrate "Lone Rabbit and Child" into one full-length story, Stan redrew the first page of part II especially for this reprint and it also appears in BOOK I. The original first page of "Lone Rabbit and Child: Part II" has never been reprinted, and remains solely in Albedo #4 (above)

Fantagraphics knew how popular Usagi was so they published the first ongoing UY series right after Critters #14. Usagi made only three more appearances in Critters before it was cancelled with #50. The Fantagraphics issues were very popular and #1, #8, and #10 went through second printings. All of these issues can be found with relative ease if you know where to look.

This series is published by Fantagraphics Books and collects many of the Usagi Yojimbo stories from Albedo, Critters, and UY Vol. I in hardcover and softcover editions. The HC editions are signed by Stan and sometimes feature a sketch of Usagi. The SC editions are easy to find and are all available from good ol' Fantagraphics. Buy 'em!

Special note: This series has gone through many reprintings and some contain new art and different covers)

Fantagraphics was a black-and-white publisher, but occasionally published a few color comics, like this series, published semi-annually.

Fearing a low readership due to the unpopularity of Black&White comics in 1992, Stan cancelled UY Vol.I with #38 and moved to Mirage Publishing to start a full color UY series in 1993. These issue are not very hard to find.....Yet.

Dark Horse later collected the first 14 issues into two graphic novels.

Mirage Publishing fell with troubled times in 1995, and was forced to cancel UY with #16. Stan then moved to Dark Horse Comics for a 5-issue UY limited series in 1996. This series was recently made into an ongoing series. Ryaaaa!

Dark Horse Comics has collected the above Usagi issues (as well as the Space Usagi series detailed below and the first 14 Volume Two issues published by Mirage, detailed above) into several graphic novels.

OTHER USAGI YOJIMBO APPEARANCES

Donatello: TMNT....#1 1986: Pin-Up Page

Zell Sworddancer.......#1 July 1986: Sakai back cover art (Thoughts and Images)

The Doomsday Squad....#3 October 1986: Sakai story/art "Village of Fear" (Fantagraphics)

GrimJack.......#30 January 1987: Sakai story/art "Gwim Bear" ( Usagi & Hermy Cameo and Stan Sakai Cameo) (First Comics)

Penguin and Pencilguin.......#1 January 1987: Cameo Appearance (Fragments West)

Turtle Soup.......#1 September 1987: "Turtle Soup and Rabbit Stew" (Mirage)

Anything Goes.......#6 October 1987: Cover Painting (Fantagraphics)

Frank the Unicorn.......#6 April 1988: Usagi cameo "Patrick Rabbit Meets Usagi Yojimbo" (Fragments West)

Amazing Heroes........#164 Swimsuit Special May 1989: Sakai art, Usagi/Nilson pinup (Fantagraphics)

Ms. Tree.......#50 July 1989: Sakai half-page pin-up (Renegade Press)

Shell Shock.......#1 Dec 1989: "The Treaty" (Mirage)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 1.......#22 May 1990: Stan Sakai added his Usagi Yojimbo and Ninja of the Dark Light characters to Ken Mitchroney's Space Ark back-up story (Fantagraphics)

Varmints Special....#1 1990 Sakai Back Cover (Blue Comet Press)

Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special.......#1 Spring 1990: Sakai art, UY pinup (Fantagraphics)

Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special.......#2 Spring 1991: Sakai art, UY pinup (Fantagraphics)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.....Vol. 1 #47 May, 1992: Sakai story/art: "Space Usagi meets Usagi Yojimbo" (Mirage Publishing)

Bone....... #14 May 1994: Sakai art, Usagi, Spot and Fone Bone pinup Inside back cover (Cartoon Books)

Burrito Jack-of-all-Trades.......#3 July 1995: Sakai back cover art (Accent! Comics)

Trilogy II Tour Book.......June 1998:  Sakai story/art "The Guardian" (Jeff Smith)

Dark Horse "Monsters and Aliens" 1999 Calendar 1999: Sakai art (Dark Horse Comics)

Dark Horse Presents.......#140 February 1999: Sakai story/art: "Death and Taxes" (Dark Horse Comics)

Oni Double Feature.......#11 February 1999: Sakai story/art: "The Leaping Ninja" (Oni Press)

Dark Horse Extra.......#14 June 1999: Sakai poster art "Dark Horse Maverick Lineup" (Dark Horse Comics)

Dark Horse Presents: DHP Jr......Annual 1999 August 1999: Sakai story/art: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Tournament" (Dark Horse Comics)

Wizard........#97 August 1999: Sakai story/art "Netsuké" (Wizard World)

(* Special thanks to J.J. Smathers for the Wizard #97 appearance)

In the Zone Special .....August 2000: Sakai cover art (Shanda Fantasy Arts)

Nocturnals: Troll Bridge.....October 2000: Sakai art "The Tanuki Daimyo's Candy" (Oni Press)

Dark Horse Extra.......#31 January 2001: Sakai poster art "Demon Mask" (Dark Horse Comics)

Stan Sakai also draws another comic book entitled Space Usagi which has had two publishers: Mirage and Dark Horse. SU is basically Stan's free style comic, a book in which he can do anything he wants, and nobody can complain. Either you like this book or you don't like it. In the beginning, SU started of as a three-issue limited series from Mirage, back when UY was still over at Fantagraphics. I was skeptical about it at first, I mean, the characters look exactly like the ones in UY. But as I read the first issue, it grew on me. Sure, it's not as serious as UY, but it deserves merit for its creativity. Some may call it a kid's book, but this is not true. It's more like a sci-fi oriented parody of UY, and contains elements normally not seen in UY (like the romance between Usagi and Tomoe (renamed "Tomoeh", unfortunately). Overall, it's definitely worth trying out. Mirage also pubbed an SU lim series in full-color while it was doing the color UY run. And now Dark Horse has done a 3-ish series also.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.....Vol. 1 #46 April 1992: Sakai art "Space Usagi Sneak Preview" Page 1-2, Page 3-4 (Mirage Publishing)

Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special.......#3 June 1992:  Sakai art, Space Usagi & Tomoe pinup (Fantagraphics)

Space Usagi.....Vol. I, #1 June 1992: "Death and Honor" Chapter I (Mirage)

Space Usagi.....Vol. I, #2 July 1992: "Death and Honor" Chapter II (Mirage)

Space Usagi.....Vol. I, #3 August 1992: "Death and Honor" Chapter III (Mirage)

Usagi Yojimbo Color Special..... #3 September 1992: Untitled (Fantagraphics)

Space Usagi.....Vol. II, #1 November 1993: "White Star Rising" Part I (Mirage)

Space Usagi.....Vol. II, #2 January 1994: "White Star Rising" Part II (Mirage)

Space Usagi.....Vol. II, #3 March 1994: "White Star rising" Part III (Mirage)

Ninja High School.......#6 Yearbook 1994: Sakai (Space Usagi) cover art (Antarctic Press)

Space Usagi.....Vol. III, #1 January 1996: "Warrior" Part I (Dark Horse)

Space Usagi.....Vol. III, #2 February 1996: "Warrior" Part II (Dark Horse)

Space Usagi.....Vol. III, #3 March 1996: "Warrior" Part III (Dark Horse)

And don't forget the Dark Horse graphic novel of Space Usagi!

Space Usagi .....December 1998

For those of you unaware, Stan Sakai has another comic entitled " The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy" which first appeared before Usagi Yojimbo, way back in 1984. This series does not have its own comic book, and it is doubtful that it ever will. however, Nilson is very entertaining, and comes highly recommended. Stan tells me that an "Usagi/Nilson" crossover story is in development, and that it will be in continuity, as he has figured a way out of the "language barrier" that separates the two comics. Don't plan on seeing it for some time, though.

Albedo.......#1 June 1984: "We're Not Lost...Just Misplaced"

Albedo.......#5 October 1985: "Slipnot"

Critters.......#5 November 1986: "The Magic Stick"

GrimJack....#30 January 1987: Sakai story/art "Gwim Bear" (Usagi & Hermy Cameo and Stan Sakai Cameo) (First Comics)

Critters.......#16 September 1987: "Return of the Wizard"

Critters Special.......#1 January 1988:"Were Not Lost...Just Misplaced", "Slipnot", and "Game of Death"

Amazing Heroes.......#138 Swimsuit Special April 1988: Sakai art (Fantagraphics)

Critters.......#27 August 1988: "Mother Pearl"

Critters.......#30 November 1988: Results of the Hermy Contest

Amazing Heroes........#164 Swimsuit Special May 1989: Sakai art, Usagi/Nilson pinup (Fantagraphics)

Equine The Uncivilized.......#6 July 1989: Cameo Appearance

Usagi Yojimbo Color Special.......#1 November 1989: "Lost in a Lost City"

Usagi Yojimbo Color Special.......#2 September 1991: "Still Lost in a Lost City"

Usagi Yojimbo Color Special.......#3 September 1992: "Loxos and Doxos"

Usagi Yojimbo.......Vol. 2 #9 August 1994: "Nilson 2199"

Furrlough.......#50 Nilson and Hermy cover art (Antarctic)

Young Usagi Concordance

Critters.......#11 April 1987: Sakai story/art "Homecoming" Part II, flashback of Usagi and Kenichi pursuing a tokagé into a cave (Fantagraphics)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 1.......#1-4 July-November 1987: Sakai story/art "Samurai Parts 1 thru 8" (Fantagraphics)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 1.......#6 February 1988: Sakai story/art "The Test" (Fantagraphics)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 1.......#32 February 1992: Sakai story/art "Gaki" (Fantagraphics)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 2.......#2 May 1993: Sakai story/art "Usagi's Garden" (Mirage)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 2.......#3 July 1993: Sakai story/art "Autumn" (Mirage)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 2.......#6 January 1994: Sakai story/art "Battlefield: Part I" (Mirage)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 2.......#7 April 1994: Sakai story/art "Battlefield: Part II" (Mirage)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 2.......#8 June 1994: Sakai story/art "Battlefield: Part III" (Mirage)

The Art of Usagi Yojimbo.......#1 April 1997: Sakai story/art "The Courage of the Plum" (Radio Comix)

Dark Horse Presents: DHP Jr......Annual 1999 August, 1999: Sakai story/art "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Tournament" (Dark Horse Comics)

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 3.......#33 November 1999: Sakai story/art "The Missive", flashback of Katsuichi and Usagi chancing upon a stream stained red from people dy(e)ing upstream (Dark Horse Comics)

Dark Horse Maverick 2001 July 2001: Sakai story/art "Usagi and the Kami of the Pond", flashback of Katsuichi and Usagi fishing at a pond, and Katsuichi tells young Usagi a story to teach him a valueable lesson (Dark Horse Comics)

Terry Miyamoto Concordance

Rowrbrazzle; funny-animal fanzine, Sakai story/art "10 Little Critters" (only 10 pages of the 48-page story were published)

Usagi Yojimbo.......#23 July 1990: Sakai art ("Lionheart" backup story), guest-starring Terry Miyamoto (Fantagraphics)

Other Stan Sakai Appearances

Raphael: TMNT.......#1 1985: Sakai Fan Mail

Cutey Bunny.......#5 Wednesday 1985: Sakai art "Ashtoreth" (formerly "Vixen") (Army Surplus Komikz)

Frank the Unicorn.......#6 April 1988: Stan Sakai cameo "Patrick Rabbit Meets Usagi Yojimbo" (Fragments West)

Fish Police.......#14 December 1988: Sakai story/art "Fish Shticks" (Comico)

Patrick Rabbit.......#2 Winter 1988: Sakai story/art: "Samurai Kats" (Fragments West)

Amazing Heroes........#164 Swimsuit Special May 1989: Sakai art, X-Men's "Storm" pinup (Fantagraphics)

Patrick Rabbit.......#3 Spring 1990: Sakai story/art: "Space Kats" (Fragments West)

Patrick Rabbit.......#4 Summer 1989: Sakai story/art: "Monster Kats" in "The Great Brain Robbery" (Fragments West)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 1.......#23 July 1990: Sakai art in Tom Stazer's Lionheart backup "A Little Mobster Story", guest-starring Terry Miyamoto (Fantagraphics)

Adolescent Radioactive BlackBelt Hamsters Massacre the Japanese Invasion.......#1 August 1989: Sakai Cover Art (Eclipse Comics)

Flare.......Vol. 2, #7 November 1991: Sakai art backup story "The Adventures of Dolf" (Hero Graphics)

Flare Adventures.......Vol. 1, #2 August 1992: Sakai art backup story "Stinky Bruce", a story of Dolf the Stickboy (Hero Graphics)

Images of Omaha.......#1 1992: Sakai pin-up art (pg. 3, Kitchen Sink Comics)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Meet The Conservation Corps Special #1 1992: Sakai pin-up art (Archie Comic Publications, Inc.)

Donald Duck Adventures.......#32 January 1993: Sakai cover art (Walt Disney)

Visions of Arzach May 1993: Sakai (Arzach) pin-up (Kitchen Sink Press)

Beauty of the Beasts.......#2 July 1993: Sakai cover art (MU Press)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Summer Special 1994.......#9 1994: Sakai art "Be A Star" (Archie)

Shanda the Panda.......#10 July 1995: Sakai cover art (Antarctic Press)

Absolute Zero.......#3 August 1995: Sakai story/art "The Predator" (Antarctic Press)

Shi: Senryaku........#3 November 1995: Sakai art (Crusade)

Shadowhawks of Legend .....1995: story "Taka No Kagé" script by Stan Sakai (Image Comics)

Groo Chase Card.......#IG-3 1995: Groo and Rufferto (Aragonés)

Giant Shanda Animal Special.......#1 1996: Stan Sakai guest-starring role in "The Cure" by Mike Curtis; Page 1, Page 2 (Shanda Fantasy Arts)

Warrior Nun Areala: Portraits.......#1 March 1996: Sakai pin-up (Antarctic Press)

Amoeba Adventures.......22 May 1996: Sakai back cover art (Protoplasm Press)

Shi: Kaidan........#1 October 1996: Sakai story/art "The Soul of the Sword" (Crusade)

Rib........#1 October 1996: Sakai  cover art (Dilemma Productions)

Shi: Way of the Warrior........Trade Paperback #2 1996: Sakai Introduction/art (Crusade)

Brinke of Destruction.......#3 January 1997: Sakai pin-up (Chaos! Comics)

The Art of Usagi Yojimbo.......#1 April 1997: Stan explains how an Usagi story gets created (Radio Comix)

The Art of Usagi Yojimbo.......#2 January 1998: Stan shows us the studio where he works (Radio Comix)

Clan Apis.......#2 December 1998: Sakai cover art (Stan drew one of the bees on the cover, can you guess which one?) (Active Synapse)

August.......#1 1998: Sakai pin-up (Arrow Comics)

Riblet 1998: Sakai art (5-part story in Bone #30-35 and also in Stupid Stupid Rat Tales trade paperback (Cartoon Books)

A Fall of Stardust 1999: Sakai portrait (Neil Gaman/Charles Vess)

Felix Cat-A-Strophic Wrestling Spectacular.....#1 ....2000: Sakai Fan Mail & Fan Art

Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror.....#6 September 2000: Sakai back cover art (Bongo Comics)

Comics Buyer's Guide.......#1415 December 29, 2000: Stan Sakai art (Tony Isabella Yojimbo!)

(* Special thanks go to UY-Otaku Adam Gilbert for the Comics Buyer's Guide and the Tony Isabella pic!)

Oni Press Color Special 2001 June 2001: "Queen & Country" story, with art by Stan Sakai (Oni Press)

Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror.......#7 September 2001: Story titled "I'm not in Springfield Anymore", story and art by Stan Sakai (Bongo Comics)

The Marquis, Devil's Reign: Hell's Courtesan.......#1 February 2002: Pin-up by Stan Sakai (Oni Press)

Grendel: Red, White & Black.......#1 September 2002: Sakai art in the story "Devil Say, Devil Do" (Dark Horse)

Star Wars Tales.......#14 December 2002: Story titled "Urchins", story and art by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)

Non-Sakai Usagi Yojimbo Appearances

Boris the Bear: Slaughters the Teenage Radioactive Black Belt Mutant Ninja Critters...... #1 1986 (Black-and-white story), 1987 (Color story ): UY cameo (Dark Horse Comics)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 1.......#10 August 1988: UY guest appearance in Peter Laird's back-up story "The Crossing" (Fantagraphics)

TMNT Cartoon 1989: Usagi Yojimbo appeared in two episodes, "Usagi Yojimbo" and "Usagi Come Home" (Mirage)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 1.......#20 February 1990: UY guest appearance in Jim Lawson's back-up story "Revenge of the Tokagé God" (Fantagraphics)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 1.......#34 June 1992: UY guest appearance in Dave Garcia's back-up story "Usagi Yojimbo Meets Panda Khan" (Fantagraphics)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 1.......#35 August 1992: UY Cover art by Ken Steacy (Fantagraphics)

Girls of Ninja High School.......#3 April 1993: UY cameo (Antarctic Press)

Shi / Cyblade: The Battle for Independents....... #1 September 1995: UY cameo (Crusade Comics)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 2.......#16 October 1995: UY Back cover art by Michael Dooney (also inside back-cover art by Eric Talbot) (Mirage)

(* Special thanks go to UY-Otaku Jason Sawtelle for providing the last four entries. Just in case you wanted to know, Stan appeared in other issues of the Amazing Heroes Swimsuit Special. One issue even included Tomoe Ame.)

Usagi Yojimbo Book #7 "Gen's Story" April 1996: Usagi meets Sergio Aragonés by Sergio Aragonés (pin-up) (Fantagraphics)

Usagi Yojimbo Color Special.......#4 July 1997: UY and Akiko inside back-cover art by Mark Crilley (Dark Horse)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 3.......#21 June 1998: UY inside back-cover art by Andi Watson (Dark Horse)

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 3.......#27 February 1999: UY Back cover art by Mark Crilley (Dark Horse)

Giant Shanda Animal Special.......#5 April 2000: "Yoyo Yojimbo" by Robinson (Shanda Fantasy Arts)

In the Zone Special .....August 2000: UY Cameo (Shanda Fantasy Arts)

Dark Horse Maverick 2001 July 2001: UY cover by Frank Miller

Usagi Yojimbo Vol 3.......#51 August 2001: Drawing by Guy Davis: Usagi meets a very Japanese version Guy's comicbook character The Marquis!

Stan Sakai Lettering

Groo The Wanderer.....All issues....(Eclipse, Marvel, Image)

The Legend of Kamui.....All issues, including touch-up art....(Eclipse)

Samurai: Son of Death.....One-Shot.....(Eclipse)

Spider-Man:The Comic Strip.....(Marvel)

Stan Sakai Interviews

WittyWorld #1 Interview> Summer 1987: Sakai Interview (Sakai cover art>, Alternate cover art> )

Comics Interview #44 Interview Aug 1987: Sakai Interview (Sakai cover art)

Amazing Heroes #129 Interview Nov 1987: Sakai Mini-Interview (Sakai art ) (Fantagraphics)

Amazing Heroes #187 Interview Jan 1991: Sakai Interview (Sakai cover art) (Fantagraphics)

San Diego Comic Con Interview July 1994

Comic Culture Vol. 2 #2 Interview Dec 1994

The Comics Journal #192 Interview Dec 1996: Stan Sakai Interview ( Sakai cover art ) (Fantagraphics) 

Tozai Times Vol 13, #148 Article Feb 1997: Stan Sakai Interview ( Sakai cover art)

Realms Vol 1, #23 Grasscutter Article May 1997

Comics Buyer's Guide #1235 Interview July 1997: Stan Sakai Interview ( Sakai cover art)

Rafu Shimpo Magazine's Vol 1, #3 Interview June 1998: Stan Sakai Interview (>Sakai cover art)

Dark Horse Comics Interview August 1998

Comicology Vol. 2, #1 Interview Spring 2000

Worlds of Westfield Interview June 2000

Silver Bullet Comics Interview Nov 2000

Sequential Tart Interview Feb 2001

Last change: 27. Aug 2002

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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.