Usagi related Questions to Stan, or the fans in the know

[Quincy]

Ok a


1. Is Usagi finite? Or is Stan just doing it until his hand falls off.

2. Does Stan ever plan to look at an adult Jotaro?

3. If it is finite, does Stan ever plan to do a complete edition, a la bone?

4. Other than TMNT, are then plans for a Usagi animated cartoon?

Thats all,

I'm sorry if someone else has asked this,

Thanks
Matt

P.S: If you're at Wizard World Chicago come and say hi at the CBLDF booth, I'll be the loud British one.

[Stan Sakai]

Ok a


1. Is Usagi finite? Or is Stan just doing it until his hand falls off.

2. Does Stan ever plan to look at an adult Jotaro?

3. If it is finite, does Stan ever plan to do a complete edition, a la bone?

4. Other than TMNT, are then plans for a Usagi animated cartoon?

Thats all,

I'm sorry if someone else has asked this,

Thanks
Matt

P.S: If you're at Wizard World Chicago come and say hi at the CBLDF booth, I'll be the loud British one.

Hi Matt,

Welcome to the Dojo!

1. Usagi is an ongoing series. Originally, he was part of the Nilson Groundthumper storyline which was to be finite, but that epic was scrapped long ago.

2. There are no plans for an adult Jotaro. I think he would be very much like Usagi, anyway--both in character and appearance.

3. I've already done at least 2,500 pages, much to many for a single volume. Bone is a measly 1,340 pages.

4. There are no plans currently for an Usagi animated project, either for features or tv. Aside from the TMNT, of course.

Unfortunately, I will not be at Wizard World this year.

[Izo]

Hey man I'll be at Wizard World this year man.. I'll be there all three days so I will try and stop by and say whats up..

[gunblade007]

i got some questions for stan too.
(1) how did you meet kevin eastman and peter laird?
because i remeber hearing about usagi yojimbo being made by mirage a long time ago

(2) will we see more of space usagi. i think there was a bout three issues it was a mini series right?

(3) how did you move from mirage comics to dark horse?

(4) will there be anymore cross overs with any other comic book company.like you did with mirage and goo.

(5) when did you started drawing and discover you could do this for a living.

(6) how did you get the job as Sergio Aragones' letter on groo?

-Joe:)

[Mayhem]

2) There were three stories released each comprising of three issues (so nine comics in total). I'd like to see some more Space Usagi stuff, but I think poor Stan has enough on his plate currently dealing just with his "land based" cousin in feudal Japan

[Stan Sakai]

i got some questions for stan too.
(1) how did you meet kevin eastman and peter laird?
because i remeber hearing about usagi yojimbo being made by mirage a long time ago

(2) will we see more of space usagi. i think there was a bout three issues it was a mini series right?

(3) how did you move from mirage comics to dark horse?

(4) will there be anymore cross overs with any other comic book company.like you did with mirage and goo.

(5) when did you started drawing and discover you could do this for a living.

(6) how did you get the job as Sergio Aragones' letter on groo?

-Joe:)

1. TMNT and Usagi started about the same time. We're both celebrating our 20th anniversary this year. At that time, black & white books were not as popular, so us b&w creators supported each other. Besides, we admired each others' books. I met Peter and Kevin at a San Diego Con (this is when it was at the old Convention Center in the downtown area), and we got along. Peter and Kevin are terrific guys, and I'm honored to have them as friends.


When Mirage wanted to expand their publishing, they invited me to join them. Fantagraphics, by then, had discontinued their all-ages comics so I felt Usagi did not fit in with their line. I went over to Mirage with Fantagraphics' blessings. With the downturn in the comic book industry coupled with some major damage to Mirage's publishing department during a spring thaw, they decided to discontinue publishing. They gave me about 8 months notice. I sent out letters to 8 publishers, and received 11 replies to publish Usagi. I went with Dark Horse because I liked their line, liked Diana, and they were willing to continue the series uninterrupted. The month after the last Mirage Usagi came out, the first Space Usagi from Dark Horse hit the stands.

2. There were three Space Usagi mini-series, each of which had three issues. In total, there were nine issues published, plus a couple of miscellaneous stories in the third UY Color Special and an issue of TMNT. I do have one more story. It will be a 6 issue miniseries. I just don't have the time right now to develop it as I enjoy working on Usagi too much. I also have an Usagi/War of the Worlds story in mind, in which the martians land in feudal Japan. This would be a separate mini-series. Don't hold your breath waiting for it, though.

3. See number 1.

4. There is nothing planned in the immediate future. Groo, however, will be crossing over with Conan, and with Tarzan. Both will be published by Dark Horse. There is also a 12 issue Groo series in the works.

5. It took a long time. I was doing freelance artwork in the Los Angeles area before I started full time in comics.

6. Sergio was a friend before I started lettering. He just asked me. I read up on how to letter, and became a letterer. My earlier efforts were quite crude. Almost every page would look different as I tried out new lettering pens until I found one that I liked.

[Maka]

3. . . . Bone is a measly 1,340 pages.

Heh. That funny.

Peace,

maka

[Quincy]

2. There were three Space Usagi mini-series, each of which had three issues. In total, there were nine issues published, plus a couple of miscellaneous stories in the third UY Color Special and an issue of TMNT. I do have one more story. It will be a 6 issue miniseries. I just don't have the time right now to develop it as I enjoy working on Usagi too much. I also have an Usagi/War of the Worlds story in mind, in which the martians land in feudal Japan. This would be a separate mini-series. Don't hold your breath waiting for it, though.

Holey christ.

Stan you have made my week already.

Please email me as soon as you know I've won the lottery!

Matt

[gunblade007]

hey stan i got two more questions.
(1) how long do you know Sergio Aragones and how did you meet?

(2) when you were answing question number 4 you said about a 12 issue groo is part of the once a year groo mini series. because i'm a big fan of groo too and like to read the mini series even if it's only once a year.

-Joe:)

[Stan Sakai]

hey stan i got two more questions.
(1) how long do you know Sergio Aragones and how did you meet?

(2) when you were answing question number 4 you said about a 12 issue groo is part of the once a year groo mini series. because i'm a big fan of groo too and like to read the mini series even if it's only once a year.

-Joe:)

1. I've known Sergio for at least 25 years now. We had a mutual friend, and when I moved to California from Hawaii I looked him up in the phone book and wrote him a letter. He called and invited me to a CAPS (Comic Arts Professional Society) meeting. That's where I first met Mark Evanier and Jack Kirby.

2. We're not sure which Groo mini-series we'll be working on first. The 12 issue mini, titled Friends & Villains, will feature stories of Groo and his many friends/villains that he's met over the years.

[gunblade007]

hey stan,
i got three more questions for you about usagi yojimbo.
(1) how did you think of usagi yojimbo theme song and who plays all music in it.

(2) who's doing usagi's voice on the new ninja turtles cartoon? both young and the adult usagi.

(3) i bet you get this alot but i don't think i ever hear why. how did you think of a ronin rabbit in old japan? did you have to read alot about japan in the past?

-Joe:)

[Stan Sakai]

hey stan,
i got three more questions for you about usagi yojimbo.
(1) how did you think of usagi yojimbo theme song and who plays all music in it.

(2) who's doing usagi's voice on the new ninja turtles cartoon? both young and the adult usagi.

(3) i bet you get this alot but i don't think i ever hear why. how did you think of a ronin rabbit in old japan? did you have to read alot about japan in the past?

-Joe:)

1. I'm not sure which theme song you're referring to--the computer game, perhaps? In any case, it's the producers that usually handle such things. I have very little to do, aside from approvals, once any kind of animated show is produced (such as TMNT). It is by choice. I prefer to spend my time working on the comics and trades.

2. I've forgotten who voices Usagi on the Turtles. The producers sent me three audition tapes, and we settled on the current voice actor.

3. Even as a kid growing up in Hawaii, I loved the old samurai movies such as Yojimbo and Tange Sazen. These focused on the ronin. I guess that is where my inspiration stems from.

[Maka]

3. . . . Bone is a measly 1,340 pages.

Here's my question: does anyone come close (in terms of page) to Mr. Sakai in regards to writing/drawing/inking/lettering a comic series? Dave Sim's Cerebus doesn't qualify because Mr. Sims doesn't work alone (Gerhard) , right? (Not to mention, that title hasn't always been on time).

Maybe Osamu Tezuka's Mighty Atom is longer? I heard Tezuka drew more than 50,000 pages during his career (but I also heard he had a studio of artist who helped him).

It seems to me, Usagi Yojimbo is the longest comic book series that has a single writer/artist/inker/letterer. Is this true?

In any case, it's amazing that Mr. Sakai has been so consistent. This book has come out monthly for years. Other comic creators work on teams to meet their monthly deadline (and sometimes they don't).

I can't wait for the Usagi Art book to come out next month!

Peace,

maka

[Steve Hubbell]

It seems to me, Usagi Yojimbo is the longest comic book series that has a single writer/artist/inker/letterer. Is this true?

Peace,

maka

It IS extremely amazing that in twenty years, the only other person credited on the book besides Stan himself was his daughter who helped ink issue #75 of Vol. 3. That is, of course, not counting credit to Tom Luth (and others?) for all the work done coloring covers and miscellanious color issues and specials...

[Stan Sakai]

It IS extremely amazing that in twenty years, the only other person credited on the book besides Stan himself was his daughter who helped ink issue #75 of Vol. 3. That is, of course, not counting credit to Tom Luth (and others?) for all the work done coloring covers and miscellanious color issues and specials...

There were a couple of others who has had artwork in Usagi, though. Sergio slipped in a drawing of Groo in a crowd scene when I wasn't looking, and Linda Medley inked a panel. Sergio also inked an entire flashback sequence, and that was credited.