Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Is Ken Steacy the only artist to have ever drawn an Usagi Cover? How did that come about?

Cover to UY 35 (Fantagraphics)
http://usagiyojimbo.com/other/images/uy ... 1cov35.jpg

Usagi sketch card by Ken Steacy

Ken and I are fans of each others' work.

We were both at a con in Winnipeg, Canada. I had a bunch of b/w sketches, like those that are printed on the outside back cover of the comics. We agreed to trade drawings. There were a couple of mine that he liked and couldn't choose between, so I gave him both.

He sought me out at the San Diego Con a few months later, and gave me the beautiful painting. It was such a good painting that we just had to publish it. The idea of printing it on the back cover just did not occur to us at the time. I guess nowdays we would publish it that way.

Tom Luth painted the cover to the third color special, based on one of my drawings.

Gaffey wrote:Is Ken Steacy the only artist to have ever drawn an Usagi Cover? How did that come about?

Usagi sketch card by Ken Steacy

OK, where did you find that card? Got a spare? Can you point me in the right direction to get one?

Thanks....

Steve Hubbell wrote:

Gaffey wrote:Is Ken Steacy the only artist to have ever drawn an Usagi Cover? How did that come about?

Usagi sketch card by Ken Steacy

OK, where did you find that card? Got a spare? Can you point me in the right direction to get one?

Thanks....

Yeah, that's new to me too.

That sketch card looks pretty neat, although it looks like he's holding his sword the wrong way. Who does he think he is, Kenshin? (An obscure joke that only those who have heard of Rurouni Kenshin will understand.)

Incidentally, as long as you're open to the idea of printing guest covers, or guest art on the back cover, Mr. Sakai, I think it would be neat to see one from resident Dojoboard artist Amy.

*Whistles innocently.*

Steve Hubbell wrote:OK, where did you find that card? Got a spare? Can you point me in the right direction to get one?

Thanks....

Sorry Steve, It's an actual sketch. I have about 20 cards with different artists take on Usagi. Some quick draws and others really detailed like this one. I hope to get a couple more at Megacon this weekend.

Once I finish building my webpage, I'll post the link here. It's real basic, but time consuming.

Here's a blown up version (for detail)

Shishio wrote:although it looks like he's holding his sword the wrong way. Who does he think he is, Kenshin? (An obscure joke that only those who have heard of Rurouni Kenshin will understand.)

I don't know who Kenshin is, but I like to think he's reluctantly handing it over to someone

Shishio wrote:That sketch card looks pretty neat, although it looks like he's holding his sword the wrong way. Who does he think he is, Kenshin? (An obscure joke that only those who have heard of Rurouni Kenshin will understand.)

Incidentally, as long as you're open to the idea of printing guest covers, or guest art on the back cover, Mr. Sakai, I think it would be neat to see one from resident Dojoboard artist Amy.

*Whistles innocently.*

I love the expression and line work on the card!!
Very nice!
Thank you for taking the time to post that for us to see.

As for Usagi trying to be like Kenshin? ROTFL! I can't see Usagi making a vow to not kill and going with a reverse blade sword, at least not at this point in time as a character.

(And with a nick like Shishio, I knew you had to be a Ruroken fan.)

Actually, I'm more of a Shishio fan.

I like RK, but the main reason it appeals to me is Shishio.

Anyway, this will allow people not familiar with the series to understand my "joke" if they so desire.

Gaffey wrote: Once I finish building my webpage, I'll post the link here. It's real basic, but time consuming.

Time consuming.... i know what you are talking about ...
anyway i really enjoy your collection