Art of Usagi disambiguation

[shaxper]

Okay, so there are two issues of the Art of Usagi Yojimbo comic book as well as a 20th anniversary hardbound volume. I recently read somewhere that these are NOT the same works. Can someone explain what these two different Art of Usagi Yojimbo volumes are, as well as what makes them different?

Also, how do the Usagi Yojimbo sketchbooks figure into all of this?


I have one issue of the Art of Usagi Yojimbo comic and have never seen the other works in person, so any and all help is appreciated.

[rowdydog4444]

The hardcover (also a softcover is out I believe) of the Art of Usagi Yojimbo ofcourse way bigger than the 2 comic issues (from radio comix I believe). Also it has alot of stuff from those issues. The HC which I wonderfully have is quite amazing. It has quite a bit of colored stuff. None of the sketchbook stuff is in there I think...now I'm going to have to check up on that now . I would really go and get the HC if you can, but if your tight on money I guess I'd prolly go for the softcover. Hope this helps some.

T

[Stan Sakai]

Radio Comix had published two issues of The Art of UY comics in the early 2000's. These were comic book size, maybe 48 pages. If I remember correctly, most of the art were of the convention drawings of the kind that are printed on the outside back cover of the comics, but there were also some endpaper art and other misc stuff. These were black and white, with new color covers. The first one is completely sold out, but #2 is quite easy to find.

Dark Horse published The Art of UY hard and soft covers in 2005/06. This is a coffee table book--about 9x12, high production values, good printing, etc. There is even a couple of color sections, reprinting my watercolor stories and selected art. This is a beautiful book, arranged chronologically from early character sketches to present day. It is very much like The Art of Sin City and The Art of Mike Mignola, also from DH.

There is a small amount of crossover between these two projects, most obvious is the How I Create an UY Story that is in the Radio Comix #1 and the DH book. Some of the endpaper art and other art can also be found in both. The endpapers for the DH book reprints the kite poster that was used as covers for a couple of the UY comics (45 and 46, I think).

The Sketchbooks are a different deal completely. I publish them myself, limiting them to 750 signed and numbered copies. I sell them at conventions, and through Bud Plant Comic Art. I have a lot of sketches--preliminary art for covers, story ideas, thumbnails--and this is a nice showcase for them. Most people would probably not be too interested in these behind the scenes kind of drawings, and so the small print run. I'm taking the third Sketchbook to the printer this week. This one is different from the other two in that it will show my entire creative process. There is a 3 pager about how Sergio Aragones and I brainstormed an Usagi story while looking for a luggage shop in Granada, Spain. It then shows my plot outline, thumbnails, then a new 10-page Usagi story. This story does not fit into the regular Usagi continuity, but it was too good a story not to tell. I'll probably reprint just the story in a trade collection in about 5 years, with an explanation of why it should not be regarded as part of the UY continuity. The Sketchbook will also have a unfinished 4 page story fragment of a Redwall-esque story I was contemplating 10 years ago. The rest of the pages will be filled with convention sketches, commissions, and other little seen art.

[rowdydog4444]

Wow Stan what a in-depth reply! Like you said the Art of Usagi Yojimbo HC is a very beautiful book! Hopefully one day there will be another somewhere down the line. I cannot wait for the new sketchbook!!! I can't believe you are goin to put all that in there. You sir are the man.

T

[Maka]

I'm taking the third Sketchbook to the printer this week. This one is different from the other two in that it will show my entire creative process. There is a 3 pager about how Sergio Aragones and I brainstormed an Usagi story while looking for a luggage shop in Granada, Spain. It then shows my plot outline, thumbnails, then a new 10-page Usagi story. This story does not fit into the regular Usagi continuity, but it was too good a story not to tell. I'll probably reprint just the story in a trade collection in about 5 years, with an explanation of why it should not be regarded as part of the UY continuity. The Sketchbook will also have a unfinished 4 page story fragment of a Redwall-esque story I was contemplating 10 years ago. The rest of the pages will be filled with convention sketches, commissions, and other little seen art.

Alright, Third sketchbook! I love seeing behind the scenes stuff. Plus a bonus 10 page UY story. Sounds like this will be the best sketchbook yet. Will is still be $10 + s/h or will it cost more (sounds like more pages)? Regardless, I'll be ordering from bud plant as soon as it's available.

Peace,

maka

[Maka]

Hey check out the new edit feature (for your own post) on this board. Pretty cool!

Peace,

maka

[rowdydog4444]

Hey Maka where is that picture of Usagi from? I love it!

T

[Steve Hubbell]

Hey check out the new edit feature (for your own post) on this board. Pretty cool!

Peace,

maka

That has been there for quite some time. You can edit (or delete) your own posts on all of the forums for the Dojo Boards except for the News section. It's great for correcting those typos and mis-spellings, not to mention image links which fail to work correctly....

[Maka]

Hey Maka where is that picture of Usagi from? I love it!

T

I bought it on eBay. It was a lot money but it is a beautiful colored piece. I went to my local art store, got it matted, and a great custom frame but it still hasn't found a wall in my house (I tend to let my partner decorate). Someday.

I love that a Usagi is with the moon. As a kid my father used to ask me if I could see the rabbit in the moon.

Peace,

maka

[shaxper]

Radio Comix had published two issues of The Art of UY comics in the early 2000's. These were comic book size, maybe 48 pages. If I remember correctly, most of the art were of the convention drawings of the kind that are printed on the outside back cover of the comics, but there were also some endpaper art and other misc stuff. These were black and white, with new color covers. The first one is completely sold out, but #2 is quite easy to find.

Dark Horse published The Art of UY hard and soft covers in 2005/06. This is a coffee table book--about 9x12, high production values, good printing, etc. There is even a couple of color sections, reprinting my watercolor stories and selected art. This is a beautiful book, arranged chronologically from early character sketches to present day. It is very much like The Art of Sin City and The Art of Mike Mignola, also from DH.

There is a small amount of crossover between these two projects, most obvious is the How I Create an UY Story that is in the Radio Comix #1 and the DH book. Some of the endpaper art and other art can also be found in both. The endpapers for the DH book reprints the kite poster that was used as covers for a couple of the UY comics (45 and 46, I think).

The Sketchbooks are a different deal completely. I publish them myself, limiting them to 750 signed and numbered copies. I sell them at conventions, and through Bud Plant Comic Art. I have a lot of sketches--preliminary art for covers, story ideas, thumbnails--and this is a nice showcase for them. Most people would probably not be too interested in these behind the scenes kind of drawings, and so the small print run. I'm taking the third Sketchbook to the printer this week. This one is different from the other two in that it will show my entire creative process. There is a 3 pager about how Sergio Aragones and I brainstormed an Usagi story while looking for a luggage shop in Granada, Spain. It then shows my plot outline, thumbnails, then a new 10-page Usagi story. This story does not fit into the regular Usagi continuity, but it was too good a story not to tell. I'll probably reprint just the story in a trade collection in about 5 years, with an explanation of why it should not be regarded as part of the UY continuity. The Sketchbook will also have a unfinished 4 page story fragment of a Redwall-esque story I was contemplating 10 years ago. The rest of the pages will be filled with convention sketches, commissions, and other little seen art.

Wow! Thank you for that amazingly thorough reply! I'm going to order an Art of Usagi hardcover right away. As for the sketchbooks, will you be bringing any copies of #1 and #2 to Anthrocon?

[Stan Sakai]

I'll bring all three sketchbooks to Anthrocon. They are $10 each, 24 pages plus covers. As I said, they would appeal more to the collector and those who are interested in the creative process.

There is also a Spanish Sketchbook published in 2004. This one is about 64 pages, and priced at $15. This was published when I was a guest of the Expo Comic festival in Madrid. The organizers wanted to print a book of my work, but won't tell me how many pages to fill. I sent them a bunch of stuff, and they used everything. It is filled with b/w of covers, endpaper art, and con drawings. Also, the outline, thumbnails and 4 page Cooking Lesson is in there.

Cooking Lesson was originally published in the cancer benefit book Drawing the Line, and will be in the upcoming UY Book 20: Glimpses of Death.

[shaxper]

That all sounds fantastic!

I've included the sketchbooks in the Anthrocon wishlist thread. I've already been saving for this convention (or, should I say, your table) for over a month now! Can't wait to be penniless, yet rich in Usaginess

[Fanfan]

I bought it on eBay. It was a lot money but it is a beautiful colored piece. I went to my local art store, got it matted, and a great custom frame but it still hasn't found a wall in my house (I tend to let my partner decorate).
maka

Maka,

is this a print or an original illustration ?

whatever it is, for sure, it looks beautiful !

I'm taking the third Sketchbook to the printer this week. This one is different from the other two in that it will show my entire creative process.
There is a 3 pager about how Sergio Aragones and I brainstormed an Usagi story while looking for a luggage shop in Granada, Spain

This third sketchbook looks good! (i will take you one next time we will meet !)

Stan, do you brainstorm sometimes stories with your good friends ? (Sergio for you or you for Sergio ? ) or is this cooperation exceptional?

[Stan Sakai]

Stan, do you brainstorm sometimes stories with your good friends ? (Sergio for you or you for Sergio ? ) or is this cooperation exceptional?

It is not very often that we get to brainstorm an idea like this. This is just the third time with Sergio over the 27 years that I've known him. The first was Broken Ritual that is in UY Book 7 from Fantagraphics. Sergio drove to my house at 2 in the morning (he lives about 2 hours away). During the drive, he thought of a story for Terminator 3, and one for Usagi. He told it to me that night/morning, and I changed it quite a bit so he did not even recognize it when it was published. I gave him credit for it on the opening page. We also collaborated on a 6 issue crossover story for Usagi and his Cat Nippon, that never got beyond the story stage. This 10 pager, titled Sukanku, was the third.

However, he has suggested things to me many times--sometimes even a single word or a phrase--that I turned into a story. I was asked to do a short story for Wizard Magazine, and asked Sergio for an idea that I could use as a spring board and work from. He came up, right on the spot, with an elaborate story. I told him I just had three pages. He said, "Do something with Netsuke, then." The next morning, I wrote the story, Netsuke. Sometimes, all you need is a seed of an idea.

[Maka]

Maka,

is this a print or an original illustration ?

whatever it is, for sure, it looks beautiful !

Hello Fanfan,

It's an original illustration. It's dated 1996.

Peace,

maka