Usagi fans...who are you?

goandal · Post by **goandal** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 16:58 -0700

This may seem personal, but I assume there are various devoted fans of UY...I just want to get a picture of "the Usagi Yojimbo family"...so who are you, how old are you and what do you do?

I just turned 29. A recent newlywed and working in the Sports Industry field...Advertising/Marketing Dept. I have a degree in Music Education and I use it on the side (freelance, until my teaching credentials kick in).

Usagi encounter: Early in High School I visited a comic book store in Glendale, CA and saw on the back of the counter the first issue of UY...the one where Usagi's portrait was on the front, sword weilding and having a mean look on his face. It looked so cool. Once I purchased it, I was so intrigued with the story and humor of this samurai rabbit. I was hooked. It was a great find because I was tired of the ol' Marvel, DC comics. I wanted to break out of the mainstream comic line and check out some independents. Yeah there were some that were "out there", but Usagi just fits right for my tast.

Hobbies: I just bought an Xbox and been pretty addicted to it...I'm very grateful to my wife to keep me in check. I just watched Pirates of the Carribean and it was awesome. My favorite movies that I own are Band of Brothers, Last of the Mohicans and any Kurosawa flick. My favorite tunes are Linkin Park, Stevie Ray Vaughn stuff, Metallica, Mozart and Wagner. I also professionally play flamenco guitar. And I just got back into collecting NBA sports cards...after reading these players stats, it motivates me to go back to the gym and get in shape...I can't wait until the season starts again!

The Best Lifestyle: Living for God. He keeps me in check.

Oh by the way, my name is Greg. 1974 rules!

Thanks.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 19:31 -0700

Hey I'm 29 too. Licensed mechanical engineer (P.E.) in CA and also run my own web design company for local area businesses in Orange County. I'm your typical comic book / sci-fi fanatic with interests in Star Wars/Trek, Anime, Marvel, Japan/Samurai theater, funny animal/furry comics, Kevin Smith/Jay and Silent Bob movies and stuff, Aliens, old cartoons (Thundarr, He-Man, GI Joe, Transformers, Robotech, Voltron, Mospeada, Macross, etc....). There's probably 1000 clones of myself at comic book sci-fi cons across the nation. Oh yeah, a big UY fan too!!!! Music: Heavy Metal, alternative, U2, and some classical. Hey Stan if you're reading this what type of music/bands do you listen to???

Tounian · Post by **Tounian** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 21:33 -0700

Mike Tounian, I'm 25. I'm a hopefully soon to be licensed architect, but first and foremost I'm a filmmaker. At least I like to call myself that. My life has revolved around cinema for as far back as I can remember, and its all I really care about. I've shot one feature and set to start the next one in about 2-3 months. I'm a huge fan of most of the things Todd mentioned, except the star trek part. No offense, just not my thing. I got into Usagi at some point in 1987, and I've always been a huge fan, just never thought to look for a website devoted to Usagi and Stan until about a year ago. Also, in accordance with film making, I've spent the past 3 years trying to figure out how to make an Usagi movie. Live action. I used to work for a special Fx shop, so I've tried to make masks, and certain makeup jobs that would look like Usagi, but I just cant seem to pull it off. Alot of the characters, like Kitsune, Tomoe, Jei, etc are easier masks to make, but Gen, Usagi, and Katsuichi are almost impossible. But when I first started thinking of an Usagi movie, it all just seemed so amazing. If I could get a good Usagi makeup job going, how cool would it be to see something like the "Battle of Adachigahara" on film? I still get excited thinking about it, so Stan, if someone ever puts up the money to do a Usagi film, tell them you know who wants to direct it!

Anyway, thats my blarb, sorry it was so long.

go · Post by go » Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:03 -0700

go AKA Gordon Smith, 51.
Junior high science teacher in Durham near Chico, northern Caifornia.
I learned to read using comic books.
When it was time for my son to learn to read I gave him Usagi.
We read them together and I fell in love with comics again.
Interested in I Ching, hiking, Asian cinema, Bjork, gardening, Moebius, Tai Chi, trilobites, ants, etc.
Proud member of the Usagi Yojimbo Dojo.
Best wishes to all,
go

takematsu · Post by **takematsu** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:47 -0700

36 years old, married with three cats, got degrees in Education AND History, and thanks the concept of "overqualification" I work in a call centre

(hint: when you tell your kids to get an education, make sure they focus; we're in an age of specialization). I've taught in Korea a little, visited Japan and WISHED I'd been teaching there, even though it is easier to sort out signs in Korea. Been reading comics since the early 70's without a break, thanks to having not quite gotten "too old for it" when the independent market bloomed in the 80's. I too am a big SF/Fantasy geek, but due to accidents of timing I've gotten more into SCA "historical recreation" than conventions/cosplay. There's a pretense to being a writer as well, but nothing more than a few on-line articles published as yet. I have grazing interests in kaiju, martial arts (film and otherwise), cryptozoology, taoist medicine, ghosts'n'spooky stuff, and alternative power generation (damn hippie!)

I was first exposed to UY about 8 years ago with an impulse purchase of
The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, and after a long incubation period I've started to fill in the collection. I'm using the excuse that it's "research" for the new SCA outfits I'm working on-- including a pretty darn effective ni mai do with mougami sode as armour for fighting in-- pictures will occur when I get a helmet that suits better than the Viking-style thing I've currently got.

Qion · Post by **Qion** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 8:54 -0700

Wow. When I look at you people I feel so small.

15 years old. Live in Warsaw/Poland/Central Europe. I just got graduation to high school(why so late? different edu system).
I am interested in history, psychology and a bit in paranormal stuff. For I am a masochist I like to listen and discuss about politics with idiots, which drives me crazy, causes anthrax, and make want to bite off my fingers. I belive that Plato with his "Republic" was a... khem, "dreamer", and think that the best policy is democracy with strong, central government. I like to listen all kinds of music, except for the new things and hard sounding music(goth, metal, techno).
I'm am hoping to some day get a doctors degree in psychology and go to America, open a psychoterapist's office on Greenwich Village in Big Apple, earn big money so I could afford going to all comic cons(If everything goes the way I want it, we should meet on the 35th anniversary of UY

).
I'm new to UY fans(this summer!), but fell in love with the comics when I read the first story. My knowledge is very poor, because there are only 5 vols in Poland so far(Shades of Death- Grasscutter), and I can't wait for new to occur.

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 15:43 -0700

I'm 18 years old, though I'll be 19 in September. I was born in Barcelona, Spain, though I've lived in Andorra (tiny country between Spain and France) for 10 years. Last year I returned to Barcelona to start Computer Engineering, which is 5 years long here. I've wanted to be a videogame programmer since as far as I can remember, and hopefullly I'll become one someday. My hobbies are videogames (obviously) and pretty much all other forms of storytelling (movies, novels, comic-books, drama), screwing up my computer, skiing (it's pretty cheap in Andorra

), kendo-iaido-tatsumi ryu, music, hanging around with my friends, and anything that keeps me entertained and has some kind of friendly community built around. I don't sleep very well, so when I go to sleep I start to think in lots of things, with various results: sometimes I get ideas for new videogames, sometimes I start wondering why a movie I just saw was so good/bad/weird/whatever, sometimes I start wondering about the screwed-up politics in Spain and ways to solve the main problems, and sometimes I start wondering about philosophy and religion. I'm agnostic and I believe in democracy based on a federal republic as the least bad (not the best) political system, I also believe that nationalism is a disease suffered by close-minded people. I enjoy reading/watching anything that will make me think afterwards ("what would happen if...?"), so I usually read sci-fi, but I'm not limited only to that. I'm that kind of idiot that if you ask him "What kind of music do you listen to?" will answer with "I like good music"; I will listen to this and that song, and if there's one that I like, I'll check out the album, and if I like it, I'll buy it; currently I'm listening Saint Germain près-de-café, a NuJazz compilation (really good as chillout music), and the last album by Sideral, specially the electropop CD (the techno CD is too hardcore for me). I also enjoy going to clubs with my friends (I'm into house, electro and trance music, but mostly house).

I discovered Usagi Yojimbo last year by chance, in a manga convention in Barcelona (yes, Usagi is not manga, but they usually mix up things in the two comic cons in BCN -manga and comic). I inmediately fell in love with it and got all the TPBs as soon as I could. However, that wasn't enough, and now I'm getting the DH issues. I'm saving to go to San Diego next year to Usagi's 20th anniversary.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 13:45 -0700

I just got back from a camping trip in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was a nice break from conventioneering, but I still managed to ink a few pages.

Many of you know more than you'd want to know about me from reading my bios. I just turned 50 this year, have been married for more than 26 years to Sharon (high school sweetheart), and have two children, Hannah and Matthew.

My music tastes are pretty much oldies--from classical to rock. My favorite group still remains The Beatles. I also like The Moody Blues, U2, and a few eclectic singers like Kate Bush. I like to watch action/adventure movies because I can work while its on, actively watching it only when something particularly interesting, like an explosion or a car chase, is going on. That's why it's difficult for me to watch sports or animation--I feel that I should be drawing, but I'll miss something if I do.

Gaffey · Post by **Gaffey** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 16:45 -0700

Another 29 year old here...

Job: Market Research

First Usagi experience: I was working at a comic store when The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy came out. After giving it a try I was hooked.

Comics: I no longer "collect" comics. I buy TPB's and HC's. It's kind of like having to wait for the DVD instead of going to the theatre.

Music: I enjoy just about anything. I'd have to say my favorites are “oldies” (50’s and 60’s) and Brit pop.

Some of my favorite movies: The Empire Strikes Back, Moulin Rouge, and Beautiful Girls.

Favorite TV show: Family Guy!!

Dream Vacation: Hike throughout the Scottish Highlands

John

Stan Sakai wrote:like an explosion or a car chase

Best car chase I have ever seen has to be the one in Ronin with Robert De Niro.

Post by **Mayhem** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 3:00 -0700

Hmmm a gaggle of 29 years olds?

Job: Systems support at HP, mainly for BT (British Telecom)

First experience: late 80s, someone at school had a strange collection of all different independent comics he was selling off (I recall a name "Beanworld" being one for example) and there were some Usagi in there. Had a read, quite liked it.

Didn't actually get fully into it until a couple of years ago thanks to more money and eBay. Managed to acquire a full complete comic collection (Fantagraphics, Mirage, Dark Horse) and the odd tradeback paperback to fill in some of the stuff you can't get elsewhere (bar lots of money eg. Albedo 2). Now have Usagi on subscription here in the UK for every 2 issues delivered.

Music: most things, most styles, especially ska and electronic though.

I have a big interest in Japan, Japanese culture and language (although I'm not exactly hot at languages, at least I can read most katakana), and hope to go visit the country some point in the future. I know people over there already who could show me around and point out the good stuff, without having to wander round in a confused state

Logan Myrddin · Post by **Logan Myrddin** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 7:18 -0700

Hello, all!
I'm Grant Cobb, and I'll be twenty-one in just over a month. (However, due to certain convictions and certain medications I take, I WON'T be celebrating that birthday in the traditional manner. I'm afraid I'll never drink sake

!!)
I'm currently in college earning my degree in Graphic Design Technology. However, Graphic Design is just a cover-- I'm REALLY an author, through and through. Writing is my life... well, seventy percent of it, anyway. I am currently unpublished, but it looks as if that will change VERY soon.
Usagi Yojimbo was the first comicbook I ever read seriously. All the others I was sort of just killing time. It was Usagi Yojimbo that taught me that comic books were for more than collecting. After less than a year reading comics, I already have a full bin of 'em, and all seven Fantagraphics Usagi TPBs! I am an Usagi FANATIC!
Back to writing, for a moment. I basically write books that seem like they should have been "anime". That is the intended feel, anyway. I enjoy anime and comics so much, I want to write them. However, I can not get the same type of flow with a comic script that I do with a book (It's really hard to describe what I mean by "flow". It's like just letting everything go and letting the book write itself. Works wonders!) Anyway, I also draw, of course, but it doesn't hold my interest the way writing does, so following in the footsteps of Sakai-Sensei just won't work. I hate that.
I have an UNSATIABLE lust for knowledge on ANYTHING Japan. I claim to have the soul of a Samurai, but after some careful analyzing, I realize I don't have the loyalty complex. I DO have the honor thing. I'm also one of the nicest guys I know (Or so I'm told by my friends...).
Usagi Yojimbo was THE turning point in my life. It opened up the door to exactly what I wanted to do (though I didn't know it at the time). So I am a DEVOUT follower of the ronin rabit's exploits.
As for other things: I read fantasy and Sci-Fi, manga, comics of all sorts, non-fiction on Japan and fiction on japan. I draw a comic strip for my college (Pensacola Junior College) newspaper-- soon to draw TWO comic strips for them (the NEW one is about Samurai and Ninja! YAY!) I play Hero Clix, for which we hope to have an Usagi figure to play with. I have no girlfriend

, but then again, I don't really have the room in my life for another love at the moment... That's about it... wow... that's long... ah, well...

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 7:42 -0700

Gaffey wrote: Best car chase I have ever seen has to be the one in Ronin with Robert De Niro.

The DVD also has one of the best director's commentaries I heard yet. It even tells how they did those stunts, who was driving, etc. The actors were actually in those cars with all the traffic heading right towards them, so their reactions were real. The Bourne Identity has a good car chase (in a Mini-Cooper?) through the streets of Paris that's very much like Ronin's.

Tounian · Post by **Tounian** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 9:46 -0700

Im glad to see that I'm not the only one who watches the audio commentaries on all the dvd's I get. I think the most amazing car chase ever, was in an old Jackie Chan flick, and I'm 90% sure it was the original police story. Its a car chase and amazingly death defying stunt scene all in one. These criminals are fleeing the cops, while Jackie Chan is chasing them on roller skates. At like 70 mph! He just keeps moving from one car to another, under semi trucks, leaping over cars, and doing just about everything to nearly get himself killed. Its amazing stuff.

takematsu · Post by **takematsu** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 15:18 -0700

Gaffey wrote:

Best car chase I have ever seen has to be the one in Ronin with Robert De Niro.

...and Sakai-sensei responded:
The DVD also has one of the best director's commentaries I heard yet. It even tells how they did those stunts, who was driving, etc. The actors were actually in those cars with all the traffic heading right towards them,

Nuts. I though they were just fantastic actors with a smart director (rather than remarkable actors with a sadistic director)

goandal · Post by **goandal** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 17:13 -0700

Talk about commentaries...

The Seven Samurai Criterion Collection has a great commentary by some dude named Michael Jack. I pretty much learned all I needed about samurais (and also Japanese culture) through his comments on almost every scene.

Movie commentaries are great!

Another thing UY fans have in common.