Usagi Yojimbo Fantagraphics Special Editions

Crookerdog · Post by **Crookerdog** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 2:08 -0700

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to put my two cents into these new Special Edition Fantagraphic books that just came out.

These are super cool books. Well worth the coin. There are several things that Fantagraphics did to set these books apart from the hardcover limiteds that have come out before.

First of all, they have combined seven hardcover editions into just two.
Second, they have printed them on heavy stock pages with ultra rich black tones.
Thirdly, the books are the overall size of a regular edition comic.

Add that all up and you have two quality books that are heavy in your hand and are able to immerce you into the early world of UY. I feel pride when I pick up these books and head to my favorite reading spot for an hour of submersion into fudal Japan with my favorite samari bunny, UY. The pure magnitude of just one edition gets me excited for the reading. Good job Fantagraphics!!!

If you are reading this and have only thought about purchasing the Special Editions. Do so!! Find the coin. It is well worth the pitance at $100 and I was able to get it for $60 on Amazon. That is the cost of a regular hardcover edition. Find and excuse to buy these wonderful books.

Those of you that already have the books know what I am talking about. All you have to do is sit down and enjoy!

Sincerely,
Joe

John Pannozzi · Post by **John Pannozzi** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 20:34 -0700

The collection is very nice, but it apparently omits the Usagi/TMNT story "The Crossing". Odd. Are any other short stories or back up strips included in the individual releases of volumes 1-7 not collected in the Special Edition, by any chance?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 21:32 -0700

John Pannozzi wrote:The collection is very nice, but it apparently omits the Usagi/TMNT story "The Crossing". Odd. Are any other short stories or back up strips included in the individual releases of volumes 1-7 not collected in the Special Edition, by any chance?

The Crossing, written and drawn by Peter Laird, was never included in any of the collections. I think the only story not included is Return to Adachi Plain, the water color story from the Book 4 HC. It was reprinted in The Art of UY from Dark Horse. Instead, we opted to include the color cover gallery.

John Pannozzi · Post by **John Pannozzi** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:19 -0700

Stan Sakai wrote: I think the only story not included is Return to Adachi Plain, the water color story from the Book 4 HC. It was reprinted in The Art of UY from Dark Horse. Instead, we opted to include the color cover gallery.

What about "Hebi"?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:25 -0700

John Pannozzi wrote:
Stan Sakai wrote: I think the only story not included is Return to Adachi Plain, the water color story from the Book 4 HC. It was reprinted in The Art of UY from Dark Horse. Instead, we opted to include the color cover gallery.
What about "Hebi"?

That is a Dark Horse story, published in UY Book 11: Seasons as "Snakes and Blossoms". We try not to cross over stories. This was one exception, another was Return to Adachi Plain. Both, however, were altered drastically. The former, paired with another story with a framing sequence, and the latter re-inked by Sergio Aragones and myself and printed in black and white.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:48 -0700

A third one was the story "One Night in the Cold" from Critters #23 which was expanded and/or incorporated into the longer story "The Lizard's Tale" and published in Mirage #6 and collected in UY: Shades of Death (Book #8 ) from Dark Horse.

Dustykat · Post by **Dustykat** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 18:35 -0700

Just got mine, the books were put into the slip cover upside down! Then when I got them out book #2 had creases and indentations on the cover.

That would be bad enough, but the pages were coming out of the binding as soon as I opened the cover.

The rest of the book and the package is awesome, just makes my disappointment all the more. Will call Fantagraphics tomorrow.

Post by **Mayhem** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 20:45 -0700

After what others have said, I suppose I will have to open mine and check on it...

Innuendo · Post by **Innuendo** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 16:27 -0700

Dustykat wrote:Just got mine, the books were put into the slip cover upside down! Then when I got them out book #2 had creases and indentations on the cover.

That would be bad enough, but the pages were coming out of the binding as soon as I opened the cover.

The rest of the book and the package is awesome, just makes my disappointment all the more. Will call Fantagraphics tomorrow.

I have the same thing. Cover of the second volume is dent and the last pages are barely holding. Please write what did fantagraphics say to you.

Post by **Maka** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 17:15 -0700

It looks like my local comics store didn't order the special edition for me. So I called today to place an order with them. They informed me that there is a signed edition is scheduled to be released in June 11. It would cost $135 (if I recall correctly). He said he would show me the next time I came in.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read here that there isn't going to be a signed version. Maybe the strong sales of this edition has changed the publishers minds?

Peace, maka

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 17:37 -0700

Maka wrote:It looks like my local comics store didn't order the special edition for me. So I called today to place an order with them. They informed me that there is a signed edition is scheduled to be released in June 11. It would cost $135 (if I recall correctly). He said he would show me the next time I came in.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read here that there isn't going to be a signed version. Maybe the strong sales of this edition has changed the publishers minds?

Peace, maka

No one told me about it.

Post by **Maka** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 18:36 -0700

Stan Sakai wrote:No one told me about it.

That's all I need to know.

He said it was listed on their Diamond order website or something. Maybe it's error that carried over from the original 2009 listing: http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Usagi-Yojim ... d___348306 (Steve posted this on some other forum in 2009)

Thanks for the clarification. Peace, maka

coolray85 · Post by **coolray85** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:00 -0700

hey!yesterday my darling came!!!!!it was delivered on the afternoon shortly before I had to leave the flat....the special edition is wonderfull!!!!!
I love the cover gallery especially!!
proud to be an owner of this!!

coolray85 · Post by **coolray85** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 0:51 -0700

well, by now I have seen through my uy books quite a bit and can tell you what's wronng with my copies...
during the circles story line the printing is really weak frequently and some of the pages have a pale looking black ink....then my vol one uy special edition book has the small problem that during the first story pages of usagi yojimbo( later called the goblin of adachigahara planes) the books back doesn't hold the pages on the top in any way;)....but jus for two pages or three...
in the middlof book two somewhere the pages have been twisted before and last but not least I got a printing error that doesn't exist in my tpb:first story again, the word baloon which should house the letters 'such was my karma' after myamoto usagi told his origin as ronin doesn't have an letters in it at all:)
these are all mere small problems and don't ruin the fun I got with the books in any way...;)just was curious if anybody has the same little misstakes..

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:41 -0700

received mine !
some problems with some pages that are bad cut...

Anyway a wonderful book