Some questions

[The Great Masamune]

Hello, I am new to reading Usagi Yojimbo. So far I have read Volumes 1, 8, 9, and am reading 12, 18, and 19. I have a couple of questions.

1.When and how does Usagi first encounter the Ninja Turtles?

2.Do the lizards serve a purpose to the story or are they just cameos?

3.What are the different ninja clans?

Thank you for your time.

[Mayhem]

Usagi first encounters Leonardo in the volume #1 issue #10 side story. This was, iirc, a morality tale that Usagi was telling to two children. He first properly encounters all the Ninja Turtles in the first two issues of volume #2, when Usagi went to be published by Mirage. And yes, it was all part of the plot involving the summoning of other creatures to help defend a village.

[By volume, I mean the publishing series that the original comics went through. Volume 1 was Fantagraphics, Volume 2 was Mirage, and Volume 3 is the current Dark Horse series]

The three ninja clans shown in UY so far have been Neko (cat), Komori (bat), and Mogura (mole).

[Steve Hubbell]

MIRAGE PRESS
Turtle Soup
Sep/1987 - issue # 1
"Turtle Soup and Rabbit Stew" (featuring Miyamoto Usagi and Leonardo)

FANTAGRAPHICS
Usagi Yojimbo (volume 1)
Aug/1988 - issue # 10
Cover Art (featuring Miyamoto Usagi and Leonardo drawn by Stan Sakai)
"The Crossing" (back-up story written and drawn by Peter Laird)

MIRAGE PRESS
Shell Shock
Dec/1989 - issue # 1
"The Treaty" (featuring Miyamoto Usagi, Tomoe Ami, and Leonardo)

MIRAGE PRESS
Usagi Yojimbo (volume 2)
Mar/1993 - issue # 1
"Shades of Green part 1" (featuring guest appearance of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

May/1993 - issue # 2
"Shades of Green part 2" (featuring guest appearance of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Jul/1993 - issue # 3
"Shades of Green part 3' (featuring guest appearance of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

[Stan Sakai]

Those lizards do serve a purpose in the ecosystem. Cats, dogs, rats--what we consider pets or scavengers in our world are people in Usagi's world. These lizards serve as pets and scavengers in Usagi's world. They also serve as food sometimes, prey for hunters.

There are three ninja groups--the Neko (cats), komori (bats), and mogura (moles). The cats and bats were inspired by the Iga and Koga ninja clans. They are enemies, and both want to serve as Lord Hikiji's retainers. The moles are strictly freelance, and will work for whoever pays them.