New batch of questions for Stan Sakai...

[Steve Hubbell]

Kon nichi wa,

I was hoping to ask some questions concerning your personal taste and interest in jidae geki manga and, if any, it's influence on the creation of Usagi Yojimbo...

The second Usagi Yojimbo story published was called "Lone Rabbit and Child", and came out in the early 1980's when First Comics was still publishing "Lone Wolf and Cub". A couple years later, Lone Goat and Kid made an appearance. Were these hommages more to the manga classic or were the film versions more of an influence on you?

Did any other manga influence you as much as Lone Wolf and Cub seemed to?

You were also involved with the Legend of Kamuii series when it was published in English for the first time and, if I remember correctly, you have said that you were familiar with the original Japanese version prior to working on the Viz editions. Growing up, did you have access to much Japanese language manga in Hawaii?

what do you think of Dark Horse Comic's past and future efforts in Jidae Geki manga with the Lone Wolf and Cub series recently completed and the Samurai Executioner series nearing release?

What other works by Koike and Kojima are you familiar with?

(http://www.koike-shoin.co.jp/manga_1.html)

Kawaite-soro 1-7
Mondo is in fact the illegitimate son of the shogun,whom he serves as bodyguard and official food-taster. He defends him with his swordsmanship.

Hanzo no Mon 1-15
In the war-torn periods of Sengoku, Hanzo Hattori, hired by Ieyasu Tokugawa, protects his master with his perfect Ninja skills.

Nijitte Monogatari 1-20
This historical drama with an eye for the human side of life presents the police constable,Tsurujiro,who is stationed at the Magistrate's Office.

How about other authors and/or artists producing similar material? If Dark Horse Comics left it up to you, what series would you pick to publish in English next?

With all the time you have put into Usagi Yojimbo, as well as the work you have done on projects like the Kamuii series and Samurai: Son of Death, do you feel that there is growing interest in the U.S. for Japanese jidae geki style comics?

Thanks for your time and patience (as always),
Abayo...

[Stan Sakai]

Kon nichi wa,

I was hoping to ask some questions concerning your personal taste and interest in jidae geki manga and, if any, it's influence on the creation of Usagi Yojimbo...

The second Usagi Yojimbo story published was called "Lone Rabbit and Child", and came out in the early 1980's when First Comics was still publishing "Lone Wolf and Cub". A couple years later, Lone Goat and Kid made an appearance. Were these hommages more to the manga classic or were the film versions more of an influence on you?

Did any other manga influence you as much as Lone Wolf and Cub seemed to?

You were also involved with the Legend of Kamuii series when it was published in English for the first time and, if I remember correctly, you have said that you were familiar with the original Japanese version prior to working on the Viz editions. Growing up, did you have access to much Japanese language manga in Hawaii?

what do you think of Dark Horse Comic's past and future efforts in Jidae Geki manga with the Lone Wolf and Cub series recently completed and the Samurai Executioner series nearing release?

What other works by Koike and Kojima are you familiar with?

(http://www.koike-shoin.co.jp/manga_1.html)

Kawaite-soro 1-7
Mondo is in fact the illegitimate son of the shogun,whom he serves as bodyguard and official food-taster. He defends him with his swordsmanship.

Hanzo no Mon 1-15
In the war-torn periods of Sengoku, Hanzo Hattori, hired by Ieyasu Tokugawa, protects his master with his perfect Ninja skills.

Nijitte Monogatari 1-20
This historical drama with an eye for the human side of life presents the police constable,Tsurujiro,who is stationed at the Magistrate's Office.

How about other authors and/or artists producing similar material? If Dark Horse Comics left it up to you, what series would you pick to publish in English next?

With all the time you have put into Usagi Yojimbo, as well as the work you have done on projects like the Kamuii series and Samurai: Son of Death, do you feel that there is growing interest in the U.S. for Japanese jidae geki style comics?

Thanks for your time and patience (as always),
Abayo...

I knew of the film versions of Lone Wolf and Cub far before I saw the manga series. I wouldn't call The Lone Rabbit and Child any type of homage. It was more the case of needing a title, and LW&C was popular at that time.

I knew the works of Osamu Tezuka even as a kid. I especially remember a series called Dororo which starred a boy who followed a samurai, and they encountered supernatural creatures. Also, the samurai was bionic or something. He was born without eyes or limbs, and whenever he conquered a monster one of those body parts would rejuvenate itself. I hope DH reprints these, as well as his Shinsengumi stories.

I lettered and did art corrections for Kamui. I was not familiar with the series before I started. The Eclipse series started from the fourth volume of the story. The first three were done by another artist with a very cartoony artstyle which I preferred.

There were a few manga when I was growing up in Hawaii--this was in the late 50's-mid 70's--mainly things like the life of Buddha, Gigantor, Speed Racer, Tezuka.

I like DH's efforts to bring manga to the US. I don't read too many of them, but they've chosen well. I'm also familiar with Koike's Brother science fiction series. But, as I've said, I'm not too knowledgeble about manga to be able to recommend any for publication. Manga is very hot right now in the US, as well as Europe. I think it actually hit Europe before it spread to the US.

I've also read that there is a new LW&C movie series, as well as a new Zatoichi series that I'm anxious to see.