Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

The newest Usagi Yojimbo hardcover, Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo: The Complete Grasscutter Artist Select, was released at this years San Diego Comic Con last week. I was fortunate enough to have Kyle (jaba359) pick up a copy for me. I posted a photo of the entire haul that kyle brought back for me, and Trevis Woods mentioned that he couldn't wait to see it, so I thought I'd do a short photo review of the book.


by , on Flickr

The Complete Grasscutter is a big hefty book that comes in a nice slipcover. The book and slipcover measure over 9 inches wide by 13 inches long and 2 inches thick, and weighs in at approximately a little over 7 pounds.

There were two main versions of the book available at SDCC, one was at the dinner with Stan (that one had gold lettering on the slipcover and silver lettering on the book itself), and the standard edition that I got, which has silver lettering on the slipcover and the book. While mine looks like it might have gold lettering in the photos, that is an optical illusion due to lighting and environmental conditions. There are also some interior differences, as well as a third book option which I'm not sure that any were available at SDCC.

Let's take a look at at my copy...

The SLIP COVER. Front and back are identical. The writing on the slipcover is Kanji and reads "Kusunagi-no-Tsurugi" which more or less translates to Grasscutter (the grass cutting sword).


by , on Flickr


by , on Flickr


by , on Flickr

The book and slipcover come wrapped in plastic, and there is a small promotional sheet on the backside. Even though the plastic had already been cut open so that Stan could sign my book at SDCC, in my excitement upon receiving the book I hastily removed the plastic before taking a picture of the book in wrapped condition.


by , on Flickr

The BOOK. Let's take a look at the book, but first we have to remove it from it's slipcover...


by , on Flickr


by , on Flickr

The book has a beautiful new illustration on the front of it's dustjacket, and an image of Usagi's face on the back.


by , on Flickr


by , on Flickr

Removing the dust jacket shows us the book which is clothbound and the writing and illustrations are all in silver.

The front, [Sakai] Usagi Yojimbo .... this simple front piece reminds me of a Kurosawa film with it's impact.


by , on Flickr

On the spine of the book is an illustration of Grasscutter.


by , on Flickr

On the back is Jei's menacing visage.


by , on Flickr

Finally, I wanted to illustrate the difference in size between this edition the the original hardcover edition.


by , on Flickr


by , on Flickr

Interior comparison.


by , on Flickr

Nice! If I were you I wouldn't even go for the 50 print run. Unless you have $300 - $500 burning a hole in your pocket. That Usagi in the snow sketch is great.

Is the cloth cover like the fuzzy Hellboy Library Editions?

Would you mind taking a picture of them lying flat (from the side) so we could see the difference in thickness?

Hi Maichan,
Thank you very much for sharing these great photos.
Best wishes to all.
go

ps. Does the DH Ltd edition ink look darker than the IDW edition or is it the lighting?

Fantastic photo review, Maichan. Like an unboxing video of something I actually care about. . Great job! Thanks! Peace, maka

Wait, so the "complete" grasscutter includes both grasscutter and grasscutter II? Doh! I don't know why I only thought it was the first book. Sheesh! Now I'm even more excited to order mine when I get the opportunity to. Peace, maka

I already have the Saga volumes covering this arc and I'm still hyped!

Excellent review!
Loved it...Thank you for sharing!