Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Thought I would post that I am headed to a comic book store for the first time in 25+ years today.

I had a friend post about Usagi on facebook about a year ago and I had never heard of it. I checked it out and bought Book 1 off of ebay for 10 bucks, read it in a day, and was instantly hooked. I progressed to where I have bought all 28 volumes and Space Usagi (all in beat-up, used paperback) and started just a bit ago collecting some of the older, original comics. I used to collect comics back in the mid-to-late '80's and pulled out my collection a week ago with my kiddos (ages 6 to 13) and had a blast going through them with the kids. Mostly Web of Spiderman stuff/random Marvel stuff but one or two 1960's gems found in my old family barn (one being a Incredible Hulk #1 and #4 in REALLY ragged condition) and one or two old Groos as well, though unfortunately no old Albedos/Usagi's!

Anyways, loving Usagi and loving getting back into collecting a bit (although my lovely wife is not so excited about it!). A bit about me: I am active duty Army for past 15 years, have lived in Korea for over 4 years (first time as a civilian prior to Army right after graduating college--went there for 3 months and to test for 1st Dan in TKD at Kukkiwon HQ's in Seoul), have done TKD for 22 years (5th Dan Kukkiwon) and Haedong Gumdo for 15 years (1st Dan) and love to hike and ride my bike. See you all around the Dojo (do-jang).

Have to say "Welcome to the UY Dojo" and I apologize for the difficulty with your account activation.

I will admit that the fun of collecting Usagi comics is second only to the fun of reading Usagi comics, in my opinion at least.

Are you still living in Korea now?

Abayo,
Steve

Unfortunately, no. No longer in Korea. Living at the USMA in West Point, NY. Actually loving it here as I am originally from northern VT and my wife is from Boston so it is about as close to home as we can get and still be active Army.

And no apology necessary! Thanks for all that you do here! You have an amazing site!!!

hello buckrodgers!

welcome to the dojo and also welcome back to collecting comics!;)
great that your love for the medium brought you back after so long of a break.usagi yojimbo is of course SUPERB dish of comics"!!!!enjoy reading through all of the 28 volumes time and time again!;)
have you heard about the currenty running (well, semi-currently running, as the concluding sixth issue of it was released yesterday) original mini series usagi yojimbo:sensei that stan put out?
you should give it a read, it plays about 15 years into usagis normal time line and features a martian scouter ship....
greetings from munich,

Marcel

Welcome to the Dojo, Buckrodgers!

And welcome back to the states too. You will find this board of people to be very positive and excited about anything regarding UY and Stan Sakai and comics. Nice people.

The original Hulk is one of my favorite comics. I had the reprints and read those things a lot.

You are coming in to UY at a perfect time. Senso has wrapped up (although I haven't got my copy yet) and the Stan is has already submitted the next issue to be published.

Peace, maka

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Just back form the Comic Store in Newburgh, NY and had a great time.

I bought Senso 1,2 and 3 and also the Color Special Usagi. Also a few Samurai Jack comics that I did not know that were around. Cannot wait to read them!

Also spoke to the owner of the shop and he recommended that I send off my Hulk #1 to get it graded and slabbed. I told him that I wanted to sell it to raise money to get an Albedo 2.

I am not really a huge collector of comics but I do like to collect what I like. I was incredibly lucky to find the old Hulk comic in my Dad's barn and while it is not in very good condition, it is intact, readable and has all pages and cover. The store owner thought it should be able to raise $2,000 or more (I do not know a lot about the CGC grading but will be speaking with them soon. Looks like a 1.0 or 1.5 to me). If I can sell it for that amount, I will be looking for a 9.0 to 9.4 Albedo 2 to buy with the funds from the Hulk.

Might not make economical sense but I really want to collect the Usagi's and have very little interest in the Hulk. I do not ever see myself selling off any of the Usagi's. All of my kids love Usagi and they are already talking about who inherits what when I die in 40+ years!!!

What do you all think of this logic? You have much more experience than me.

Welcome to the forum! While I don't collect comics for their $$$ value, I do think it's important to collect what you enjoy. So based on just that alone, I'd get rid of the Hulk and pick up an Albedo instead, as you will get a lot more enjoyment from owning Albedo than the Hulk.

And there's some other interesting stuff in Albedo too, even past the Erma Felna storyline. Which led me onto getting Critters also, as there are some Usagi stories present. So I have a full run of the first volume of Albedo (someone sold them in a bundle about ten years, got it for around $800), and all 50 issues of Critters. Led me to discover other oddball strips such as Captain Jack and Lionheart.

Oh, suppose I'd better say hello and welcome now heh. Never too late to get into Usagi, it just means you have more stuff to buy in a shorter space of time

(Although it appears you've already jumped that step and dived in! Next stage, buying all the hardcovers hah hah)

Don't know anyone who has been at West Point (although it's a pretty well known base even outside the US), but I do know a couple of folks who've been at McGuire.

I agree with Mayhem and jabba359, sell the hulk.

But you should know, Stan did a samurai Hulk story.

Peace, maka

Quick update from the FNG "....NewGuy". I"ll try not to post too much so as not to overly annoy.

The four older kids (ages 7 to 13.5) and I all read Senso 1, 2 and 3 last night, passing it around and all collectively DYING when we finished #3 and did not have 4 - 6 to follow up on. My ten year old daughter, who is an absolute ball of passion, said, after finishing reading them, "Wow!!! This is soooo amazing! Actually reading the individual comic and not having the whole thing in one big book. I actually like it better b/c it is so much more exciting but I want the next issues!!!"

Totally new experience for a generation being raised on instant gratification and access to everything they want. Made me laugh and remember being 10 years old and waiting for the next month's Web of Spiderman to come out at the local drug store.

All the kids have respectfully BEGGED me to take them to the comic shop on Saturday. It should be a fun trip after Taekwondo class.

And, I am going to sell the Hulk 1 and 4 (both in really poor condition) and hopefully get enough money to start looking for a decent condition Albedo 2.

Thanks all. This place is great!

Verbosity isn't much of a problem around here, so don't worry about it

BuckRogers wrote:And, I am going to sell the Hulk 1 and 4 (both in really poor condition) and hopefully get enough money to start looking for a decent condition Albedo 2.

There's a minor restored, grade Albedo #2 on eBay for a reasonable price currently, if you want to go after that... or wait for a better condition copy. Personally I don't worry about grading, my first print TMNT #1 sits merrily alongside all the other printings heh.

Mayhem wrote:Verbosity isn't much of a problem around here, so don't worry about it

There's a minor restored, grade Albedo #2 on eBay for a reasonable price currently, if you want to go after that... or wait for a better condition copy. Personally I don't worry about grading, my first print TMNT #1 sits merrily alongside all the other printings heh.

Thanks!

I'll see what I can raise for the Hulks and then see what is out there. In all honesty I am not sure what I want in a grade. The Albedo #2, if I ever am lucky enough to own one, will be almost a family heirloom and have a true place of honour so I think I would like an unrestored one in good condition.

That being said, I cannot spend a fortune either (thousands of dollars) so it all hinges on the Hulk sales. I plan on transferring those funds to a fund just for the Albedo 2, but the Hulk's are in bad shape, more like 0.5 grade so might not get much.

Anyway, the chase and pursuit is half the fun, eh?

And thanks everyone for all your thoughts. They have truly helped.

I'm late as usual, but let me join in with everyone else in greeting you to the dojo. Not much I can add other than we have a fine bunch of disciples, students, and villagers here, including a few peasants and woodcutters ~ and even some ninja and samurai too !

I myself was a fairly late joiner here, even though I'd been reading UY since.... ....since .... at least the Mirage days, and was an on-again off-again lurker here for a few years before joining. I've had a lot of fun here since joining - met fellow members; been helped and helped out; and met Stan on a few occasions. All things that would have never happened if I hadn't joined.

So welcome aboard & enjoy the adventure!

BuckRogers wrote:I'll see what I can raise for the Hulks and then see what is out there. In all honesty I am not sure what I want in a grade. The Albedo #2, if I ever am lucky enough to own one, will be almost a family heirloom and have a true place of honour so I think I would like an unrestored one in good condition.

That being said, I cannot spend a fortune either (thousands of dollars) so it all hinges on the Hulk sales. I plan on transferring those funds to a fund just for the Albedo 2, but the Hulk's are in bad shape, more like 0.5 grade so might not get much.

I don't think you'll have to worry too much, you won't be going near or into four figures for Albedo #2 unless you want a 9.0+ graded copy. Prices on the issue have come down gradually over the last 5-10 years.