New UY fan here, need help on where to begin...

[delta chameleon]

Hello everyone,

I just recently got into reading the Usagi Yojimbo comics. I went to the comic store about 2 weeks ago to pick up a new comic when I saw the issue 101 cover. I picked that up and issue 109. I admit that intially I was interested in it because I remember loving Usagi Yojimbo in the Ninja Turtles stuff. I remember having the figure of him. I didn't know anything about his comic, so I was thinking it was some sort of spin off of the TMNT comic line. When I read my first issue however, I realised it was much much better than that.

I've always had a facination with Samurai and culture in Feudal Japan, so this comic was just the perfect comic for me to pick up. After reading through my 2 issues, I went back to a couple different comic stores, but could only find a couple issues of UY. I snatched up what I could since it didn't seem like the shops kept very much Yojimbo stuff.

Total, the comics that I was able to pick up were: Fantagraphic issue# 35, Mirage issue#1, and Dark Horse issues# 93, 97, 101, 108, 109. It's kind of fun that my first few issues were from such a wide range since I get to see the differences in the art style.

I have to admit that I am a little lost with the storylines, but through reading a few issues I am already starting to get to know some of the different characters well enough to follow, primarily Usagi and Gen. I have read several of the basic storyline intros, so I know the basics of what is going on, who Usagi is, etc... I was wondering what advice you guys have on where to get started with the comics? Where's a good jumping in point for someone not very familiar with the story and its characters? For now, I am just picking up what issues I can find, but none of them really connect to one another since they are so far seperated.

Well thank you all for listening. I am really looking forward to diving into this book. It seems like a great read.

Eric

[Krogu]

Don't buy uy too fast, they end fast then

[Tinlantern]

Hey! First off welcome, and...nice Battle Beast figure!

You might start off by checking out your local library and seeing if they have any of the Trade Paper Backs which collect the various stories. Some of the favorite storylines (or at least most popular) are:

Dragon Bellow Conspiracy
(Fantagraphics issues 13-18 )

Grasscutter
(Dark Horse issues 13-22)

Travels with Jotaro
(Dark Horse issues 61-68 )

Fathers and Sons
(Dark Horse issues 69-75)

You can find people getting rid of issues or trading on this site's "RYAAAA! Marketplace" Thread. Everyone here is really nice. It is also a good idea to check out eBay or Mile High Comics for back issues. The entire Fantagraphics stories are usually pretty easy to find on both sites. Of course you can always order the TPB volumes at local bookstores as well.

If you really end of liking Usagi (and what I have done since I was little) was go to your comic store and have them make a reserve box. That way any time an issue comes in they store it away for you and you can pick them up at your leisure.

Hope that helps!

[Mayhem]

Today, more than 20 years on since Usagi started, I would say look for the trade paperbacks (TPBs) to read. Start at volume #2 and carry on. Volume #1 has the stories (unconnected) Sensei did before the regular comic began (published in Albedo and Critters etc), but on the other hand, it also introduces Tomoe Ame, so perhaps you should get that one anyhows

[Steve Hubbell]

Welcome to the Usagi Dojo, delta chameleon, and I second the comment about picking up the books which not only collect the longer stories together, but also reprints all the stories in sequence.

Searching out the older issues is great if you are interested in them as a comic collector or obsessive completionist like some of us, but almost everything is available in easy to obtain (and inexpensive) trade paperback. Of course, buying the new issues of the comic is mandatory.

[Thomas Froehling]

Hello everyone,
I was wondering what advice you guys have on where to get started with the comics? Where's a good jumping in point for someone not very familiar with the story and its characters? For now, I am just picking up what issues I can find, but none of them really connect to one another since they are so far seperated.

Well thank you all for listening. I am really looking forward to diving into this book. It seems like a great read.

Eric

Hello Eric,
and welcome on the board; I hope you'll enjoy yourself here as much as I do and that you'll find this an extremely friendly and, if possible, helpful community.

It has been said here quite correctly that the best way to get into the story is to look for the TPB; they are regularly reprinted (even the Fantagraphics TPB, collecting the first UY stories) if their current print is sold out, so that should not be too big a problem.


Personally I'd preffer to read the stories in chronological order, beginning with TPB #1, which introduces not only our beloved ronin, but some other major players in the field as well (Gen, Tomoe, Lord Noriyuki, Zato Ino, to name just a few).
With 21 TPB being around, the task of finding them all and thus to read them in strict chronological order could be a little frustrating (could be a test of inner strength to buy a TPB and "lock it up" for reading later ). But you've started reading the issues "out of order" already, so reading the TPB in something near, but not quite, chronological order would not be too bad.
Besides, if you've got them all eventually, I'm sure you'll find yourself reading them again and again; they are just too good.

As a true adicct of UY, I've come to collect both TPB/HC and issues; the former for convenient reading (and there, because they are sturdier, preferably the HC), the latter to keep up with the story, because the TPB are, of course, between 15-20 issues behind. If you want to collect the issues, there might be some helpful offers in the Marketplace here on the board (as far as I recall, there recently was a thread offering a huge collection....)

You could continue your hunt through the various stores (both real and virtual), but there would be more than 100 issues to be found (a lot more, actually ), something near 170 comics, some of them really scarce due to their age and low print....Expect to pay on average at least cover prices per issue for Dark Horse issues, a bit more for Mirage and Fantagraphic issues. As for Critters or even Albedo... well, they are almost 25 years old.... you figure.

If you've got even the slightest chance of meeting Sensei at a convention or any other appearance (he announces those well in advance), you might be able to buy a complete Mirage and/or Fantagraphics run directly from him (if he still has some of them!). This method of purchase has some major advantages:

1. You'll get to meet one of the friendliest persons, in comics or else were.

2. You'd get them with a minimum of fuss and hunting/tracking. Just make sure you've contacted Sensei in advance over this board so that he'll come prepared.

3. They'll probably be all signed; plus, it won't cost you a leg and an arm...

A rather long list of hints and answers;

Hoping to be of service and wishing you a pleasent journey into the world of Usagi Yojimbo.

Abayo

Thomas

[delta chameleon]

Thank you everyone for all the help and the responses. I didn't really know too much about all the TPBs not realizing that pretty much all the Usagi stuff can be found in those, which definately seems like the way to go. The collector in me I am sure will still like to pick up the occasional single issue when I find one, but that can mainly be the new series. The TPB seems the most logical to get caught up on the storyline.

I don't mind so much reading them out of order. The main thing that I want though is to be able to read a complete multi-issue story. For instance, the storyline from 108-109 are parts 4-5 I believe. I mainly want to be able to finish parts 1-5 of a storyline like this. And it seems like that is what the TPBs do real nicely.

I would definately like to make it out to a con with Stan Sakai attending, but I don't think he attending any Chicago conventions anytime this year. Maybe next year I will be able to save up enough money to go to ComicCon. It seems like a great time, and I would love to meet Mr. Sakai and perhaps purchase an original piece of his art work.

Thank you again all.

Eric

[Jet_Jaguar]

Don't forget to read Space Usagi too, it's a lot of fun.

http://www.amazon.com/Space-Usagi-Stan- ... 356&sr=1-1

[Krogu]

space usagi is good, my favourite is the 1 story from that tpb.