Usagi Yojimbo Book 27

[Steve Hubbell]

I'm working on the cover to Usagi Yojimbo Book 27. Here's the line art. I hope to finish the watercoloring tomorrow.

[Steve Hubbell]

This is the finished cover for UY Book 27. It was done with ink and watercolor on 4-ply 500 series cold press Strathmore bristol, with a 7.5x 11.25 image area. I'm still undecided what the title of the book will be--either A Town Called Hell or Return to Hell. My original idea was To Hell and Back, but Frank Miller already had that title, and Dark Horse doesn't like to reuse titles, especially since Frank and I have the same editor. Avoids confusion. Colors may be a little off due to my photography.

[Stan Sakai]

Thank you for reposting these, Steve. The colors are a little off, particularly the blues.

Most of my recent color work is done with watercolors. I tend to work smaller, and it is a lot faster to work with. It may take me a day to do the pencils and inks, and another day to do the coloring.

I did a few painting with oils. While I enjoy it, it does take a lot longer. Books 4 and 5 took about a week, and are a lot bigger than most of my other work. I used canvas boards, about 24x30 inches for each of these. Books 6 is also an oil painting.

Book 1 was done with acrylics, and still remains one of my favorite covers. The original is hanging in my studio, near my drawing board.

[Gaffey]

Great cover! The wood panels look cool.

[kaze100]

I'm very happy to hear that Book 27 is in the works. What is the timeline on a book like this? Just curious when we may see this on the shelves.

Thanks!

[Stan Sakai]

I'm very happy to hear that Book 27 is in the works. What is the timeline on a book like this? Just curious when we may see this on the shelves.

Thanks!

It will probably be about the same time as the previous books--July, in time for the San Diego Comic-con. Dark Horse likes to have a lot of lead-time for production, not to mention doing the printing in China and the added time for shipping to the US. Also, books stores (as opposed to COMIC book stores) require a longer lead time for solicitations.

I still have to do the end paper and tip-in art for the hardcovers, and we have not asked anyone to supply the intro yet.

Book 27 reprints the Town Called Hell storyline. We still have the Red Scorpion and 200 Jizo arcs that have not been printed as trades.

[coolray85]

not to sound rude or ungreatfull but wasn't the plan to release 3 tpbs in the time until next year's summer, with one additional tpb more so to speak in between the summer releases?as a compensation of a longer absence of myamoto usagi?

[Stan Sakai]

not to sound rude or ungreatfull but wasn't the plan to release 3 tpbs in the time until next year's summer, with one additional tpb more so to speak in between the summer releases?as a compensation of a longer absence of myamoto usagi?

I had intended two trades to come out in 2013--one in March, and one in August--like we did many years ago, when I first came to Dark Horse. However, I got very busy with 47 Ronin and family affairs, and Editor Diana got intensely busy with DH projects such as the Complete Manara Library.

[kaze100]

Stan, do you know which comic issues will be in the new Book 27? Would it be issues 124-131?

Thanks!

[Stan Sakai]

Stan, do you know which comic issues will be in the new Book 27? Would it be issues 124-131?

Thanks!

Yes, UY 124-131.

[Thomas Froehling]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this book; any chance for a Berlin photo of yours at the end of it? I'd like to see that somehow....

[coolray85]

not to sound rude or ungreatfull but wasn't the plan to release 3 tpbs in the time until next year's summer, with one additional tpb more so to speak in between the summer releases?as a compensation of a longer absence of myamoto usagi?

I had intended two trades to come out in 2013--one in March, and one in August--like we did many years ago, when I first came to Dark Horse. However, I got very busy with 47 Ronin and family affairs, and Editor Diana got intensely busy with DH projects such as the Complete Manara Library.

I understand.I am really looking forward to 47 ronin;)the last issue may come in march(if they are set for a monthly release at all, I don't know that, but if so..)so, usagi may return during next spring maybe?

[Martin]

Title suggestion: The Road to Hell