by TIM ERVIN-GORE (DARK HORSE COMICS, JUNE 1, 2001)
In this industry of tight deadlines, neurotic perfectionists, and empty promises from media hustlers, working with a humble professional can make an editor feel, if just for a moment, like the job is fun and easy. Stan Sakai is a rare breed of artist. Born in Kyoto, Japan, Stan moved to Hawaii with his family when he was two. While studying art at the University of Hawaii, Stan met aspiring cartoonists, Dennis Fujitake and Gary Kato. The two encouraged him to pursue work in comics, resulting in a long and satisfying career, most of it writing and drawing Usagi Yojimbo comics for such publishers as Fantagraphics, Mirage, and of course Dark Horse Comics. One thing people don't realize is that Stan has been involved in professional comics for a longer period of time as a letterer. Aside from lettering his own comics, Stan has been lettering Sergio Aragonés' Groo the Wanderer, and even letters the syndicated Spider-Man weekly strip. But, obviously, Stan's forte is his detailed, expressive art and masterful, engaging storytelling. As Usagi Yojimbo has developed, Stan has touched the lives of many and brought numerous new fans to comics, banking on Usagi's stints with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and publishing a comic that appeals to a cross section of ages and backgrounds.
So, when the honorable bunny hits a landmark, we stand up and pay attention. Coming in July, it's Usagi Yojimbo #50. That's 50 great issues of Usagi Yojimbo published since Stan brought us the series in 1994. In honor of this event, I took it upon myself to ask Stan a few questions about his experiences:
DARK HORSE COMICS: Do you feel that this 50th issue is a landmark for you and Usagi?
STAN SAKAI: The Dark Horse UY #50 will be his 111th issue. It's not any more of a landmark than any other issue. I try to tell a good story in every issue.
DARK HORSE COMICS: How much longer do you foresee creating Usagi Yojimbo comics?
STAN SAKAI: I've got story arcs already plotted that could easily take me into the next three years or so. I enjoy working with Usagi and his world. It seems that the more I know these characters the more story possibilities come to me.
DARK HORSE COMICS: Are there predominant sources for your ideas, such as movies, novels, or history books?
STAN SAKAI: My storytelling is influenced more by films than comics. As for sources of ideas, they come from anywhere -- reading, traveling, casual research, watching TV, sketching. As my interests change, so do my stories. I have done historical epics as well as fantasies, from political intrigue to whodunit mysteries. But my biggest motivation for my stories is my editor, Diana, because I know if I don't have an issue in her hands by deadline she's gonna come after me!
DARK HORSE COMICS: What are your favorite things about working in the comics industry?
STAN SAKAI: Because Usagi is creator-owned, I get to tell stories the way I want without interference and without it being filtered through the assembly line method used by most comics publishers. It would be very frustrating for me to work on Usagi with collaborators. We just could not share the same vision for the character.
In addition to Usagi Yojimbo #50, July will also see the release of the Dark Horse Maverick 2001 Annual, featuring the fabulous rendition of Usagi by Frank Miller pictured here. July is Dark Horse's unofficial Usagi month. Pick up an issue and find out why no other animal has ever been able to defeat the irrepressible samurai bunny, and why Stan has been able to keep at it for so long.
Don't stop believing. Hold on to that feeling!