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Usagi Yojimbo Origins book cover 1
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Usagi Yojimbo Origins
Series · 4 books · 2021-2023

Books in series

Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 1 book cover
#1

Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 1

2021

Presenting the complete saga of rabbit rōnin Miyamoto Usagi from the very beginning, in new, definitive color editions! Before his journey as a wandering, masterless samurai (ronin) began, Usagi underwent intense training under a mountain hermit, Katsuichi-Sensei, taking his first steps down the path of the warrior. Eventually, that path leads him to the pivotal battle of Adachigahara, which serves as the impetus for the host of amazing tales to come. Collected in full color as never before, discover—or rediscover—the critical origin of Stan Sakai's most beloved character as he tells his story, setting the stage for the decades-long epic that follows. Collects IDW's Usagi Yojimbo Color Classics #1-7, which present 1987's "Samurai" storyline in color for the first time.
Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 2 book cover
#2

Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 2

Wanderer's Road

2021

Presenting the earliest adventures of rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi in all-new full-color editions for the first time giving new readers the perfect opportunity to explore the groundbreaking series, while offering long-time fans a new reading experience. Cover art by Peach Momoko! Usagi's cast of characters continues to expand with the first appearances of his longtime tokage (lizard) companion, Spot, and his greatest nemesis, the demented, seemingly unkillable wolf samurai, Jei! The bonds of family and the bounds of honor are tested as Usagi helps an elderly mother face the villain her son has become. When the blind swordspig Zato-Ino comes back for revenge, can Usagi still triumph after the playing field is leveled? All this, plus more adventures in anthropomorphic Edo Japan! Begining with these early issues find out why this series has won six Eisner Awards, two Harvey Awards, an American Library Association Award and has been called by Stan Lee, "One of the most original, innovative, well-executed comic books anywhere to be found." Wanderer's Road collects the stories "The Tower," "A Mother's Love," "The Return of the Blind Swordspig," "Blade of the Gods," "The Tea Cup," and "The Shogun's Gift" from Usagi Yojimbo Vol. One, issues #7-12, originally published in black and white by Fantagraphics from March to October 1988.
Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 3 book cover
#3

Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 3

The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy

2022

Presenting one of Usagi's greatest story arcs in an all-new full-color edition for the first time, giving new readers the perfect opportunity to explore the groundbreaking series, while offering long-time fans a new reading experience. "Dragon Bellow Conspiracy" stands out among the early issues as the first novel-length storyline, combining all of the characters that had previously appeared separately into one epic tale! A sinister plot to overthrow the Shogun percolates and one of Usagi's friends is captured! The ensuing machinations will draw in not only Usagi, but also bounty hunter Gen and the blind swordspig, Zato-Ino! Beginning with these early issues find out why this series has won 10 Eisner Awards, two Harvey Awards, an American Library Association Award and has been called by Stan Lee, "one of the most original, innovative, well-executed comic books anywhere to be found." Dragon Bellow Conspiracy collects the six-issue story from Usagi Yojimbo Vol. One, issues #13–18, originally published in black and white by Fantagraphics from December 1988 to October 1989.
Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 4 book cover
#4

Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 4

Lone Goat and Kid

2023

Presenting the complete saga of rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi from the very beginning in new, definitive color editions! This volume focuses on a series of important short stories from the early days of Usagi’s adventures, including “Frost and Fire,” “A Kite Story,” “Blood Wings,” “The Way of the Samurai,” and “Lone Goat and Kid”! Beginning with these early issues, find out why the series has won ten Eisner Awards, two Harvey Awards, an American Library Association Award, and has been called by Stan Lee, "one of the most original, innovative, well-executed comic books anywhere to be found." Usagi Yojimbo Origins, Vol. 4: Lone Goat and Kid collects all-new color editions of issues #19–24 of Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 1, originally published in black-and-white by Fantagraphics from December 1989 to September 1990.

Author

Stan Sakai
Stan Sakai
Author · 50 books

Stan Sakai (Japanese: 坂井 スタンSakai Sutan; born May 25, 1953) is an artist who became known as an Eisner Award-winning comic book originator. Born in Kyoto, Sakai grew up in Hawaii and studied fine arts at the University of Hawaii. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sharon, presently reside and work in Pasadena. He began his career by lettering comic books (notably Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier) and became famous with the production of Usagi Yojimbo, the epic saga of Miyamoto Usagi, a samurai rabbit living in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth-century Japan. First published in 1984, the comic continues to this day, with Sakai as the lone author and nearly-sole artist (Tom Luth serves as the main colorist on the series, and Sergio Aragonés has made two small contributions to the series: the story "Broken Ritual" is based on an idea by Aragonés, and he served as a guest inker for the black and white version of the story "Return to Adachi Plain" that is featured in the Volume 11 trade paper-back edition of Usagi Yojimbo). He also made a futuristic spin-off series Space Usagi. His favorite movie is Satomi Hakkenden (1959).

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