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Usagi Yojimbo the Special Edition #2
Part of two Volume set reprinting all the Fantagraphic Books issues of Usagi Yojimbo
- GenresGraphic Novels
600 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2015
About the author
Stan Sakai
932 books379 followersStan 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).
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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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 21, 2025
Special editions #1 and #2 cover the first 10 years of published Usagi Yojimbo. Written, drawn, inked, and lettered by Stan Sakai. His reputation as the nicest guy in comics leaks onto this 16th century Japanese world and characters.
My life is destined to be a wanderer and I must travel alone
Folklore and legends provide the inspiration for heartfelt character moments. We enter scenes of his world, meeting his friends and loves and experiencing his sense of duty and honor as a warrior Ronin.
Highly recommend starting with special edition #1 before going into later sagas because the character backstories that are introduced here will be needed for context in the later Sagas.
My life is destined to be a wanderer and I must travel alone
Folklore and legends provide the inspiration for heartfelt character moments. We enter scenes of his world, meeting his friends and loves and experiencing his sense of duty and honor as a warrior Ronin.
Highly recommend starting with special edition #1 before going into later sagas because the character backstories that are introduced here will be needed for context in the later Sagas.
March 25, 2025
Fantagraphics two volume collection of the earliest Usagi Yojimbo stories is an embarrassment of riches. The collection is housed in a sturdy slipcase and the two paperbacks consist of slick quality paper to best showcase Stan Sakai’s art.
If you’ve never read any tales of the samurai rabbit, this is a great place to start as you will learn of Usagi’s origins, get introduced to the cast of recurring characters and follow the saga sequentially, as well as observer how Sakai’s art improves and evolves and how the stories deepen in complexity, characterization and variety.
The second volume includes copious bonus material: an interview with Sakai, team-ups with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a comic detailing how the stories are created and produced, a cover gallery, early versions of Usagi and much more.
This set is a bit pricey but definitely worth it to obtain early stories that would be difficult to find elsewhere.
Highly recommended.
If you’ve never read any tales of the samurai rabbit, this is a great place to start as you will learn of Usagi’s origins, get introduced to the cast of recurring characters and follow the saga sequentially, as well as observer how Sakai’s art improves and evolves and how the stories deepen in complexity, characterization and variety.
The second volume includes copious bonus material: an interview with Sakai, team-ups with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a comic detailing how the stories are created and produced, a cover gallery, early versions of Usagi and much more.
This set is a bit pricey but definitely worth it to obtain early stories that would be difficult to find elsewhere.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews