Usagi Yojimbo

[usagigoya]

USAGI YOJIMBO TITLE LIST

Nov/1984 Usagi Yojimbo (“The Goblin of Adachigahara” in Book 1: Ronin)
Apr/1985 Lone Rabbit and Child - part 1
Jul/1985 Lone Rabbit and Child - part 2
Jun/1986 Bounty Hunter
Aug/1986 Horse Thief
Oct/1986 The Goblin of Adachigahara (“Usagi Yojimbo” in Albedo #2)
Oct/1986 Lone Rabbit and Child
Oct/1986 The Confession
Oct/1986 Village of Fear
Dec/1986 A Quiet Meal
Jan/1987 Blind Swordspig
Mar/1987 Homecoming - part 1
Apr/1987 Homecoming - part 2
Jul/1987 Samurai - part 1
Jul/1987 Samurai - part 2
Jul/1987 Bounty Hunter 2
Sep/1987 Samurai - part 3 (title changed to "Samurai - part 4" in Book 2: Samurai)
Sep/1987 Samurai - part 4 (title changed to "Samurai - part 5" in Book 2: Samurai)
Oct/1987 Samurai - part 5 (title changed to "Samurai - part 6" in Book 2: Samurai)
Oct/1987 Samurai - part 6 (title changed to "Samurai - part 7" in Book 2: Samurai)
Nov/1987 Samurai - part 7 (title changed to "Samurai - part 8" in Book 2: Samurai)
Nov/1987 Samurai - part 8 (title changed to "Samurai - part 9" in Book 2: Samurai)
Jan/1988 Silk Fair
Feb/1988 Kappa
Feb/1988 Zylla
Feb/1988 The Test (re-titled "Samurai - part 3" in Book 2: Samurai)
Mar/1988 The Tower
Apr/1988 One Night in the Cold
May/1988 A Mother's Love
Jul/1988 Return of the Blind Swordspig
Aug/1988 Blade of the Gods
Sep/1988 The Tea Cup
Oct/1988 The Shogun's Gift
Nov/1988 The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy part 1 - The Clouds Gather
Jan/1989 The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy part 2 - The Winds Howl
Mar/1989 The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy part 3 - Downpour
May/1989 The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy part 4 - Thunder and Lightning
Jul/1989 The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy part 5 - In the Heart of the Storm
Jul/1989 The Tangled Skein
Oct/1989 The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy part 6 - Storm Clouds part
Oct/1989 The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy part 7 - Fate of the Blind Swordspig
Nov/1989 Tomoes Story
Nov/1989 Village of Fear
Dec/1989 Frost and Fire
Feb/1990 A Kite Story
Mar/1990 Yurei
Apr/1990 Blood wings - part 1
May/1990 Blood Wings - part 2
Jul/1990 The Way of the Samurai
Sep/1990 Lone Goat and Kid
Nov/1990 The Bridge
Nov/1990 Return to Adachigahara Plain (watercolor version)
Jan/1991 The Dual
Mar/1991 My Lords Daughter
May/1991 Circles part 1 - Winds over the Tombstones
Jul/1991 Circles part 2 - Remembrances
Sep/1991 Circles part 3 - Shroud over the Mountain
Sep/1991 The Doors
Nov/1991 Circles part 3 - Shroud over the Mountain (continued)
Nov/1991 Circles part 4 - Closing the Circle
Feb/1992 Kitsune
Feb/1992 Gaki
Apr/1992 Broken Ritual
Jun/1992 Gen part 1 - Lady Asano's Story
Aug/1992 Gen part 2 - Sins of the Father
Sep/1992 Fox Fire
Nov/1992 Gen part 3 - Lady Asano's Revenge
Feb/1993 The Return of Kitsune
Mar/1993 The Last Ino Story
Mar/1993 Shades of Green - part 1
Mar/1993 Jizo
May/1993 Shades of Green - part 2
May/1993 Usagi's Garden
Jul/1993 Shades of Green - part 3
Jul/1993 Autumn
Sep/1993 Shi - part 1
Dec/1993 Shi - part 2
Jan/1994 The Lizard's Tale
Jan/1994 Battlefield - part 1
Apr/1994 The Music of Heaven
Apr/1994 Battlefield - part 2
Jun/1994 Blood Money ("The Gambler, the Widow, and the Ronin" in Book 9: Daisho)
Jun/1994 Battlefield - part 3
Aug/1994 Slavers - part 1
Oct/1994 Slavers - part 2
Oct/1994 Nature of the Viper
Dec/1994 Daisho - part 1
Dec/1994 Mongrels
Feb/1995 Daisho - part 2
Apr/1995 Runaways - part 1
Apr/1995 Black Soul
Jun/1995 Runaways - part 2
Aug/1995 Kaiso
Oct/1995 A Meeting of Strangers
Apr/1996 Origin Tale
Apr/1996 Noodles - part 1
May/1996 Noodles - part 2
Jun/1996 The Wrath of the Tangled Skein
Jun/1996 The Bonze's Story
Jul/1996 Bats, the Cat, and the Rabbit
Aug/1996 The Chrysanthemum Pass
Oct/1996 Lightning Strikes Twice
Nov/1996 The Withered Field
Dec/1996 A Promise In The Snow
Jan/1997 The Conspiracy of Eight
Feb/1997 The Crossing
Feb/1997 Patience of the Spider
Feb/1997 Return To Adachi Plain
Mar/1997 The Lord of Owls
Mar/1997 The First Tenet
Apr/1997 Vampire Cat of the Geishu ("Obakeneko of the Geishu Clan" in Book 11: Seasons)
Jul/1997 Green Persimmon
Aug/1997 Grasscutter prologue 1 - Izanagi and Izanami
Aug/1997 Grasscutter prologue 2 - Susano-o
Aug/1997 Grasscutter prologue 3 - Yamato-Dake
Sep/1997 Grasscutter prologue 4 - Dan-No-Ura
Oct/1997 Grasscutter chapter 1 - Jei
Nov/1997 Grasscutter chapter 2 - Heike Gani
Dec/1997 Hebi
Jan/1998 Grasscutter chapter 3 - Inazuma
Feb/1998 Grasscutter chapter 4 - Noriyuki and Tomoe
Mar/1998 Grasscutter chapter 5 - Ikeda
Apr/1998 Grasscutter chapter 6 - Tomoe and Ikeda
Jun/1998 The Guardian
Jun/1998 Grasscutter chapter 7 - Usagi and Jei
Jul/1998 Grasscutter chapter 8 - Sanshobo
Aug/1998 Snakes and Blossoms (“Hebi” and “Courage of the Plum” with 4 new pages in Book 11: Seasons)
Sep/1998 My Father's Swords
Oct/1998 The Demon Flute
Nov/1998 Momo-Usagi-Taro
Jan/1999 The Hairpin Murders - part 1
Feb/1999 The Hairpin Murders - part 2
Feb/1999 Death and Taxes
Apr/1999 The Courage of the Plum
Apr/1999 The Courtesan - part 1
May/1999 The Courtesan - part 2
Jul/1999 Tameshigiri
Aug/1999 A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Tournament
Sep/1999 Netsuke
Sep/1999 The Inn on Moon Shadow Hill
Oct/1999 A Life of Mush
Oct/1999 Deserters
Nov/1999 A Potter's Tale
Nov/1999 The Missive
Dec/1999 Mystery of the Demon Mask chapter 1
Jan/2000 Mystery of the Demon Mask chapter 2
Feb/2000 Mystery of the Demon Mask chapter 3
Feb/2000 Tsuru - part 1
Feb/2000 The Leaping Ninja
Mar/2000 Tsuru - part 2
Apr/2000 Kumo
Apr/2000 Tsuru - part 3
May/2000 Reunion
May/2000 Tsuru - part 4
Jul/2000 Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine - Prologue
Aug/2000 Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine chapter 1 - A Whisper of Wings
Sep/2000 Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine chapter 2 - Scent of the Pines
Oct/2000 Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine chapter 3 - The Hunger for Death
Nov/2000 Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine chapter 4 - Visions in the Shadows
Dec/2000 Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine chapter 5 - The Feel of Salt
Jan/2001 Grasscutter II: Journey to Atsuta Shrine chapter 6 - In the Realm of Senses
Mar/2001 Showdown - part 1
Apr/2001 Showdown - part 2
May/2001 Escape!
Jun/2001 Three Seasons
Jul/2001 Usagi and the Kami of the Pond
Jul/2001 The Shrouded Moon - part 1
Aug/2001 The Shrouded Moon - part 2
Oct/2001 Kitsune's Tale
Dec/2001 Vendetta
Jan/2002 The Return of The Lone Goat And Kid
Feb/2002 Images From A Winter's Day
Mar/2002 A Lesson in Courtesy - part 1
Apr/2002 Koji
Apr/2002 A Lesson in Courtesy - part 2
May/2002 Crows - part 1
May/2002 A Lesson in Courtesy - part 3
Jun/2002 Crows - part 2
Jun/2002 A Lesson in Courtesy - part 4
Jul/2002 Crows - part 3
Aug/2002 Duel at Kitanoji
Oct/2002 Out of the Shadows
Nov/2002 Ghost Warriors
Jan/2003 Komainu
Feb/2003 Tamago
Mar/2003 Usagi and the Tengu
May/2003 Sumi-e - part 1
Jun/2003 Sumi-e - part 2
Jul/2003 Sumi-e - part 3
Sep/2003 Fathers and Sons
Sep/2003 Ninja Hunt
Oct/2003 Fathers and Sons
Nov/2003 Bells
Jan/2004 Kill the Geishu Lord
Feb/2004 The Pride of the Samurai
Mar/2004 Hokashi - part 1
Apr/2004 Hokashi - part 2
May/2004 Cooking Lesson
Jun/2004 Contraband
Jul/2004 After the Rat
Aug/2004 Samurai for Hire
Oct/2004 Dreams and Nightmares
Oct/2004 Gen and the Dog
Nov/2004 When Rabbits Fly
Jan/2005 Into The Mist
Jan/2005 Nocturnal
Mar/2005 Vendetta's End
Apr/2005 The Treasure Of The Mother Of The Mountains - part 1

OUT OF CONTINUETY STORIES
Sep/1987 Turtle Soup and Rabbit Stew (Usagi Yojimbo meets Leonardo)
Apr/1988 Patrick Rabbit Meets Usagi Yojimbo
Dec/1989 The Treaty (Usagi Yojimbo meets Leonardo)
May/1990 Usagi's Ark (Usagi Yojimbo meets the crew of the Space Ark)
May/1992 Hare Today, Hare Tomorrow (Usagi Yojimbo meets Space Usagi)
Jul/1994 Usagi Yojimbo Meets Godzilla (pin-up in San Diego Comic Con Program)
Oct/2000 The Tanuki Daimyo's Candy (untitled segment of Nocturnals: Troll Bridge)
Jul/2004 The Death of Gen (pin-up in San Diego Comic Con Program)

[estee]

Wow that's great.

Its amazing how long Usagi's been around and how long I've been following the Rabbit Ronin.

21 years later and Usagi is still one of the best titles out there.

[Winslow]

Very cool.

I'm finally caught up with the 25 year story in the trades, and am ready to start purchasing the monthlies.

[zilla31]

anyone feel like laying out for me their top 3 uy trades? i'm going to try and read all of them eventually but looking for a place to start (and not necessarily at the beginning). someone said #6 made wizard's 100 best trades of all time list...

[Winslow]

anyone feel like laying out for me their top 3 uy trades? i'm going to try and read all of them eventually but looking for a place to start (and not necessarily at the beginning). someone said #6 made wizard's 100 best trades of all time list...

What do you like?

No. 6 contains one of my favorite one-shot short stories - The Bridge, which is like a ghost story.

No. 6 also contains a story-arc called Circles. I'm not sure you would appreciate Circles without all the back story (you can follow it - but I'm not sure you would be able to understand the depth of the sadness to the story without knowing Usagi's history - anyway).

My favorite trades are the one's that contain the story arcs -

No. 4 The Dragon Bellows Conspiracy
A great "conspiracy unmasked" type story ~ also weaves together a lot of characters form past short stories into one fun big story arc.

And Nos. 12 & 15 ~ Grasscutter Parts I and II -
A fantastic read that is a combination of intrigue, myth, and social-political themes - as well as action and suspense - very fun - won a well deserved Eisner.

But if you are planning on reading all of them eventaully - I cannot emphasize enough to start at the beginning! The characterization of Usagi grows and changes over time - wth backstory weaved in to understand his relationships with other characters. You will understand the plot by jumping in at any point in the middle - but you'll miss out on a lot of fun.

[usagigoya]

No. 6 also contains a story-arc called Circles. I'm not sure you would appreciate Circles without all the back story (you can follow it - but I'm not sure you would be able to understand the depth of the sadness to the story without knowing Usagi's history - anyway).

Amazing, I was just thinking about that storyline, along with the corresponding parts of "Samurai" and "Homecoming", trying to decide whether or not to post a reply...

The copies of those issues in my collection were loaned out to a friend for her plane trip back to England a few years ago. (They were returned of course, by mail, along with a locke of hair which I still have. )

[zilla31]

ok #1 it is. i certainly appreciate the b&w so don't get me wrong (works great w/ usagi) but just curious - were these ever done in color?

[matt levin]

There are three, maybe four, color Usagi books, called appropriately enough, Usagi Color Special. Also I'm pretty sure the Usagi/Turtles meetings were in color... ah, I know there're fans with better memories than mine-- just you wait, they'll be chimin' in anytime now. But yeah, short answer, there have been a select few Usagi stories in color.

Matt

[Winslow]

ok #1 it is. i certainly appreciate the b&w so don't get me wrong (works great w/ usagi) but just curious - were these ever done in color?

Welcome to the genius of Usagi Yojimbo! By far my favorite series.

My work here is done. :D

I can't help you with the color stuff.

But if I can push, er I mean recommend :D another thing - The Art of Usagi Yojimbo is a glorious addition for any fan. A bit pricey - but considering it's an over-sized coffee table type hard-bound book - well worth the price. It's got good reviews from every web site I've seen it mentioned, and it's up for an Eisner award this year too.

[usagigoya]

ok #1 it is. i certainly appreciate the b&w so don't get me wrong (works great w/ usagi) but just curious - were these ever done in color?

The Usagi Yojimbo story "Village of Fear" was published in color by Fantagraphics Books originally as a back-up story in Doomsday Squad #3 (volume 2). I think it was reprinted in black and white in Book One: Ronin.

Fantagraphics Books published 3 color specials, which have not yet been collected into a trade paperback, because the stories where set a bit ahead of the regular ongoing series. Stan Sakai has stated that they should be included in volume #22,

There have been 2 painted / watercolored stories. The pencils for "Return to Adahigahara" were available for re-inking (by Sergio Aragones no less!) as a black and white story, which was reprinted both as a comic and in one of the trades. "The Guardian" was published in the Trilogy Tour II book and has never been included in a trade paperback. Both of these stories are included in the new 2oth Anniversary Art of Usagi Yojimbo hardcover (in color!).

Mirage published 16 issues of Usagi Yojimbo in color. These stories were collected into a couple of the trade paperbacks published by Dark Horse Comics, but reprinted as black and white (after being touched up a bit by Stan).

Dark Horse also published a color special. "Green Persimmon" was a color story originally serialized in 2 page segments in Diamond Comics Preview catalog. Dark Horse reprinted it as a color comic, then reprinted it later in one of the trade paperbacks in black and white.

Abayo...

[zilla31]

this one?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

[Winslow]

this one?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

Yup - that's the one.

On second thought - there are spoilers in it - so if you haven't read Usagi it's definitely NOT the place to start.

Maybe check e-bay once you're worked your way through the series.

[zilla31]

is ebay generally a cheap place to buy comics online? i use mailordercomics for my previews but usually amazon (once you stack up enough to get free shipping) is what i've been using for TPB's (current or back issues).

[Winslow]

is ebay generally a cheap place to buy comics online? i use mailordercomics for my previews but usually amazon (once you stack up enough to get free shipping) is what i've been using for TPB's (current or back issues).

Can't really say. I've only bought books on ebay, not comics. I was recommending e-bay becasue I thought once you've read through the series, the art book may be out of print.

Maybe someone else can help you out . . .

[Winslow]

The Usagi Yojimbo story "Village of Fear" was published in color by Fantagraphics Books originally as a back-up story in Doomsday Squad #3 (volume 2). I think it was reprinted in black and white in Book One: Ronin.

Indeed. I checked TPB # 1 and its the sixth Chapter.

Fantagraphics Books published 3 color specials, which have not yet been collected into a trade paperback, because the stories where set a bit ahead of the regular ongoing series. Stan Sakai has stated that they should be included in volume #22,

Sweet. I didn't know this. Thanks! Looking forward to reading this . . .