Dark Horse and Stan Sakai imprint Dogu Publishing present the Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader in June 2024, bringing colourised glimpses from across the rabbit samurai’s decades-long career for fans old and new. The $14.99 paperback collection will release in bookstores June 18 and comic shops June 19, 2024.
The Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader will feature a selection of eight fan favourite and specially selected stories entirely in colour – some of which for the first time. Plus a painted original cover by Stan Sakai himself. The stories fans can expect within include:
- Chanoyu (in colour for the first time)
- A Mother’s Love
- Blade of the Gods
- The Way of the Samurai
- Cut the Plum
- The Artist
- Buntori
- Adachi
The Dark Horse press release:
“The year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Usagi Yojimbo, Stan Sakai’s award-winning artistic and storytelling epic featuring everyone’s favorite rabbit ronin! Dark Horse Comics and Dogu Publishing invite readers on a journey through the series in the Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader. This new collection of stories presents a selection of hand-picked Usagi tales in color for the first time from Emi Fujii, Tom Luth, and Ronda Pattison. The new cover art is painted by Stan Sakai himself, adding to the appeal for collectors.”
It adds:
“Readers are invited to follow Miyamoto Usagi through four decades of comic creativity and adventure. Relive the essential moments of Usagi Yojimbo or invite a new love of Sakai’s worldbuilding into your life or the life of someone you love.”
Dark Horse President Mike Richardson said:
“Stan Sakai is not just a master storyteller, but a member of the Dark Horse family. We are so glad to celebrate Stan and 40 years of his beloved creation, Usagi Yojimbo, here at Dark Horse. I’m thrilled to offer longtime fans and new readers a fresh look at some of our favorite stories over the years, now in one new collection.”
Usagi Yojimbo debuted in the first issue of Steve Gallacci anthology Albedo Anthropomorphics (aka Albedo, published by Thoughts and Images) as a supporting character in a backup series by Sakai called The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy. Inspired, Sakai’s character quickly took on a life of its own – initially as part of Fantagraphics’ anthology Critters (1985-87) before getting his own solo book in 1987. The series has hopped around a bit – having been published by Fantagraphics, Mirage Comics, Dark Horse, and IDW. In 2022, Sakai returned to Dark Horse and formed his own imprint – Dogu Publishing. To date the series has thirty-eight collected volumes comprising over 250 issues and shorts. It has spawned spinoffs (Space Usagi, Chibi Usagi), side stories, and a 2022 animated adaptation on Netflix.
