Month after month since 1984 (although I discovered the book a few years later) USAGI YOJIMBO has remained one of my top 5 monthly books. It amazes me to think that with all the changes in my buying habits, tastes or anything... Usagi Yojimbo has been a consistently amazing read!
For those who only know him from the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES tie in here is a quick history...
Usagi Yojimbo (rabbit bodyguard) is a rabbit that is a wandering samurai that travels the Japanese countryside and finds the most amazing adventures, loyal friends and vicious enemies. Although an 'all ages' book, the series is not a kids comic! The stories are well crafted and beautifully drawn by series creator, Stan Sakai.
Since 1984, Stan has published USAGI YOJIMBO through three publishers (Fantagraphics, Mirage and the current and longest home Dark Horse). It still amazes me how his current adventures (the most recent was # 150) is just as good, if not better than the original series. There is no such thing as a bad or even mediocre Usagi Yojimbo tale or arc.
So as Christmas approaches and lists are made, I urge you to pick up a collected volume of anything USAGI YOJIMBO! One of the best places to start is the Usagi Yojimbo Special Edition that collects all the Fantagraphic series in a slipcase presentation.
So thank you Mr. Sakai for your gift of the greatest stories over the past lotta years...and many more!