Post by usagigoya on Feb 24, 2021 12:13:42 GMT -5
STAN SAKAI: USAGI YOJIMBO TURNS 100
by JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO (COMICBLOC, MONDAY, JANUARY 08, 2007)
I have to admit that I was fairly nervous when I called Stan for this interview. I remember Usagi Yojimbo back from watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Even though I don’t read every issue, I have always been impressed at the quality of the work whenever I read it.
It was great to know that Stan was such a nice and humble guy. I talked to him a bit about where Usagi has been and the forthcoming issue coming out this January.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: First off, congratulations on hitting this issue #100 milestone.
STAN SAKAI: Actually, more like 160 when you look at everything I’ve done. Dark Horse was not the first series.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: How did you end up creating Usagi Yojimbo?
STAN SAKAI: I was a big fan of comics and I wanted to create a series based somewhat on Miyamoto Musashi, a 16th century samurai. I was sketching one day when this rabbit showed up with his ears tied back.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: When was your first published comic?
STAN SAKAI: Usagi first appeared in Albedo #2 in 1984.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: When was the first series actually published and by whom?
STAN SAKAI: Fantagraphics Editor Kim Thompson wanted to create an anthology featuring animal characters. It launched in 1988 and was called Critters.
Usagi appeared in short story form there. Eventually, Usagi moved into his own series. It was at Fantagraphics for about 38 issues including three color specials and one summer special.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: You probably get asked this all the time, but how did Usagi first end up appearing in Ninja Turtles? I confess that this was where I first saw him.
STAN SAKAI: Actually, the Turtles cartoon and Usagi were around at relatively the same time. We used to support one another by sending each other letters. Finally after the cartoon had come out, Peter Laird asked me if I wanted to be on the show and I said sure.
Before this, we couldn’t give Usagi away. No one wanted the book, not even the Albedo. After this, everyone wanted it and I remember Albedo selling for about $100 bucks. I remember later Peter asking me if I wanted a figure of Usagi in their line and I said sure.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Usagi is probably the only character in the cartoon to maintain any of the integrity he had in the comic. How did you do it?
STAN SAKAI: The studio that produced TMNT were big fans of the character and they wanted to keep him the way he was.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: How did you transfer from Fantagraphics to Mirage.
STAN SAKAI: Fantagraphics went through a change in the line. All their stuff at the time was all-ages books but they were gradually shifting into a more mature direction. They were nice enough to give me eight months notice, though. I already had a nice relationship and a nice offer from Mirage Studios, So I went there and started with a new number one.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: So, what were the other series you did at Mirage?
STAN SAKAI: I did a color Usagi series, which lasted about 16 issues. I also did two Space Usagi mini-series.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: What happened at Mirage?
STAN SAKAI: Mirage suffered severe storm damage at their production office. (Their whole printing stations were flooded.) Based on the shape of the industry at the time, Mirage decided they weren’t going to print any more comics. At this point though I had received a multitude of offers, one of them was from Dark Horse.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Looking back, what have been your favorite stories?
STAN SAKAI: I’d say my favorite story was The Grass Cutter series. I did a lot of research on it and was proud of the result. It also won multiple awards, including Eisners.
Another favorite? The “Kite” story. I am proud of it and the research I did on it.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Also looking back, any stories you wish you could have done more with?
STAN SAKAI: Not really. I own the character, so if I write or draw something I don’t care for, I can simply change it.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: I really enjoy the fact that you use animals instead of people. It really helps the series stand out. Do you deliberately choose animals for certain characters?
STAN SAKAI: Thank you! In some cases, yes. Gen, for example, I wanted to be a rhinocerous. I liked the visual of a huge animal next to a puny rabbit. And I deliberately wanted Usagi’s sensei Katsuichi to be a lion. It gave him a look of nobility and reverence.
But, for the most part, it’s whatever seems right at the time. Usagi is a very character-driven series and the characters tell their own story.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: So tell us a bit about Usagi #100. I understand there will be a plethora of artists on it.
STAN SAKAI: Oh indeed! It was [Dark Horse Editor] Diana Schutz’s idea. She has been really good to me and is one of the best editors in comics. I always like seeing different people with their takes on Usagi and the book simply looks terrific! Frank Miller is doing a page, Sergio Aragones did four pages, and so did Guy Davis. Jeff Smith tells a story of when we travelled together on the trilogy tour. Other creators involved in the issue include Jamie Rich, Andi Watson, Mark Evanier, Scott Shaw, Rick Geary, and even publisher Mike Richardson.
Matt Wagner came late to the project but did a wonderful page.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Is there any advice you would give anyone trying to start their own comic book?
STAN SAKAI: Nowadays, with self-publishing and web comics, it’s a lot easier to get yourself known as a “comics creator.” However, with declining comic book sales, it’s a lot harder to make a living at it.
If you’re really intent on working in comics, start by submitting work to publishers. Many of them have submission guidelines on their Web sites. Just make sure that you’re of professional caliber. Go to conventions, make contacts and show everyone your portfolio.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Thank you Stan for your time and good luck with issue #100 (or #160, as the case may be).
Usagi Yojimbo #100 hits comic shops this January. It’s written by Stan along with a plethora of artists. Be sure to pick it up when you see it!
by JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO (COMICBLOC, MONDAY, JANUARY 08, 2007)
I have to admit that I was fairly nervous when I called Stan for this interview. I remember Usagi Yojimbo back from watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Even though I don’t read every issue, I have always been impressed at the quality of the work whenever I read it.
It was great to know that Stan was such a nice and humble guy. I talked to him a bit about where Usagi has been and the forthcoming issue coming out this January.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: First off, congratulations on hitting this issue #100 milestone.
STAN SAKAI: Actually, more like 160 when you look at everything I’ve done. Dark Horse was not the first series.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: How did you end up creating Usagi Yojimbo?
STAN SAKAI: I was a big fan of comics and I wanted to create a series based somewhat on Miyamoto Musashi, a 16th century samurai. I was sketching one day when this rabbit showed up with his ears tied back.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: When was your first published comic?
STAN SAKAI: Usagi first appeared in Albedo #2 in 1984.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: When was the first series actually published and by whom?
STAN SAKAI: Fantagraphics Editor Kim Thompson wanted to create an anthology featuring animal characters. It launched in 1988 and was called Critters.
Usagi appeared in short story form there. Eventually, Usagi moved into his own series. It was at Fantagraphics for about 38 issues including three color specials and one summer special.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: You probably get asked this all the time, but how did Usagi first end up appearing in Ninja Turtles? I confess that this was where I first saw him.
STAN SAKAI: Actually, the Turtles cartoon and Usagi were around at relatively the same time. We used to support one another by sending each other letters. Finally after the cartoon had come out, Peter Laird asked me if I wanted to be on the show and I said sure.
Before this, we couldn’t give Usagi away. No one wanted the book, not even the Albedo. After this, everyone wanted it and I remember Albedo selling for about $100 bucks. I remember later Peter asking me if I wanted a figure of Usagi in their line and I said sure.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Usagi is probably the only character in the cartoon to maintain any of the integrity he had in the comic. How did you do it?
STAN SAKAI: The studio that produced TMNT were big fans of the character and they wanted to keep him the way he was.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: How did you transfer from Fantagraphics to Mirage.
STAN SAKAI: Fantagraphics went through a change in the line. All their stuff at the time was all-ages books but they were gradually shifting into a more mature direction. They were nice enough to give me eight months notice, though. I already had a nice relationship and a nice offer from Mirage Studios, So I went there and started with a new number one.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: So, what were the other series you did at Mirage?
STAN SAKAI: I did a color Usagi series, which lasted about 16 issues. I also did two Space Usagi mini-series.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: What happened at Mirage?
STAN SAKAI: Mirage suffered severe storm damage at their production office. (Their whole printing stations were flooded.) Based on the shape of the industry at the time, Mirage decided they weren’t going to print any more comics. At this point though I had received a multitude of offers, one of them was from Dark Horse.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Looking back, what have been your favorite stories?
STAN SAKAI: I’d say my favorite story was The Grass Cutter series. I did a lot of research on it and was proud of the result. It also won multiple awards, including Eisners.
Another favorite? The “Kite” story. I am proud of it and the research I did on it.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Also looking back, any stories you wish you could have done more with?
STAN SAKAI: Not really. I own the character, so if I write or draw something I don’t care for, I can simply change it.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: I really enjoy the fact that you use animals instead of people. It really helps the series stand out. Do you deliberately choose animals for certain characters?
STAN SAKAI: Thank you! In some cases, yes. Gen, for example, I wanted to be a rhinocerous. I liked the visual of a huge animal next to a puny rabbit. And I deliberately wanted Usagi’s sensei Katsuichi to be a lion. It gave him a look of nobility and reverence.
But, for the most part, it’s whatever seems right at the time. Usagi is a very character-driven series and the characters tell their own story.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: So tell us a bit about Usagi #100. I understand there will be a plethora of artists on it.
STAN SAKAI: Oh indeed! It was [Dark Horse Editor] Diana Schutz’s idea. She has been really good to me and is one of the best editors in comics. I always like seeing different people with their takes on Usagi and the book simply looks terrific! Frank Miller is doing a page, Sergio Aragones did four pages, and so did Guy Davis. Jeff Smith tells a story of when we travelled together on the trilogy tour. Other creators involved in the issue include Jamie Rich, Andi Watson, Mark Evanier, Scott Shaw, Rick Geary, and even publisher Mike Richardson.
Matt Wagner came late to the project but did a wonderful page.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Is there any advice you would give anyone trying to start their own comic book?
STAN SAKAI: Nowadays, with self-publishing and web comics, it’s a lot easier to get yourself known as a “comics creator.” However, with declining comic book sales, it’s a lot harder to make a living at it.
If you’re really intent on working in comics, start by submitting work to publishers. Many of them have submission guidelines on their Web sites. Just make sure that you’re of professional caliber. Go to conventions, make contacts and show everyone your portfolio.
JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO: Thank you Stan for your time and good luck with issue #100 (or #160, as the case may be).
Usagi Yojimbo #100 hits comic shops this January. It’s written by Stan along with a plethora of artists. Be sure to pick it up when you see it!