New Releases by Stan Sakai

Usagi escorts a merchants daughter to the town where she is betrothed to a merchants son. While the parents are thrilled that the union will unite the two businesses, Usagi has his work cut out for him when Koroshi, the league of assassins, is hired to see she never arrives at her destination! Sakai puts on a Master Class in storytelling with each issue.� -Comic Book Resources

Usagi Yojimbo is considered key in the world of comics, and an important link between the manga comics of Japan and the superhero comics of the U.S. The series'' creator, Stan Sakai, first started drawing Usagi in the early eighties. Roaming an anthropomorphic version of feudal Japan, the rabbit samurai has no master, but takes on tasks from any aggrieved animals he encounters, always ensuring he sticks to the noble way of the samurai.

The third volume in Dark Horse''s definitive Usagi Yojimbo compilations showcases Stan Sakai''s epic series at its best! Usagi faces a terrifying new foe who wears a demon mask; the Eisner-winning "Grasscutter" storyline receives a sequel, "Return to Atsuta Shrine;" pickpocket Kitsune''s history is revealed; fan-favorite character Sasuké the Demon Queller makes his debut; and a beloved ally long thought dead returns! Throughout, Sakai''s storytelling constitutes a master class in the comics form! Collects Usagi Yojimbo Volume Three #31-#52, along with stories from Dark Horse Presents and more!

The rabbit ronin faces a menace from Mars in this extraordinary story from multiple Eisner award-winning creator Stan Sakai! Fifteen years in his future, Miyamoto Usagi fights with Lord Noriyuki''s Geishu clan, in an all-out war against the treacherous Lord Hikiji. In the fury of the final battle, a mysterious metal rocket crash-lands from the heavens, shattering both armies and igniting a new, more devastating conflict. It will take all the considerable fortitude, ingenuity, and heroism that Usagi and his loved ones can muster to combat the fearsome extraterrestrial war machines and halt the alien invasion. In the end, not everyone will survive to tell the tale.

Usagi Yojimbo is one of the longest running and best-loved comic adventures of all time. Running from 1984 to the present day, and showing no sign of diminishing in popularity, the rabbit ronin is now seen as a figurehead of the comic book scene, and crucial to bringing the ideas of feudal Japan to a wider western audience. Saga Volume 2 tells Sakai''s story from the very beginning. The title is also available in luxurious special edition format, limited to 900 copies and signed by Stan Sakai himself (see 9781616556723)!

"This Gallery Edition reproduces Stan Sakai''s artwork for Usagi Yojimbo in full color and at original size. This first volume comprises the first ten years of Sakai and Usagi''s evolution, spanning from the earliest, unpublished Usagi story in the early eighties to the second Usagi Yojimbo series [in] the early nineties."--About this edition (CIP galley)

Usagi Yojimbo is one of the longest running and best-loved comic adventures of all time. Running from 1984 to the present day, and showing no sign of diminishing in popularity, the rabbit ronin is now seen as a figurehead of the comic book scene, and crucial to bringing the ideas of feudal Japan to a wider western audience. Roaming an anthropomorphic version of feudal Japan, the rabbit samurai has no master, but takes on tasks from any aggrieved animals he encounters - always ensuring he sticks to the noble way of the samurai.

"The rabbit ronin has his first encounters with the Lord of Owls and Inspector Ishida, and in the series'' longest story to date, nearly the entire cast becomes caught up in a scheme to recover the legendary Grass Cutting Sword"--

"Stan Sakai''s tales of the rabbit ronin are collected in an omnibus format featuring over six hundred pages of samurai adventure, including the complete Mirage Publishing series and the beginning of the Dark Horse Comics series"--

The shadow lord Hikiji''s latest conspiracy pits the rabbit _ronin_''s friends against one another, as The Thief and the _Kunoichi_� concludes! One of them may die tonight, unless Usagi, Chizu, and Kitsune can stop a secret treaty! *_The Usagi Yojimbo Saga_ and _Usagi Yojimbo: Senso_ both made best-of-2014 lists!

**GET KITSUNE!** Everyone seems to want Kitsune dead tonight as the secret of merchant Inouye''s stolen scroll is revealed! And Usagi''s allies and enemies change by the minute when he learns of an old enemy''s role in the intrigue! Sixteenth-century Japan is never so entertaining as in Stan Sakai''s tales of Miyamoto Usagi.�NPR''s Best Books of 2014

While journeying over mountains, into valleys, through towns and farmlands, and along rugged coasts, searching for harmony, Usagi faces a unique cast of characters: a village of seaweed farmers, an innocent noodle peddler, a demon-possessed woman, a relentless clan of bat ninja, an assassins'' guild, a mysterious medicine peddler, and Inazuma, a secretive female samurai. More than once Usagi finds himself in great danger — but it''s all in a day''s work when you walk the thin line on the brink of life and death. * Usagi Yojimbo: The Brink of Life and Death 2nd edition features completely remastered art and a look inside Stan Sakai''s research and influences with new story notes! Includes an introduction by writer Kurt Busiek.

For years, as Miyamoto Usagi has wandered the countryside, an unseen, malevolent entity has been tracing his steps. Thought dead since the events of Grasscutter, the demon Jei - the Black Soul - has been inhabiting the body of the swordswoman Inazuma, intent on destroying the evil he claims to see in Usagi!

Yokai are the monsters, demons, and spirits of Japanese folklore, such as the shape-changing kitsune, the obakeneko demon cats, and the evil oni ogres. Usagi faces all these and more when a desperate woman begs for his help in finding her kidnapped daughter. Tracing the abducted girl deep into the forest, Usagi finds it haunted by creatures of Japanese legend and discovers that they are amassing for a great raid on the countryside! Fortunately, Usagi is joined by Sasuke the Demon Queller, who is also fighting to prevent the invasion, but things aren''t always as they seem — especially when dealing with the supernatural! * The rabbit ronin turned twenty-five, and Dark Horse celebrated with the first-ever Usagi Yojimbo original graphic novel, fully hand-painted, written, and lettered by creator Stan Sakai! * Completely self-contained story. * Usagi Yojimbo is a 2009 Eisner Award nominee for Best Continuing Series. First ever, full color, original story!

A collection of artwork from the ''Usagi Yojimbo'' comic strip throughout the 20 years of its existence.

Nothing comes easy for rabbit ronin Usagi, not even being a spectator at the planned duel between his former teacher Katsuichi and Katsuichi''s rival Nakamura Koji. Before the duel even begins, Usagi becomes embroiled in a dispute between Koji and a local fencing school. Along the way, Usagi discovers a devastating secret — a weakness in Koji''s style. It''s a secret that could save his teacher''s life, but at the cost of his own honor. This 17th volume of Usagi Yojimbo collects issues #43-60, including the entire "Duel at Kitanoji" story, and a handful of other great shorts. And, as a special treat for our longtime fans, this collection features—for the first time!—preliminary sketches and designs by Sakai.

created, written, & illustrated by STAN SAKAI Forged in the clouds by the elemental gods of feudal Japan, the legendary sword Kusanagi — also known as "Grasscutter" — holds such power that it is sought after by mighty forces of good and evil. Multiple award winner Stan Sakai continues the epic adventures of his signature samurai rabbit, Usagi Yojimbo, in this second book centering on the mystical sword. Starting with a prologue that unveils the history of the sword, Grasscutter II rejoins Usagi with his samurai travelling companion, Gen, as they journey to the sacred shrine of Atsuta to return the powerful sword to its final resting place. But two ninja clans will fight the honorable samurai as well as each other in order to capture the sword and gain control of the empire with it. An enthralling book for all ages to enjoy, Grasscutter II will amaze readers with its narrative depth and poetic storytelling.

Spring breezes stirring the memories of lost battles. Summer fields burning with fires of treachery. Chill autumn nights echoing with demonic screams. Winter snows stained red with the blood of honor. Follow Stan Sakai''s Eisner award-winning Usagi Yojimbo through a cycle of short stories continuing the ronin rabbit''s journeys through feudal Japan. Ten tales in all, an essential collection for all seasons!

Usagi continues his journey in serach of harmony.

Circles features the graphic-novel-length epic title story, in which Usagi returns to his native village only to find everything very different indeed. (The discovery that his mentor, whom he thought dead, is actually alive and kicking is only the first of the shocks that await him.) "Circles" is an epic adventure, a love story, and one of the most affecting Usagi stories ever. In addition to the 80-page "Circles," this volume includes "The Bridge," "The Duel," and the hard-to-find "The Tangled Skein" from Critters #38. Jam-packed with lethal sword battles alternating with humor, horror, suspense and slapstick, this beautifully crafted and exciting volume (with an introduction by Jeff Smith) is both an excellent starting point for new readers, and an absolute necessity for Usagi completists.

Perhaps the best samurai rabbit story ever told, Usagi Yojimbo Book 3 collects full-length Usagi stories from issues #7 through #12 of the original Fantagraphics series, including "The Tower" (which introduces Usagi''s travelling companion Spot the Wonder Lizard), "Return of the Blind Swordspig," "A Mother''s Love," "Blade of the Gods," "The Shogun''s Gift," and the hilarious Groo tribute "The Tea Cup," co-starring the amoral mercenary rhino Gen. ("Gen does what Gen does best!") PLUS, the little-seen Usagi team-up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Turtle Soup and Rabbit Stew," written and drawn by Sakai. A must-have for adventure lovers of all ages!

The next chapter in an exciting tale of the Red Scorpion Gang! When the bunny bodyguard Usagi discovers the body of a magistrate''s kidnapped son, a bloody showdown with the Red Scorpions ensues. How will the lone samuraia noble follower of _bushido_fare against this gang of unscrupulous crooks? Stan Sakai''s tales of Usagi''s feudal adventures are both enduring and endearingconsistently in the cream of today''s comics! "Sakai handles comedy, action, and even the expository scenes with energy and charm."Steven M. Bari, Comics Bulletin