Usagi Yojimbo: A Brilliant Introduction to Japanese History and Mythology

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Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai has been running for over 35 years but is still a very easy comic to pick up because of its episodic nature and willingness to jump back and forth through the main character's life. Usagi Yojimbo is strongly based off of real life samurai Miyamoto Musashi and tells stories about Edo-period Japan, samurai, culture, food, history, and mythology. This video talks about what makes it so special and why it's won so many awards (ten Eisners) by looking at an important story arc: The Grasscutter Saga.

[@otaking3582]

Considering that Usagi Yojimbo's closest mainstream exposure has been TMNT crossovers, I'm sure I'm not the only one that originally thought he originated in TMNT.

[@zegim]

Usagi Yojimbo is such a beautiful comic. The art might look simple, but it's actually incredily well laid out and expressive

[@oisintaylor3382]

I read an issue of Usagi to my nephews and they really got into it. After reading it they wanted to act out the scenes. The storytelling was so clear and easy to follow. Previously when I tried reading them superhero comics it didn’t hold their attention.

[@bryanstickell429]

I had a similar situation with a friends 6 year old daughter. I showed her Grasscutter and she loved the imagery of Izanagi and Izanami and was shocked at Izanami turning into a demon. Sakai is brilliant in that everyone can get into his stories.

[@ricosalvaje5802]

His stories are easy to follow. The art is so simple but effective. I love reading Usagi before bed. It really relaxes me.

[@PatriciaCross]

My favorite Usagi comic is one page. He runs into one of those little dinosaurs that says "Zilla" over and over. So Usagi names it Zilla. He gets jumped by bandits and Zilla saves him by breathing fire. And Usagi asks "Are you a god, Zilla?"

[@dlee827]

It's only fitting that a wandering ronin's adventures wander between different publishing companies.

[@anguishedcarpet]

This is deadass one of the best comics ever made, so slept on in the mainstream

[@richardleatherman5075]

Another favorite from when I collected comics in the '80's. I remember the clever use of protruding tongues, "X" eyes, and exhale balloons with skulls gently indicating the demise of combatants.

[@jamesstewart8500]

Usagi Yojimbo is a comfort comic for me, as reading it always puts me in a good mood. Thanks for covering it!

[@mr.pavone9719]

I first read Usagi Yojimbo in high school back in the very late 80s. We were big into Eastman and Laird TMNT and other indie comics and this was a great addition to our reading. While Usagi Yojimbo can be on the gritty side, it also has a great sense of humor. Sakai has managed to do a good job of injecting lighter stories within Usagi's saga to keep it from becoming an endless, shoegazing downer. The TMNTs and Usagi have even done a number of crossover stories in which each explores the other's respective worlds. Usagi has made appearances in all the animated series as well AFAIK.

[@adumlarp999]

Definitely one of those who was introduced through TMNT. I still remember seeing a Usagi Yojimbo comic and realizing it was its own series. I picked it up and thumbed through it and was totally blown away by the art, the writing, the story it told. Now I'm a bigger fan of Usagi than I am of the Turtles, and I love the Turtles. And I'm one of those who got to meet Stan Sakai, and he's such a great creator to meet. Fun fact I learned while playing Ghost of Tsushima, the main character, Jin Sakai, is named for Stan Sakai.

[@normanlennox4949]

Same. I first heard of UY in a Playmates toy commerical for the TMNT line.

[@gesooi3334]

I was a DC/Marvel zombie until I discovered Albedo, which led to Usagi Yojimbo, which led to embracing the whole indie scene of the 80s (Eclipse, First, Comico, etc.)....met Stan Sakai many years ago and was the most gracious creator I've met....you did err in that there was not any mention of Sakai's decades long friendship/relationship with Aragones and lettering his own classic Groo

[@AxeMan808]

Also, Stan Sakai and Sergio Aragones are great friends for many decades; Sakai often does lettering for Groo comics.

[@stevena488]

I love Stan Sakai MAINLY because it's like a more straight laced take on Groo. I think it's smarter than Groo BUT I adore both Stan Sakai AND Sergio Aragones. I especially love that Usagi Yojimbo is so well written and drawn. In fact? His style influenced mine. Same as Sergio.

[@almightytallestred]

As a kid I had (and should still have, actually) a Usagi Yojimbo action figure from the Turtles toy line. Early 90's-ish. Never knew who he was until many years later, because since I'm from Germany that episode hadn't aired here yet. That was true for a lot of figures from the Turtles toy line actually ^^

[@samwill7259]

As with most people of my age, I got curious about Usagi seeing him in the 2003 TMNT animated series, and i got lucky that my school library had a couple collections in their archives. What a wonderful story, what a wonderful world to fall into.

[@brucegrossman3531]

Got to meet Stan Sakai years ago at Boston Comic Con. And we just talked about our love for the writer Ed McBain. And how the movie High and Low is one of the best adaptations. And other Kurosawa films. Just a truly nice person.

[@morganweinstock167]

Usagi Yojimbo is one of my favorite comics of all time! The sheer level of detail and research Stan Sakai includes in his work is awe-inspiring. Any time somebody asks me who my favorite Ninja Turtle is, I always say “the Samurai Rabbit.”

[@pujo3756]

I started reading Usagi Yojimbo during the pandemic in 2019. i really love Stan Sakai's art and story telling. the story' is for all ages but it's just so good and well-written.

[@razrentals8897]

Awesome review. I just recently began reading Usagi Yojimbo, because I wanted to know more about the character. I mostly grew up thinking of him as just a TMNT character because of the Playmates toy/1987 cartoon. Stan Sakai’s art and writing is great. His art is so clean and expressive and his panels flow together so well. I haven’t read Grasshopper yet, but I’m looking forward to it now.

[@tokenbastard4586]

TMNT is how I knew of the character as a kid, though I know he's had comics for decades. Might have to run down some books now that I'm in my late 30's.

[@SoulStarSketchin]

God do I love whenever a Usagi Yojimbo comic comes out. It's still one of the best ones when it comes to contained stories all taking place in the same era and never have to worry too much about keeping up with any continuity. So happy you finally got to make a video on this, more people need to read this series.

[@gloryfire2161]

teenage mutant ninja turtles shredders Revenge is getting a new dlc and he is in there as a playable charter

[@SoulStarSketchin]

@@gloryfire2161 yup heard about that. looks like i gotta download it once again and replay the game as usagi! Can't wait!

[@Andrematt]

My first exposure to Usagi was the photo of his action figure in the back of the TMNT package when I was a kid and his visual concept made a huge impression in me. Had to wait years to read the collected comics by Dark Horse and it was definitely worth it, such a delightful read. Was so caught up in it that I bought the NECA action figure in the same day. Felt that my 11 year old self was finally fulfilled.

[@scottbarrie1279]

I didn't realize before how Stan nailed the title graphic from day one, with only small variations since.

[@YourEvilHenchman]

so this is the video that needed an extra week to get done, interesting. absolutely justified imo, stan sakai and usagi certainly deserve that level of care and effort. and the result speaks for itself, this is a great video on the topic.

[@OrdinaryTrevor]

I remember checking out the Usagi Yojimbo collections at my local library.

[@driver8sk]

I've been a fan since the Fantagraphics days. Even after I tapped out in the late 90's and didn't mess with comics for over a decade, I'd still pick up Usagi graphic novels. Stan is one of those rare talent like Jeff Smith or Walt Kelly who can create a world that is both 100% the creators vision and absolutely perfect.

[@jessharvell1022]

yeah i think my first issue was no. 10 of the fanta series, and while i can't say i've read every issue since, the only other series i've been following for so long is love and rockets. i can see all the obvious reasons why it could never become as big as something like jeff smith's bone - it's not as cute for one, and feudal japan isn't as instantly appealing to kids as a tolkien-esque fantasy world - but in a better world it would be.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

@@jessharvell1022 # 10: was that the one with the Komori (bat) Ninjas and the backup story where Usagi meets Leonardo? I think that's the first one I read as well.

[@HeadmasterAutobot]

My brother's been a fan of this series since our preteens--it's an enormous influence on his output as an artist!

[@j1zzay]

Hahaha I'm just now hearing about this and it's giving me so much inspiration

[@Monkeyshaman]

I'm always envious of sakais hands. It's the kind of mastery that just sublimates into instinctual shorthand.

[@NelsonStJames]

Usagi Yojimbo is a fantastic comic that I've urged all American manga and anime lovers to read because I quickly discovered the amazing number of professed western Japanophiles that don't really know a lot about Japanese history. Usagi is a great jumping in point to start.

[@ShinyRedNothing]

Dude! Thanks for this one. Very nostalgic for me. I discovered Usagi when Mirage had him, and when he appeared on THE TEENAGE FUCKING NINJA TURTLES, I was beyond sold. Cheers!

[@richmcgee434]

Stan Sakai is an amazing artist and writer, easily on par with industry greats like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. Usagi Yojimbo has maintained an almost four decade long level of quality and consistency that simply isn't seen much in Western comics, and rivals the best long-running manga owing to the absolute creative control and level of dedication Sakai shows toward his work.

[@theoriginalmomomike2869]

Been an Usagi Yojimbo super fan since the late 80's and an avid collector.

[@Sweetmangotango]

I met stan sakai at emerald city comic con a few years ago. I got his autograph and a usagi drawing. Incredibly nice guy.

[@Sweetmangotango]

Hi Chris! I really enjoyed the usagi yojimbo video. Good job as always.

[@shanelorrison5224]

I’ve known of the character Usagi Yojimbo for a long time but didn’t know much about the comics themselves. This sounds like a really cool series.

[@bigsmith6240]

Stan Sakai and Usagi Yojimbo are some of comics all time best.

[@JW666]

I used to have a Usagi Yojimbo toy from the 80's TMNT cartoon toyline. Usagi was also in the 2003 version show of TMNT.

[@allstarsteinman1]

One of the greatest of all time imo.

[@gamerhalim4717]

I love Usagi Yojimbo during my elementary school, first read at Kinokuniya store Jakarta. I keep reading until afternoon. Oh.. memories. And there was very sad story in this comic during his journey issue no 8.

[@cyric2010]

I had the TMNT Usagi Yojimbo action figure when I was a kid. It was super cool and I had no idea that rabbit was from a separate universe.

[@TylerSkylionChilders]

I've been with it since 1986

[@schedelworld]

I was one of those who first came across Usagi in TMNT as a tiny kid, then found his comics and a couple figures at my LCS a few years later and was over the moon. Still love him now!! I used to rent as many as I could find from the library, and now I'm getting those big ol' collected tpbs :)

[@Nastyn1nja808]

Holy smokes I love Grasscutter saga

[@randomcoyotestudios986]

Wow, this was great! I was friends with Dwight Dutton, one of the behind-the-scenes people that helped SA Gallacci with Albedo Anthropomorphics, way way back in the day. I remember seeing the cover with Usagi Yojimbo before it was released to the general public, and a bunch of us gathered around looking at it saying, :this guy is going places". Little did we know that was both literal and figurative.

[@sneezingrobo]

unironically one of the greatest comic book series of all time

[@DippedInInk]

I created an Old Man Usagi piece years ago. It’ll be dope to see him age.

[@RyderLComics]

I remember having doubts about checking out the series, but then I met Stan at SDCC and gave it a chance, and have been hooked since. It's an awesome comic for sure!

[@anamount701]

I was asked what my favorite comic book was a number of years ago. I thought about it for moment and said it was Usagi Yojimbo. Those who asked were confused. They were thinking one of the big two. I had to explain who the character was and why I liked the character. I showed how much I loved the character. I met Stan Sakai at San Diego Comic Con in 1989.

[@bryanstickell429]

I always loved Usagi. I grew up with TMNT and his toy. I saw a fresh copy of one of the mirage comics at a comic store. Been an even bigger fan ever since. Yes! I knew you'd cover Grasscutter! I highly recommend it to anyone interested. Phenomenal history lesson with visuals that will awe you. Thanks as always, Chris!

[@thescamrocks]

Great spotlight on one of the all time greatest creator-owned comics. Sakai belongs on the Rushmore of comic makers.

[@danielross5292]

Awwww My Number One Favourite Comic series since I first discovered that character Back in the late 1980s!😉☮️

[@BigApeBooks]

I've been reading Usagi ofg and on since the late 80s, early 90s. It's a great comic that has long since earned its longevity.

[@bercl]

This was the first comic series i collected when i was around 10-11. I used to attend comic festivals with my dad, where i would get the latest issue. Hes not with us anymore, but that connection will always keep Usagi in a special place for me

[@kapsel-yg2sk]

Usagi actually pulled me into various samurai stories. I started collecting Samurai Executioner and Sword of the Immortal (waiting for Vagabond and Lone Wolf & Cub reeditions in poland), and also watching Kobayashi and Kurosawa films

[@gamerbear84]

This is EASILY one of my all time favorite comics, up there with ElfQuest as a staple of my elementary school and junior high times. The Grasscutter saga is really good stuff and might be the way to really get my bro into the comic too, but featuring the death of Jei makes me hesitant. It works a lot better with the threat better established for the reader as this presence that haunts Usagi and seemingly can't be stopped.

[@normanlennox4949]

My two favourite comics, in order, are Usagi Yojimbo and Groo the Wanderer. Great video.

[@ajclements4627]

There’s an Usagi related animated series on Netflix about one of his descendants, it’s called Samurai Rabbit.

[@blackphoenix77]

I first encountered Usagi Yojimbo on the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Apparently Stan Sakai is friends with the Turtles' creators (Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird), and because of that, Usagi Yojimbo has appeared in every TMNT cartoon (I'm not sure if he was in Rise of the TMNT because I didn't watch it).

[@kbar4462]

Awesome video, Usagi is one of, if not, the best structured comics ever. Ever panel delivers information, whether direct or indirect and progresses the story. Imo, it's an understatement how much of a well done comic Usagi is.

[@MariaVosa]

Agree - they should be using Sakai's work to teach aspiring comics creators.

[@mitchschroeder1151]

Great video. I was hoping IDW would release Usagi Yojimbo in beautiful hardcover IDW Collection books, but I guess that won’t happen now.

[@demianhutsell5470]

Thank you, chris, you are most certainly appreciated!

[@Gamer12051]

Thanks Chris. Great episode on a series near and dear to me. Here's an interesting fact about the clothing worn by the characters. They all wear the symbol of their respective clans and the rendering Stan Sakai gives the actual robes, is also related to their respective clans. It's a lot of fun finding and trying to remember characters' affiliation based on the symbols and the clothes they're wearing.

[@inkthinker]

It's a fantastic series, and Stan's still rocking it on the regular with new tales.

[@marciamuehlbach1777]

Great video. I love the Usagi Yojimbo comic. I found some of the comics back in the "Black and White Explosion" days. After finding and enjoying the TMNT, I searched out all sorts of comics that featured anthropomorphic characters. I did end up liking some, but Usagi was the cream of the crop. And still remains one the best written comic I've ever seen.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

Have you seen that Netflix show based on Usagi Yojimbo, centered around one of Usagi's descendants? If so, what did you think of it? I never checked it out because it...um...didn't look like it was at the same level of quality as the UY comics. Sakai also used to letter the Sunday Spider-Man newspaper comic strip. I once ordered one of Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo sketchbooks, and he used a discarded Spider-Man script as packing material. 1:44 You got the title of "Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy" wrong. Not sure what happened there. 4:10 In addition to to the inspiration you mentioned, Sakai also named the character after a brand of rice candy called Tomoe Ame. 11:00 IIRC, in one of the letter columns, Sakai said he regretted showing Hikiji as a human in that panel and if he had it to do over again wouldn't have shown his face. In all future appearances, Hikiji's face is always completely covered by a mask. Early on, Sakai had planned for a back story for Usagi Yojimbo and Nilson Groundthumper that would explain how the anthropomorphic animals came to be and how they interacted with humans took over, but that aspect never actually made it into the comics, aside from that one Hikiji face reveal.

[@jarosbodytko6462]

Fantastic comic. I started reading it after the episodes with him of the 2012 Ninja Turtles cartoon, even if I already knew the character since the very first show. And it never disappoints. The stories are great, the art is crisp and clear and after reading a story, or an issue, you feel like you’ve learned something new.

[@lukewarwick9350]

I remember Susano, the 8 headed beast and the grass cutter sword featuring in the video game Okami.

[@georgelelandturner]

I adore Usagi Yojimbo and I've been reading over 20 years, since my preteens. Usagi has been an important figure in my life and he taught me what is means to be an honorable and principled person. Thank you Stan Sakai!

[@AaronAbernethy]

My all-time favourite comics series. It’s… perfect.

[@chriscooper654]

Thanks for this tribute to Usagi and his creator. I've been following the character since his beginnings in Albedo and had the pleasure of making my nephew a fan as well.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

A great look into Miyamoto Usagi! I always love seeing coverage on my favorite Samurai that occasionally teams up with those ninjas on a half shell! The real treat is the historical stories and mythology used in Usagi is excellent and I greatly appreciate the amount of Japanese research Stan Sakai has done to make every chapter memorable!

[@mrmanju6989]

It's western comci that FEELS like manga. There is care to world building and characters that is very Japanese

[@RothAnim]

Usagi Yojimbo was the first comic book I ever collected. I never liked the mainstream technique of endless continuing adventures with sprawling crossovers encouraging ever more purchases. The ability to buy the Fantagraphic graphic novels, then get in on the ground floor with the Mirage issues sated the completionist in me, and opened me to the broader world of creator-driven comics like Jeff Smith's Bone. (It also was my gateway into the furry fandom and a career in animation!)

[@nicsunderlandbaker]

What an attractive drawing style that' both loose and neat at the same time. Maybe like a samurai - art and purpose combine!

[@robertnorton8519]

I can still remember getting number 1 when it game out

[@robertnorton8519]

I can't reply any other way

[@dornravlin]

I loved this series used to read them to my dad

[@LARKXHIN]

I've heard about this but never really knew about it. This sounds amazing.

[@dhericean5260]

I seem to remember that as a third generation Japanese American Stan Sakai did not have a close affinity for his Japanese roots, and he viewed Usagi Yojimbo as a vehicle for him to explore and understand Japanese culture and his association with it.

[@adamlobbins2657]

Need that top 10 horror comics for October.

[@unstoppableExodia]

A lot of the mythology in Usagi Yojimbo will be familiar to Naruto readers. Kusanagi, susano’o, kami, multi headed snake Orochi Izanami and izanagi are familiar terms

[@akaBoG]

Just recently learned a volunteer at my office is a longtime Usagi collector. I snagged a foil SDCC Momoko variant of Usagi in Space from his web site just recently.

[@unstoppableExodia]

@@akaBoG very nice

[@caje41]

I've always heard good things about this series but this video actually makes me want to check it out. If I ever see an issue out in the wild, I'm picking it up. Thanks Chris!

[@Dougeb7]

I've never heard of this comic, but I've read some non-fiction about the history of Japan and it's fascinating. I love the concept of a comic based on that history. Thanks, Chris!

[@jarosbodytko6462]

You’ll love it! It shows a lot of accurate history of Japan, its mythology, the very mundane and the political, … it really covers all bases in a fun and exciting series.

[@ivane5110]

I saw the character in the original TMNT comic series and he landed on my radar after seeing his TV cartoon guest-appearance, but I had no idea about his own series' backstory. The writer/artist does a great job of not only giving the character a depth that in other hands could've be very shallow and one-note, but also gives the Japanese culture and Edo era the care and respect it deserves. Thanks for likewise giving the characfer and its creator that respect. On a connected note, if the character has made any other crossover appearances it'd be cool to hear your view of them.

[@zachokkema3976]

I’ve always been interested in these comics but found the fact it was with different publishers and running so long was intimidating. It’s encouraging to know I can jump on any time. Great video as usual Chris!

[@Sykdude]

I have the first two omnibuses and I love them. Such a great series.

[@radiak55]

I feel kinda guilty for passing on Usagi because I thought it was just run of the mill samurai tales with animals. I will check this out sounds very promising

[@stevenmattrell3448]

The 2003 Ninja Turtles Cartoon was my introduction to the character. I remember liking him as he often was showed him getting along with and being somewhat similar to Leonardo, my favourite Turtle.

[@diegoinjapan]

Thanks for the vid. I’ve picked up a few collections and am glad I can read them from any starting point. Cheers.

[@straydog611]

Love ComicTropes! I asked you about Stan Sakai a few months ago on your live show, so glad to see a Usagi episode! To anyone else, Usagi is so good: I recommend The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy, Grass Cutter, Daisho, and Space Usagi is amazing! Stan sakai is such a comic creator inspiration. He has responded to fan mail on more than one occasion and even Stan Lee said Sakai’s work ethic is second to none. Thanks Chris for two fantastic episodes in a row; appreciate your insight on creation endeavors and your positive review on Usagi, one of my favorites! Keep reading Usagi and Keep reading Comics!!!

[@traesmith9822]

GREAT EPISODE I WILL GO READ SOME

[@BeingKansai]

Absolutely love Usagi Yojimbo!!

[@mediaondisplay3089]

Hey Chris! Just wanted to let you know I got a reply to a comment from you on one of your videos that said "you won the drawing for a ps5" I responded "really?! wait is this a scam?!" But got no reply. I later herd this scam is hitting a lot of YT comment sections. anyway great video as always! I've always seen this rabbit everywhere but had no idea what it was about. So thanks for making me that much smarter.

[@ajclements4627]

There are a ton of bots that try to look like the creator of the channel you’re watching, it’s becoming a problem.

[@Kenjav]

I guess you can learn something new every day, because I had always thought this character had originated in the tmnt comics. I always enjoy this spotlights on indie comics.

[@Doctor-Shoebill]

Another excellent episode, Chris! Still the best comic channel around!

[@astlemonteiro4038]

Good to know I'm not the only one who loves this series!

[@atquinn1975]

I've known about UY and Stan Sakai forever, but only read maybe one or two issues back in the days where I was going to the local comic book shop every week. I'll have to check out the arc you reviewed here.

[@MariaVosa]

O man, this comic is great! I haven't kept up with it so I'm very happy to hear it is still going strong. Very impressed. The comic style was easy and inviting enough for young readers as myself to give it a try, only to realise the story telling and characters are deep and complex and well researched. It is definitely a comic for all ages of readers.

[@marnik261196]

I absolutely adore Usagi Yojimbo, it's just brilliant. You're great by the way! Love from Italy 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹❤️!!!

[@solomonverrico]

It's worth mentioning that Mifune played Musashi himself in a trilogy of films based on the same novel that Vagabond is based on (and that I was nearly through with before I had to throw everything in storage and move to PA), Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa, which is mostly a fictionalized biography. While we don't know most of the details of his real life, there are parts of the book, such as his relationship with his parents, that are contradicted by what we do know. But it is a thrilling story in whatever form it takes.

[@unsynchronized1]

Oh man, thanks for this. A buddy has wanted me to read this for a while now and for some reason I needed a KZbin video to tell me to pull that trigger.

[@kemmdog4444]

I’m absolutely loving the most current series.

[@ram-4]

Anyone else play Samurai Warrior (1988) on the C64 back then? To my knowledge, it is the only Usagi video game - which is a shame. I still remember the fantastic soundtrack and how you could walk into a tavern and see Usagi munch a bowl of rice. It was kind of hard though, never got that far.