Not So Recent Reads: USAGI YOJIMBO (Fantagraphics)

Gem does a not so Recent reads on the USAGI YOJIMBO boxset from fantagraphics.

[@miguelangelthomas5154]

Usagi Yojimbo is one of the best comicbook series I have ever read. I prefer to read manga but over the years I've also enjoyed a lot of western comics. Usagi Yojimbo finds the perfect balance between the two. The style is minimalistic but Stan Sakai has an incredible eye for detail. It's unsupposing. If you've never read it before you would just think it is a children's story about a japanese bunny but once you start reading it becomes so much more. The composition is so fun to look at. Because of it's simplistic artstyle you never get flustered while reading making it easy to read a lot. The worldbuilding is also stand-out. Stan Sakai knows a lot about japanese culture and history and Usagi Yojimbo is his way of sharing Japan with readers. He shares lesson after lesson with readers while never coming off as dull or overbearing and each lesson has narrative importance. Which leads me into what makes Usagi Yojimbo truly magnificent, the storytelling. This is some of the best storytelling I have ever read in any medium ever. There's a story called Jizo which blew my mind. It has like 3 speeach bubbles and probably less than 20 panels. Every panel is looking at the same place in the same angle over the period of 2 days. I kid you not when I tell that I had to put my book down and just ponder the greatness of what I had just read. It's a criminally under-appreciated series and I can't wait to share it with my children. I can't think of any better introduction to comics.

[@Benm701]

This would be an amazing animated film. Imagine this material getting the "Into The Spiderverse" treatment.

[@jaypond4368]

It would be better imo as an animated series because there are just so many good stories in it that cant all fit in 1 movie

[@p0cr0c71]

Well Netflix are turning it into an animated series set 100s of years after about his descendant its gonna be call samurai rabbit

[@pomaimoikeha829]

@@p0cr0c71 im interested but wary

[@schwinnbike18]

I am a recent fan of Usagi Yojimbo. Some of the greatest comic book stories ever told!

[@MrMulligan84]

I knew about Usagi from TMNT but slept on the hardcovers and now they are gone. Truth be told I didn't even know about the comics until I got to really reading em early in 2018 Love the Reading Rainbow cutaway....but you don't have to take my word for it.

[@wesleymercer2184]

Just found this channel and I think it's great. You have a really laid back and kind of simple way of making your videos and that's what I like the best about this. I'm a fan.

[@kytim89]

Usagi Yojimbo is one of my favorite series. Sakai's attention to detail is unrivaled. Thank you for making the video. Could you do the TMNT/Batman crossover? Maybe have some Batman books on one side and TMNT books on the other side of the table. Could you also do more Wolverine books and a Deadpool omnibus revisit?

[@glensiu2315]

Thank you for the Introduction of Usagi Yojimbo, I going down to comic store tomorrow.

[@pomaimoikeha829]

Usagi comics dont get enough love!!!!

[@tommullings9912]

Bruh so much respect for the reading rainbow reference! Not sure if there's a hardcover version but if u have any interest in manga/samurai stuff check out lone wolf and cub. Legendary stuff. Gurantee u wont be disappointed.

[@pomaimoikeha829]

Damn Lone Wolf and Cub is legendary

[@Martin_TheCollector]

Whoa, Awesome!!! Definitely need to get these books, I only got the collected crossover with TMNT trade.

[@andrewjohnson8975]

Been having some lady trouble but this gets my spirits up thanks Gem for being the absolute GOAT next round is for you man!

[@GemMintCollectibles]

thanks Blade. I hope everything works out

[@ShaneMatlock]

I've only started recently reading Usagi Yojimbo with the Dark Horse Saga collections and still need to read the Fantagraphics collection which has the original run of comics. But what I've read so far is just amazingly good.

[@blameitontralaine1786]

Great series! Top 3 of all time for me! Glad u we're able to introduce usagi to your fans. Maybe he'll get popular enough to get an animated series 🙏

[@Martin_e.g.]

Funny thing is that Sakai kept in his anthropomorphic world horses as horses in our world and he uses small lizards as a replacement for animals. Also I consider his lettering skills to be superb. His lettering really fits into the storytelling. I wouldn't get hyped about other books getting so much better. They get better slightly. What is most important is the fact that Sakai keeps making good books so you need to read more and more. Once you get into the rabbit hole it's difficult to get out. In this sense its similar to walking dead series. Btw pardon the pun.

[@atheistsince1210]

Well as a Gemenite I watched, learned , and just bought the last (reasonable) two volume hardcover set. I was on the fence of this one- or the Infinity Gaunlet boxed set?; so I chose this one and will purchase the Starlin Dreadstar boxed set as well.

[@gabrielgol3100HALO]

Could you bring more USAGI YOJIMBO to the channel ?

[@GemMintCollectibles]

yea i plan to start the dark horse run soon...maybe after BPRD Hell on Earth

[@hasanwallah7015]

Just saw this comic on comic tropes I thought of you immediately (yo jimbo) and next I know this video popped up ...what are the odds..by the way I dig the Ali reference on your shirt Rumble young man Rumble asaaaahhhh!

[@GemMintCollectibles]

The YT algorithm at work

[@tylerdurden5547]

i have the 38 books in his 1st series. i had to hunt them all down and some are not cheap.... but it was totally worth it!!!!!! i have 2 of the one with leonardo on it you pointed out. one is first print and one is a second print.

[@mannyr1823]

Great video bro luv Usagi yoJimbo...💯💯💯

[@hansro1122]

Are there any color comics I have one comic of usagi but it's in black-and-white.

[@mamabear2382]

I think Stan Saki is saying d they same way as oroku saki from tmnt

[@jrox1904]

Usagi yojimbo saga vol. 2 from dark horse is my favorite that has some of the best storys & made me want to check out some samurai movies

[@ShaneMatlock]

I would say Dark Horse really needs to get Saga Vol 2 back in print because I bought it used at a mark up, but I think they recently lost the license. I really need to get all the Saga books before they sell out. I have the first four and only the second volume was out of print. So far.

[@jrox1904]

Its a really good one , you could still find it around $20 on amazon or ebay once in a while

[@icomicus6344]

This is one if not my favorite comic series of all time, have you read the dark horse editions?

[@tortugasninja2K3]

Thanks for this review!

[@TheDevildog2000usmc]

One awesome Rabbit. Sakai is a master creator

[@hanumanmonkeyking2022]

Thanks for the review.

[@sextonj87]

Beautiful books.

[@kerrodlomath9905]

I recently read the box set but I had to settle for the paperback edition it is still a well crafted book read them both back to back loved it immensely hunted the hardcover dark horse for so long and decided to get the paperbacks after vol 8 got announced but vol 2 is now out of print 😞 so I can't start the saga, I could only imagine it it getting better Stan Sakai is such a great writer Great review as always

[@GemMintCollectibles]

i would have settled for the soft covers too if i didnt find this one. looks like a cool set

[@DiscoveryBayComics]

Are you guys going “Live” tonight ?

[@GemMintCollectibles]

DiscoveryBayComics I don’t think so

[@kev9599]

I can’t find this for under $300 man 😕

[@mazecoaster]

Wait for the IDW color collection of all the books he has written

[@michaelscheuhuber4019]

If IDW is still around to finish... or even start this.

[@mazecoaster]

They are starting this in June of this year

[@warrenwise8798]

At this rate, they’ll finish in the year 2100... I’d recommend getting the books and reading them now rather than never reading them

[@LFPXX]

I have to read this. Btw I need to see the Joker trailer reaction from you guys!

[@GemMintCollectibles]

yea we slacked on that

[@maxkernfeld7928]

Off Topic but what do you think about a custom Spider-Carnage Statue ?

[@GemMintCollectibles]

Max Kernfeld there are 2 in the works that I know of

[@maxkernfeld7928]

Gem Mint Collectibles Pretty nice! Always loved the design of Spider-Carnage

[@jacobtizano3855]

This series never really interested me so I probably won't be picking this up.... But still cool to get a look at the content, thanks!

[@juanclaros2416]

How much did you buy this for? And where?

[@CVNTGETENOUGH]

What issues does this set collect? Is his first appearance in this set?

[@GemMintCollectibles]

i need to double check...i think so. i know its before the Dark Horse run.

[@acebobbomb]

G’day Gembo, I think you’ll like the Black Lagoon manga series, mate! If you haven’t checked it out, you should check it, mate!

[@pomaimoikeha829]

But dont take my word for it!

[@jcaceres516]

How do i get started? Preferably in HC

[@GemMintCollectibles]

this would be where to start

[@slymongoose420]

Haha I see you. My bad.

[@RedRightStrawHat]

I'm getting BONE vibes from looking at this. I love bone so I'll probably check this out

[@kerrodlomath9905]

Would you recommend bone in colour or original black and white I'm a bit on the fence on what version to read I do enjoy black and white it's so crisp but colour can ad another dimension to it

[@Hchris101]

Very scary anime

[@psychicator8954]

Actually it's not manga

[@daytona2924]

Try playing fire shark for Sega Genesis on highest difficulty. Impossible to even get through 30 secs

[@cassaesen3234]

Haha Lone goat and kid