However, it occurs to me that I’ve actually had a lot to do with Usagi Yojimbo over the years. In fact, I may be the single person most responsible for convincing Stan to pursue what would become a stellar career in comic books - at least, instead of him becoming yet another overlooked talent working on animated cartoons.

I first met Stan in 1979, when he was one of an entourage of Hawaiian cartoonists visiting the San Diego Comic-Con (now known as Comic-Con International) led by Oahu’s much-loved cartoon sensei, Dave Thorne. The following year, Dave’s group (including young Stan) returned to the convention, as well as taking a side trip to Los Angeles. There, they dropped by Hanna-Barbera Productions, where I was working in the layout department on new Flintstones TV cartoons. I was delighted to give my new friends an insider’s tour of the studio, where my co-workers greeted the newcomers with the same sort of poo-flinging (thankfully, not literally) that’s usually unleashed upon unsuspecting visitors to a zoo’s monkey house! Years later, Stan confided in me that the sight of dozens of animators laboring in identical cubicles is what convinced him that the one career he definitely didn’t want to pursue was making animated cartoons!

And - other than co-creating a backup story (“Digger Duckbill” in Fantagraphics’ Usagi Yojimbo #13, with Mark Evanier) back when Stan often spotlighted work by his cartoonist friends - I’m proud to claim I’ve had yet another effect on everyone’s favorite rabbit ronin.

For decades, in addition to my own cartooning career in comic books, animation, and advertising, I’ve collected and studied what I refer to as “Oddball Comics.” These include mainstream comic books of all genres that, due to various nutty aspects, make one wonder how they ever got published in the first place! (If you’re curious about these, please visit my week-daily Internet column, “Oddball Comics,” featuring the world’s craziest comic books at www.comicbookresources/columns/oddball/.) One of the most popular - and certainly most ridiculous - categories of Oddball Comics that I’ve identified are funnybooks bearing what I call “fish-in-the-face” covers. These four-color oddities feature cover scenes of people (usually bad guys) getting hit smack-dab in the face with a fish! Apparently, Stan’s a big fin, er, fan of these fish-in-the-face covers, too, as his cover of Usagi Yojimbo #49 - reprinted withing this volume - attests. And if you think that’s a fluke (ow!), check out my guest appearance on pages 13 through 16 of “Three Seasons.” (Stan’s portrayed me as that thug with the crewcut and the aloha-print kimono!)

Finally, here’re some observations about Stan himself. When I first met him, his work certainly showed great promise. But I can think of no one in comics who has worked harder than Stan to bring his level of writing, drawing, and sheer storytelling to the heights of excellence he delivers with each new issue of Usagi Yojimbo. I’m equally impressed with Stan’s ability to produce consistently outstanding work with the flawless self-discipline of a samurai. At our traditional Friday afternoon cartoonist lunches, many of our gang relate sob stories about creative blocks, clueless bosses, layoffs, or missed deadlines. Meanwhile, with a little smile on his face, Stan calmly hands out copies of the latest Usagi! Amazingly, Stan is also able to maintain a full life away from the drawing board as a wonderful husband and father. Everyone who knows Stan seems to respect and admire him; he’s certainly the most “balanced” person I’ve ever met. (As for his rotten side, well, you’ll have to wait for the Fed Ex man’s introduction to the next Usagi Yojimbo collection to spill the beans about that!)

We’re all lucky to have Stan’s Usagi Yojimbo to enjoy on a regular basis, but I’m especially lucky to have Stan as one of my best friends. And that’s better than getting a fish-in-the-face any day!

SCOTT SHAW!
SEPTEMBER 27, 2002