Fantagraphics Books Usagi Yojimbo #4 Samurai! Part 7 & 8 November 1987 (Click on the thumbnails to view full size cover art) Go to The Usagi Yojimbo Dojo Return to Usagi Letters Main Page Read the Story Synopsis

LETTERS [So, I hear you cry, what happened to Scott Shaw! and Mark Evanier's "Digger Duckbill," which we promised for this issue of Usagi Yojimbo? Well, Scott and Mark are among the hardest-working men in comics, and the marching marsupial had to take a back seat to a couple of other projects these gentlemen were involved in. Fortunately, Gary Kato turned in his story (intended for Usagi #5-6) a full month early, so we were able to pull a quick switcheroo and get this issue out on schedule anyway. "Digger Duckbill" will now appear, come hell, high water, or even Groo, in #6, on sale this November. [Now, on with the letters. No, wait, let's first show what the cover to #6 looks like so it'll be easier to find. [Okay? On with the letters. – ED.]

Mister Sakai,

I'm pleased to say I think Usagi is the best animal character on the market. For being a rabbit he's pretty unique. That's probably because you're the nicest creator/artist I've ever met.

I met you in April at American Comics in Long Beach and was surprised to see how nice you were. You inspired me to try my hand at a picture of Usagi. The picture was finished quite some time ago but I'm not much of a letter writer. Better late than never.

Your #1 Fan,
David Spray
Westminster, CA

[I was going to answer that there's no real correlation between how nice an artist is and how good his work is. But on second thought, many of the best cartoonists I know are among the nicest, most patient, most generous people. (anyone who's ever spoken with, say, Jack Kirby or Alan Moore will know what I'm talking about.) Of course, there are always the exceptions that prove the rule, but if you think I'm going to mention any of them here, you're crazy! – ED.]

Dear Mr. Thompson,

I'm very glad to hear that Usagi is getting his own title. I hope if sales warrant (and I'm sure they will) the book will go color.

I have a few suggestions for a lettercol title:

(1) The Rabbit's Ears;

(2) From the Rabbit's Hole;

(3) Multiplying Mail (I know it's strange, but what can you do?);

(4) Miyamoto Mail;

(5) Mail Yojimbo (Get it? Mail bodyguard? Oh well…)

Yours truly,
Alex LaVerde
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

[Actually, we here at Fantagraphics Books have an odd and irrational hatred for "cute" lettercol names. Which is fortunate, because otherwise I would have named this particular one "Rabbit Tracks." Ouch.

[As for Usagi going color, Stan prefers the look of black-and-white. Maybe some day we'll bow to the inevitable and put out a color album of Usagi, or a one-shot or something, but for now Usagi Yojimbo, like Love and Rockets, is black-and-white by choice, and proud of it. – ED.]

Dear Fantagraphics Books,

In Boris the Bear #1 Boris killed Usagi, so in Usagi's first issue why don't you have Usagi kill Boris? By the way, can we suggest new characters for Usagi stories?

Scott Cameron
Coral Springs, FL

[No, no, Scott, violence never did solve anything. Well, maybe once in a while. Killing Boris would really be extending the joke a bit too far (as Blackthorne did in the issue of Laffin' Gas where they lampooned Boris).

[Feel free to suggest ideas to Stan, but bear in mind two things. (1) Stan has lots of ideas of his own that he'll probably prefer, and (2) You shouldn't give away your ideas like that. If you decide someday to become a big and famous cartoonist like Stan, you'll need all the ideas you can save up from now on! – ED.]