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Usagi Yojimbo #112: "Whip" Part 2 of 2 - May 28, 2008 Usagi Yojimbo #113: "Snitch" - July 23, 2008 Usagi Yojimbo #114 - August 27, 2008 Usagi Yojimbo #115" "The Fortress" - September 24, 2008 Usagi Yojimbo Book 22: Tomoe's Story - July 22, 2008 What's in store for Usagi's future? Usagi Yojimbo #111 - April 23, 2008 - “Whip” Part 1 of 2: Usagi and Gen meet up with a woman gambler nicknamed The Whip, who travels the land on a mission. She meets a young girl at a gambling den whose destitute father was forced to sell into slavery. After she is unable to buy the girl from her owner, The Whip “rescues” her and leaves her with our heroes. Usagi and Gen awake to find themselves surrounded by irate gamblers intent on blood. [More...]
Cover and for UY 111 and Preview page
Usagi Yojimbo #112 - May 28, 2008 - “Whip” Part 2 of 2: The female gambler known as The Whip has kidnapped a child from the local gang leader and given her to Usagi and Gen for safe keeping. The gang surrounds the inn where are heroes are staying, but Usagi and Gen manage to decoy them, allowing The Whip and child to escape. However, escape is the last thing on her mind. [More...]
Front Cover and Back Cover for UY 112
Usagi Yojimbo #113 - July 23, 2008 - "Snitch" After missing out on the reward for Inazuma, Gen coerces the reluctant Usagi to join him in pursuit of another outlaw. Little do they know that Stray Dog is after the same bounty, and this time he's determined to get it. One person knows where the outlaw is hiding, and he's willing to tell--for a price. He plays both sides, with Usagi caught in the middle!
Cover and Preview Art for UY 113
Usagi Yojimbo #114 - August 27, 2008 - People tend to ignore the homeless and destitute, but no matter what town he goes to Usagi discovers the same beggar is there as well. Why is this mendicant following him? More importantly, why is the Neko Ninja clan after this beggar? There is more to him than appears, but Usagi could never imagine this mystery would lead all the way up to the Shogun.
Rough and Final Covers for UY 114
Usagi Yojimbo #115 - September 24, 2008 - "The Fortress"... Lord Tadakazu had died without leaving an heir, so it was up to the Shogun to divide his holdings. A fortress went to Lord Otomo, a rival of Tadakazu, on provision that he take personal possession of the structure. Usagi learns of a plot by Neko Ninja to assassinate Otomo as he travels to the distant fortress. But, even if they live through the deadly gauntlet, they could not anticipate what lies within the enemy's fort.
 
Cover for UY 115
Usagi Yojimbo Book 22: Tomoe's Story - July 22, 2008 - The next collected UY volume features the Usagi/Tomoe Ame stories post-Mother of Mountains in DH issues 90-93. 93 is the Chanoyu (tea ceremony) story in which Usagi leaves the Geishu Province. Savvy UY readers will catch the between-the-pages Usagi/Tomoe Ame romance which carries on throughout the DH issues, leading up to the classic moment in UY 93. This one also reprints the first 3 UY Color Specials in glorious black-and-white art, re-worked by Stan just for this volume [Stan will typically go in and retouch art that was previously featured in full color when reprinting in black-and-white]. "Tomoe's Story", which originally appeared in UY Color Special #1, had to be completely re-drawn because the original artwork could not be found. Stan says: "I finished redrawing Tomoe's Story for UY Book 22... I did at least some altering on every panel--some very subtle like page 1, others very obvious like page 9...I really enjoyed redrawing it. I got to really see how my work has changed over the years--even my lettering. Even the characters have changed quite a bit in 20 years." The book is slated to be out in time for San Diego Con 2008, with a July 22 publication date. Pre-order it today! [More...]
Cover Painting and Tip-In Art for UY Book 22
 Side-by-side comparison of redrawn "Tomoe's Story" Pages 1 and 9
What's in store for Usagi's future? Usagi Yojimbo:"Tengu Wars" - A future story arc, which may see print sometime in 2008. Features answers to some of the questions raised in UY #65's "Usagi and the Tengu" story. May also feature Katsuichi! Some interesting questions which may be answered include: Who cut off the Tengu's hand? Was it Katsuichi? Did Katsu challenge the Tengu long ago and win, hence forcing the Tengu to reveal his secrets on sword fighting, making Katsuichi the expert swordsman with the "unorthodox style" that everyone comments on? Katsu even lives like a mountain goblin in a way. Could it be that he has adopted their lifestyle? All this and more will be revealed in this future story arc!!! Interesting factoid: Japan's greatest hero, Yoshitsune, learned the art of swordsmanship from a tengu. Lady Tomoe's Wedding - Stan Sakai says he merely "planted a seed" when we found out that Lord Ito of the Kojima had a plan to arrange a marriage between himself and the lovely Lady Tomoe Ame. What does the future hold? No one can be sure at this point, but one thing's for certain, we haven't heard the last about this shake up in the pages of UY! War of the Worlds - Yes you read right! Stan is planning a UY mini-series inspired by H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. This story is about a small expeditionary party of three ships that the Martians sent to earth in 1628--more than two centuries before their big invasion. Usagi has joined the Geishu clan by this time, and Lord Noriyuki has grown into a fine, capable lord. Lord Hikiji has made his move to overthrow the shogunate, and the county is driven into another civil war. It is during the great battle between the Geishu samurai and Hikiji's forces that the first of the Martian ships crashes into the middle of the field. Stan has some nice images in mind--a huge tripod behind a Japanese castle, Edo being razed, armored samurai attacking a martian ship, and the Neko Ninja (again led by Chizu) infiltrating a tripod. To readers who can't grasp such a wild twist in the pages of UY, Stan says he taken all doubts and concerns into consideration, and the story will fit into Usagi continuity and Japanese history. Usagi Meets Wei Fong Hung - Stan says he has a story where Usagi meets a Chinese doctor/martial artist (ala Wei Fong Hung) though. That story has not been scheduled yet...stay tuned for more info! Stan Sakai: "[Usagi] will meet a Chinese doctor, modeled very, very loosely on Wong Fei Hung. Yeah, I know. They lived in different time periods, but this is a fantasy." The Return of Inspector Ishida - UYD Member "Maka" gave Stan a great idea for an Inspector Ishida Mystery, a Hana-fuda crime for Inspector Ishida to solve. "The murderer leaves hanafuda cards in his victims clothes as a clue to why the crime was committed." Stan thought it was a great idea and, with Maka's permission, will be using the story ina future issue of UY! Usagi Meets Catnippon - What's going on with the much-anticipated crossover between Usagi and Sergio Aragones's Samurai Feline? Stan Sakai: "We [Sergio and Stan] haven't discussed this for such a long time. We wrote up a 6 issue synopsis, but haven't done anything with it. We just don't have the time." So who knows if it will be published...chances are it will, but the question is...WHEN??? Usagi meets Nilson and Hermy - Stan plotted out a meeting between three of his most famous characters...Usagi, Nilson Groundthumper, and Hermy. Fans have been patiently awaiting years for this meeting, even longer than Usagi/Catnippon. Stan even figured out a way around the language barrier (Nilson and Hermy being from Europe) -- and the key is Hermy himself. Stan Sakai: "Nilson and Hermy haven't appeared in years, though I still want to do a crossover story with Usagi." The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy - Stan has mentioned that he does plan on doing a few more Nilson stories...stay tuned! Space Usagi - Stan has stated that he does plan on doing a fourth and final Space Usagi mini-series, quite possibly to wrap up the saga |
Coming Up in Usagi Yojimbo
