Dark Horse Comics has announced the Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader — a new collection celebrating 40 years of Stan Sakai‘s iconic rabbit samurai.
Per Dark Horse, the Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader hits bookstores on Tuesday, June 18. It then arrives in comic shops on Wednesday, June 19. The book collects eight fan-favorite Usagi Yojimbo stories, hand-selected by Sakai himself. One such story is “Chanoyu,” which will be presented in color for the very fist time. Additional picks include “A Mother’s Love,” “Blade of the Gods,” “The Way of the Samurai,” “Cut the Plum,” “The Artist,” “Buntori,” and “Adachi.”
Check out Stan Sakai cover art for the Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader below:
“Stan Sakai is not just a master storyteller, but a member of the Dark Horse family,” Dark Horse president Mike Richardson said. “We are so glad to celebrate Stan and 40 years of his beloved creation, Usagi Yojimbo, here at Dark Horse. I’m thrilled to offer longtime fans and new readers a fresh look at some of our favorite stories over the years, now in one new collection.”
The origins and history of Usagi Yojimbo
Created by Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo first appeared in Thoughts & Images’ Albedo Anthropomorphics anthology in 1984. He later appeared in Fantagraphics’ Critters anthology. Fantagraphics also published the character’s first solo series, which launched in 1987. Subsequent Usagi Yojimbo series landed at Mirage Comics, the original home of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles); Dark Horse; and IDW Publishing, the TMNT franchise’s current comic-book home.
On that note, Usagi Yojimbo is well known for his association with the Heroes in a Half Shell. Over the years, Sakai’s rabbit ronin has appeared in various TMNT comic books and animated series. He also recently appeared as a playable character in the video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge as part of the Dimension Shellshock DLC.
The Usagi Yojimbo 40th Anniversary Reader goes on sale in June 2024 from Dark Horse Comics.
