Stan Sakai’s masterwork has had many incarnations, but none so stunning and absolute as this, the Usagi Yojimbo Gallery Edition. This second volume includes eight complete, breathtaking stories, scanned from the original artboards and reproduced at actual size and in full colour—making it the ultimate collector’s edition! Collects original art reproductions of Usagi Yojimbo issues #65, #74–#75, #93, #103–#104, #116, #123, and #141, and “The Artist” from Dark Horse Presents Volume 2 #35–#36.
* Stan Sakai’s original art, reproduced at original size and in full colour!
* Includes the Eisner-nominated stories “Usagi and the Tengu” and “The Death of Lord Hikiji”!
- Dark Horse, November 09, 2016
- ISBN: 978-1-61655-924-3
- 12″ x 17″, 240 pages
- $125 USD
- Order Online: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, eBay, AbeBooks
As with all AE format material (Artist’s Editions, Artifact Editions, Gallery Editions, Art Editions, Studio Editions, etc.), this is a collection of classic comic material and I’ll be reviewing the book and not the story. For a complete list of all current and announced editions, with review links, please visit our Index. Also, see What is an Artist’s Edition and our Artist Index. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
A second Gallery Edition of Stan Sakai’s beloved creation Usagi Yojimbo. This time around the stories come from his Dark Horse run, plus the second part of How I Draw Usagi from Amazing Heroes 187. Also included is an introduction by longtime series editor Diana Schutz, a small gallery section of Sakai’s back of the page sketches, and a one page biography. It’s an interesting choice of story material, since three of the issues included don’t have Usagi in the story at all.
For long time fans who forget how Usagi has evolved compare the Amazing Heroes image to its following story, since there is a twelve year difference.
Scan quality is excellent, with no visible issues. Only one page is not from the original art, and is presented from the digital file copy. The pages are from 2003-2014 and show as brand new, except for the yellowed 1991 pages from Amazing Heroes. There are very few corrections or notes visible on these scans. The blacks are uniform throughout.
Design is the now classic Dark Horse Gallery Edition format of brown paper cover and lined introductory pages. This time around there is only one title page, finally. Text is presented in blue, carrying through from the cover to the ending biography, including the spot images. Clean and effective.
Production is excellent. Sewn binding of heavy matte paper stock. Page numbers of this volume grace the bottom center of every page. The book comes shrinkwrapped in a cardboard case with a small black and white sticker showing non-cover art and UPC.
