Tag Archives: dogu publishing

The Legendary Rabbit Rōnin is back in Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow

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Dark Horse Comics, Dogu Publishing, and Stan Sakai partner for the return of the legendary rabbit rōnin in Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow! The new series features Usagi’s new-found cousin Yukichi, as well as the return of fan-favorite villain, Jei. Along with writing, art, and lettering by Sakai, the series also features colors by HiFi Colour Design.

Usagi and Yukichi are still in the snowy mountaintops of Northern Japan, following Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo story arc, “The Green Dragon.” They are led to the hut of a strange hermit who allows them to spend the night at her home to shelter from the snow storm. Meanwhile, the maniacal Jei and his familiar, Keiko, are on Usagi’s trail when they stumble upon a bandit lair and subdue a band of cutthroats and thieves.

Along with the main cover A by Stan Sakai, fans can also collect two other variant covers for issue #1. Variant cover B is provided by artist Skottie Young, available for standard order (UPC 7 61568 01096 1). Artist Paolo Rivera provides a third cover C (UPC 7 61568 01096 1), which comics retailers can order one copy for every 25 copies ordered of Cover A or B.

Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #1 (of 5) will be in comic shops September 27, 2023. All three of the listed variant cover options are available for pre-order now at your local comic shop for $4.99. 

Oni Ronin, a brand-new graphic novel from Dogu Publishing and Dark Horse

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Presenting one of the first collaborations from Dark Horse Books and Stan Sakai’s Dogu Publishing: Oni Ronin. This is an epic journey of self-discovery set in the afterlife of Japanese folklore, written by Mack Flavelle and Kohei Naganime, with art by Tatsubi, and creative assistance from Maldoror, Manabu Seko, and Keojimal.

Set in Japan during the Sengoku or “Warring States” period, Oni Ronin is a tale of cowardice, sacrifice, and redemption. Combining historically accurate characters and locations with mythical kitsune and malevolent demons from Japanese folklore, Oni Ronin is the redemption story of the cowardly Sarobei, a samurai messenger who meets feudal lords, brave warriors, and heroic ghosts on his journey of self-discovery.

The Oni Ronin trade paperback will arrive in bookstores November 28, 2023 and in comic shops November 29, 2023. The 120-page graphic novel is available for pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at your local comic book shop and bookstore, and will retail for $14.99.

Oni Ronin

Stan Sakai. Usagi Yojimbo. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. March 2023.

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In 2023, brilliant storyteller Stan Sakai will once again weave together two of the most beloved concepts in history with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen. This five-issue comic book miniseries, published by IDW Publishing in partnership with Dogu Publishing and Paramount Consumer Products features colors by Hi-Fi and will launch in March 2023.

In 1984, the indie comics scene erupted with the creation of two enduring phenomena: Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Given the two series’ anthropomorphic heroes, reverence for Japanese culture, and mutual respect among their highly skilled creators, it was no wonder that the two properties would crossover in comics, multiple animated series, and toy lines over the next four decades.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pursue the evil cyborg genius Dr. WhereWhen through a time portal…and emerge in feudal Japan! There, they encounter Miyamoto Usagi, 20 years into the samurai’s future but decades after the arrival of Dr. WhereWhen—who has already carved himself a fiefdom using mechanized clockwork samurai robots, with the intention of conquering both the past and current timelines!

Each and every issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen will feature a glorious wraparound cover by Stan Sakai, plus alternate covers by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, Sarah Myer, and David Petersen. Issue #1 will also include a blank cover variant, perfect for artists or even convention commissions.

Stan Sakai brings Usagi and imprint Dogu Publishing back to Dark Horse

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Dogu Publishing

Dark Horse Comics has announce a new partnership with Stan Sakai’s Dogu Publishing. The Usagi Yojimbo comics universe and more will return to Dark Horse under the umbrella of a new imprint, Dogu. The announcement of this new partnership comes just ahead of the September 1 release of Season 2 of the hit Netflix animated series, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, based on the world of Usagi Yojimbo created by Sakai. 

Usagi Yojimbo had previously been published with Dark Horse but in 2019 the title moved to IDW Publishing. Now, it returns to Dark Horse. Sakai has hinted at displeasure with how his comics had been handled at IDW on social media.

Dark Horse Comics has been a longtime home of the works of Stan Sakai, most recently publishing the continuing new editions of The Usagi Yojimbo Saga. Dogu Publishing is led by Creative Chairman Stan Sakai, CEO Jeremiah Blank, COO Julie Sakai, and Daniel Fujii, President/Publisher for Dogu Publishing.

The goals of the Dogu imprint include: to create a space for up-and-coming creators and artists to be featured, andto expand the Usagi Yojimbo universe through working with other artists and writers. The expanding Usagi universe is sure to bring about exciting tales to please both new and longtime Usagi readers alike. 

Stan Sakai has won numerous awards for his work in comics, including most recently the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers for Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis with Julie Sakai. Dark Horse and Dogu plan to continue to publish Chibi Usagi, Space Usagi, the Color Classics, and more to be announced.

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