Tag Archives: stan sakai

Preview: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #2

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #2

(W) Stan Sakai (A/CA) Stan Sakai
In Shops: May 24, 2023
SRP: $4.99

Sent back in time to feudal Japan, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles immediately face a fight for their lives against Yukichi and Jotaro! Mistaking the Turtles for the violent kappa terrorizing a nearby village, the long-eared samurai descend upon the Turtles with swords brandished. Can the TMNT convince Usagi’s allies to aid in their mission to stop Dr. WhereWhen from changing the future? Or will the larger threat prevail while Lord Noriyuki’s forces march into the final battle with the Dark Lord Hikiji?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #2

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

Lions and Tigers and… Groo?

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Dark Horse Comics, Sergio Aragonés, and Mark Evanier return with yet another Groo adventure in Groo: In the Wild! Written by Eisner Award-winning creators Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, illustrated by Sergio Aragonés, lettered by Stan Sakai, and colored by Carrie Strachan, Groo and his faithful friend Rufferto find themselves in a new land with an old problem: Nothing to eat and nothing to buy food with.

Usually, the answer would involve hunting but in this new locale, there’s a frightening lack of anything to hunt. No matter where the Wanderer wanders, he and his dog don’t find any animals of the delicious variety. In fact, they find precious few animals at all…a fact that, like everything else in the world, Groo cannot understand. Where did they all go?

Groo: In the Wild #1 (of 4) stumbles into comic shops July 12, 2023 and is now available to pre-order from your local comic shop for $4.99.

Groo: In the Wild

Preview: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 5 The Green Dragon

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Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 5 The Green Dragon

(W) Stan Sakai (A) Stan Sakai
In Shops: Apr 19, 2023
SRP: $19.99

The rabbit ronin’s newest adventures continue in this fifth volume that sees Usagi and Yukichi on a mission to deliver a valuable object! In “A Ghost Story,” Usagi and Yukichi come upon a young woman, Shizuye, praying at a shrine to a girl murdered fifty years ago by her married lover. Usagi and Yukichi take it upon themselves to become her protectors. However, all is not what it seems as the local priest warns them to beware of ghosts in the area. Then, in “The Secret of the Green Dragon” Usagi and Yukichi are obligated to deliver a priceless jade dragon to a merchant. During their journey they witness a runner delivering a parcel of jewels to the same merchant killed on the road ahead. However, the killers left the jewels and escaped with the container leading them to the realization that the box they carry may be even more valuable than the jade within. Collects issues #27-31.

Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 5 The Green Dragon

Preview: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #1

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen #1

(W) Stan Sakai (A/CA) Stan Sakai
In Shops: Apr 12, 2023
SRP: $4.99

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pursue the evil cyborg genius Dr. WhereWhen through a time portal…and emerge in feudal Japan! There, they encounter Usagi Yojimbo, 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!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: Wherewhen #1

Preview: Usagi Yojimbo Origins Vol. 4 Lone Goat & Kid

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Usagi Yojimbo Origins Vol. 4 Lone Goat & Kid

(W) Stan Sakai (A/CA) Stan Sakai
In Shops: Jan 04, 2023
SRP: $24.99

Presenting the complete saga of rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi from the very beginning in new, definitive color editions! This volume focuses on a series of important short stories from the early days of Usagi’s adventures, including “Frost and Fire,” “A Kite Story,” “Blood Wings,” “The Way of the Samurai,” and “Lone Goat and Kid”! Beginning with these early issues, find out why the series has won ten Eisner Awards, two Harvey Awards, an American Library Association Award, and has been called by Stan Lee, “one of the most original, innovative, well-executed comic books anywhere to be found.” Collects all-new color editions of issues #19-24 of Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 1, originally published in black-and-white by Fantagraphics.

Usagi Yojimbo Origins Vol. 4 Lone Goat & Kid

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—The Covers Hardcover Announced for June

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Relive the gritty realism and explosive action of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—one of the greatest TMNT stories of all time—through the iconic covers that helped make it an instant classic! IDW Publishing has announced the June 2023 release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—The Covers, a 200-page, full-color hardcover serving as a comprehensive showcase of each and every cover variant over the span of the series.

Featuring an all-new cover by Last Ronin series co-artist Ben Bishop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—The Covers features artwork from an all-star lineup of top-tier talent, including TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, Last Ronin co-artists Esau & Isaac Escorza and the aforementioned Ben Bishop, and comic industry superstars including Mateus Santolouco, Sophie Campbell, Freddie E. Williams II, Rick and Morty’s Justin Roiland, Peach Momoko, Tyler Kirkham, John Giang, Amanda Conner, Rob Liefeld, Simon Bisley, Stan Sakai, and many more!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—The Covers
by Kevin Eastman, Ben Bishop, Esau & Isaac Escorza, and more
ISBN: 978-1-68405-997-3
$34.99 US / $45.99 CAN
200-Page, Full-Color Hardcover, 7″ x 10.875
On Sale: June 13, 2023

Springing from a lost 1987 storyline by TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, The Last Ronin tells the story of a sole, shrouded Turtle in a dark possible future, undertaking a seemingly hopeless mission to obtain justice for his fallen family and friends. The kinetic layouts from Eastman, atmospheric illustrations from Esau & Isaac Escorza and Ben Bishop, thrilling script from longtime TMNT scribe Tom Waltz, and bold hues from colorist Luis Antonio Delgado instantly resonated with fans and critics alike.

Debuting in October 2020 as a quarterly periodical in a prestigious oversize format, The Last Ronin took the comic world by storm, eventually leading to over 840,000 units of the individual comic books in print, coveted New York Times best seller status with over 125,000 collections sold, and adaptations to action figures and statues. The story of The Last Ronin expands in 2023 with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Years, a miniseries straddling Michelangelo’s past as a lone wanderer and the future where four new turtles will grow up in his shadow.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—The Covers

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.

Around the Tubes

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Al Dente

It’s one of two new comic book days! What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and a review from around the web.

Smash Pages – Sakai + Schweizer present a new Usagi Yojimbo ornament for 2022 – This is pretty cute.

The Beat – A Year of Free Comics: How much do you value your FINGERS? – Free comics!

CBR – Legendary Studios Goes Exclusive With Sony, But Godzilla, Dune Stay With WB – Some interesting moves.

Comicbook – James Gunn Says Future DC Movies and Video Games Will Be Connected – Duh?

Review

The Beat – Al Dente

Preview: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 4 Crossroards

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Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 4 Crossroards

(W) Stan Sakai (A/CA) Stan Sakai
In Shops: Nov 16, 2022
SRP: $19.99

In “Ransom,” Usagi and Yukichi meet up with Kitsune, a street performer and thief, who has stolen a ledger recording bribes to local politicians. When Kitsune’s protégé is kidnapped in return, Usagi decides that he must help and get her back. Then, in “Crossroads,” Usagi and Yukichi come upon a group of pilgrims who have been left for dead by a band of cutthroat ronin. Deciding to go after them, Usagi must head back to the province, and the danger, from which he has just escaped! Collects #22-26.

Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 4 Crossroards
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