Stan Sakai is shifting Usagi Yojimbo again from IDW to earlier writer Dark Horse – and all underneath the aegis of a new imprint: Dogu.
Stan Sakai took to Facebook, saying:
“We are back at Dark Horse, with a new imprint!”
The Dark Horse Press Release:
Dark Horse Comics is happy to announce a new partnership with Stan Sakai’s Dogu Publishing. The Usagi Yojimbo comics universe and extra will return to Dark Horse underneath the umbrella of a new imprint, Dogu. The announcement of this new partnership comes simply forward of the September 1 launch of Season 2 of the hit Netflix animated sequence, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, based mostly on the world of Usagi Yojimbo created by Sakai.
Dark Horse Comics has been a longtime dwelling of the works of Stan Sakai, most just lately publishing the persevering with 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 objectives of the Dogu imprint embrace: to create a area for up-and-coming creators and artists to be featured, and to develop the Usagi Yojimbo universe by means of working with different artists and writers. The increasing Usagi universe is bound to result in thrilling tales to please each new and longtime Usagi readers alike.
In the PR, Sakai talks concerning the new deal and the folks he’s bringing with him to run the Dogu imprint:
“I’m very excited, honored and grateful to have my very own publishing imprint with Dark Horse. As the only creator and proprietor of Usagi Yojimbo, that is a important milestone. I’ve identified Mike Richardson for greater than 30 years and he is likely one of the pioneers and champions of creator-owned IP. As the trade continues to change, I really feel he brings a distinctive progressive perspective.
“Julie (co-creator of Chibi Usagi, Owner/Creator of Chibi Time; COO of Usagi Studios Inc.) has been a god-send and fantastic accomplice in all regards. Chibi Usagi and the Attack of the Heebie Chibis was my favourite collaboration. One of my proudest moments was to see her on the podium as we accepted our Eisner Award for this ebook. She shall be bringing extra Chibi tales to Dogu Publishing which shall be coloured by Emi Fujii, Julie’s multi-talented daughter!
“Daniel (Executive Producer, Samurai Rabbit; VP of Usagi Studios Inc.) has been with me for seven years now and he has introduced a new power to the Usagi model. His drive, imaginative and prescient, and most significantly, real love of Usagi, has been most welcomed. He noticed the Netflix deal by means of and has many intriguing tasks deliberate for the Usagi Universe.
“Jeremiah (VP of Business Development, Stan Lee; VP of Business Development, Boxes; co-founder of Fanmio) brings the data of the trade, alongside with his forward-thinking imaginative and prescient and enterprise savvy. He can also be a co-founder of the profitable leisure/tech platform, Fanmio, which hosts superstar interactions and sells merchandise direct-to-consumer. He has thrilling plans for the imprint.
“Having Julie, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Emi step into the business and creative support roles has been a welcomed addition to my brand. Being the sole creator of Usagi Yojimbo takes a tremendous amount of time and responsibility. I still write, hand-draw, and hand-letter each story. Because of this new synergy, I am able to continue to do what I love most: Create more Usagi Yojimbo stories. We feel that through this imprint with Dark Horse, an expanded Usagi Universe is becoming a reality.”
Dark Horse head honcho Mike Richardson can also be quoted, saying:
“It is with great excitement that we welcome back Stan Sakai and Usagi Yojimbo to the Dark Horse family. Stan is one of comics’ legendary creators and we are extremely proud to announce the launch of Dogu Publishing. Stan and his team are preparing new adventures with Usagi Yojimbo, as well as bringing new and important voices to the comics community. Stan and I have been friends for a very long time and I am extremely pleased to renew our partnership at Dark Horse.”
Stan Sakai and Usagi Yojimbo aren’t any strangers to writer strikes. First revealed in 1984 at Thoughts and Images, Usagi since moved to Fantagraphics, Mirage Comics and then Dark Horse. In June 2019, Sakai introduced the rabbit ronin to IDW the place the primary sequence continued, and extra tasks involving the character started publication – together with Chibi Usagi. One of the key adjustments that IDW introduced to Usagi was to introduce colored variations of the earliest components of the sequence as a month-to-month ebook – Usagi Yojimbo Color Classics (considerably controversial because the sequence has predominantly, if not solely, been in black and white). The colour work was accomplished by Ronda Pattison. It is unsure whether or not this can nonetheless proceed.
IDW has been seeing a regular dwindling of its license and publishing portfolio this previous yr. Thus far it has misplaced the Transformers and GI Joe, and Disney comedian ebook licenses – and that’s not to point out the American Library of Comics going to Clover Press for his or her new Terry and the Pirates collections.
Meanwhile, Dark Horse has been boosting their imprint ranges, with this, Kevin Smith’s imprint and the Roye Okupe line.
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