The Sakai Project

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The Sakai Project: Artists Celebrate Thirty Years of “Usagi Yojimbo” HC

The most amazing artists in the world have come together to celebrate thirty years of Stan Sakai’s marvelous samurai rabbit saga, Usagi Yojimbo. The participating artists bring their own interpretations and their own styles to the subject, making this book a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Produced in association with the Comic Art Professional Society (CAPS). All proceeds from this book will go to Stan and Sharon Sakai.”

160 pages; HC, 9”x 12”

$29.99

Yesterday I headed on down to my LCS (the Source Comics & Games) to pick up my copy of The SAKAI Project. I have to say Darkhorse out did themselves on this book. The large 9×12 Hard Cover format is the perfect size and very nicely bound.

I opened the book and went right to the Forward, I wanted to read it before I even looked at the art work inside. Granted I had seen quite a few of the images on the CAPS auctions over the last few weeks, but I felt it might enhance my experience and enjoyment of the book if I read it first.

I have to say it definitely did, the forward was written by Mark Evanier, who works on Sergio Aragone’s Groo the wanderer comic. I wont spoil the forward which is titled SHARED SUFFERING, but I will tell you that it is more than worth your time to read. Mark does a great job detailing the kindness of the Sakais and all of the comic creators that contributed to this book.

Next we have a Preface letter written by Tone Rodriguez, Vice President of the Comic Art Professional Society. This is the man responsible for this project, not just this book but also the ebay auctions of the original pieces. He did all of this just to help out Stan and Sharons medical bills (for those of you that dont know, Sharon was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2004) and submissions flooded in from around the world.

This book has 157 pages of just art work, many of the pages have multiple images. It is by far the most beautiful tribute to a creator I think I have ever seen. I wanted to showcase a few of my favorite pieces but after only getting a quarter of the way through the book, I decided it would take me several hours to write up a list of creators and their submissions.

Rating: 5 out of 5

If you love Usagi Yojimbo you will love this book. If you dont know Usagi this is a great way to find out why so many people, fans and creators, love this character and mainly the man that created it. Stan Sakai

So please, contact your LCS, DCBS, book store, Darkhorse.com and order this book. You wont be disappointed and you will be helping a man and his family that have brought so many great adventures to the pages of comic for years.

Thank you Mr. Sakai

My 2008 SDCC commission!

X from Darkhorse Comics

A masked vigilante known only as “X” dispenses justice without mercy to the criminals who rule the decaying city of Arcadia. When muckraking blogger Leigh Ferguson snoops down the wrong alley, she gets swept into X’s bloody war with a politically powerful crime lord. Duane Swierczynski and Eric Nguyen dish out nonstop, visceral action, with Dark Horse’s most brutal and exciting character—X! Collects issues #0-#4 of the ongoing series.

Writer:

Duane Swierczynski

Artist:

Eric Nguyen

Colorist:

Michelle Madsen

Cover Artist:

Clint Langley

Genre: Superhero, Crime

Publication Date:

January 15, 2014

Format:

FC, 128 pages; TP, 7’’ x 10’’

Price:

$14.99

So recently wwayne commented on a previous post about having us review “X” from Dark horse. Well it looks like he will get his wish. Tomorrow the first trade will be available, which collects 0-4 of the current ongoing series and I plan on picking it up this weekend. =) So look for our review coming soon to the podcast! (Soon being a relative term, next couple weeks) In the mean time here is a preview:

“X” Tpb

Also if you havent read the original “X” comics, check out the Omnibus collections:

Omnibus 1

Omnibus 2