Stan Sakai Returns with Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow
By Liam McGuire
July 11th 2023
Legendary comic book creator Stan Sakai is setting up a new era for his popular creation, Usagi Yojimbo, with the fan-favorite series returning in a new tale, Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow. The five-issue series from Dark Horse Comics will feature Miyamoto Usagi alongside his cousin, Yukichi, who will battle alongside the ronin against a group of evildoers following their tale — led by the wolf villain, Jei.
Usagi Yojimbo first debuted in 1984 with artist and writer Stan Sakai bringing the story starring the anthropomorphic rabbit, Usagi, to life in Albedo Anthropmorphics #2, a comic book from the long-defunct Thoughts and Images. Following the initial success of the sword-wielding character, Sakai moved the book to Fantagraphics, where he starred alongside other critter heroes in Critters. Eventually, Usagi Yojimbo would get its own title, and the Akira Kurosawa-inspired comic would publish more than 200 issues overall with Fantagraphics, Mirage Studios, Radio Comix, and IDW Publishing. Now at Dark Horse, Miyamoto Usagi’s adventures continue in an all-new limited series later this year.
In Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #1 from Dark Horse Comics, Usagi and Yukichi will fight the tough snowy terrains of Northern Japan, where a mysterious hermit will offer them a place to stay. While they find refuge, Usagi and Yukichi will deal with Jei and Keiko, whose attempts to follow them lead them into a lair filled with thieves. Check out the text synopsis for the issue below:
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 woman hermit who allows them to spend the night. Meanwhile, the maniacal Jei and his familiar, Keiko, are on Usagi's trail when they stumble upon a bandit lair and subdue the band of cutthroats and thieves.
Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #1 features an excellent main cover from Sakai, featuring Usagi, Yukichi, and Tokage ready for action, standing on a set of stairs as they descend into battle. Skottie Young’s variant cover for the issue features Usagi wielding his blade while navigating through the pouring snow. Paolo Rivera’s variant cover features Usagi against the backdrop of snow, featuring a highly stylized outfit that blends into the snowy background.
Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #1 will follow the recent Green Dragon storyline and arrive at CaptCan Comics on September 27, 2023. Don’t forget to pre-order the series now, with the five issues coming out throughout the end of the year (and possibly into 2024). We have plenty of back issues and collections available now for those looking to catch up on the Usagi Yojimbo saga!
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