Usagi Yojimbo

Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo began its legendary run at Fantagraphics, spanning seven issues from 1987 to 1996. The series introduced readers to the wandering ronin Miyamoto Usagi, a rabbit samurai navigating a richly detailed, anthropomorphic feudal Japan. Sakai’s masterful blend of historical research, cinematic storytelling, and meticulous brushwork established the character as a singular voice in independent comics. This foundational series matters for launching one of the medium’s most enduring and critically beloved long-form sagas.