Usagi Yojimbo Jumps to IDW

[AlZarkovski]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/arts/design/usagi-yojimbo-new-publisher.html

New crossover very soon?:trazz:

[ChosenOne]

Sweet! I hope he gets two more crossovers with the TMNT and one of them involves him coming to modern NYC.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Huh! I wonder what drove this change?

Yeah, this probably DOES mean more Usagi/TMNT crossovers. Neat!

[Andrew NDB]

Yeah, this probably DOES mean more Usagi/TMNT crossovers.

I doubt it would do anything to increase or decrease the amount of crossovers. Sakai has always done exactly the number of Usagi/TMNT crossovers he's ever wanted to, when he wants to.

But yeah, why jump ship at Dark Horse? Did he have a falling out with Mike Richardson? It seems like Dark Horse needs Usagi these days more than Usagi needs Dark Horse.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I doubt it would do anything to increase or decrease the amount of crossovers. Sakai has always done exactly the number of Usagi/TMNT crossovers he's ever wanted to, when he wants to.

But yeah, why jump ship at Dark Horse? Did he have a falling out with Mike Richardson? It seems like Dark Horse needs Usagi these days more than Usagi needs Dark Horse.

That was my thought, too.

As for the number of crossovers, I'm normally not in favor of any crossovers. But Usagi's one of my exceptions... but this IDW TMNT/Usagi crossover from a year or two past (whenever it was) was a little underwhelming on the Turtle half.

[Candy Kappa]

Dark Horse still can't catch a break

[CyberCubed]

I'm more shocked that Dark Horse and Usagi are parting ways, haven't they been publishing Usagi books for over 20 years? What happened?

Dark Horse is losing everything from Star Wars to Buffy to Usagi, are they in trouble?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I'm more shocked that Dark Horse and Usagi are parting ways, haven't they been publishing Usagi books for over 20 years? What happened?

Dark Horse is losing everything from Star Wars to Buffy to Usagi, are they in trouble?

If they aren't now, they sure seem to be heading that way. :tsad:

[CyberCubed]

It'd be really strange to see Dark Horse close up shop, Image and IDW and Archie I guess would be the only really big remaining publishers outside DC/Marvel.

Funnily enough the latter 3 all published TMNT comics but Dark Horse never did.

[neatoman]

Crossovers aren't what interests me here. What I wonder is why he switched publishers. Does IDW offer higher royalties? Did he just find IDW's staff easier to work with? Did Bobby really butter him up when he acted as editor on the crossover?

[Mayhem]

It'd be really strange to see Dark Horse close up shop, Image and IDW and Archie I guess would be the only really big remaining publishers outside DC/Marvel.
Boom/Archaia?

I had a few ideas about what was going on (Stan had hinted something was happening) but it still caught me off guard because he’s been with DH for so long. If Stan chooses to reveal why, then I will post it here, assuming no one else gets there first heh.

[Toxin45]

I think usagi will be a recurring character along with his cast in tmnt

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

It'd be really strange to see Dark Horse close up shop, Image and IDW and Archie I guess would be the only really big remaining publishers outside DC/Marvel.

Funnily enough the latter 3 all published TMNT comics but Dark Horse never did.

Dark Horse WOULD have, or would have at least reprinted TMNT comics, if the Nick deal hadn't happened. At least, that's what I've seen Andrew talk about multiple times; I've never actually gone and looked into that myself, because I hadn't come back to the 'Drome before the Nick sale and IDW started up TMNT comics.

Woulda been interesting.

Crossovers aren't what interests me here. What I wonder is why he switched publishers. Does IDW offer higher royalties? Did he just find IDW's staff easier to work with? Did Bobby really butter him up when he acted as editor on the crossover?

I think it might be more likely that Dark Horse is really, really struggling right now. They're losing a lot of IPs the last few years.

And hey, maybe Kevin Eastman really sold Stan on IDW. One of the two TMNT creators vouching for a publisher ain't something to just ignore.

[CyberCubed]

The thing about Usagi is unlike almost all other comics, it's entirely written and drawn just by Stan Sakai. You never see anyone else write Usagi stories in the book itself, and Stan himself draws every issue. It's completely different than any other licensed comic IDW has right now.

If Stan takes a break/hiatus like he's done several times before, the book stops. I wonder if IDW is used to a book written/drawn all by one person with no rotating artists or writers.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

The thing about Usagi is unlike almost all other comics, it's entirely written and drawn just by Stan Sakai. You never see anyone else write Usagi stories in the book itself, and Stan himself draws every issue. It's completely different than any other licensed comic IDW has right now.

If Stan takes a break/hiatus like he's done several times before, the book stops. I wonder if IDW is used to a book written/drawn all by one person with no rotating artists or writers.

It mean a little more rigidity to the schedule, but that might just mean a bunch of limited series with space in between, rather than a monthly ongoing.

[Andrew NDB]

Whatever happened to Space Usagi? Was that just abandoned?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Whatever happened to Space Usagi? Was that just abandoned?

Guess so. Or maybe it'll happen under IDW.

[Toitlefan]

Cool! I wonder if IDW gave Stan an offer he couldn’t refuse.

[CyberCubed]

Whatever happened to Space Usagi? Was that just abandoned?

It was a mini-series that ended years ago. It was never meant to be an ongoing thing. I think he has re-visited Space Usagi with some short stories over the years.

[sdp]

I'm waiting for the animated show, hope it doesn't get shelved. More usagi and turtles is always cool.

[daggio]

I think usagi will be a recurring character along with his cast in tmnt

I think that would be an interesting development if it were to happen. However, I don't see Usagi becoming a regular TMNT IDW character. I do see another probable crossover in the future, maybe this time with Usagi in NYC with the Turtles.

[Andrew NDB]

I think that would be an interesting development if it were to happen. However, I don't see Usagi becoming a regular TMNT IDW character. I do see another probable crossover in the future, maybe this time with Usagi in NYC with the Turtles.

Probably. But that would happen anyway, regardless if Usagi is "at" IDW now.

[daggio]

Probably. But that would happen anyway, regardless if Usagi is "at" IDW now.

True, and I noticed it's been almost two years since the crossover issue. Since so many events (connected miniseries' and one-shots or foreshadowed events) take place two years apart, maybe that means a another crossover issue is on the horizon. :lol:

[neatoman]

By the way, Bobby confirmed that he's the editor on Usagi now.

[Toxin45]

Man dark horse is losing their stuff these past years first Star Wars,then Buffy,then Conan, and now usagi I guess dark horse tmnt is no longer a thing at this point.

[Powder]

Certainly a surprising yet promising move. All the best to Stan, & congrats to Bobby! Sweet gig for a sweet guy!

[pferreira]

Man dark horse is losing their stuff these past years first Star Wars,then Buffy,then Conan, and now usagi I guess dark horse tmnt is no longer a thing at this point.Sometimes I miss the 90s...sometimes. :)

[Shinigami]

Darkhorse is just changing their business model. They’re not necessarily losing these properties, they’re just not trying to keep them. They make more money on art books and stuff like their Zelda translations that are sold in bookstores like B&N.

[Abnormal Freak]

Dark Horse will soon be releasing Usagi Yojimbo Saga 8 and The Hidden, leaving issues #159–165 of the Dark Horse series not published in the omnibus series. Suppose there's a chance for a Saga 9 collection perhaps with some other stories, or even a slimmer book than previous volumes? Or should I just go ahead and get Book 32 which has these remaining issues?

Edit: Actually, I just noticed The Hidden collection is the same dimensions as the previous books and not the omnibus size. So that probably answers my question: Saga Vol. 9 will probably collect issues 159–165 and the Hidden miniseries.

[retrohead]

I'm more shocked that Dark Horse and Usagi are parting ways, haven't they been publishing Usagi books for over 20 years? What happened?

Dark Horse is losing everything from Star Wars to Buffy to Usagi, are they in trouble?

Dark Horse aren't in trouble. It's more to do with a business deal that sold the rights to a lot of properties to a new media company. It's kind of complicated and I forget all the details but the gist of it is that a lot of different properties and their respective rights for films/TV and comics changed hands recently.

Anyway I'm quite excited for more Usagi and I'm looking forward to seeing what the IDW collections of the older stuff will be like. I'm assuming it'll be the Dark Horse era onwards and the Fantagraphics Usagi stuff won't be included but I'm sure we'll find out soon.