Usagi Yojimbo is the popular creation of comic book artist Stan Sakai, who served as letterer of Groo The Wanderer. According to the official Usagi Yojimbo Web site, Sakai "wanted to create a character based on the 17th century samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Usagi began initially as a human character in 1981 named 'Miyamoto,' as did Stan Sakai's other character, Nilson Groundthumper, who was originally called Oakenshield...Anyway, one day (CIRCA 1983) Stan changed his characters to funny animals and changed their names as well." The rest is history...
The series actually proved to be a well written Japanese epic that paid close attention to the terminology and detail of the time. Although written and produced here in the United States, it is often compared to or classified as the manga from Japan.
Unfortunately, before the line was able to take off, AP Toys, the company manufacturing the figure, announced that it would no longer produce the line.
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Usagi Yojimbo Usagi Yojimbo Line 1998, Antarctic Press Toys Usagi Yojimbo Individual Figure The figure is very faithful to the comic book version, probably because he was designed by Stan Sakai himself. He is dressed in his blue costume and comes with his sidekick/pet "Spot" as well as a spear and sword.
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The following are items I still need to complete the set. If you notice any other items that should be added, please e-mail me.
- Variant Usagi Yojimbo in black costume
- Platinum Usagi Yojimbo
- Usagi Yojimbo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 1989)
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