Stan Sakai is a naturalized American based Japanese cartoonist, famous for being the creator of Usagi Yojimbo.
He made his debut in the world of comics in 1984 as a letterer for the independent series Groo the Wanderer written and drawn by Sergio Aragonés, and then published his first full-length story as an author, The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy (where the character Usagi Yojimbo appears for the first time), in issue #1 of Albedo magazine.
The creation of the character Usagi Yojimbo dates back to 1982, and Sakai was inspired by the historical character of Miyamoto Musashi.
Over the years Stan forges several collaborations, the most important being with Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, respectively the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This collaboration leads to a crossover with the character created by Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo, and the Ninja Turtles.
In fact, the character also appears as a Guest Star in several episodes of the many series of the TMNT, including the seventh episode of the fifth season of the animated series “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Ninja Turtles”, titled “Yojimbo” and written by Stan Sakai himself.
Sakai over the years has also worked closely with the great Stan Lee who defined the character Usagi Yojimbo with the following words:
I think Usagi Yojimbo is one of the most original, innovative, well-executed comic books anywhere to be found. Stan’s style of artwork, his crisp incisive writing, and his thoroughly professional pacing, all done in a relaxed and absorbed manner, have provided comics with something so rarely seen in this field – a new literary and artistic approach to illustrated storytelling.” – Stan Lee.
Stan Sakai has received many awards during his career such as: Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for Usagi Yojimbo in 1999, Eisner Award for Best Lettering for Usagi Yojimbo in 2012 and many others.
Lately, the master has been busy with the new issues of the Usagi Yojimbo saga, “Ten Thousand Plums”, with the upcoming two new issues that are particularly dear to the author’s heart.
In addition, he is actively drawing variant covers like the latest “Ultimate X-Men #15” recently done in collaboration with artist Peach Momoko.
Below is our interview during The Lake Como Comic Art Festival, a journey of a few moments that Stan shared with us going over an extraordinary career, made of memories, friends and many extraordinary drawings.
