Editing Usagi Yojimbo (section)

==Publishing history==
Sakai originally planned for Usagi and other characters to be human in stories explicitly modeled after the life of [[Miyamoto Musashi]]. However, once as Sakai was idly doodling, he drew rabbit ears tied in a [[Chonmage|topknot]] on his proposed hero and was pleased by the distinctive image.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071018034139/http://www.usagiyojimbo.com/intro/faq/faq_uy.html Usagi Yojimbo Dojo – FAQ: Questions about Usagi Yojimbo]}}. Usagiyojimbo.com (2004-02-29). Retrieved on 2011-05-29.</ref> Usagi was first conceived as a supporting character in ''[[The Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy]]'', a brief series that predates ''Usagi Yojimbo''.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071018152022/http://usagiyojimbo.com/sakai/otherchars/nilsonhermy/faq_nh.html Usagi Yojimbo Dojo – FAQ: Questions about Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy]}}. Usagiyojimbo.com (2004-02-29). Retrieved on 2011-05-29.</ref> Sakai expanded on the idea of a rabbit [[samurai]] and his world took on an anthropomorphized cartoon nature, creating a fantasy setting which suited his dramatic needs with a unique look he thought could attract readers.

Usagi first appeared in the [[anthology]] ''[[Albedo Anthropomorphics]]'' in 1984, and later in the [[Fantagraphics Books]] anthropomorphic anthology ''[[Critters (comics)|Critters]]'', before appearing in his own series in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|title= Wc: 25 years of usagi yojimbo|work= Comic Book Resources|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20276|access-date=2010-11-28}}</ref> The ''Usagi Yojimbo'' series has been published by four different companies. The first publisher was Fantagraphics (volume one; 38 regular issues, plus one ''Summer Special'' and three ''Color Specials''). The second was [[Mirage Comics]] (volume two; 16 issues). The third was [[Dark Horse Comics]] (volume three, 172 regular issues and two ''Color Specials''), which also published the ''Senso'' miniseries (2015), ''The Art of Usagi Yojimbo: 20th Anniversary Edition'' (2004), and ''Usagi Yojimbo: 35 Years of Covers (2018)'', as well as republishing the Fantagraphics and Mirage series. The fourth is [[IDW Publishing]], (volume four, 31 issues), which also republished select Fantagraphics story portions as ''Usagi Yojimbo Color Classics''. Usagi returned to Dark Horse in September 2023, collaborating with Dogu Limited. Another publisher, [[Radio Comix]], published two issues of ''The Art of Usagi Yojimbo'' (1997–1998) which contained a selection of unpublished drawings, convention sketches, and other miscellaneous ''Usagi Yojimbo'' artwork (including an original short story in the first issue).

Because ''Usagi Yojimbo'' is a [[Creator ownership in comics|creator-owned comic]] and Sakai has complete and sole ownership of the character, Miyamoto Usagi has been able to appear in occasional short stories published by companies other than the one currently publishing his series. Usagi has appeared in stories published by [[Cartoon Books]], [[Oni Press]], Sky Dog Press, [[Wizard Press]], and most recently in the benefit book ''Drawing the Line'', the proceeds of which went to [[Princess Margaret Cancer Centre|Princess Margaret Hospital]] and [[The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)|The Hospital for Sick Children]], both in [[Toronto]], for cancer research.

Sakai has experimented with formats for ''Usagi Yojimbo'', such as when he published the color story "Green Persimmon" first as twelve separate 2-page chapters serialized in Diamond Comic Distributor's monthly catalog ''Previews''. He has also serialized two short stories in a comic strip format in the [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]]-size promotional publication ''Dark Horse Extra''. ''Usagi Yojimbo'' stories have also been created as both single-page "gag" stories and as multi-issue epic adventures.

Usagi has also [[Crossover (fiction)|appeared]] several times in ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' (the comic, three of the [[animated series]], and their respective [[toy]] lines), and the Turtles have appeared in ''Usagi Yojimbo'' as well. In the 1987 series, "Usagi Yojimbo" is incorrectly used as his actual name, but in the 2003 series, where he appeared far more frequently, he was referred to correctly as Miyamoto Usagi. He was even joined by Gen and other characters from his stories in his guest appearances in the 2003 series. Usagi's first appearance in the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 TV series)|2012 series]] was the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 TV series, season 5)|fifth-season]] episode, "Yojimbo", which was written by Sakai. In his guest appearances, he is closest to [[Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Leonardo]], both sharing the same ideals and code of ethics.<ref>{{cite news|title= 25 years of "usagi yojimbo" |publisher= Comic Book Resources |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23585|access-date=2010-11-28}}</ref> The comics version also makes several pun references to [[Sergio Aragonés]]' ''[[Groo the Wanderer]]'', in whose publication Sakai was also involved.

In addition, Sakai created a limited [[Spin-off (media)|spin off]] series called ''Space Usagi,'' who first appeared in ''Amazing Heroes'' 187. It featured characters similar to those in the original series, including a descendant of Miyamoto Usagi, but set in a futuristic setting that also emulated [[feudal Japan]] in political and stylistic ways. Four mini-series of three issues each and two short stories featuring the characters were produced. Sakai has announced tentative plans to produce a fourth ''Space Usagi'' miniseries, but nothing has been announced yet.  A one-shot crossover between the contemporary ''Usagi Yojimbo'' (Volume 4) series and ''Space Usagi'', titled ''Space Usagi: Yokai Hunter'', was released on October 11, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Space Usagi: Yokai Hunter|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/3013-657/Space-Usagi-Yokai-Hunter |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Dark Horse|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |title='Space Usagi: Yokai Hunter' one-shot announced for October 2023 |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2023/07/22/space-usagi-yokai-hunter-october-2023/|date=2023-07-22 |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the summer of 2014, Sakai, after a two-year hiatus, returned with a six-issue mini-series entitled ''Usagi Yojimbo: Senso''. ''Senso'', Japanese for "war", refers to ''[[The War of the Worlds]]'', [[H. G. Wells]]'s novel about Martians invading Earth. ''Senso'' tells the story of Martians invading Japan roughly twenty years after the events of the main series of ''Usagi Yojimbo'', and also forms a plot bridge to the previously published ''Space Usagi''.

In May 2015, Sakai returned to ''Usagi Yojimbo'' with the release of the 145th issue.

On February 22, 2019, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that IDW Publishing would present a new monthly ''Usagi Yojimbo'' series, in color (provided by [[Tom Luth]] for the first time). The new series opens up with a short story arc about the Japanese puppetry art of [[bunraku]]. Additionally, new full-color collections of earlier issues are planned.<ref>{{cite news|title= A Samurai Rabbit Comic Book Adventure Finds a New Home |work=The New York Times |date=22 February 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/arts/design/usagi-yojimbo-new-publisher.html|last1=Gustines |first1=George Gene }}</ref> IDW published volume 4 of the series up until issue 31, published in 2022. Sakai returned the series to Dark Horse under his own new imprint, Dogu Publishing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simons |first=Dean |date=2022-09-07 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/stan-sakai-exits-idw-and-returns-to-dark-horse-with-a-new-imprint/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802015008/https://www.comicsbeat.com/stan-sakai-exits-idw-and-returns-to-dark-horse-with-a-new-imprint/ |archive-date=2023-08-02 |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> The series was relaunched at Dark Horse with ''Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow'' #1, the first in a five issue mini-series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dar |first=Taimur |date=2023-06-20 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/dark-horse-usagi-yojimbo-ice-and-snow-announced/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801200410/https://www.comicsbeat.com/dark-horse-usagi-yojimbo-ice-and-snow-announced/ |archive-date=2023-08-01 |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #1 Review: Stan Sakai Doesn't Miss a Step In Publisher Shift |url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/usagi-yojimbo-ice-and-snow-1-review-stan-sakai/ |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Comics |date=27 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2017, the traditional crossovers between ''Usagi Yojimbo'' and the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' franchise - at that time part also [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW Publishing)|part of IDW's publishing program]] - were resumed with a one-shot comic titled ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo]]''. In April 2023, publication was started on the five-issue miniseries ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo#Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen]]'', which is an immediate prelude to ''Senso'' and once again co-stars the Ninja Turtles.

In 2024, Boom Studios and Dark Horse Comics published a one-shot crossover featuring Usagi meeting the [[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]].