This Friday, May 25, 2018 marks the 65th birthday of the prolific Japanese-American comic book creator Stan Sakai. Best known for his anime-magna series Usagi Yojimbo, Sakai enjoys an enduring comic career that spans several decades. In honor of his upcoming birthday, why not take a look back at the history of this creative super star.
Born in 1953 in Kyoto, Japan, Sakai got his start in the comic industry lettering such series as Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragońes and Mark Evanier. Influenced by this series, Sakai created the medieval comic Adventures of Nilson Groundthumper and Hermy. These characters debuted in Albedo #1, before making subsequent appearances in Critters, Grimjack, Amazing Heroes, and Furrlough. In 1984, Sakai launched to popularity with the creation of Usagi Yojimbo. This epic saga, which continues to be published today, chronicles the adventures of the samurai rabbit Miyamoto Usagi. Based in late 16th and early 17th century Japan, Usagi Yojimbo is influenced by Japanese cinema. It often features references to such icons of popular Japanese cinema as Lone Wolf and Cub, Zatoichi, and Godzilla.
Many issues also include stories meant to illustrate various elements of Japanese arts and crafts. These efforts led to the series being awarded a Parents’ Choice Award in 1990 for its educational value through Sakai’s “skillful weaving of facts and legends into his work.” The series has also won Sakai the Inkpot Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Cartooning, as well as the Haxtur Award for Best Short Story and Best Script. From 1993 through 2005, Sakai has received over 20 Eisner Award nominations, winning for Best Letterer, Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition, Best Serialized Story and Best Cartoonist. He has also won the Ursa Major Award for Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book several times, in addition to being honored by the National Cartoonists Society Comic Book Division Awards.
Along with illustrating and writing Usagi Yojimbo, Sakai created a futuristic spinoff series Space Usagi and has illustrated for Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror. He later created the backup feature Riblet for Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails, and illustrated the limited comic book adaptation of 47 Ronin. Since the 1980s, Usagi has been loosely tied into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles resulting in several crossovers between both series. The character has also appeared in the original ’80s animated series as well as the more recent animated series. More recently, Gaumont Animation announced that a CGI adaptation of the Usagi Yojimbo comics was in the works.
For over 30 years, Sakai has thrilled fans with his epic anthropomorphic historical series. In recognition of his decades long contribution to the comic book medium, Ontario’s Comic Con Revolution awarded the comic book veteran with first-ever Joe Kubert Distinguished Storyteller Award. Clearly, Sakai has much to celebrate on his upcoming birthday! Who knows what legendary feats await Sakai and Usagi in another few decades? One thing is for sure, fans will be eagerly awaiting the answer.