Stan Sakai, the creator of the iconic Usagi Yojimbo, is a fan-favorite and staple of San Diego Comic-Con each year. For 2024, though, he won’t be alone — joining him will be the esteemed illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita, making his San Diego Comic-Con debut. He will be offering limited signing and sketching opportunities during the convention, which you can find more information on over here.
You will find them both at Booth #4807, with exclusive artwork, comics, figures, and more.
In addition, Dogu will be offering the rare opportunity to own a signed item from One Piece star Mackenyu. You can find more information on that over here.
[UPDATE July 20]
Stan Sakai‘s SDCC schedule will be packed all weekend with signings every day, including joint sessions with his wife Julie Sakai or illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita. There will also be a 40 Years of Usagi Yojimbo with Stan Sakai panel from 10am-11am on Saturday, July 27 in Room 23ABC. The panel will feature Stan and Julie along with Jerry Blank (CEO, Dogu Publishing), Emi Fujii (creative director, colorist), and Daniel Fujii (president/publisher, Dogu Publishing), to discuss the legacy of Stan’s stories and everyone’s favorite rōnin-rabbit, Miyamoto Usagi.
[UPDATE July 19]
Stan Sakai and Dogu Publishing are pleased to announce this exclusive Usagi Yojimbo Trading Card Set, a celebration of the creativity and artistry of the long-running series.
Each 12 card set set comes in an individually numbered, specially designed collector’s box, with only 500 sets available worldwide, for $50 each. The cards feature elegant spot foil and illustrations from Stan Sakai, Julie Sakai and Mitsuhiro Arita, who all will be attending San Diego Comic-Con to sign and personalize your cards. CGC will be on hand to witness all signings.
The set includes five beautifully illustrated cards featuring Mitsuhiro Arita’s Usagi Yojimbo covers, delightful chibi versions of Arita’s illustrations by Julie Sakai and special chase cards featuring art from Stan Sakai. Not all sets are the same, with each pack containing two of three possible chase cards. Other randomly inserted cards you could receive include hand-numbered, signed, double-signed, and remarqued cards and a 1/1 extremely rare card.
Mosey over to booth # to secure yourself this rare and unique collectible from the beloved Usagi Yojimbo. Not attending SDCC? 100 sets of cards will are available now on Stan Sakai’s website.
[UPDATE July 18]
For those unable to attend the convention, you can also purchase Dogu’s TMNT #1 exclusive by Mitsuhiro Arita online, which will ship roughly two weeks after the con. It’s available as either a Trade Dress (LE 1000) or a Virgin Cover (LE 500), and you can choose between unsigned, signed, or signed and remarqued for each.
[UPDATE July 16]
Mitsuhiro Arita shared several of the items he will have at the con, including A5 sized Event Art Cards, which are LE 300 and will only be available at the event.
There will also be merch for Arita’s 312STUDIO Inc., including tees, art books, and more. You can preview more on their website.
[UPDATE July 15]
Stan Sakai, at booth #4807 will have even more San Diego Comic-Con exclusives for fans to purchase. In addition to the previously announced variant covers, trading cards and print, Sakai will have two different skate decks, a 40th Anniversary lanyard, three different hats, a 40th Anniversary tote bag and a Deadpool print limited to 100 copies. More information about each of these new items will be revealed soon.
[UPDATE July 13 #2]
You can pre-order the Red Spot Foil version of the Mitsuhiro Arita cover now, with limited stock. They have opened up a pre-sale of only 100 of the total LE 400. It’s available unsigned, signed by Stan Sakai, remarqued by Stan Sakai, or as a virgin cover unsigned/signed/remarqued. These items will ship after the con.
[UPDATE July 13]
Forty years of Usagi Yojimbo are being honored with a brand new anniversary print featuring all your favorite characters in glorious color. This print is 11″ x 17″ and will be available at booth #4807 during Comic-Con.
[UPDATE July 12]
You can now pre-order Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow #1 Blue Spot Foil cover. While the other variants will be sold at the convention, this cover (with art by Mitsuhiro Arita) is only available online. You can order it now for $25 unsigned, $45 signed by Stan Sakai, or $85 remarqued by Stan Sakai.
[UPDATE #2 – July 9]
Mitsuhiro Arita has created two very special variant covers which will be offered at San Diego Comic-Con and online at Stan Sakai’s store.
First, we have Usagi Yojimbo: The Crow #1, a very special black and white issue that includes six preview pages for Space Usagi: White Star Rising, releasing in November. There will be three versions of this variant, all limited to 400 copies each. The Red Spot and the Virgin Cover will both be sold at booth #4807 during San Diego Comic-Con. The Blue Spot Foil version will be exclusive to Stan Sakai’s webstore for those not attending the convention.
Additionally, Mitsuhiro Arita has also created a variant cover for IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1. There will be two version of this variant. The Standard Trade Dress is limited to 1000 copies and the Virgin Cover is limited to 500 copies. Both will be available at booth #4807 during the convention.
[UPDATE July 9]
Up first, we have the first round of San Diego Comic-Con exclusives from Mitsuhiro Arita, Stan Sakai, and Julie Sakai. You can find twelve new trading cards available at Booth #4807, featuring Usagi Yojimbo characters across their different styles. Below are the first five, with the remaining cards to be revealed on-site.
