Sketchbook - Stan Sakai

Here's one I've been hoping to post for awhile. Yeah, it's not Aquaman... and I may never get Stan to try Aquaman (though I'd be fascinated to see what animal he might choose for an Aquaman character), but it's still a cool little sketch. This is one of only three sketches I got at San Diego 2001 (the other two were by Leonard Kirk and Brandon Graham).

USAGI YOJIMBO
by Stan Sakai
19 Jul 2001
(permission to post given 29 Feb 2004 in person)
Usagi Yojimbo Dojo

Stan is a very approachable guy, with a nice smile and an unassuming manner. I've fallen in love with Usagi Yojimbo, and addicted my little sister to it also. Usagi has a depth to it, a love of the culture along with a desire to teach. It entertains, but you learn something new about Japanese history in almost every issue. There is a vast continuity, but you can pick it up at just about any issue and enjoy it. This is the kind of book that the industry desperately needs, and I'm amazed and pleased that Stan is celebrating 20 years of Usagi this year, which is why he was the headliner at the Emerald City Comicon, and why I got to meet him again.

Again, as a reminder: Almost every sketch in my sketchbook was non-commissioned and done on the floor of a con. These are not the best works of the artists. These are only representative of what the artist can do under pressure in a loud, crowded, and often stressed-out environment. Most of them were done as quickly as possible, to prevent huge lines from forming. Don't judge any of these artists negatively by the artwork you see, instead be as impressed as I am by what they accomplished in far-from-ideal conditions.

To see all the sketches I have permission to post so far, check out my Sketchbook Page. If you have any contact information for any of the other artists I'm trying to contact, please e-mail me. Click for a random Aquaman sketch.

The Saturday Sketch™ is brought to you by the letters "A", "Q" and the number "27", and also courtesy the fine artists who pour their lives into producing wonderful comic books, then come to conventions only to get asked by geeky fangirls for a sketch of Aquaman. Support an artist, buy a comic book.

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