Usagi Yojimbo ("Rabbit Bodyguard").

Seattle; Milwaukie, Oregon; San Diego: Fantagraphics Books; Dark Horse Comics; IDW,, 1993-2020. A remarkable assemblage of the desirable signed format A rare complete set of the hardback signed limited editions of this popular graphic novel, each volume signed by the artist and all but the final three volumes with an ink sketch of the titular character by Sakai. Such complete sets are increasingly difficult to assemble: five volumes were issued in as few as 300 copies, while the others were mostly printed in runs of around 500 copies. The set also contains exclusive material, such as new stories and draft sketches, which are not found in the trade issues. Set in Edo Japan and featuring a cast of animal warriors, Sakai's samurai epic debuted as a paperback in 1987. Its growing popularity led the original publisher, Fantagraphics Books, to reissue the earlier volumes in a hardback format, and then in these signed limited editions. This practice continued under the auspices of Dark Horse Comics and finally under IDW Publishers, who discontinued the limited editions after releasing volume 34. The series counts ten Eisner Awards among its numerous accolades, was crossed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe, and in 2022 was adapted into the CGI-animated Netflix series Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. A full list of titles and print runs is available on request. 34 volumes, octavo. Original cloth and boards in various colours, large pictorial blocks on front covers, colour illustrated endpapers. With dust jackets. Illustrated throughout in the comic-strip format, occasionally in colour. Mysteries volume with small remainder mark on bottom edge. A fine set in like jackets.