Comics / Comics News

Dark Horse Celebrates Usagi Yojimbo Anniversary

By The Editor
November 17, 2009 - 09:53

DARK HORSE TEAMS WITH THE HUNDREDS TO CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF USAGI YOJIMBO!

DARK HORSE AND THE HUNDREDS BRAND ANNOUNCE TWO LIMITED-EDITION USAGI YOJIMBO T-SHIRTS TO BE RELEASED THIS SATURDAY

Dark Horse has teamed up with the LA-based clothing label The Hundreds for the creation of two extremely limited T-shirts featuring new art from creator Stan Sakai, to be released this coming Saturday. The T-shirts, which have been produced in a limited run of only two hundred of each design, will hit retail at The Hundreds’ Los Angeles and San Francisco locations this coming weekend. Usagi creator Stan Sakai will be at the Rosewood location in LA from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to sign copies of the latest issue of the monthly comic. In addition, the first twenty-five people through the door will receive a signed copy of the first-ever full-color Usagi Yojimbo graphic novel, Yokai.

Usagi Yojimbo is the long running comic set in 17th century Japan, with anthropomorphic animals replacing humans, featuring the lovable rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, who wanders the land as a shugyosha (student warrior on a pilgramage) occasionally selling his services as a yojimbo (bodyguard). Usagi Yojimbo is one of the most celebrated ongoing comics, adored by critics and fans of all ages for the last 25 years.

“I am always excited to hear stories of the impact of Usagi on other creative individuals, especially those working outside of comics” said Usagi Yojimbo creator, Stan Sakai. “I hope that this collaboration exposes a whole new group of people to Usagi, and comics in general. I'm grateful to have had the chance to work on this project with Bobby and everyone at The Hundreds.”

“Much of what I do today, as creative director for the Hundreds, stems from poring over Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo art as a youth,” said The Hundreds cofounder Bobby Kim. “To this day, it was one of the most influential comic books in my life, and so it was an honor to work with Stan on two exclusive pieces of art for The Hundreds. To any fan of The Hundreds, it is important to acknowledge and appreciate Usagi Yojimbo’s inspiration to the brand.”

About Dark Horse:
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Stan Sakai, Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, and comics legend Will Eisner, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Aliens, Conan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton,  Trigun, and The Incredibles. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comics publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as the world’s leading publisher of licensed comics material.

About The Hundreds:
The Hundreds apparel is inspired by Los Angeles lifestyle and Southern California’s skateboarding, surf, punk, and hip-hop cultures. The design is also reminiscent of 1980s surf-culture T-shirts, independent skateboard company apparel of the 1990s, and the advent of “streetwear” at the end of the millennium. The line is comprised of graphic T-shirts, denim, wovens, fleece, outerwear, headwear, and accessories.

In late 2008, The Hundreds also launched a shoe program monikored The Hundreds Footwear. And in 2009, The Hundreds’ optical program, The Hundreds Eyeware, debuted to the public.

To date, The Hundreds has worked on special collaborative projects with globally recognized brands like Disney, SE BMX, DeLorean Motor Co., Forum Snowboards, Casio G-Shock, eS, Gravis, Medicom, and individual artists and designers such as David Choe, Jun Cha, Tofer, Robbie Conal, Angelyne, H2O, Kurupt, Craola, Avail, and Usugrow.

The Hundreds product is sold in limited quantities in the world’s most prestigious streetwear and skate boutiques and has also been featured as a cover story in such media as the Los Angeles Times, New York Times Magazine, Antenna, Giant Robot, KoreAm, MuchMusic Television, and Inc. magazine.

Currently, The Hundreds is stocked in over four hundred accounts in every major city of the world. This includes The Hundreds’ first flagship retail location in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, and the second The Hundreds store in San Francisco’s Union Square.

 

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12