What’s Next for Usagi…

It appears that the rest of the year will be a busy one for Usagi Yojimbo as well as his creator, Stan Sakai.

First up, in October we’ll finally see the release of Fantagraphics 2-volume hardcover limited edition release Usagi Yojimbo: The Special Edition. As noted, it is a limited edition run so don’t hesitate too much about your decision to own it, because I don’t reckon it will last long. Following that we’ve got the “Taiko” (Japanese drums) storyline, “Toad Oil,” a one-shot story featuring the Lord of the Owls and more.

Additional commentary on these storylines and an upcoming exhibition featuring Stan can be found in CBR’s recent interview:

Following the Lord of Owls story in January, there will be a two-part arc called ‘The Red Scorpion,’ in which ‘Usagi goes against a gang who are terrorizing the entire area.’ Sakai also noted that #141 will be the 200th issue of ‘Usagi Yojimbo,’ taking into account its runs at Fantagraphics and Mirage as well as several specials.

Next year, Sakai will be the subject of an exhibition at Los Angeles’ Japanese American National Museum. ‘ 2011 will be the Year of the Rabbit, and they want to do a retrospective of my work on ‘Usagi,’ Sakai said. ‘In conjunction with that, they’re doing a little documentary about me. They started filming at San Diego con, so they got interviews with Sergio Aragones, Scott Shaw!, Mark Evanier, Stan Lee and a whole bunch of others. It’s kind of neat. You get to hear your eulogy even before you’re dead!’

You can read the rest of the interview here. Gotta love the Fall! Family, Food, Football…and Usagi!

Sanderson’s ‘The Way of Kings’ 1 Credit at Audible.com

Just wanted to let anyone interested in picking up the audio version of Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive know that until October 31st Audible.com is offering the book to members for only 1 credit despite it’s hefty page count. And, of course, this is the same audio featuring the voices of veterans Michael Kramer and Kate Reading (of Wheel of Time fame) that everyone was a buzz about several months ago so there’s an awful lot of incentive to pick this up.

I’ve got the hardcover on my shelf already, but I know I’ll be picking up the audio as well so as to get the most out of both approaches to the story.

Here’s Macmillin’s offiical synopsis:

Widely acclaimed for his work completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time saga, Brandon Sanderson now begins a grand cycle of his own, one every bit as ambitious and immersive.

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the 10 consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Wars were fought for them, and won by them. One such war rages on the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where 10 armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan’s motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The Last Unicorn (cont.)

The [6] covers for IDW’s comic adaption of Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn, as illustrated by Renae De Liz and colored and inked by her husband Ray Dillon, have been fantastic. I hadn’t had the chance to update past the first cover so if you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen do yourself a favor and check out their respective websites for more by these two talented creators (and hopefully we’ll hear word of an IDW trade-paperback collection of this series soon).

As for what Peter S. Beagle has to say about the adaption as reported by IDW:

‘I’m delighted that IDW is doing this adaptation of my book,’ says Beagle, ‘and by the real concern they’ve shown for the integrity of what I wrote. Peter Gillis is a wonderful choice as a scripter — I couldn’t have done a better job myself — and Renae and Ray have brought my characters to vivid life. Together with IDW, they are achieving something I honestly hadn’t believed possible.’

Nice praise indeed.

Valkyria Chronicles 3?

Sega’s Valkyria Chronicles made its debut on the PS3 in November 2008 and quickly garnered critical acclaim from fans and professionals alike for its unique visual presentation, solid strategy role play, gripping story and the unique action elements it brought to the genre. Sales weren’t as quick to follow at first, but due to the efforts of enthusiastic fans getting the word out about the quality of the game and thanks to some compelling downloadable content and a couple of timely discounts by Sega and retailers, Valkyria Chronicles turned the corner and ultimately proved to be a happy success for Sega both in Japan and the United States. So much so that they publicly thanked fans for their support and deemed it worthy of a sequel on the Sony PSP (releasing this week to yet more acclaim for anyone interested).

Well, as happy as most fans are about the way things are shaping up for the series, many are also hoping for a new entry on the PS3 to continue the great presentation and experience that they had with the original title. Well, this new teaser site just went up, and who is to say just what it means. Valkyria 3 perhaps? On the PS3? I suppose we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out with that ominous 9.16 date. I mention it here because the series is certainly something with crossover appeal that will likely appeal to fans of speculative fiction. Whatever the case, it made my day and I hope a few of you at least will check out the series to see what all the hub-bub is about.

[Update: Valkyria Chronicles 3 was announced as heading to the PSP last week at the Tokyo Game Show. However, if sales continue to rise with the critical acclaim I wouldn’t be surprised to see another appearance on the PS3 in the relatively near future.]

Recent Acquisitions (August 2010)

It’s back to class, with a number of Jewish Studies courses this semester, but I did manage to sneak several fantasy titles in for good measure. You’ll notice some older Dragonlance books on the list, a series that has always held a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to jump back into those (ah, memories). I’ll be trying Tracy Hickman’s newest offering, Song of the Dragon in audio format this month as well. I’m also really looking forward to seeing what Matt Forbeck and Jeff Grubbs have in store for us in Ghosts of Ascalon. Guild Wars 2, ArenaNet’s upcoming MMO, looks and sounds amazing so hopefully the novel, which has received a lot of positive buzz, will flesh out this universe even more and allow me another outlet by which to enjoy it. And look at that, more Fables to boot.

Anyhow, here’s what I picked up in August:

All But My Life by Gerda Weissmann Klein

Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love by Chris Roberson

Dragonlance: The Legend of Huma by Richard A. Knaak

Dragonlance: Tales Collection by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Guild Wars 2: Ghosts of Ascalon by Matt Forbeck and Jeff Grubb

Audio: Song of the Dragon: Volume One of the Annals of Drakis by Tracy Hickman

Peter & Max: A Fables Novel TP

Peter & Max: A Fables Novel quickly became one of my favorite books in recent years (feel free to jump to my “Review” section for more) and now there’s a new TP version for anyone who hasn’t yet experienced it. Please do yourself a favor and check it out __ it’s all kinds of fun.

PETER & MAX: A FABLES NOVEL TP

Written by BILL WILLINGHAM
Art by STEVE LEIALOHA
Cover by DANIEL DOS SANTOS

The critically acclaimed prose novel from FABLES creator Bill Willingham — now in trade paperback!

The tale takes place long ago, in the deepest dark of The Black Forest. Two brothers — Peter Piper and his older brother Max — encounter ominous forces that change them both irreparably. Thus begins an epic tale of sibling rivalry, magic, music and revenge that spans medieval times to the present day, when their deadly conflict surfaces in the placid calm of modern day Fabletown.

PETER & MAX: A FABLES NOVEL features the prose of award-winning comic book writer Bill Willingham and the lush ink drawings of FABLES artist Steve Leialoha. The novel also reveals secrets of some of the regular FABLES series cast members including Bigby Wolf, Frau Totenkinder and Bo Peep, along with an 8-page comics story by Willingham and Leialoha!

On sale DECEMBER 22 • 400 pg, B&W, $14.99 US MATURE READERS

Usagi Yojimbo: 2-Part “Taiko” Story in November

The Japanese word for the day is “Taiko,” meaning  “drum.”

But seriously, just a friendly reminder about the upcoming “Taiko” storyline for anyone following Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo (as I know some of you are) or for those looking for a good place to jump on board:

USAGI YOJIMBO #132 and #133: TAIKO Parts 1 and 2

Stan Sakai (W/A)
On sale Oct 27
b&w, 24 pages
$3.50

These issues form both halves of “Taiko,” a special double-issue story line. A group of drought-stricken farmers commission an enormous taiko drum to show their devotion to the gods, and pray for rain. But the bloodthirsty Red Scorpion Gang threatens to destroy the drum unless the farmers pay up, so the farmers must turn to rabbit ronin Usagi to protect the drum, lest they face starvation from drought! When the Red Scorpion Gang burns down the farmers’ temple and the drum is in jeopardy, Usagi must figure out how to rescue it and fight the Red Scorpions at the same time, or all is lost!

• Special double-issue story line makes a great introduction to Usagi Yojimbo for new readers!

• Issue #123 of this Eisner Award-winning series was nominated for the 2010 Eisner for Best Single Issue!

Guild Wars: Ghosts of Ascalon (Ch.1 Preview)

“A Deadly New Age…”

I’ll admit right off the bat that I don’t have a whole lot of experience with MMORPG’s. I just haven’t ever found the kind of time necessary to properly immerse myself in them (probably a good thing) but I have been fascinated with NC Soft’s Guild Wars series, the world of Ascalon and its characters since the original release several years ago (its free-to-play shtick didn’t hurt either). I can say that I own the core game and it’s final expansion, and that I’ve really enjoyed the occasions when I’ve been able to spend a few hours and explore a bit. The desire is there, certainly, and I’m looking closely at Guild Wars 2 to see if the innovations it’s making might be helpful for a player like me that’s forced to take it a little more casually.

However, the art and imagination that has gone into the creation of the Guild Wars universe has proven fascinating to me and time and time again I’ve found myself lost in the official site, or in the manuals, to learn about Ascalon and its many rich characters. So you can imagine how excited I was to learn about the release of Ghosts of Ascalon, the franchises first foray into novels, and that I’ll finally be able to immerse myself in this world — if in a more literary manner for the time being. And from all accounts I’ve stumbled across so far, it’s apparently pretty good stuff.

You can read the first chapter of Guild Wars: Ghosts of Ascalon to find out for yourself at the offical site:

For hundreds of years mankind and the ferocious cat-like charr have been locked in a death struggle. When the charr invaded the human kingdom of Ascalon centuries ago, King Adelbern invoked the devastating Foefire to keep the enemy from the gates. Now, over two hundred years later, the first real chance for peace between the warring races has appeared. Both charr and humans are exhausted by continual fighting and deadly new threats such as the ascendant power of the Elder Dragons. The battle weary humans want to discuss a truce, but before the charr will talk peace with their old enemies, they require a relic of their glorious past – an artifact that disappeared many years ago in the Foefire.

Dougal Keane is one of the few people to have walked within the haunted walls within Ascalon City and lived to tell the tale. Now, against his better judgment, he leads a team of adventurers back into the ruins of the fallen kingdom on a desperate search for the charr relic. Dougal will have to face both the undead spirits of forgotten Ascalon as well as his own personal ghosts if he and his comrades are going to survive the experience!

Ghosts of Ascalon is in stores now.

Jeff Smith’s ‘Tall Tales’ Hits Shelves in August

The wait is almost over.

Jeff Smith’s epic comic series Bone really needs no introduction given the immense world-wide popularity it has achieved since bursting onto the indy scene in the early 90’s…but if by chance you’ve never experienced Smith’s fantastic b&w strips then take a moment to visit Jeff Smith’s Boneville blog and then run (though driving may work) to your nearest book seller of choice and pick up the massive One Volume Edition clocking in at a whopping 1300 black and white pages! It is truly a masterpiece that you don’t want to miss.

But the real reason for this post is to tell you about the comic & prose graphic novel that Jeff Smith and writer Tom Sniegoski have put together that will once more transport readers to the fantastical world of Boneville. Readers will once again be treated to several stories set in Jeff Smith’s fantastical world with Tall Tales setting the stage for a series of novels that is being releasing this fall in the Quest for the Spark trilogy. More on these books in Scholastic’s official press release:

Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, is delighted to announce the acquisition of US, Canada, Philippines, and English Language rights to new titles by Jeff Smith featuring characters from his bestselling BONE series of graphic novels. First to be published will be ‘BONE: Tall Tales,’ coming in Summer 2010, written by Jeff Smith and Tom Sniegoski, and illustrated by Jeff Smith, featuring new art and stories with favorite BONE characters. In addition, Scholastic will publish a highly-anticipated expansion of the BONE world—the Quest for the Spark Trilogy. Overseen by Smith, the trilogy will be written by Tom Sniegoski and illustrated by Jeff Smith. ‘BONE Quest for the Spark: Book One’ (Fall 2010), ‘BONE Quest for the Spark: Book Two’ (Spring 2011), and ‘BONE Quest for the Spark: Book Three’ (Summer 2011) represent the first time Smith has continued the adventures set in the valley since the publication of Rose, the prequel to the BONE series—to be released by Scholastic/Graphix in August 2009. The deal for additional BONE publishing was negotiated by Vijaya Iyer for Cartoon Books/Jeff Smith and by David Saylor, Vice President, Creative Director of Trade Publishing and Editorial Director of Graphix, for Scholastic.

There are more than 4.5 million BONE books in print from Scholastic since the Graphix imprint first launched with the full-color version of “Bone #1: Out from Boneville” in 2005. Time Magazine named BONE one of the top ten graphic novels of all time, and Smith is the winner of multiple awards, including ten Eisner Awards and eleven Harvey Awards—two of the most respected awards in the comics industry.

‘Jeff Smith has hinted over the years that there’s more to discover in the world of BONE,’ said David Saylor, Vice President, Creative Director of Scholastic Trade Publishing and Editorial Director of Graphix, a Scholastic imprint. ‘So it’s an incredibly exciting moment for Scholastic and for fans of BONE that we’ll now be publishing books that extend and enrich Jeff’s brilliantly original series.’

‘I always said I would find a way to draw more Bone stories, and now I have,’ said Jeff Smith. ‘Tom is great to work with and we’re going to have a lot of fun!’

Be on the look out for Bone: Tall Tales as early as August 1st at some retailers (Amazon, for example).

GRRM’s ‘A Game of Thrones: Genesis’

Last May the internet and I stumbled upon news that Cyanide Studios would develop a game based on GRRM’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and in the year that followed that single post has easily been one of the most popular here at the blog. And while I’m grateful for that, hopefully it means that (a) more than a few of you are excited about the possibility of playing in the Game of Thrones sandbox and (b) that Cyanide Studios will put as much care and effort into the game that they can muster knowing the multitude of devotees this series has that are hoping for something great.

Thanks to the press release that follows we find out that A Game of Thrones: Genesis will be a strategy title with multiple paths to take and ways in which to play, so I’ll be interested to see how the idea translates to the actual game play in the months to come. It’s an interesting approach to the series, and one that seems rather appropriate I’ll admit, and if the concept art is any indication you’ll want to at least keep an eye on this one.

From Cyanide Studios:

A Game of Thrones: Genesis” plunges you into the heart of the battles and intrigues between the Families that shaped the Kingdom of Westeros.

However, victory does not necessarily result from brute force. The innovative game mechanics provide players with numerous paths to success: will you opt for a military, economic or diplomatic approach? Trickery, treachery and deceit are widespread and you will constantly have to watch your back if you want to avoid a bitter defeat!

Peacefully or forcefully annex surrounding territories, besiege enemy castles, send spies to infiltrate behind enemy lines, assassinate trouble-making officers or capture them to ask for a ransom… When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground!