Stan Sakai (Japanese/American, b.1953)

Stan Sakai broke into the comic industry lettering Groo the Wanderer for Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragones in the early 1980s. After several of his own stories (set in a medieval anthropomorphic world) were published in various small press titles, he achieved his greatest fame in 1984 with the creation of his next character, Usagi Yojimbo. Miyamoto Usagi was a samurai rabbit living in Japan during the 16th century. Sakai continues the adventures of the Bushido bunny to this day. In 1989, Usagi was briefly licensed and appeared in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon and action figure line. Stan Sakai has also produced a title set in the future named Space Usagi Stan Sakai is a beloved convention guest and one of the nicest people working in the comic industry.