Usagi Yojimbo: Yōkai #1

Released in 2009 by Dark Horse Comics, Usagi Yojimbo: Yōkai marks a departure from the long-running monthly series by Stan Sakai. This standalone graphic novel serves as a reimagining of Japanese folklore, specifically focusing on the supernatural Yōkai that inhabit the world of Miyamoto Usagi. Sakai, who both wrote and illustrated the work, utilized a full-color palette to enhance the eerie, atmospheric nature of these traditional spirits, diverging from his signature black-and-white ink aesthetic.

The creative intent behind this volume was to blend Sakai’s established ronin narrative with the rich, macabre iconography of classic ghost stories. The design emphasizes a cinematic structure, with the color work—handled by Tom Luth—providing a distinct identity within the broader Usagi Yojimbo canon. Upon its release, the volume was well-received for its artistic ambition, earning a place in the series' history as a definitive exploration of the folk-horror elements that had long influenced Sakai’s storytelling.