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So;
I've been thinking about the posts a lot of you guys make here, and ones I've seen other places where the discussion is a mounting discontent with the way old favourites are being handled. For two weeks I was sicker than a dog; to the point I couldn't leave bed for more than a few minutes without falling over. To pass the time I started re-reading some old books. One of which was "Usagi Yojimbo." It dawned on me the other day: I've been reading this book for almost 25 YEARS and it isn't getting old. Even on a re-read the stories are still entertaining. Made me wonder how Stan Sakai managed this feat of comic book engineering.
So I'm mulling over the secrets of comic book longevity. Some of my theories:
-A natural progression for the story. If something happens, it happens. If something SHOULD happen, it happens. Good or bad. And if someone dies, they stay dead. Them's the breaks. (Except for "Jei" in the Usagi book. Sort of. He's a weird "emissary of the gods" who travels the country punishing evil. He died; but whatever spirit posessed him moved on to someone else.)
-Lots of interesting secondary characters. Some of the background characters on this book are just as interesting as the hero! (Some of them, like Tomo Ame and Gennosuke are almost as POPULAR as the hero.) And a lot of stories focus on THEM instead of always making Usagi the main guy. (Sorta how superhero books used to be about the bad guys just as much as the heroes.)
-Do your homework. Every Usagi story has some basis in ancient Japanese culture; and not always the beating people up parts. Using the setting and playing off of the background is a good way to flesh out the setting. It's also a good way to garner new material for stories. Think of all the aspects of MODERN life that you could do stories from. (But nobody does.)
-A variety of occurences. Not every story is the same. Usagi has featured more than a few dramas, comedies, horror stories, action..... And Stan Sakai has made a point of doing different stories different ways; including changing the way he does layouts, pacing, perspectives, even art styles. Not every story has long reaching consequences either; lots of one-shots, and lots of weird... almost non-sequitur stories. Sorta how sometimes stuff happens in real life that doesn't really MATTER for anything but makes you go "huh? That was weird."
Any other ideas about what else contributes to the longevity of a book?
Don C.
I've been thinking about the posts a lot of you guys make here, and ones I've seen other places where the discussion is a mounting discontent with the way old favourites are being handled. For two weeks I was sicker than a dog; to the point I couldn't leave bed for more than a few minutes without falling over. To pass the time I started re-reading some old books. One of which was "Usagi Yojimbo." It dawned on me the other day: I've been reading this book for almost 25 YEARS and it isn't getting old. Even on a re-read the stories are still entertaining. Made me wonder how Stan Sakai managed this feat of comic book engineering.
So I'm mulling over the secrets of comic book longevity. Some of my theories:
-A natural progression for the story. If something happens, it happens. If something SHOULD happen, it happens. Good or bad. And if someone dies, they stay dead. Them's the breaks. (Except for "Jei" in the Usagi book. Sort of. He's a weird "emissary of the gods" who travels the country punishing evil. He died; but whatever spirit posessed him moved on to someone else.)
-Lots of interesting secondary characters. Some of the background characters on this book are just as interesting as the hero! (Some of them, like Tomo Ame and Gennosuke are almost as POPULAR as the hero.) And a lot of stories focus on THEM instead of always making Usagi the main guy. (Sorta how superhero books used to be about the bad guys just as much as the heroes.)
-Do your homework. Every Usagi story has some basis in ancient Japanese culture; and not always the beating people up parts. Using the setting and playing off of the background is a good way to flesh out the setting. It's also a good way to garner new material for stories. Think of all the aspects of MODERN life that you could do stories from. (But nobody does.)
-A variety of occurences. Not every story is the same. Usagi has featured more than a few dramas, comedies, horror stories, action..... And Stan Sakai has made a point of doing different stories different ways; including changing the way he does layouts, pacing, perspectives, even art styles. Not every story has long reaching consequences either; lots of one-shots, and lots of weird... almost non-sequitur stories. Sorta how sometimes stuff happens in real life that doesn't really MATTER for anything but makes you go "huh? That was weird."
Any other ideas about what else contributes to the longevity of a book?
Don C.
...Jack Knight is who I'm taking about. If you haven't read any of Robinson's "Starman" you're missing out on some good stuff!
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