Thomas Batten

Biker mice from Mars, a mysterious manuscript that can control the world, and a space-traveling samurai rabbit all play out in the creatively vibrant pages of graphic works this season, filling collections with innovation and engagement. 

Stan Sakai is the creator of “Usagi Yojimbo,” a graphic novel series featuring a samurai rabbit named Miyamoto Usagi living in 17th-century Japan; the new installment, Space Usagi: White Star Rising, is due out from Dark Horse in May. LJ talks with Sakai about samurai warriors, blending genres, and his enduring career.

LJ’s annual look into the art, ideas, and subjects of the graphic novel format spotlights several trends to note: web comics are bringing new readers and new voices into the field; nonfiction dominates and will continue to do so; and, within fiction genres, horror is predominant, and nostalgia for classic characters and concepts is on the rise.