Previews for May featured an interview with Stan Sakai; he’s finishing up 47 Ronin soon and looking forward to getting back to Usagi Yojimbo. Before that, though, he mentions that he wants to do a non-canonical mini-series featuring the ronin rabbit versus the Martians from The War of the Worlds. So that’s something to look forward to.

Also, remember Free Comic Book Day is Saturday, May 4.

Usagi Yojimbo, the comic-book series about a samurai rabbit, is to get an iOS game adaptation.

Created by six-time Ursa Major Award winner Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo is set during Japan's Edo period, and tells the story of ronin Miyamoto Usagi.

The game adaptation, a classic-style beat-em-up side-scroller, is being created by Happy Giant Media. Their CEO Michael Levine has said that the game will feature over 80 different enemy types, and 15 unique bosses. Usagi will fight solo, or with companions he picks up along his journey.

In order to preserve the graphic-novel feel of Usagi's original media, the game will also feature interactive comic book-style cutscenes.

Happy Giant is aiming to release Usagi Yojimbo (for iPhone and iPad) around Christmas. The game is expected to be "probably a dollar or free", with in-app purchases for special power-ups and costumes.

In the latest collection of Usagi Yojimbo comics coming from Dark Horse, the rabbit ronin faces an army of the undead! Here’s the publisher’s description of Usagi Yojimbo Volume 26: Traitors of the Earth — “With hundreds of zombies and an evil wizard to contend with, Usagi finds himself far out of his depth! Fortunately, he has the aid of fan-favorite character Sasuké the Demon Queller, most recently seen in the Yokai graphic novel. This volume also features several action-packed short stories, including the Eisner-nominated “Death of Lord Hikiji”! This volume collects Usagi Yojimbo #117–#123 and stories from Dark Horse Maverick 2001 and MySpace Dark Horse Presents #35.” When it arrives in stores it’ll be available in softcover, and also in a special signed hardcover edition that will be limited to 350 copies. The introduction is by well-known comic book great Walter Simonson (Thor, Orion). All of this brought to you by the multi-award-winning writer and artist Stan Sakai, of course.

image c. 2012 Dark Horse

Another low-furry month, and the best items in my opinion are borderline, the last two in this post. An even later report than usual; sorry. But it may still be of historical value.

Man, there's hardly anything this month. I threw in the latest Girl Genius collection; I'm not sure if there's anything furry in it beside the robot dog, but it's the only thing in this month's post that I've ordered.

Another recommended hardback from Fantagraphics this month, a French classic you've probably never heard of.

Quite a lot of material this month in addition to the usual; in particular, two impressive hardbacks from Fantagraphics and a new volume of Dungeon from NBM. Also the zombie glut is worse than ever, and an unusual number of manga series come to an end. Most were short-lived compared to Sgt. Frog's 21 volumes, but Hikaru no Go (non-anthro) ends at 23.

Not much this month, and nothing special in what there is. But what there is, is . . .

Now that the Warner Brothers comics aren't being done by huge committees, the practice has moved to the Arch* companies. For better or worse, I can't say. Also there's a huge selection of non-pamphlet items this month, including three huge pricey bargains from Fantagraphics that I'd go for if I didn't have everything already. If you rely mainly on a standard pull list at your comic shop, you need to read this month's selections.

Mostly the usual, with a bunch of juveniles I decided to include anyway. Also Fosgitt.

Last month, the latest Finder softcover; this month, the latest Girl Genius, sc & hc, and a Jim Woodring graphic novel. Life is good. Even if Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer is coming out too.

Stan Sakai of Usagi Yojimbo comic book fame was recently interviewed by Sequential Tart, a montly comics e-zine. Check out the interview here