Comic fans who enjoy a departure from the standard superhero faire might be inclined to recommend Usagi Yojimbo. The character is uniquely drawn and written by comics legend Stan Sakai and was originally created in 1984. The most interesting thing about Yojimbo is that its looks can be deceiving.

Stan Sakai draws in a style that could be described as cute, but the stories and their gravity are anything but. Usagi Yojimbo is a consummate warrior who fights in pitched battles against the forces of evil. The title character is loosely based on the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi so history buffs should really give this character a second look.

Look at it this way, anyone who is a fan of Samurai films and that part of world history will have a home with Mr. Sakai and his charming characters. In order to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of this iconic character Dark Horse comics is releasing a special graphic novel called Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai. Yokai are the monsters, demons and spirits of Japanese folklore.

Usagi has been commissioned to retrieve an little girl who has been kidnapped by the evil Yokai. With the help of Sasuke the Demon Queller, Usagi must stop the demons from entering our world. But of course things are not all as they seem in this timeless adventure.

Be on the lookout for Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai written, hand painted, and lettered all by Stan Sakai himself. The book comes out this fall from Dark Horse Comics.