Our pal Stan Sakai took home the National Cartoonists Society award last night in the Comic Book Division. The group's 57th annual award ceremony was held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, and Stan's wonderful Usagi Yojimbo feature was honored, along with work by other top cartoonist-type people. The top trophy — the Reuben for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year — went to Matt (Simpsons) Groening, but we're more excited about Stan's win. Usagi Yojimbo is that rarity in the world of comics: A book conceived, written, lettered and wholly illustrated by one person — and produced not for just a few stories but over an extended period. Tom Luth provides cover coloring but otherwise, it's all Stan, as it has been for around 20 years, ever since the notion of the Samurai Rabbit occurred to him. The character first appeared in the second issue of a limited-run comic called Albedo, which is now very valuable. (As I write this, a copy is being auctioned off on eBay. Bidding is up to $255 and it still has more than three days to run.) Anyway, we couldn't be happier to see Stan's talents and commitment be recognized this way. You can read more about Stan and his bunny at his website.