Shi: Senryaku
A groundbreaking 1995 anthology where legendary artists bring Billy Tucci's Shi to life through Sun Tzu's Thirty-Six Stratagems—a meditation on conflict, wisdom, and the warrior's path.
📖 Crusade Comics • Started 1995
In 1995, Billy Tucci conceived one of the most ambitious comic book projects in independent publishing history. Shi: Senryaku brought together 36 of the comic industry’s greatest artists to interpret stories about Ana Ishikawa—the white-faced samurai warrior at the heart of Tucci’s Shi universe—through the lens of Sun Tzu’s ancient military wisdom.
The Art of War Meets the Art of Comics
“Shi” means “death” in Japanese, and “Senryaku” translates to “strategy.” The title perfectly captures the project’s ambitious scope: each of the 36 stories corresponds to one of the stratagems from the classic Chinese treatise The Art of War, taught to young Ana by her grandfather as she trains to become a sohei warrior monk.
The result is a unique anthology that functions both as an introduction to Ana Ishikawa’s world and as a meditation on conflict, wisdom, and the warrior’s path. There is no traditional plot—instead, each story offers a distinct visual interpretation of these ancient teachings through the lens of Shi and her universe.
A Once-in-a-Generation Collaboration
What makes Shi: Senryaku truly extraordinary is its unprecedented roster of artistic talent. Billy Tucci somehow convinced a dream team of industry legends—including Jim Lee, Frank Frazetta, Adam Hughes, George Perez, Jae Lee, Marc Silvestri, Amanda Conner, Stan Sakai, Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Quesada, Jeff Smith, Terry Moore, and dozens more—to each interpret one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems through their unique artistic lens.
The project represented a unique moment in comics history when creators from competing publishers set aside their differences to contribute to a single visionary work. Each artist brought their own style, approach, and interpretation to Ana’s world, creating a rich tapestry of visual storytelling that no single artist could have achieved alone.
The 2024 Omnibus: A New Beginning
Originally released as a three-issue collected edition in 1995-1996, Shi: Senryaku remained a sought-after collectors’ item for decades. In 2024, Crusade Comics released a stunning 240-page oversized hardcover omnibus featuring meticulously rescanned and remastered artwork—over half of which had never been seen before, reproduced as the creators originally intended.
The omnibus was funded through a massively successful crowdfunding campaign that raised over $200,000 between Kickstarter and Indiegogo, earning Kickstarter’s “Featured Project of the Day” distinction. The campaign united backers from over fifty countries, demonstrating the enduring appeal of both Shi and the legendary artists who contributed to this landmark project.
The Shi Legacy
Shi follows Ana Ishikawa, a young woman of Japanese and American descent torn between her grandfather’s samurai training and her American mother’s Christian teachings. The character debuted in March 1994 and has since been translated into five languages, selling over 3 million comic books worldwide.
But Shi: Senryaku’s impact extends beyond its own success. The series served as a launching pad for other major franchises—Top Cow’s Witchblade and David W. Mack’s Kabuki both debuted in Shi before going on to their own successful titles. Crusade Comics, founded by Billy Tucci in Bayport, New York, continues to produce new Shi content through crowdfunding campaigns, with total campaign proceeds exceeding $1,000,000.
Perfect for fans of anthology collections like Dark Horse Presents, classic crossover events, the martial arts action of Witchblade, 1990s independent comics at their peak, and visually stunning art books that showcase diverse artistic styles.
Sources: Billy Tucci Official Site, First Comics News, Kickstarter, Comics.org
