Afro Samurai was a cultural hit when it was released in America. Featuring Samuel Jackson, this was an anime classic at release. Now we are proud to have the manga that started it all, and it is just as action packed (if not more) as the hit anime.
Afro Samurai Volume 1 follows the story of an amazingly strong swordsman knows as Afro. The book opens just as the anime. We see a young Afro brought to the battle ground by his father, the current Number 1 (swordsman of the world). There on the battle field is the current Number 2 that goes by the name Justice. Their battle ends quickly with Afros father being de-headed, and Justice taking the headband of the Number 1 and leaving the Number 2 headband with Afro. Afro will then grow up into a man bent on revenge for his father’s death.
Afro will be confronted with many people after the Number 2 headband. This is because in the story the man that holds the Number 1 headband is seen as a god, and the person with the Number 2 headband is the only one that can challenge the Number 1.
He will also run into the Empty Seven. We learn much more about this group in the manga than in the anime. All I will say though is that they work for the Number 1, but wish to take his power away.
The first volume will also introduce Kuma, but in this volume you see the reserve he has to fight Afro when Afro is at 100%. The volume is very well drawn and shows where the style of the anime truly came from.
Afro Samurai is an action packed blood fest of true classic samurai/western style. This truly shows how good stories can become when you combine Eastern and Western styles of media. Afro is a mature comic, and is in retail stores now.
George Scherer
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