Afro Samurai Volume 1

by Takashi Okazaki

Many are familiar with Afro Samurai in its anime form as it appeared on Spike TV starting last year. In anticipation of the video game and "Afro Samurai: Resurrection" releases in early 2009 we have the first volume of the Afro Samurai manga to tide fans over. But to be honest, this discounts the stand-alone satisfaction this first volume that only-manga readers will get.

Personally, I have never seen "Afro Samurai" in anime form, so my read of the manga is my first introduction to the story. Initially I thought the premise, although original, was a little contrived, but I am happy to report this manga delivers, though maybe more in style than depth. Although American fans got the anime version first, it is easy to see why Takahashi Okazaki's original manga was picked up for animation. The story reads like a movie storyboard, carried by Okazaki's ambitious and original artwork.

Afro Samurai is a story of power and revenge. This is a modern, or futuristic vision of Japan that is still living in the feudalistic days of the samurai. Katana meet machine guns, rocket launchers and woofer-packing danjiri tanks. This is not "Road Warrior", though, and like something out of a Seijun Suzuki or Guy Ritchie movie, these baddies have a code. Warriors are ranked, and only Number Two can challenge the envied title of Number One, marked by the appropriate headband. It will be no surprise to hear that Afro Samurai's father held that Number One headband until he was murdered in front of his then very young son. As the story begins, the Afro Samurai wears the Number Two headband, and as his mission to find Number One takes him across Japan, and he is challenged by those that want that powerful Number Two status in order to go after Number One themselves.

This first volume contains five chapters that basically introduce Number Two, as he is called, and the scores and scores and scores of assassins and warlords that want not only Number Two's head, but more importantly his headband. The body count in this manga is ginormous and the simple story is a solid but not always important factor in Okazaki's expose of Number Two's very worthy ranking on the samurai charts.

There are several things I liked about this new series in English that inspired the anime. The story is simple and Okazaki takes advantage of the manga genre to show off his rich and brilliant style. I also enjoyed the odd timeless nature of the story. A traditional festival has a DJ mixing records and although samurai swords are the weapon of choice, cell phones and Gatling guns are no stranger to this reality.

Despite having Samuel L. Jackson voice the anime, Number Two almost never speaks in the manga, like the true Spaghetti Western heroes and the samurai movies that helped inspire them. Afro Samurai lets his blade do the talking, and it is as busy as the hosts of "The View".

Race is not a factor in this tale, rank is. Afro Samurai presents a very visual, vibrant and violent approach to its story telling. As I mentioned earlier, this reads like a storyboard to an incredibly badass samurai movie. Okazaki's artwork is cool and infective, but there are more than a couple frames where the intensity of the action gets the best him, and it is hard to see what it going on. Overall, however, it is Okazaki's rich and darkly toned style and unique universe which makes Afro Samurai a more than worthy read...if "read" is the right word...maybe "experience" that makes this reader looking forward to cracking Volume 2.