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/MM mm
A TOR/SEVEN SEAS BOOK

g)iL[y][jffl[i

J/

Tmmm
 SAmurAi
VOLUME 2

STAFF CREDITS

translation Greg Moore

adaptation Joshua Fialkov
cover design Pablo Defendini
lettering & design Roland Amago
layout Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
editor Adam Arnold

A Tor/Seven Seas Publication

AFRO SAMURAI VOL, 2

Copyright © 2008 TAKASHI OKAZAKI, GONZO
All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and

incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are
used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Seven Seas and the Seven Seas logo are trademarks of

Seven Seas Entertainment. LLC. Tor® and the Tor logo are
registered trademarks of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

Visit us online at www.g0man9a.com and www.tor-forge.com.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-2239-5
ISBN-10: 0-7653-2239-0

Printed in the USA

February 2009
First printing:

109876 S43 2 1
TOR
 Table of Contents

^B Chaptei' 5

'^ 37
Wm ^^^P^®'
^H
^|H
Chapter 8 69

CKaptet 9 101

^H Chapter 10 133

^^^H Honorifics Guide 164

^^H| Translation Notes 165

^^H^ Creator Interview 166

H: Wm
AFro SAmurAl
I
#06
IV

•1

]r
-\
^1.,

# ;.^
 WE PON'T \iM^ micw
TO OFFER, BUT I'UU PO
ANVTHINS I C/tN TO CARE
FOR you UNTIL youR
WOUNPS /IRE HEALED.
 IT'S BEEN AAORE TM/4N
NOW THEM.. HALF A YEAR SINCE I
FOUNP THIS BSy, ANP HE
STILL WON'T EXPLAIN HIS
CIRCUMSTANCeS TO ME.
STILL, rT SEEMS HE HAS
NO ONE ELSE.

^.,^Kl
4',

ITHINK IT'S HI5H TIME WE

WELCOMEP HIM AS A NEW
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY... A^
WHAT PO you ALL THINK?

"ij::^^"^

YES.'.'

ANP I'M JINNOSUKE.

I'M THE OLPEST, K?/ I'M 31(5
WELCOME.' ,

eoy// (500P
TO Mf fr YA!!
I'M PeycHED YOUR
WOUNPS HMLEP. I'M
OTSURU. WELCOME
TO THE FAMILY
 JIN, I PON'T
THINK HE cm
TALK.

„.,-/f^x

HMM...
WHAT TO tW...?

NOIN MCr THIS

15 IS
- A H^ra^' t '
^mm n-*- '
.g^
IN THAT CASE, /e /IN was" WFuuiR
HOW ABOUT WE pswuw>^
Hsawsf/wp-
&IVE HIM A NAME? FUWEOOUT-
uLiwAiBy
—
LET'e CALL 'IM
DURING THE a\
'e\w>&ri 'cuz
THArS HOW HI6 IM "AFRO*///
HAIR 16/

/^I"

5^^^^ /
r^*^^B ^^V** Vn:
"APURS," »/?
NOT A BAP NAME
WHCUHEORIfCU />NP WILL^
SUIPt/ TEACH Y
[£f.^^S .^"^[K^^i AT ALL. WITHIN ««/ K"
LET'S BE

p!^f^-
^lNkh?i£!wlfl1^
k
'^
BUPS,
UITTLE PRO/;

fflw^H1
SOUNPS KINP
OF LIKE A PUN,
BUT WHAT DO
/OU SAV?

£V
 iO0K6 LIKE yOUVE
COME A lOhi6 <NAY. I
THINKWE CAN REMOVE
THE SPLINT NOW.
 yOU'BE JUST LIKE Ei/ER/ONE
EL6E HAS BEFORE THEy C*«E HEBE.
HOBCm HERE LIKES TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR PAST, BUT EVERV SIN&LE ONE
Of US ARRIVEP HERE BEARIN5 THE
BUROEN OF A TBRBIBLi One.

THArs WHEN SHE MET A CERTAIN

SOMEONE, WHO FR£0PH£l! FROM HER "FOR&IN/ENESS." )
CHAINS OF SPITE ANP LEP HER AWAY
FROM THE PATH OF THE PEVIL, BACK
TO HUMAN CIVILIZATION, ANP PO V"
KNOW WHAT THAT PERSON'S ^'
IMPORTANT TEACHING WAS?

V
|L_^'^ FIRST,
^V
^m
you MUST
FOR&WE yOURSELF
FOR /OUR OHW SINS.
ONLy THEN CAN yOU
^H CAN FORiJIVE OTHERS.

A WORLP WHERE ALL PEOPLE

fOOiNi EACH OTHER IS NOTHIN(J
SHORT OF IPEALISTIC, BUT IF THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRyiNS TO
ACTUALIZE THAT IPEAL INCREASES
By JUST ONB, PERHAPS THATS
ENOUGH TO MAKE THE WORLP A
BETTER PLACE.

IFyou CHANGE yOUR MINP,

you OUSHT TO JOIN US ON
OUR JOURNEy. I'M SURE
O-SACHI WOULP BE PELISHTEP.
 P/WN, MAN. PEOPLE
ARE SO NICE WERE IT'S
I BET yOU'LL AWKE
PLENTY OF NEW FRIENDS
V^^K*
B^^^ mJP
ALMOST PIS&USTIN'. JUS' LIKE YOUR (>IRL £1^3 '^
f\
^j^-^^-^^W*
^r^ \^^
r.^ ^^ J J

rc^, THEY'RE
BACK ALREAPy.
 TOP/\y IS THE X)K/
THAT you FOUR
eoys BECOME MEN.

UNTIL NOW, I HAVE

LOOKED AFTER YOU
AS A FATHER, BUT AS I

OF TOPAZ you ARE

ALL ADULTS,

SWORP FI5HT1N& WAS THE ONLY

THINiJ IWAS ABLE TO TEACH YOU,
BUT NOW I ASK THAT yoU CON-
TINUE TRAVELINfJ THE PATH THAT
you BELIEVE IN. I WILL NOW 5IVE
TRUE SW0RP5 TO EACH OF yOU.
TAKE RESFONSIBILITV FORHOW
you USE THEM.

JNNOSUKE,
COME FORWARP. CONTINUE FORTH IN
I RKEIVEP THESE TWO
KAT/1N;» FROM My FRIENP,
youR PEVonoN to
yOUR FATHER, JINTARO, yOUR TRAININiJ.

.'mm
 M\60, MliMA,
com fcmiAm. THESE WAiaZASHI HAVE
BEEN PASSED DOWN
AND WIELDED BY AMNY
(JREAT SWORDSMEN. '->,.
ACCEPT THEM.

AFRO, COME you WERE CLUTCHINi; ONTO

FORWARD. THIS LONft HEFTY BLADE
—y '~
IYES, SIR...)
•* *-
WHEN I FOUND yOU. YOU HAVE
^j ACOUIRED THE SKILLS TO USE
\

Lft^
'
' m " SUCH A WEAR3N. MOW YOU
MUST FOLLOW THE PATH THAT
IS yOUR DESTINy

•»>'J

m
WELL, WHAT SAY WE AHH, IT'S over;
CXMClWi ALL THIS LET'S tKNt
FORAML CRAP AND 6-ET rrsovii CAN
ON WITH THE FESTlVrnES,
EH, OKURU?

OKAY.

«fe AMN, 50 MUCH

FOR BEIN& PULL-
fievoev APULT5.

IMT 9
 Tvwrs p^ &OO0
one.

.-y-a-

ii
ig m^ ^^^
I'M (>ONN/> Be THE I WONPER WkWT I

MPPiUS) TO
^=t WORLP'S <5R&Ar- AFRO...

eV6N AMKE AMereR .

HA MM!
TR/ My FOOD.' WHAT A P/4IR.'

Mgytj J
HE WOUUPVe^SjI^^HI
AlM/lf,
BEEN BACK BV NOW V
M^J B^^WEUL,
U
Bt
f'S
I SUPPOSE
ABOUT TIME
THE HAV.
I HIT
I LEAVE THE
^^ REST UP TO you,
^W^JINNOSUKE.

V^^^^i j^m ^
JIN, I'll 00 CALL
AFRO AW SET UP
MASTER'S BEP.

>•
%>

SORRy, OTSURU.
 .^iliks.-.
AfVO, WHAT
ARE you vom&
our HERE?

''^

^'h.

SORRy. I THINK AMP WE'VE CrOX TO

HELP CARRY BIS
IPMNK A UITTLE gov ANP KAZUAM,
TOO MUCH...
SO COME ON.

--
IT LOOKS UKE n
MASTER IS AUREAPy I
SETTING REAPy
FOR BEP

TOAAORROW, I'll BE THE SO you CAN'T

FIRST TO LEAVE THIS PLACE.
FOR&ET ABOUT
I WON'T BE ABLE TO RETURN yOUR FATHER
FOR A L0N6 TIME. AFTER ALL..

.421

^1

1&:
 I'M SORR/, OTSURU.
IV6 TRIgP TO FORG-ET
/(BOUT REVgN^E-Z^BOUT
My FATHER-BUT I C4NT I'M UE/lv1N(r ON A
JOURNEY, BUT MY
LOVE FOR you WILU
NEVER CMnae.

.^'/

^i^

I'LL COME BACK FOR

SURE. OTSURU, WILL
you W/*IT FOR ME
UNTIL THEN?

S^aT^

>5l)
 m
if.'^Jf^
Ik
^S^ -''

rrt-.
|l. m~P

TMI6 16 F/iR
ENOUirH,
OTSURU.
h c
you RE/(LLy
KJN'T W/SNT TO
SAY 6O0PB/E
TO AMSTER AMP
THE OTHERS?

•\^^^E^y^
i
1

YSAH...
IF I SEE THEIR
F/ICES, I'M AFR/*IP
IT'LL KIUL My WILL
TO 00 -WitOU&W
WrTH THIS.

IF yOU'RE THAT
tWLF-HEARTEP
ABOUT IT, WHy NOT / MASTER... \
JUST STOP NOW?.' BROTHER
(

V JIN... ^
i

/
J ~^m
^^m|. '^W^^
jpEIv. ^^%^t

Ml ^^^^^
 you COULPN'T BE AW FORGIVE ME,
AMSTER.' My PEBT
MORE PREPICTOBLE,
TO you IS—
BRO;

C0M6 ON NOW,
PON'T 5/Sy TkWT,
JINNOSUKE.

FORJET ABOUT THAT.

I THOUGHT I TOUP yOU
TO FOLLOW THE RATH
MEANT FOR you. BUT,
AFRO...

THAT PATH yOUVE

CHOSEN IS 4 iOK&,
ViAWD, AW SLOOPy ONE.
WHAT you
IS TH/»T
WISH TO enuuRe?

N
AfRO,
TAKE THIS WITH
you.
T WHEN THINiJS
HARP, LOOK AT THIS
COMB ANP THINK OF
AM6TER ANP THE
&ET

REST OF US, ANP OF

)^.^-.
J
THIS MOUNTAIN. /

^X^'^'
\

^ I WAS CARRyiN^r
THIS METAL OJMB
WHEN AMSTER dp\
ri
'^^IL
1 Iji^
y^kNdi^^Tl

1%
w,
^%
\..^
FOUND ME.

^^^
S^^^^^
'^
-MA
^31l:.3//\
(
^
THANKS.

^31/^ J ^
 My, My.' MR. 6R0WN-UP!
UK. you SURE NDW'S THE
TIME TO BE (J0IN6- C3UT /(ND
OtmU& REVENUE?.'
JUST PO WH/IT
youvE &or ro
VO AHU THEN (JET
/. HERE, AFRO.'

'^\
I swE/SR m

M M:lfi'^^7im
^
PO you THINK
HE'UU REALUy
\
^JMk
-v-fH
MAKE IT BACK 1 ( vli
HERE ON MIS / t /r/
OWN?
^^ ^^,^""/!«>>»
'^^BE/'^^ ^H j||t4j

ff^^^T ^1vl
 IT'S SURE A GOOV
THINiJ WE iKTT
AFRO TO HELP US
OUT, THOUe-H.

tWS
TH/IT (JIRL
ALWAYS Been
&oao TO US ovo
&EEZERS.

^
^^Hel^c^^^^l
Jb^

^
^^^^^1
LET'S LET HER
TAKE HER TIME
TONI&HT.
R
•t

V
S
k^l^v

<' k
A\
/'K^r\ "^^r
YT^-^-rif
R^/^t^i
SHE
Jb'l?'^AM/FOI.UOW
THE TEACHINlJS''
cuoseur, but
SHE'S S77U A
1
/*s/^«

A'»r'//f«^i
you SAIP IT. I
»i! 2f^^wi^ yOUN(S WOAMN.
3 B "irrr T* "^^ 1
 TOOAY AMRK5 OUR RARTlNiJ
WITH THIS a\\MCM tS WELL.
you 6EE, THE PEOPLE OF THI6
VILW^JE BUILT IT TOfJETHER
TO HOUSE A AM(rNIFICENT
STATUE OF "THE ONE.'

PUT IDOL WORSHIP IS

FORBIPPEN UXOKmO
THE TE4CHIN1JS, SO WE'LL
BE BURNING IT BEFORE WE
SET OUT ON OUR JOURNE/ "
ITS UNFORTUNATE, BUT
CAN'T BE HELPER

aEASE,
STEPINSIPE.
fl
ja

ALLOW ME TO TAKE >M

THE LIBERTY OF 11
PRAYINlJFOR yoUR V
SAFE RETURN TO J
OUR VILLA(?E. Ik
 IT'S TRULy A -/
BE/*UnFUU PIlJURE.
JUST UOOKING /»T IT
LK6 THIS, I FEEL I MN
KmOiT AU ABOUT
My PAST
1
«
"^S^

i '^'Jr
xT
a
A tout? TIME A50,
W/S /iM/V SLICEDMy
FATHER'S HEAP OFF
^^A RK^WT IN PROMT OF "E,
\i%td*
t_1B
WOH
JItSK
AND so I
MUST K\Ll
 W ^^^^CLi. f'VJ7/'V(? MARK A NEW,
UXJKSUKEirS^

&
F/lREWeUL TO THE

}
bK>
1'^iH
 ^^^H^^^^V. ^<J^B^|

^Rm^IH
yC^^i^X/ yj

m/.^Mi^A..jM..i,d^
 rpi F
'-
-m^a^

*.>^*

END OF #06
\,

1^'^
-•V
_^i/-*-'
^
% .
if^.y

BROTHER JIN, LOOK, 0T6URU.' WE

WELCOME
3\& BCY, BROUiJHT B/»CK SAKE
B/^CK. ANP FOOP; WE'RE iJONNA
HAVE ONE MEUU OF A
PARTY TONkJHTI

OKA/, I'LL HELP

gl(JSO/ WITH HIS
CHORES ONCE I 5t\
FINISH THE
LAUNPRy.
^..

'W/jrsAFROFOR/A'
KNEW HE WOULPN'T
&REAT. ANP.. FDIS^ET AMSTER'S Bl<>
PIP AFRO BIRTHPAV SIX-OH,
REALLy COME EVEN WITHOUT NO 9\6
ANNOUNCEMENT/;
BACK?
 so you SAW HIM..
BUT WAVE you TOUKEP
TO HIM ABOUT
yET?

IT'S UKf HE'S

coMPLETELy a\m&fo
FROM HOW He W/IS
IN THE OUP DArS...
I COUUPN'T BRIN(J
MySELF TO SAy
ANyTHINfJ TO HIM.

WHERE 16 HE PON'T WORRy OTSURU.

NOW? HE'S PROBABLy JUST NERVOUS
AFTER COMIN^J HOME FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN AWHILE,
HE'LL BE BACK TO HIS _
USUAL SELF AFTER ^
HE'S HAD A CHAT WITH /
MASTER.

HE WENT STRAIC^HT
INTO MASTER'S
ROOM AND HASN'T
COME OUT.
YEAH.'
I CAN'T BELIEVE
HE JUS' SHOWED
UP LIKE that;
THATS SO COOL.'
THATS so AFK}!!

HA HA HA, FOR SURE.'

NOW LET'S HURRV UP
AND &ET THIS RARTY
REAPy BEFORE THE SUN
i?OES POWN/
yEAH, I'LL BLOW
AFRO'S MIND WITH
My CULINARy SKILLS, I

JUST you wait;

HAHAHAH

g,-^
 ^mmn-
^m^m

I ^ET TWE IMPRESSION WHAT HAVE yOU BEEN

you AREN'T HERE TO POINiJ FOR THE PAST
CELEBRATE My BIRTHP/ty, FIVE yEARS SINCE yOU
AFRO. LEFT THIS MOUNTAIN?
I SUSPECT you HAVE
KILLEP /W/vy PEOPLE.

Jrf?W»
Jk '* ¥.

PURINlJ MY TBAVeLS,
I PISCOVERED THAT A CefWIN I SEE...
/7E« WAS NECESSARY IN ORPER I lAW&INEP THIS
TO EXACT MY REVENSE.
I HAVE BEEN LOOKmi} FOR
PAV WOULP
ITS OWNER, KILUNlJ PEOPLE COME.
TO STAY ALIVE ALL THE
WHILE.
''4'

eUT I'M IMPRESSEP

YOU'VE AMPE IT
THIS FAR, AFRO.

A
 VLiRiHO MY TIME AVIAY, I
BKCOUKT^RiV A MUTILATED
WARRIOR WHO TOLP ME
WHERE I OJULP FINP IT.
YOU 6H0U1.P KNOW HIM AS HE TOO WAS ON A
WELL, MASTER. JOURNey, SEEKING?
REVENUE ON A CERTAIN
MAN...aUT HE PIEP BEFORE
HE COULP REACH HIS
GOAL. THAT CERTAIN MAN
WAS you, AMSTER.

"^i.-^

RE/\uuy...? SUCH IS THE

60 HE'6 PgAP... FATB Of THOSE
WHO LIVE BY THE
SWORP, AS I'M
J'
SURE YOU KNOW.

t^-^
so ire KBAILY
HERE.

YES.
THE OBJECT YOU
ARE AFTER...

r-^
^

O '%!ii
a'
 SORRY FOR LEAVING IT
All UP TO you, Bli> BOy.
I £JOT /iLL. NOSTAIOIC
AW WANTgP TO CLEAR MV
HEAP FOR A urns WHILE.

AWN, you KNOW -^k

c\A0pp\m ^oov IS EH, ITS oK^y. you
6UPP05EP TO BE HAVEN'T BEEN HOME
yOUR JOB.' I'VE &0T IN AWHILE, SO rUL
My OWN CHORES TO LET IT GO...THIS
TAKE CARE OF.' T/Me.

SORRy,
SORK/.'

M IT LOOKEP LIKE
SAY, 3\& poy,
KEEP P0IN6-
THAT ANP LISTEN
TOME.

I FELT A LITTLE iUSPiaOUS, THEy WERE TRyiNU

SO I T0C3K A LOOK AROUND TO EXAMINE THE
THE PROPERTy. THERE'RE LAyOUT OF THE
ABOUT TEN NASTY-LOOKIN(J
(>uys HIPIN(> OUT IN THE
HOUSE. ^^
WOOPS.

ANP C0NSIPERIN(5
THE rm/VG, THE/
MUST BE AFTER
AFRO.

w y .
»;%|
 OH, UM... SHE WENT
WHERE'S UP THE AAOUSrWIN
OTSURU? TO HAN(J OUT THE
aomes a bit
A&O...

7J- A ^
^^> ^'\
t ^
0¥~tii, SHE
SHOULP BE FINE
FOR NOW THEN.

50 WH/»T'RE
WE GOmtK VO, YEAH,
BROTHER JIN? WE COULP...
BUT WE MN
C^ETTHE PROP
ON THEM.

..A'

you PON'T EXPECT

THE TWO OF US TO.,,?
I'VtNEVER KILLED ANiy-
ONE IN My WHOLE UFE.
A/M/BE WE SHOULP
JUST CALL WASTER ^*n':
ANP AFRO?
PON'T WORRy,
Bl£> BO/, W/5 IS WHY
WE LEARNEP HOW
TO USE A sworn.
 I KNEW THIS vm WOULD
COME EVER SINCE I
LEARNED you WERE
/(FTER NO. 1.
AAA6TER,
I BEO OF you...
PLEASE ENTRUST
THAT TO ME.

^n.

IF THIS IS WHAT
yoU'RE AFTER yOU
MUST UNDERSTAND
>»<*^J WHAT IT IS.

THIS IS NO TOOL
FOR you TO JUST
USE WHENEVER yOU
WANT TO CARRy
OUT A PERSONAL
VENDETTA.

LEUEND TELLS THAT THE BEARER

OF THE NO. 1 HEAPBANP IS ABLE
TO BECOME A (X3P. IN CHASINlJ
AFTER THIS VA&UE PROM/Se
OF POWER, MEN HAVE WAi?EP
BATTLES AND SLAUGHTERED EACH
OTHER FOR AGES. INPgEP, THIS
HEAPBANP IS TO BLAME FOR THE
/WOST PESPICABLE OF ACTS
COMMITTEP ON THIS EARTH.

r
/
'V

mv NOW IT Wf& FALLEN

INTOMy H/INPS ANP GONE
FORGOTTEN By /VWNKINP,
THIS PREADFUL OBJECT.
wy pury is simply to keep
IT IN THE PARKNESS.
ANP IT'S tK PUTY ON WHICH I
WOULP 6TOKE My OWN LIFE.
^\/EN IF...

X p
1^ ^
I WILL CUT POWN mi MAN
WHO PESIRES THIS OBJECT, gfe^^T^M
WITHOUT HESrMTION.
^3 ,%:
-^^f Y^
i^^^*3& •»-^^
s
\
^^
*i2L
-'^
^ >f /y W
» 1 jf J
jr f»^
^
,
z, ^ (f

...THAT AMN
IS you.

AFRO, you
\
^s
l^>^

Mr^
•T/
^^
^»"*'s;iii
'^
~
HEH^BU M \r\
!;;i ssa

MUST MAKE A 1
y^ .--'^^^^^J^BmlV^
CHOICE.
/}
«i
f^
* jf-^'^
1^4 sf^iiiSBI
/am
\Wi, ^ /m
'

R^^H^^v'V
i"i^«K4
••^-. ~^

^hI ^i^l |B|S^x, j" /\ ir^ P^^^^^^gijj

^ w
,1
r s i

<-
ABOUT REVENUE
ANP RETURN TO
THE PATH OF
MEN...

OR TO CUT
ME POWN ANP
CONTINUE ON A
PATH OF CARNA(JE.'
 HEHHeH... BIN(50.
WE WERE RIC-HT
TO /VWKE THAT BO/
OUR TABLET

ARE you ALU PREPAREP?

SET FIRE TO THAT SHIT HOLE
OF A HOUSE ANP ATTACK
youvE Crcn.
WITH /)ii
yOUR SOLE TARJET IS
THAT aeezeR with the
HEAPBANP.

kI
<:,
KILL ANyONE THAT
&ET5 IN THE WAy
BE THEy WOM£N
OR CHILPRBN.

SAy LORP TWO,

you MINP IF I HELP
MySELF TO THAT
FINE Piece OF ASS
WE JUST SAW?

HEH HEH
you LIKE THE ^0\M&
OIRLS, VO yH? ALL I
WANT IS THAT HEAP-
BANP. PO WHAT you
UKE WITH ANyTHINS
ELSE.
 HSN, Fl^wuuy My
tK)imn TO sMme. ^'f^
A S\\fCY- LIKE
BE ASHES
INSTONT.
TkWruL
W /iN \ J^ \/
r^^P
r .^
~

^T
^ ^ZS. < WHAT

S'Jk A-^^

lif

PON'T BOTHER WITH / .,

j
THAT 5TUPIP KIP/ <v (j J
THAT HfeflPBANP/
£5ET

9\& 30i\
HURRY UP AND
WARN AMSTER
ANP AFRO//
 PON'T XAKE THIS
UI&HUy, BOY!

_\
\r -"^^M
«'
\

ife^,..

jol"m
1
Lj^
4

A
p
lj
fe
i^^S^
^
 H£HEHE
PON'T WORW TH4T PRenV YOU'LL RE(>RET
Lrm-e hmp of yours, MEETING ME.
i/rri£ carun: evEN thou^-h GBHHeHHeH
YOU'RE BUT 4 yOUN^r THINft HBH...
rii SHOW you lots of
LOVE BEFORE I S6NP
you TO HELL.
 'Jj

IT seEM6 tk cofmcmoH NO TIME FOR

15 BUIUPIN(J OUTSIPE. MeS/TAT/ON,
pisAsrep. fOi-uws after AFRO.
THOSE WHO sow r//f
5£f£^ 0/P TRAGeuy.

1^;

WHOSE PRAW IS
F/;STER? MINE,
OR youRs?
;//l

h w MASTBR!!
d /P V "^

W^'m ^ ^

II
^:m
4 fH
^a
/"
Li.4^
"!=«>

i^»'^ ^^s^
,^^^^
YOUR PATH IS
ViCWiV, AFRO.

%
IT IS NOT A PATH fOUi CM if
WALK BEARINiJ THE BURPEN
OF OWfiR PEOPLE'S HEARTS.
UNLESS you ARE ABLE TO
BECOME A PEMON, YOUR
REVENUE SHALL NE\/ER
COME TO FRUITION,

^ mm THE
lK?90, THIS IS
PATH YOU HAVE
CAOiiH. YOU CAN
NSVeR LOOK BACK/
 -A,
A^ ^^5S
THE FiATf
tmmw...
O?
1 ^H Pt^^^BL
1 l^m.
^ ...I LE/\VE IN
i
^l^^\iV'

~m^
\-:''J-

\
\

J&
^
AP...RO..

YBS!
TUB HACHIMAKI
16 MINE//

j
m ijm\
'If /'^l
/

;-?^^ HM?/
FV-

^pL
^^g^
 XI

%i..
l^y>.
THAT BASTARP MS
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WE MET..

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A PUTY TO CHALLENGE THOSE WHO
CMlUH&e YOU. AH9 AS SOMEONE
WHO LIES SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
M/(NAND iJOP, you SH/»LL LOSE
yOUR m/AAK NAME ANP INHERIT
THIS ONE; "NO. 2.'

WHO ARE
you?

HEHEH... PAMN IF r
KNOW, I JUST POPPEP
UP ALL IN HERE TO TELL
you WHAT I KNOW, I
PON'T SUPPOSE IT REALLy
k AWTTERS WHO I AM,
WHAT AAATTERS IS...
 KNOW All 'BOUT ^K
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...I
WHERE you NEEP TO
BE WE/iPED, /il&HT? fl

m^^
HBHeHBH...

r.^^--^
JM
d ^^^^^ ooi^x^:-^^

yO.' WH/iT THE

HELL? err yo' »i,«/V via
Ai<J/VRS OFFA ME, L"
NO. Z, Ji^

AMN, I C>4N KILL VOU

/\T 4Ny TIME, /ISSUMIN'
TH/\T'5 WHAT I'M
eUPPOSBO TO DO.

BUT I WON'T
IJUST PON'T
PEEL LIKE IT.

HBHeHeH...

nWT, /*NP, THE REASON

I EXI6T ISTO TAKE yOU TO
'THAT PLACE." IT'LL BE A
LON& JOURNEy TH/irS FO'
SHO'. Mj^HT 4S WELL PU/*y
NICE WITH EACH OTHER,
NO. 2. HeneHEH...
EVEN AFTER THROWING
AWAV YOUR LIFE AND
BECOMING A PATHETIC
OUTCAST, YOU STIU
HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN
THIS PLACE,

END OF #07
mEm #08

i^>
•J^^^
I /CSOiV\0\J
KNOW WHO I
AM, NO. Z.
 77/£WSTHAT
KILLER INSTINCT
I'VE BEEN LOOKING
FOR, NOW, Urs
points.
 ITS BETWEgN
JINNC?5UKe
AW Afm TWO THE PAn\^C BOW
BROTHERS WHO
ONCE ^a«P&ACH YOU SEE BEFORE
you IS RBASON
BNOUGMroVtAm
US^BK&B! VO you
SEE IT, AFRO?/
k\^M
 GerT\H& KATUBK RILEP / AFTER ALL, THE ENP 0F=
( THIS CHALLENGE IS ALREAP/
UP, EH, JINNOSUKE? HE'S CLEAR. IT IS HIGHl.y UNUKBUy
LE/\RNEP TO SUPPRESS HIS THAT THE AFRO SAMURAI
E/WOnONS, BUT I W^ffT WILL LOSE. HE IS THE MAN
THAT WILL BE ENOUGH WITH V. WITH THE POWER TO HELP
A SKIUUEP MURPERER LIKE V. US PROTECT NO.

JL
1.

THIS ONE. HeHHEH.

^
y --
—
-^
BUT...
HE IS CONTROLLEP
SOUEUy BV m&ATWB
EMOTIONS. PESPITE HIS
SKILL, HE WILL BRIN&
ABOUT HIS OMW
PESTRUCTION.
HeHeHBH.

ygr... THERE'S THIS

STRANGE FeeUNG HE
EXUPES? SOmWOH IT
FEELS LIKE I'VE
SENSEP THIS BEFORE,
LON& A^...
WHAT A FOUL mitcm...
 I OJULP NEVER
UNPERST/iNP WHY YOU
NEEPEP REVENUE 50
B/\puy TH4T you WOUUP
EVEN /feZtii AMSTER.

FOt? EVER/ONE WHO'S

PUT NOW TVWT I PIEP IN THE NAME OF
SEEK REVEN(?E, yOUR PAMNEP REVEN^rE/
I UNPER5TANP. MASTER... 31(5 90i...
twiuiau.
'J!
YOUU

PUT, JUST BECAUSE

I UNPERSTANP IT...
TH/AT POESN'T MEAN
I CAN FORi^lVE IT.
 #^-
:;»?j^

I CAH'r &Br AW, C'MON. YOUR

A SINGLE HIT PR/iW 16 RBAUy
THROUGH, F/4ST/ 'COURSE-
MINE IS TOO.
BROTHER JIN.
HA HA HA!

^^.
htf;^

OUR iJR/iPUATlON IS
C0MIN(5... AT THIS
AFRO... yOU'RE
RATE, I WON'T BE >?e4/z/ &o\\\& our
ABLE TO SEEK M/ ro OBT REVENCJE?
FATHER'S REVENi^E.

VEAH...
THATS THE
PIAH.

t^:.^
 SO, LOOK, FORlJET
ABOUT REVEN^JE /IMP
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL KEEP TRAINING WITH
AW All, BUT IT'S NOT ME. WITH SKiaS LIKE
OURS, eAM\KO P/WAE
LIKE (JETTING REVEN&E WITH OUR SflORVi ISN'T
WILL BRIN& yOUR JUST A P/Pe QRBAM,
FATHER BACK. /OU KNOW.

*-

PRO, I APPRECIATE
THE THOU(JHT, BUT youR PARettre were
KILLEP TOO, BROTHER JIN.
*
"1

I CAN'T PO THAT "^vi-

PON'T you H£Aui.y want
RE\/EN^E ALSO?

.>^
YEAH...
AAAyBE.

eUT I HAVE NO PESIRE TO

By My
mBE TRAPPEP TO
VWc-AtA IS
PREAMS OF My FATHER, TO
AN(JER.
FULFILL THE / IF I CAN PO THAT, I'LL
REPAy AWSTER FOR EVERy-
f
BECOME A AWSTER 6W0RP5AMN THIN(J HE'SPONE FOR ME..
ANP OPEN UP A POJO. \ FOR RAISING ME AS HIS
\ OWN CHILP.

^4^-^''„

t^rtfr^^
 eE6IPES, AFRO, WHO
J^ WH...WH>1T /IRE YOU \

KNOWS WHEN YOU'll C^m

*J
f»
T/1LKIN&
I
ABOUT?/
THOUirHT yo^
I

BE BACK? THINK OF
^-
••W I rm? WERE &0\H&
POOR OT6URU. TO (JET AMRRIEP.

'•''<*'-

.J^-

HAHAHA/ OTSURU IS IN LOVE

S0UNP6 UIKE ei& poy WITH you. ANP EVEN
mv KAZUm HAVE BEEN SUPPOSING I mp A
TELUIN' STORIES A&MKl CHANCE, I WOULP'VE
PUT NO, I NEVER MAPE REFUSEP.
/M pnomee like that.

J^Ji
^e>^'
*
eUT you FEEL
SOMETHIN(5 FOR
HER, RI(?HT?

HeHHBH. SO TWINK ABOUT IT,

I'VE iJOT NO TIME MASTER WOULP

AFRO.'
BE HAPPy TO SEE yOU
FOR WOMEN. AAAKE A HOME FOR
HER TOO, y'KNOW.'

y-^'
r^
J^fU
'"
f^:jiS^
tl^^^lfl
THANK you, V
BROTHER JIN.
V
Wa
 BUT I JUST
Cm'T 00 TUAT.

I'LL com BACK

HERE TO BE
WITH OT6URU,
FOREVER.

A<4 Ai4/ OKAV, OM/,

6AY NO MORE.
INTERESTBP/ ^"^ |V->1

'-!<?<£'

%
eUT JU6T
PR0MI6E ME
THI6...

COME B4CK IN ONE

PIECE AW MAKE
OTSURU Hy^PPy.
THAT CR/ICK IN THE CUFF
&OBB ALL THE \NAY UP. ITS
THE ONL/ SPOT WHERE A
HUAWN COUUP POSSIBUy
aiMB UP ANP IT LOOKS
HEUU HARP. HeHBHeH.
so HE'S FINALUy HERE. HeHBH... /ES, IT WOULD SEEM
rr SEEMS WE HAVE NO TH/\T WAV, MR. TAKIMOTO. KUAM
CHOICE BUT FOR yOU TO W/(5 M/ PROUDEST WORK, WHICH
EXERCISE THE POWER OF I CREATED By /O^ff ORDER. BUT
THE OOPS... IN THE END, MIS RELWNCE ON
PHAR/WN-SENSEI, /*//»MAf EAAOnONS AND INTUITION
PROVED TO BE A FATAL FWW.
5 S ' so, W FINALLY
M/IPE IT.
P^N
TOOK yOUR
TIME, THO.
HeHEHeH... /ilN'T
^ TVWT RI&HT?

9
^ft
 -
.f W"fc.i~rr'"-" "^~:^
^

.M^m^
THIS IS IT, MtmWPUCK/H,
3V{M(^-AG9A, W£
CITY
O? &OVS. NO. 1

RESIPE6 WITHIM.

>'
rr

P'*'^*BP^-
„ 5:

•t^j
*«£^
 SEE THAT (JWNT
BUPPHA IN THE MlPPUg?
PEOPLE S/fly NO. 1 LIVES
INSIDE ITS HEAP. SOME
CRAZY SHIT, RliJHT?
 FBAR, CONFUSION,
AKX\Bry, POUBT, SPITE...
I SENSE NOTHING
BUT EVIL EMOTIONS
EAWNATIN^ PROM
WITHIN you.
 I COULD KILL YOU NOW,
A AWN SUCH /4S BUT... yoUVE AMPE IT
yOURSELF CAH'r BE SO FAR, WWy PONT I
EMTRUSTEP WITH THE &IVE you A C»AHCi?
WHOLE WORUP. IF YOU'LLACCePT My
TERMS, THAT IS,
BUT IT WOUUP BE 6UCH
A ^/ry TO JUST KILL
SOMEONE WHO'S COME
THIS FAR,AW WITH TME
HEAPBANP, NO LESS.
.^ ^^yi
 WH/ITEVER you AW/ THINK, THE
fACX IS you CAN'T MOVE RI6-HT NOW, SO
I BELIEVE yoU'U HAVE TO WEAR ME OUT,
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THATMMNEP
Ntm\ THAT NO. CAN TAKE CONTROL OF
1

THE WORLP. IF yOU UTILIZE THE POWER

LEFT By THE PEOPLE OF THIS MOUNTAIN
WHO CALLEP THEMSELVES 'GOVS.''
THAT'S EASy ENOUtJH TO PO.

yOURS IS A PAN^EROUS EXISTENCE.

you HAVE POWER, ANP yET yOU LET
yOURSELF BE SWEPT AWAy By yOUR
OWN PESIRES ANP EMOTIONS. IT'S AN
EXISTENCE THAT WOULP THROW THE
WORLP'S VERy ORPe/? INTO CHAOS.
CONTROLLINC- INPIVIPUALS SUCH AS yOU
IS THE VERy REASON NO. 1 EXISTS. THIS
IS WHy WE HAVE MAPE THINGS SUCH AS
REASON ANP COHMOti SENSE THE Kgy
UPON WHICH OUR LIVES REST.

BUT yOUR POTHER,

THg HO. OP THE
1

U/\5T tJENER/JTlON,
ABANDONEP HIS
PUTIE5.

ANP SO THE
 HAVm& LOST THEIR &OQ,
MEN 6WU(>HTEReP AW
ROBBEP ONE ANOTHER,
MO\/EP SOLEty gy THEIR
OWN (JREED.

FOR THE SAKE OF THIS

WORLP, FOR THE FUTURE
OF AWNKINP, LAY YOUR OWN
PBTTINesS TO REST ANP
JOIN US. OR... I CAN JUST
KILU you LIKE A P0&.
I'LL \ceeP PI^HTIN^-,
UNTIL I mV HIAA/

I SEE... SO youve chosen

/7£4W. IT'S A Piry TO HAVE
TO KILLAN AMAZING MAN LIKE
you, BUT I PON'T SUPPOSE
THERE ARE ANy OTHER
OPTIONS.

eUT I'M NOT TO BE

yOUR OPPONENT. M/
PLHY IS TO OBSERVE
THE WORLP'S mruuAi
PLOW. HBHH^H...
HE SH/iUU BE yOUR
OPPONENT.
^-^

K"^^ '''^-^

fe
L^^
 WELCOME, NO. 2. I /WA
PH/IRAMN-SENSEI. AM
I"
THE CARETAKER OF
MOUNTAIN.

yOUVE BEEN SUITE THE 1

AAMZINiJ EXPERIMENTAL '

SUBJECT. I DON'T WANT

TO JUST KILL you, BUT I ,

CAN'T LET you ruaoii&H t

THIS DOOR, EITHER. A

^^^^^ir^"
^^^^^JC'—
Y IF SEEING THE MEN
AT My aSPOSAl.
^^^^^^^
^^^^^V™'-:'
r

CHAN&ES yOUR MIND

ANy, FEEL FREE TO
I TURN BACK.
 &VJAHAHA!
HOW INTERESTIKKJ,' I SEE I
STILL H/iV? ,««<>/ TO LE/\RN
/(BOUT HUAMN6.'.'
AFROt?ROIl?6//

p*!^^,,
.^^^
 -'Zy?^z

^r^i^
"uy^-'rJJUi

END OF #09
^.y
•
-sf^i^^^fe
 rHi6 seKSAnoH...
THE Sme AS WHAT I FEUT
IT'S
SURROUNPINiJ NO, 2 EARLIER.
somrnno about iou is OHOHO! MAN, /OU'VE
PIFFERENT FROM OTHERS. AAAPE A &uy HAPPy.'
WHO ARE you? SO you CAN SEE ME.'
HEHHBHHeH.

PUT I PON'T SUPPOSE

*W0 I /*M IS ALL THAT
IMPOFTMNT. WHAT'S
MORE IMPORTANT RI^HT
NOW IS THAT you CAN
SEE ME.
.(•;>
 NJ...NO/
THE TWELVE
LOCKS!
 r

'f1
9\ *, ^< .-(L -,i
.\ •
/'v
^^^.'^Yri*'! Ic^E^^H
O/

iiiV
^
 WAIT, NO. 2/
&VEN IF you DO
BECOME NO. 1,

WITHOUT ME, THIS

MOUNT/SIN 16"

^^^^H MERE COMES THE

^^^^^^

1
SI& RA/OFF, NO. 2.
^^^^^Bs^ HBHeHBH...

\^^

i^ '^ 1'

^r
 H

^^^w*^;:^^
U^jmM Hi> ^
^r Sr^^Mn^H

^^H
'^ I <1i^
 FROfA HERE ON OUT,
YOU ARE NO. 1/
yOU'RE THIS
WORUP'S eOW
P/4t7/*5S, X£V?

^^/^s
y^^\£ik
 YOU CAN'T JUST &0 ON
KO. 1 CONTROLS THIS ViPtUmiO ON PEAP
WORUP. TPWrs AN PEOPLE FOREVER, KNOW
WH/(T I'M 6AyiN'?
ABSOlLtTB RUUE. HBHHBHUeH...
I'VE FINALUy FOUNP
you, NO. 1. po you
REMEMBER ME?/
KPH
 50...
WHERE TO BB&\H?
HeHHeHHBH...
 HONORIFICS GUIDE

Politeness is an integral facet of Japanese culture, and we believe that main-

taining honoriflcs — polite speech that indicates a person's status or relation-
ship toward another individual — in our translations helps bring out the same
character nuances as seen in the original work.

In Afro Samurai, the common honoriflcs that you will come across while
reading are:

-san - The most common of all honoriflcs, it is an all-purpose suffix that can
be used in any situation where politeness is expected. Generally seen as the
equivalent to Mr., Miss, Ms., Mrs., etc.

-sama - This suffix is one level higher than "-san" and is used to confer great
respect upon an individual.

-Chan - Another common honorific. This suffix is mainly used to express

endearment toward giris, but can also be used when referring to little boys or
even pets. Couples are also known to use the term to convey a sense of
cuteness and intimacy.

Sensei - Literally meaning "one who has come before," this title is used for
teachers, doctors, or masters of any profession or art.
 TRANSLATION NOTES
Chapter Page 6
6,
In both the manga and anime of Afro Samurai, Afro is seen having grown up

with a character who wears glasses. The manga's version of this character is
a long-winded brainiac named Kazuma, while the character of Sasuke in the
anime is seen to be much more of a normal kid.

Chapter 6, Page 8
Wakizashi are tradional Japanese swords that are similar to katana, but are
much shorter (30 to 60cm, whereas a katana is anything over 60cm).
In feudal Japan, wakizashi and katana were often worn together as a pair
known as daisho.

Chapter 6, Page 11
Afureru Is a Japanese verb meaning to overflow, to run over the brim. As you

can see, Afro's hair will soon overflow his head and run over the brim of his
headband.

Chapter 7, Page 20
Hachimaki are Japanese headbands. These are what everyone is killing

each other over In Afro Samurai.

Chapter 9, Page 4
In Buddism, Bhava-agra is the highest level of material existence that one

can reach; the fourth heaven. The Japanese word for this place would be
Uchouten (or Yuuchouten).

Chapter 10, Page 4

Daruma (or dharama) are hollow, round wish dolls common in Japan. They
are molded on the founder of Zen, Bodhldharma, and feature a mustache
and beard, but the eyes are left unpalnted. When making a wish, you paint
in the right eye, but leave the left eye blank until your wish Is fulfilled.

The character of Daruman Is a pun that combines the words "Daruma" and
the word "man."
 Takas|^Cfea^all3
THfeMHIND the Tro
!*% 't the doujinstii magazine Nou Nou Hau.
- ' Afro Samurai originally started in

Teii us a little about ttiat experience.

It was around 1999-2000. After graduated from college, started working as

I I

an illustrator. Drawing for clients was not the same as drawing what my heart
wanted to express. Several of my friends in the field shared the same frustra-
tion. We blabbered drunkenly and said "what if we pay ourselves to draw

what we really want to draw." That was the beginning of Nou Nou Hau. It
started small, with a group of close friends, but knew it'd be Afro Samurai for
I

me. We all enjoyed the balance between our main jobs and the hobby After
the second issue more friends joined, and we were up to nine artists at one
point. Nou Nou Hau was brought to a close when we could no longer support
the printing costs, as was not our principal to draw for sponsorship.
it

The version of the manga that we're pubiishing is actually a relaunched

version of your original doujinshi. How did this relaunch come about?

It started when we began the Afro Samurai project with GONZO; in the anime
series we had to have mainstream entertainment elements added for the new
audience. When saw Afro animated and voiced for the first time, felt like
I it

he left my nest. In the manga, focused on showcasing my original Afro

I

Samurai. So in essence, the manga is a relaunch of the doujinshi, but the

world is bigger and the settings are stronger

From start to finish, how iong does it generally talce you to complete a
single page, and what's your basic process?

It took three years from the start of page one to the end of volume two. This
comes out to 300 pages of art, so a simple calculation gives about three days
per page!
The manga version of Afro Samurai diverges quite drastically from the
anime version, splraling the story into a different direction. Is this a
case where your doujinshi became the basis for the anime or did you
always plan for the manga to go In the direction seen in this book?

The doujinshi version of Afro Samurai, the current manga version,

the anime
version, and the game version all have slight differences from each other, but
the core concept is the same. Each represents a unique world and story.

Such multiple worlds coexist within the Afro Samurai universe, and allowed I

the series to be that way from the beginning. So you can be sure that there
are many more stories waiting to be told in Afro Universe.

As for the relaunch, I gained a lot more experience and knowledge during the
years after finishing the doujinshi, so you can say the new manga is slightly
more otona (adult) than the previous doujin version! (laughs)

Why did you draw Afro Samurai left-to-right, instead of the traditional
Japanese orientation, right-to-left?

Afro Samurai was originally intended to be

published as a traditional American comic book,
so the pages were drawn full-size, left-to-right.
It was a challenge to follow this style, though,

as even the word balloons were done horizontally

whereas typical Japanese manga text reads
vertically and right-to-left.

In your opinion, what is the difference

between Japanese manga and American
comics and in which category does
Afro Samurai fall?

As is often pointed out, Japanese manga use a

style with cinematic camera angles, which was
developed by the legendary manga artist Osamu
Tezuka. Each frame represents a snapshot and
an Each line and piece of dialogue is
action.
paired with a corresponding action, and is it

shown visually frame-by-frame.

On the other hand, American comics are graphic
novels. The story is there and inspirational visuals
are there, but the dialogue and visual actions are
not necessarily in sync in that way.

I think Afro Samurai has elements from both,

and that is something not many people have done.

Is there a particular part of the manga that

was your favorite to work on, and why?

My favorite is Episode #6. 1 also liked working

on Episode #2.

These particular episodes of the manga are kind

of side stories. Unlike the core story arc chapters,
which I had thought through and polished up in my
head a long time ago, the side story episodes had
very particular themes to them and they allowed
me to some creative storytelling ideas and design details while also
pursue
allowing me to
incorporate new elements into the series itself. It was a great
feeling tobe able to bring Afro Samurai \o the next level. They're essential
chapters to the mythology and I'm very happy with how episode #6 turned
out. I look fon/vard to seeing reader's response to these chapters.

In terms of your characters, what Is it about

the character of Afro that you like and do
you see any aspects of yourself in him?

While my characters don't directly represent

my experiences or personality, they are built

from my subjective imagination. Of course, I

couldn't draw something I'd never seen or felt

or imagined, so it is possible that memories

from my past influence my character expres-
sions to some extent more than I am aware.
How do you feel now that your manga has become a sprawling
franchise that spans two anime, a video game, and with a live-action
movie in the works?

I want the franchise to have a variety like that seen in Batman.

And finally, what's your all-time favorite manga and who's your favorite
artist?

Ihave a couple of favorite series that" have*given me inspiration for

Afro Samurai.These are:

Lone Wolf and Cub
Watchmen
Batman: Year One
Kamui Gaiden
Hi no tori

STATS:
BLOOD TYPE: AB
• FAVORITE PASTIMES:
Watch movies, eat good food, and play mahjong/video games

• WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL DAY LIKE:

I wake up, make a cup of coffee witfi a lot of milk, and work in my home
office with coffee, chocolates or ice cream, and a 1.5-litter Volvic (mineral
water). And I don't come out of my office for several hours.

• WHAT WOULD BE DOING I IF I DIDN'T KNOW ART:

Cooking. I wanted to be a chef before I got into contemporary art.

• WHAT LIKE ABOUT ART:

(

I like how conceptual art leaves room for the imagination of viewers. My
favorite artists are Bruce Nauman and Antony Gormley

• MY MOTTO / FAVORITE WORDS:

".l::*#4ll'k"and "'!:.&:"

("Be like Water" and "Remembering to Forget")

• MY TREASURES:
My family, everyone who helped Afro Samurai, the action figure signed by
Sam J, the Afro T-shirt Sam J recently gave me.
 TAKASHI OKAZAKI
Bornin 1974 in Kanagawa, Japan,
i
Graduated from Tama Art University witti a BA in

^ Sculpture.
- J

^. OI<azal<i's field of creative activity focuses on

illustrations but also extends to manga, CD jacket
design, sculpture, and live painting
performance.

AFRO SAMURAI was a doujinstii manga

originally
by Okazaki \ha\ first appeared in the independent

magazine Nou Nou Hau, and was then made into

an animated TV series by GONZO. The series stars
Samuel L. Jackson (who is also one of the Executive
Producers), and is furnished with music composed

s by the hip-hop maestro RZA. After the successful US

broadcast on Spike TV in 2007, the show was edited
for theatrical release in Japan. DVDs are now
available in six countries. Its adaptation into a
Hollywood live-action film is also under way.

Representative Works:
Designed "Metro-Taro," a fictional mascot
character used in the live-action film
Negotiator Masl^ita Masayostii
• Designed "Wangan-kun," a fictional mascot
character used in the live-action film
Bayside Slial(edown 2
• Provided concept design and key art for the
fictional animation that appears in the live-action
film Space Travelers
• Provided design for CD jacket and concert
merchandise of Japanese rock band RIZE
• Provided artwork for the special edition of
Spider-Man 2 DVD
• Provided comic drawings for booklet of
"
Blade: Trinity soundtrack CD

i«S!^^

S^^^'v
 ath isn't the end . .

ijt^ only the beginning.

UTALLY wounded in his baccle against the

ceddy-bear-headed master swordsmen Kuma,

awakens to find himself in the care of a
e oF people who have each been stricken

ragedy. Yet, unlike Afro, instead of letting

lives become overpowered by the thirst for

ige, chey have embraced the teachings of

Ir peaceful lives are soon to change forever,

wherever Afro Samurai treads... violence is

ver far behind.

Witness the origin of Afro Samurai and his

ultimate showdown with No. 1, in this explosive

' —'^hocking conclusion!

Experience Afro
like never before in

the all -new Afro Samurai

videogame from
Namco Bandai!

The basis for che hie

Spike TV series

^1 OLDER TEEN
ISBN-1 3:
(16+)

ISRN-IO: 0-7653-2239-0
$12.99 USA
$14.50 CAN
978-0-7653-2239-5
AFm SAmurAi.
www.cor-Forge.com
5 1 2 99 >
www.gomonga.com
A Tor/Seven Seas Paperback
Tom Doherty Associates. LLC
9 "780765"322395 Printed in the USA
t»#i