Afro Samurai - A Kick-Ass Franchise Is Born

by Adam Arnold with Jason DeAngelis

"Nothing personal... it's just revenge."

Coming September 2008 from Tor Books and Seven Seas Entertainment is Takashi Okazaki's highly-anticipated manga series Afro Samurai-the original story which inspired the hit Spike TV anime series and the upcoming video game from Namco Bandai. The visuals in the manga are simply breathtaking, and the story itself is wholly unique. Blending the high-octane action seen in samurai films with hip-hop infused stylings, Afro Samurai is a series that is truly like none other. Dig?

Since premiering as an anime on Spike TV back in January 2007, the phenomenon that is Afro Samurai has grown into a multimedia sensation. But had it not been for a single vinyl action figure, none of this would have happened. Okazaki originally began Afro Samurai as an amateur doujinshi (the Japanese equivalent of an independent comic book), serialized in the Japanese manga magazine Nou Nou Hau. It was here that Okazaki won a contest to have his character made into an action figure that found its way to Hollywood's attention and to Samuel L. Jackson, in particular, who championed the series and helped make it what it is today.

So far, Afro Samurai has aired as a five-episode anime series created by famed Japanese animation production house "Studio Gonzo," which is known for creating some of the best-loved anime, such as Samurai 7 and Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. Afro Samurai, the anime, stars Samuel L. Jackson who did voice acting for the titular character (he also provided voiceover for Afro's wacky sidekick/alter-ego Ninja Ninja). After airing on Spike TV and receiving rave reviews, the series was released on DVD in both edited and Director's Cut editions with a Blu-Ray edition following a year later from FUNimation. The edgy, urban musical soundtrack in Afro Samurai was performed by hip hop artist RZA. A full soundtrack for the anime has also been released on CD entitled "The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai OST." January 2009 will see the release of the ultra-violent Afro Samurai video game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, not to mention an all-new anime movie sequel entitled Afro Samurai: Resurrection, featuring the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Lucy Liu and Mark Hamill that will air on Spike TV. There's even a live action movie in development by Mosaic Media, the production company behind Batman and Get Smart.

In the midst of all this ever-expanding Afro-mania, series creator Takashi Okazaki has been hard at work at the drawing board, reworking his original Afro Samurai doujinshi into a jaw-dropping, action-packed, two-part Afro Samurai manga-that's black, white, and red all over. (The blood splatters are colored red!) While fans of the anime will find that the manga generally follows the events seen in the first season of the anime, it's the differences that are of special note. According to Okazaki, the manga is the canon of the Afro franchise, and it's fascinating to see how certain plot details differ between the anime and the manga.

By the way, from what we hear, Okazaki's original Afro Samurai timeline spans 1,000 years, so there's lots more room for additional Afro Samurai stories in the future.

Afro Samurai Vol. 1 will be on sale September 2nd, with Afro Samurai Vol. 2 following in February 2009.

You can read a preview of the Afro Samurai manga by clicking here.