In a feudal, futuristic world of Japan, samurai fight to become No. 1 and dominate the world. When the father of young Afro Samurai, who holds the coveted position, is challenged and killed, Afro vows to take revenge. Will he stay alive long enough to keep his promise?

This is the second volume of the new "director's cut" edition of the classic work that has been released without distribution, accompanied by a new foreword by Takashi Okazaki.

Japan has become a land of warriors, warlords, and assassins, where future technology coexists with the harsh traditions of the past. This world is ruled by whoever possesses the legendary armband No. 1, which many believe grants divine powers to its bearer. To acquire such an armband, a warrior must first become No. 2, and only then can they challenge the right to become No. 1. But who can challenge No. 2? Everyone! Thus, being the second-best warrior in the world means you must be in a constant fight for survival.

When Afro Samurai's father, Rokutaro, is challenged as No. 1 and killed by No. 2, a deadly villain known as Justice, Afro swears revenge, embarking on a bloody path of restoration that will make him the No. 2 warrior and allow him to challenge Justice.

In the first of the two volumes, we follow the beginnings of young Afro's quest, his struggles with a series of assassins and warlords, culminating in the epic clash with the powerful gang Empty Seven and a confrontation with an old enemy...

Mr. Okazaki, drawing inspiration from American soul and hip-hop cultures, originally published Afro Samurai as a self-funded manga in the magazine Nou Nou Hau from November 1998 to September 2002. Later, Funimation took over and developed it into an anime, airing five episodes in 2007, with Afro voiced by Samuel L. Jackson and music by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan. Mr. Okazaki created these two manga volumes for the American market, published in 2008 and 2009.

The two original volumes in English have been out of print since 2013 and 2016, respectively, and are highly sought after by collectors, selling for over $100.

The lasting influence of Afro Samurai can be seen in today's desire for all things manga and anime, as it was one of the first cross-cultural collaborations that celebrated Asian pop culture and American hip hop, creating a completely new hybrid visual and musical language.

Pages: 176, Dimensions: 17.5x17.5cm