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 A TOR/SEVEN SEAS BOOK

AFro sAmur/vi
VOLUME 1

,1

*h

TAKASHI
&
 ~sx

HV/

SAmurAi
VOLUME 1

a,,b v
Takashi Okazaki

STAFF CREDITS
3
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. 1

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.gomanga.com and www.tor-forge.com.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-2123-7
ISBN-10: 0-7653-2123-8

Printed in the USA

First printing:

10 98 7 6 543
September 2008

2 1
TOR WW
 Table of Contents

Chapter 1 5

Chapter 2 37

Chapter 3 69

Chapter 4 101
ki

Chapter 5 133

Translation Notes 164

Supplemental Material 168
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OF NO. IS MINE/
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THE POWER
O? A GOP!
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 YO, YOU WITH THE AFRO! I PUNNO HOW MUCH THAT
KIUIN'S OUR THINC-, YA PIC-? THINC-'S REALLV WORTH,
WE PON'T CARE ABOUT WUR BUT THERE'S A BIC- OV
LIFE. WHAT WE CARE ABOUT REWARP IN STORE.'
IS THE NO. 2 HEAPBANP
YOU'RE WEARINC-.'
m'
 VO! THINK YOU CAN 90
A QUICK-PRAW WITH THAT
LONG- SWOPV? I THINK
THE "TOUSH GUi" HERE'S
MOCKINS US.' AiBV...
THIS'LL BE A WU&H.'
IMHi
^
A> VT> -M

/
/

^
J\
m 11
?~s w
 OHOHO. AIL TUOSB
PROFESSIONALS AKV
THy STILL COULVH'T
BBAT HIM.

rr SEEMS ANNIHILATING
HIM WILL WESUPPOSE
SOME (
TIME TO HANP IT
TIME... M2W, I OVER TO MY

Wi
I CAN'T JUST SIT AROUNP y* BROTHERS UP IN
STARING LIKE THIS A TECCHISEN.
FOREVER. _4**&k OHOHO.
^:&rm
rroy^ *
8F
#2 '

VV *> M
AT THIS POINT,
ITSOUT OF
MY HANPS.
K
 HK, "1
&m v
/
^^^v^^l^W >

ff^
E||JP HEHEHBHe...
TOTAL ANNIHILATION
IN THREE MINUTES.
yOUVE SOT A HELL
OF A SWORP ARM.
 AND ABOUT
THE ONE PERSON
IN EXISTENCE
WHO COULD
CHALLENGE HIM.
 WELL...
TIME TO IVE
B\& BROTHER
A CALL.

P ALL OF OUR ASSASSINS

HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY
X*
^^ ^k
^hf *
^PM
SLAUGHTERER HE TOOK THE - T
EASTERN ROUTE FROM ^fc^"1 B&fc
'

IPPONMATSU, WHICH MEANS HE JwWhJ- ''^M^^k--^

SHOULP ENP UP PASSING RIGHT K AC
f WilxM/
'WK
THROUGH TECCHISEN. k
,

V '

F
*:
IS
SO HE
THAT RIGHT?
IS COMING
-m HERE. JUST AS
M^ I THOUGHT.

r
 TWO, yOU'VE PONE
WELL. 60 AHEAP ANP
START MAKING YOUR
WAY BACK HOME.
END OF #01
#02
Lfl

Hli&iifl

K ^9

^tii^M j -^fl
 O/O/O/f
TODAY WE SETTLE THIS,
you BASTARVH
 OH, WHY THAT SOUNPS LIKE
THE AFTERNOON SQUAWKING OF
KASHIMOTO! HOW'S THE ARM
POiNft you olp po&?
SORRY, KOTARO, NO
FISHING TODAY. NOW
SCAMPER ON BACK TO
OI-CHAN'S PLACE.

V\ CUT THE CRAP,

SMART-ASS!
NOW'S NO TIME
.
J
TO WORRY ABOUT
V-> OTHER PEOPUE.'

OW, THAT HURTS,

YOU IMBECILE/
WHATTAyA WANT?/
TH/vrajy... i
HE'S--/ ^ ffife

All

th-thats a rbppapbpj
this is a direct orper
for arrest from the
empty seven, the b\&
6-uys up in tecchisen!
 HOLY COW.' MAN,
YOU'KB GOOOV.
I MEAN, wow/;

THERE'S AN INN UP THE RO/\P

WITH A KILLER OCEV SWNP
INSIPE. WELL, ACTLWLL/, THE
FOOP'S NOT 6-RE/VT, BUT THEy'VE
(JOT SOME KILLER SAKS FOR
A VENDOR'S STANP.
 WE'RE BACK OLD 1
Jf
WHAT'RE
FRIENP.' S/iy,
yOU POING- SETTING
UP SHOP OUT HERE J/t
j^
m K AGAIN?

z
wt % ^*^
Em ^m^ y
Wi 1m
mM/S^^k
A^B\ ^
^ NjR
m
JM
'r .

V,
^1Q
.>
4

WELL, SET UP
I AWBE yOU CHIPPSP [^^HB
m>
IF IF
INSIPE THE INN, THEy
CHARGE MB. AW
I'VE
INI 4 LITTLE BIT... HEy,

YOU BROUGHT A FRIENP.

IKM
(JOT ENOUGH PEBTS PON'T SEE THAT TOO Mr~X
AS IT IS. OH WELL.. OFTEN. ^fgHmim-
jHnMr\ >

m J/A A*5^W
'
W.- f9M
YEAH, THOSE C-U/S WERE (SIVEUS A BOTTLE OF THE
PICKING A FIC-HT A6AIN BEST, AW MAKE IT PIPING
JUST NOW ANP HE CAME HOT, AS USUAL. LET'S
TO M/ RESCUE. HAVE SOME OPEN TOO.
 SO THOSE SUyS FROM BEFORE, ^
THEy WERE THE Mltt>KO-PORI CLAN, 1 THANKS TO yOU, THIN6-S
/> BUNCH OF HUSTLERS WHO RUN 1 OU&HT TO STAY PRETTY
THE SHOW HERE AT THIS INN. THEy J QUIET AROUNP HERE FOR
WERE ALWAYS PUSHING AROUHV A
US PEOPLE JUST WINS- TO MAKE .^B
A WHILE. UNTIL THE NEXT
c-ahg cartas along-,
k AN HONEST UVIN6-.^mU' ANYWAY. HAHAUA!

iw
~*$W&s2rf
vma"'
ni^
^/^/ >or
JF\>w
 RELAX. IF I YOUVE COT THE MCE OF
WANTEP TO KILL />&Uy WHO'S BEEN M/WE
A TOR6-ET 4T EVER/ TURN.
you, I WOULPVE LIKE VOUVE SPENT EVERy
ALREAPy TRIEP. My SLIPPING THROUGH THE
FIN&ERS OF PE/STH.

YOU MUST REALLy

BE SOMETHIN' TO
MAKE IT THIS FAR.
 WE WORKEP UP SUITE A
REPUTATION FOR OURSELVES
BEFORE you KNEW IT WE
WERE POINC- SPECIAL "REP
PAPER" JOBS PIRECT FROM
THOSE MONKS.
IF I WAS STILL ACTIVE,
I WOULPVE PONE BATTLE
WITH YOU FOR CERTAIN.

BUT WE BOTCHEP A BIC- JOB. NO LONC-ER OF ANY USE, ^

TAKE A LOOK. ARM'S NOT IBECAME ANOTHER ONE OF 1 1/
C-OOP FOR CUTTINC- MUCH THE MONKS' TARGETS. BUT M
BESIPES MW THESE PAyS.
HeHHEH...
SHICHIC-ORO CAME TO My
RESCUE.
M
^W

'l
ITS ALREAPy BEEN FIVE yEARS
SINCE ALL THAT. NOW WE TRAVEL
AROUNP PRAC-&IN& THIS OPEN
STANP WITH US, SOMEHOW
MANAC-INC- TO SURVIVE.
k YEAH. \ ^
hi
t-
I'M &OKNA
HIM.
KILL
M.^^B

W -iff 4^
Pf'-i TK5v. m& r

It
 '"
?*>..<'

V**B*r''
 SO THERE'S
REALLy NO OTHER VW,
SHICHkrORO?

YOU WERE A BO/ RAISEP By

THOSE OL.P MONKS TO BE
NOTHING MORE THAN A TOOL
OF DESTRUCTION, ANP FOR AS
LONC- AS I CAN REMEMBER,
"
I'VE PEPICATEP MySELF
saving- you.
THERE WASN'T EVEN A HINT
OF MURPEROUSNESS IN YOU
WHEN YOU CUT POWN THOSE
MEN THIS AFTERNOON,
"^te**,

J&
)
J
f

.Jp' r; '^ yM fH
90' r

fcyp
F=?V
ff "
r
M
 $W\0A\GO9O..X0U
CAH BEST NOW...

t&
^^fe;
fl Mr)
END OF #02
AFra SAmur/u
?

+m~

/JUL.
 I KILL I fi-ET ^V ^^^^^^^^|
-

^^^^^^^H
eVSR/THING YOU HAVE.' VOUR
MOUNTAIN, AS WELL AS YOUR H ^^^^^^^V \
ASSASSINS... EVERYTHING' JM ^P. $
HOW'S THAT SOUNP, POPS? ^| i^^^^^^T^ l

I DON'T suppose YOU

C-IVE ME MUCH CHOICE.
FINE THEN, I ACCEPT YOUP
CONDITIONS. BUT JUST
REMEMBER--THIS IS 0/W.y
IN EXCHANC-E FOR HIS HEAP.
NOTHING ELSE COUNTS.
NO. A WGVCt TO THE PEATH BETWEEN
THOSE TWO IS JUST WHAT WE NEEP.
WE WIN REC-ARPLESS OF WHO PIES.
IF 0OROKUBE WINS WE'LL JUST
SENP THE ASSASSINS WE WERE
SOINC- TO USE TO KILL NO. 2.

I
FUCK THOSE ASSHOLES.'
CAN SEE RIC-HT THROUGH
'EM.' I'LL USE NO. 2'S HEAP
f'7' \\ 4V
AS A SHIELD ANP SENP
'EM ALL TO HELL.'
-

DP
K?' J
5*?
-<

i
^ '^ .
*
AH...
AHHH- -/ dfl
[f* %
* [sou
" lr^^

THEN A6AIN, IF HE'S

,*v*r*5
1 <
BEEN C-IVINC- THOSE
GEEZERS 7MS
MUCH TROUBLE...

51

P/
3
^fc^SJ
artSF'h
1 "^\^* Ml
,
 HEH...HO. 2, HUH?
SOUNPS LIKE HE'LL MAKE
FOR A OOP WARM-UP.
I'LL PLA/ WITH HIM FOR
A WHILE, THEN KILL HIM.
OMAWMA...
i9 *<

hJm
WF***f.
*

^ * \**>
 NEE-CHAN, FOR THE
LOVE OF GOV, LET ME 60
VAAANCe~\ THIS yEAR'S
FLOAT HAS A WICKEP-ASS
PJ ON IT.' I'M TELLING- YOU,
NOTHING- PAN6-ER0US
EVER HAPPENS...CMON,
NEE-CHAN.'
 **

SHOJKICHI, PLEASE STAy

HOME, I'M BE66IN6 YOU. WHY PO YOU ALWAYS
THE OSHOU-SAN PMCT\CAU.Y LISTEN TO THAT DIRTY
RAISED US AND HE'S /Vf kE5
BEEN WRON6. WHAT WOULD
PRIEST?/ YOU JUST
OUR PEAR DEPARTED MOTHER DON'T WANT TO LET
SAy IF SOMETHING
I LET ME DANCE BECAUSE
HAPPEN TO YOU? YOU CAN'T.'.'
 HOW COUIV
YOU SAY THAT?!
VO YOU REAU-y
THINK I WOULP--

PR
T SHOUKICHI... PIU
Flip' jfc.

I ^r
IF^T Zff/lk
1

A
\ ~-^T ..'^
7< r^^^M- .
 ?-

is/A ,
THEy'RE KILLING
PEOPLE/.'
wee* k
 BUT UNLIKE ALL THE OTHER
PRICKS YOU'VE FOU&HT
LITTLE
UNTIL NOW, I REALLY CAN
n&vai REApy when you are,
I CAN SEE IW THE > Wfl NO. 2! IF yOU THINK
"0EEZER BRI6-ADE" YOU'RE UP TO
WANTS YOU TAKEN j
i'W%. IT.'.'

POWN 60 BAD.
HEHBHEHEH... M/ j(i\^r

PiU-

\pm*2s*tN|jv y*j l?'*\J-

 HE/, cmon;
HOW LONG- VO YOU
PLAN ON MAKING
ME WAIT AROUNP?/
I PON'T HAVE ALL
PAMN PA//

PINE, IP
YOU WON'T ET
m
THINGS STARTEP,
po it/
jO ^" ,
l7HHHr\H\nH*VM f-VPIN I
KIP
&REAT NO. 2 CAN'T UO
NOTHIN' BESIDES RUN OFF
ANP HIPE AT THE SI6-HT Of
My <S-REAT, BIS CANNON!
 i-A-; 'i/'J.

v&%>\ fc#

%\
"'"' i&
,0>
fe && ^-F * 3
 JJ -i e
' ^ 'J^^'' 1 '

!i r
lV- "3^ Bs,.

4
r
4HKa
v.,
.,.

1
H...HOW COULP YOU...
KILL SHOUKICHI?
My OUIY BROTHER!!
how cous you
BE SO CRUEL?.'
 I WAS WORRIEP YOU
VO YOl
MIGHTVE BEEN CAUGHT IN
yl THAT BIG-ASS EXPLOSION.
WANT TO BE
Z34tf/V/ PIPN'T
WAITIN'AROUNP HERE FOR
NOTHING. HeHHBHHBH.

YEAH, MAN. AIGHT, LOOK,

WE GOTTA GO BY BOAT FROM
\\ (

HERE. IF YOU JUST GO UP THIS

^^
'
RIVER FOR A FEW PAYS, YOU'LL )'
GET TO A RAVINE. ITS RIGHT / i
By MT. SUMBKU, WHERE NO. 1 Ik"
IS. FINALLY COMIN' TO THE
ENP OF YOUR JOURNEY (O
A
S. M'MAN. .^ j. >

*t H^^:

(. fcBip
~"\ 1
!

y*j
J
ISas^l 4\
^ ^W
\Ww ,*. -

Ml
.
I

"N
 TO &ZT TO MT. SUMERU,
FIRST YOU GOTTA PASS THROUGH
reccHiseN, the hideout for
THOSE DAMN OIO MOTHERFUCKERS.
AND THERE'S NO POUBT THEWE
SET UP SOMETHIN' NASTY FOR
yOU TO FALL INTO.

HEHHEHHeH...
SO THAT'S HOW ITS
60NNA BE, HUH?
well, don't say I
PINT WARN yA.

ENC
 ^N
r 2

y
 w

*. ? ^ "'j^k
& ^ md'* JkSs

fa ^ J

ki t
^H 11 y.

THE BkJSEST
MOUNTAIN OVER THERE
IS /M7T SUMBRU. /
 ^
4

^Jtk VWeee

he's come, HBHUBH. I SEE.

brother. he's MANY THINKS,
REdLLy ROWING BROTHER.
AVJAY, TOO.
OHOHOHO.
IFyou MAHAG-t TO
HIM, Wg'LU (JIVE yOU
whatever you pesire,
just as promised;
$fmw
 '

I THINK I'LL GO JJUST TR/ NOT

I

AUSAV AW SUP TO We, M'AWN.

OUT FOR NOW. V HBHBH.
HZHEH.

W^AA-n
WELCOME TO THE
GATES OF H&U,
NO. 2/
r'7 OUR LOH&
sru.u&&LB ewe
HERE/
NOW I RETURN
YOU TO H&JJl
WHAT'S BROTHER TWO HMPH! IF YOU'RE
yAMMERINC- ABOUT? REALLY SO TOUC-H,
DOES HE RBAIM/ THINK COME FACE ME MAN
to man; if you'RE
I COULD BE CUT DOWN
ALIVE, I MEAN...
By THIS GUY? HAHAHA.
 KumyK kW^ M MPS
BEEN UNPER THE WIN
OH! THERE HE IS.' OF THOSE OLP &U/S
ROKUTORQ yOUN&EST SINCE HE VMS A UTT1.E
OF THE EMPTY SEVEN.' BRAT, LEARNING TO KILL.
A/WN, HE'S M/ffif/ SCREWEP UP, RIGHT?!

PUT I WONDER IF
WE'LL REALLy 6-ET RAID
FOR SUCH A WALK IN
THE PARK.
 VKNOW, I'M
THINKING OF 60\H&
STRAIGHT AFTER
THIS JOB.

IT SEEMS KIND OF
W/Uff TO BE MAKING A
LIVING PUTTING YOUR
ASS ON THE LINE,

BUM. ENOUGH TO FOOL

AROUNP THE REST
OF My LIFE, I GUESS.
THREE THOUSANP RVOU,
MA/BE?

WHAT, SERIOUSLY?!
WOW, THEN I GUESS
I'LL ASK FOR THE
. SA...7?

,j8

^.s/,.

rrS
V
\^B ^3
G>'(
w

HE MIGHT GET
RST THOSE BOTTOM-
FEEPERS, BUT HE'LL
NEVER LAST IN A
FIGHT WITH ROKLTO.
HEHEHeM
(M.

'/i i

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Bg
If
-^l
L
m '- w -
 A MOST ROBUST
PeKFOKMAHCE, NO. 2
BUT I CAN NOT LET
you RASS. A SIMPLE CHALLENGE,
NO. 2/ IAM SHINOJIR/U
BOUJUTSU ROKUTORO,
yOUN<JE5T OF THE
empty seven.'
 ,'dee

NOW LET'S GO.

~u
^wAXtxwYT
HUH.. .US AMAZIHG A FIS-HT
AS YOUV EXPECT FROM THE /
6-REAT NO. 2. I'M PROUP / M
THE fMPTY SgVSN HAVE
BROKEN THEIR CONTRACT THEY'RE SUPPOSE? TO
WITH NO. ANP ARE
1
BE PROTECTING HIM
SCHEMING- TO BECOME THE SAME AS US.
NO. 1 THEMSELVES.
END of #04
1

Jk*t

tfmrfkS
*

0^ 1^^
V 1 f"
._-* ^jg* I
 BROTHER, IT SEEMS
OUR COAXINC- HAS
/WAKENS? THE
BEAST INSIPE HIM.

THE ASSASSINS
CAN'T EVEN RAISE
THEIR SWORPS
AT HIM.

/
/ THIS HAS BECOME A MEANING--
LESS ENPEAVOR. LET US FLE
\ \ ^
-=_
1
I'VE LIVEP LONG-
ENOUC-H...
\
J
/ AS WELL. WE PON'T HAVE MANY \
/ YEARS LEFT AHEAP OF US ANy- 1
1 WAY IT WOULPN'T BE SO BAP TO /
\.
\^
LIVE OUT OUR REMAINING TIME /
PEACEFULLY IN SOME VILLAG-E. <^
<
^J\ Ik

_^, W
 no. we must
TOWER-ETERNAL
weLIFE...7/W
no. rs
YOU MOCK
PMN POWER.. M ORPER TO
SAIN ETERNAL LIFE.. .TO CON
OUER THIS FEAR OF PEATH.
MUTTER MUTTSR...
WHAT?!
ereRNAL ufb?u
\>

*St A,
y...you...Fooi.' what FWOHOHO...
HAVE YOU PONE?.' I KNEW YOU ANP
YOU REALLY HAVE I WOULP BECOME
GONE AMP.' ENEMIES ONCE yOU
AWOKE TO THE
FEAR.
f^F Qaa

Ml
. /

-rfrw "V
 GAAAHAHAHAHAU
pifc Plfc Pl PI!H

%
w^
'

Hi
t*. ^i^^^M

1
WHIPPERSNAPPER LIKE >W
PO? I'M THE ONE SUITEP
TO RULE THIS WORLP.'
f
.ffif j&*?
 HHHE...t& LONS AS I
HAVE THE HEAP8AND, TAKIN6-
OUT NO. 1 WILL BE A CAKE-
WALK/ HE STILL THINKS
I'M ON HIS SIPE.
 \ I'k^m

Z7-S8r

LONG TIME NO
SEE, AFRO.

ORNO, I SUPPOSE
I SHOULD CALL
YOU NO. I NOW.
f\
lii

END OF #05
Translation Notes
Chapter 1

Page 20
In the Japanese, the bandit leader scoffs at Afro for attempting an with such a
"iai"

long sword. Iai is a technique in which the samurai unsheathes his sword and
slices his opponent all in one swift, fluid motion, not unlike a western quick-draw.
laido is a martial art still practiced today.

Page 25
"Brother" is derived from the Japanese "ani-ja."

Page 29
"Jii-sama" or "grandfather."

Page 31
The name "Brother One" is derived from the Japanese "Ichi-no-ji," meaning "the
digit 1."

Page 33
Mt.Sumeru - A legendary mountain said to tower over the center of the Earth and
serves as a meeting place for the gods. Also known as Shumisen.

Chapter 2
Page 43
Tecchisen - A legendary mountain from the Buddhist world map. While Sumeru
was found in the center of the Earth, Tecchisen lay on the very edge of it. Also
known as Cakravada Mountain.

Page 47
Oden - A type of hotpot stew popular during the cold months.

Page 49
Occhan - A colloquial term of endearment for an elderly person, like "pops."

Page 54
Daikon - A large Japanese radish used in oden.
Chapter 3
Page 76
"Wicked" from the word "sugee," a modern colloquialism meaning "amazing" or
"cool" (from "sugoi").

Oshou-san - A Buddhist priest of high rank.

Page 77
"Mother" - from "kaa-san."

Page 87
"Geezer brigade" taken from "jijii-domo."

Chapter 4
Page 106
"O.G.-samas" from "jii-sama-tachi."

Page 112
Rokuta is also known as "Brother Six" in the anime version of Afro Samurai. The
Kanji for "Rokuta" are in fact the kanji for "six" ("roku') and "ta," a kanji common
in male names.

Page 115
Ryou is an old type of Japanese coin. Evidently it was worth a lot more than the
modern yen.

Page 125
Kunai - Throwing knives.

Page 128
Brother Four's name in Japanese is "Shi no Ji" following the pattern for all the

monk brothers' names, with "shi" meaning "four" and "no ji" meaning "the digit" or
"the letter." The only difference is that in Brother Four's case, the "shi" is written
with the kanji for "death," also pronounced "shi." So it looks like fE<D^p instead of

IH^. The pun is lost in English, although an alternative translation could be

"Brother Shi," which a fraction of readers would likely understand, since the
four/death connection is one of the more well-spread factoids of Japanese
cultural minutiae.
HEART SUTRA
The Heart Sutra is most well-known sutras in Buddhism and is
one of the
primarily in East Asian Buddhism. As the shortest sutra,
chanted by Zen sects
it is wisdom of Buddha in condensed form,
said to perfectly express the
focusing on the Buddhist doctrines of emptiness and non-attachment.

Chapter 5 Ze-sho-ho-kuu-so
Page 144 all dharmas have the nature of
emptiness.
144.1
Kan-ji-zai-bo-satsu Gyo-jin-han- 144.4
nya-ha-ra-mit-ta-ji Fu-sho-fu-metsu
The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, They neither arise nor perish.

while dwelling in the deep perfection

of wisdom, sees clearly 144.5
Fu-ku-fu-jo Fu-zo-fu-gen Ze-ko-
Sho-ken-go-un-kai-kuu Do-is-sai- kuu-chuu
ku-yaku Sha-ri-shi They are neither pure nor impure.
skandhas are empty, and
that the five They neither increase or decrease.
free of suffering. Thus in emptiness

144.2 mu-shiki-mu-ju-sd-gyo-shiki-kai
Shiki-fu-i-kuu Ku-fu-i-shlki thereis no form, no feeling, no per-

Form is not different from emptiness, ception,no mentality, no conscious-

emptiness not different from form. ness.

Shiki-soku-ze-kuu ku-soku-ze- mu-mu-myo-yaku-mu-mu-myd-jin

shiki Nai-shi-mu-ro-shi
Form is indeed emptiness. Emptiness There is no ignorance nor end to
is indeed form. ignorance. There is no old age and
death...

Ju-so-gyo-shiki Yaku-bu-nyo-ze
Feeling, perception, mentality, Yaku-mu-ro-shi-jin Mu-ku-shuu-
and consciousness are also like this. metsu-do
And no end to old age and death.

144.3 There is no suffering, no arising, no

Sha-ri-shi cessation, no path.
Oh Shariputra,
 145.4
Mu-chi-yaku-mu-toku-i Bo-dai-
Ze-sho-ho-kuu-so Fu-sho-fu-
sat-ta
There is no wisdom, and no attain-
metsu
all dharmas have the nature of emp-
ment. The Bodhisattva
tiness. They neither arise nor perish.
E-han-nya-ha-ra-mit-ta-ko
Fu-ku-fu-jo Fu-zo-fu-gen Ze-ko-
abides in the perfection of wisdom,
kuu-chuu
and has a mind free of hindrances.
They are neither pure nor impure.
They neither increase or decrease.
Page 145 Thus in emptiness

145.1
Sho-ken-go-un-kai-kuu
The five skandhas are empty
Do-is-sai-ku-yaku Sha-ri-shi
and free of suffering.
Shiki-fu-i-kuu Ku-fu-l-shiki
Form is not different from emptiness,
emptiness not different
145.2
Shiki-soku-ze-kuu
Form is indeed emptiness.
kuu-soku-ze-shiki
Emptiness is indeed form.
mu-shiki-mu-ju-sd-gyo-shiki-kai
thereis no form, no feeling, no per-
ception,no mentality, no conscious-
ness.
mu-mu-myd-yaku-mu-mu-myd-jin
There is no ignorance nor end to
ignorance.
from form. Nai-shi-mu-ro-shi
There is no old age and death
Yaku-mu-ro-shi-jin Mu-ku-shuu-
metsu-do
and no end to old age and death.
There is no suffering, no arising, no
cessation, no path.

145.3 Mu-chi-yaku-mu-toku-i
Ju-so-gyo-shiki There is no wisdom, and no attain-
Feeling, perception, mentality ment.

Yaku-bu-nyo-ze Bo-dai-sat-ta E-han-nya-ha-ra-

and consciousness are also like this. mit-ta-ko
The Bodhisattva abides in the per-
Sha-ri-shi fection of wisdom, and has a mind
Oh Shariputra, free of hindrances.
 SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

AFRO SAMURAI!

INTERLUDE AFRO SAMURAI first began

as a doujinshi series in
life
Japan before making the
^* <d leap to animation and then
back to manga. Presented
here are eight of Okazaki-
Samurai
sensei's original Afro
doujinshi pages featuring the
iconic sequence that made
Afro the bad-ass mutha he is
today.
 Sk:

Z7>

****
^f^^ll
whj^
TAKASHI OKAZAKI
Bornin 1974 in Kanagawa, Japan
Graduated from Tama Art University with a BA in
Sculpture.

Okazaki's creative activity focuses on

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

AFRO SAMURAI was originally a doujinshi manga

by Okazaki that first appeared in the independent

magazine Nou Nou Hau, and was then made into

an animated TV series by GONZO. The series stars
Samuel I. Jackson (who is also one of the Executive
Producers), and is furnished with music composed
by the hip-hop maestro RZA. After the successful US
broadcast on Spike TV in 2007, the show was edited
for theatricalrelease 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 Mashita Masayoshi
Designed "Wangan-kun," a fictional mascot
character used in the live-action film
Bayside Shakedown 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
 Nothing personal . . . it's just

l^piS SAID chat he who wears che No. 1 headband

I shall rule che world. It is also said chac only he who
wears che No. 2 headband may challenge che No. 1,

Years ago, a swordsman who wore che No. 1

was brutally slain by a power-hungry gunman

named juscice. The swordsman's son wicnessed
che murder, and has grown up co become che
cold-hearced warrior Afro Samurai. Afro has
honed his skills wich a single purpose in mind.

Wich che No. 2 band around his forehead, Afro

sees ouc co give Juscice his due. Due wich scores

of assassins and cwo-bic warriors eager co kill

che No. 2 and cake his place as cop concender,

will he survive long enough co avenge his

facher's deach?

The basis for che hit

Spike TV series

Hi
AFro SAmur/u
SET $11.99 CAN
ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-2123-7
ISBN-10: 0-7653-2123-8
"T>
5 1099 > www.cor-Forge.com
www.gomanga.com
A Tor/5even Seas Poperba
Tom Dohercu Associates, LI
I,
9 "780765"321 237