Thematically wise packs more of a punch than its animated counterpart, albeit still fixated on style over all. Too bad, because it had a solid basis to tackle various sensitive topic, be it the universal ones or America-Japan specific.

Afro's path is depicted by black & white panels, more than often splattered with red color of blood. It looks beautiful and evocative in wider frames, however most of the action blurs out in smaller ones and becomes unclear. Usually not a problem, but in a work that relies heavy on visuals it becomes a rather prominent one.

What it does better than anime is how it portrays Afro. It villainizes him as a person who doesn't refrain from most despicable of methods in order to accomplish his quest. He moves forward with inhuman determination, blind to all the admonitions and ultimately pays for it in the most poetic way.

Okazaki drew inspiration from samurai and blaxploitation movies of 70s, albeit only scratched at their surface. In return we have a work set on a narrow path of vendetta, ridden with questionable cultural idiosyncrasies. Shame that there was such a -- presumable -- lack of vision, or perhaps inexperience for a better execution. After all, this is his first work.

If anime left you unsatisfied then this could serve as a suitable add-on or improvement even.