Comic-Con '08 Catch-up: Afro Samurai Manga-ka Interview & Panel

While not widely covered by the comics blogosphere, San Diego Comic-Con also featured several appearances by Takashi Okazaki, the creator of Afro Samurai. With the upcoming release of the first volume of the Afro Samurai manga from Seven Seas Manga / Tor Books due in September, several limited edition Afro Samurai figures from Organic Hobby and the upcoming release of Afro Samurai: Resurrection on Spike TV in January 2009, Okazaki-sensei had lots of reasons to make the scene at Comic-Con.

I wasn't able to make it into Friday's panel event featuring Q&A with Okazaki-sensei, Afro Samurai: Resurrection star and executive producer Samuel L. Jackson, soundtrack artist The RZA and Spike TV exec Leo Chu -- but thankfully, Funimation videotaped the event, so everyone can check it out:

Spike TV has also posted the Afro Samurai: Resurrection trailer straight from Studio Gonzo that was shown at the panel too:

Seven Seas Manga is also offering a free online preview of the manga on their website.

Aannnd, just to top off this Okazaki love-fest, Gia from A Geek By Any Other Name interviewed the affable Afro Samurai creator and got the story about his creation and how he got his nickname, "Bob."

Image credit: © Deb Aoki