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    Afro 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_afros.png

"Nothing personal. It's just revenge."

The protagonist, hell-bent on revenge for his father, who was killed by Justice before his very eyes.

Appears in: All Versions (Naturally).

  • Adaptational Heroism: In the game, where he chooses to throw away the number one headband for good, thus giving up on revenge and potentially saving the world.
  • Adaptational Villainy: He's even more unscrupulous and ruthless in the manga, where he uses the crippled paraplegic sister of a boy he just killed as a human shield immediately after she tearfully questions why he killed her brother.
  • Afro Asskicker: It's right there in the name.
  • All for Nothing: Invoked in the Manga version. After hacking and slashing through everything thrown at him. He reaches Justice and attacks him instantly... only for Justice's body to disintegrate to nothing, having been dead long before Afro even reached him. Unlike the video game, where Afro at least reaches some peace of mind, this just causes him to go Laughing Mad and catatonic for several years.
  • Ancestral Weapon: His father's long katana.
  • Anti-Hero: Verging on Byronic Hero. His goal is sympathetic, if only to a certain extent, but none of his actions are.
  • Beneath the Mask: Despite his cold and unfeeling demeanor, he is heavily implied to regret his actions, but realizes that he's too far gone in his quest for revenge to make any attempt at atonement. This is supported by the lyrics of the song that plays after he massacres dozens of men on a bridge at the beginning of Resurrection which state "My heart is filled with grief/For all the dead souls that I chopped into pieces", his seemingly genuine contemplation of whether or not to allow Jinno to kill him during their fight, and Ninja Ninja's entire existence.
  • Beware the Quiet Ones: He says only a few words throughout the series, and would kill anyone for revenge.
  • Byronic Hero: Not much of a hero but he’s intelligent, skilled, determined and utterly impeccable in his journey. But he’s also ruthless, uncompromising, and cold to everyone he meets.
  • The Call Knows Where You Live: This is combined with Jumped at the Call. Afro went after the Number 2 headband in his youth, regardless the danger that associated with it. Unfortunately, this meant that everyone around him had to pay the price when he decided to answer the call.
  • Death Seeker: He becomes one of these at the end of the manga because he doesn't want to kill anymore and is heavy with guilt. Unfortunately, his skills are so sharp that when Kotaro comes to get revenge, Afro dodges his strike and beheads him, all subconsciously.
  • Determinator: Nothing stops him from getting to his goal. Not even an an entire army of swordsmen!
  • Doom Magnet: It comes with the territory of being the wielder of the Number 2 headband. Danger follows him where ever he goes.
  • The Dreaded: Afro earned and keeps the reputation of the Number 2 headband: the second most powerful being in the world, who's aiming to kill the equivalent of God himself. Best shown in episode one, where everyone reacts to him as fearful regard and many described him as a "Demon".
  • Glowing Eyes of Doom: Gets these in the manga whenever his inner demon is awoken.
  • Implausible Fencing Powers: He displays pretty much the full set.
    • In the anime, the bullet shatters, and the enemies behind him are hit with a veritable Flechette Storm.
  • Harmful to Minors: He was on the receiving end of this trope as a kid with his father's murder at the hands of Justice right in front of him.
  • He Who Fights Monsters: His path has lead him to be just as monstrous as the man who killed his father.
  • Heartbroken Badass: In between the loss of his father, killing his master and several childhood friends, Afro is a very dark version.
  • Heroic BSoD: In the manga and game, he goes into the king of these when he finds Justice long dead.
  • Hidden Eyes: Frequently drawn this way.
  • It's All About Me: He doesn’t seem to care about anything else besides his revenge which is repeatedly lampshaded by his enemies.
  • Laughing Mad: After he ended up killing Kotaro from sheer instinct, he's seen laughing with tears in his eyes.
  • Lightning Bruiser: Afro hits hard, moves fast and can shrug off punishing blows.
  • Made of Iron: Afro's notably difficult to kill and can take copious amounts of injuries that would be instantly fatal to most while still being able to fight. In the manga, it's even described how he heals from damage must faster than any normal man is expected to.
  • Manly Tears: In the manga, Afro cries these as he puts on the Number Two headband.
  • Master Swordsman: To the point where he comes to regret how improbably good at sword fighting he is when he kills an opponent he wanted to be killed by through muscle memory alone.
  • My God, What Have I Done?: The sole time he ever shows regret for his actions was at the very start of his journey, after he caused his friends' deaths and killed his master for the Number 2 headband.
  • No Name Given: He has no name besides Afro.
  • "Not So Different" Remark: His own actions parallel Justice's. Right down to killing Kotaro's father before his eyes.
  • One-Handed Zweihänder: Downplayed. Afro's weapon is an old sword with a longer and more unwieldy blade than average. He's skilled enough to use it with one handed, but uses both when up against a stronger opponent.
  • One-Man Army: Slaughters entire armies of assassins with nothing but his sword and his own physical finesse.
  • Punny Name: In Japanese; "Afro" sounds like "afuro", which means "overflowing". Now look at his head.
  • The Quiet One: He never utters more than a few words on the rare occasions when he speaks.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: The blue to both Ninja Ninja and Jinno.
  • Revenge Before Reason
    • Subverted in the Manga: He tries to forget what Justice did to his father, but confides in Jinno and Otsuru that he just can't.
    • Justice himself told the child Afro that witnessing the event would control his life from then on.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: His whole journey. Particularly when he kills an entire village just for following Justice's teachings.
  • Scary Black Man: He's scary and black, particularly when on his revenge crusade. Bonus points for being voiced by Samuel L. MOTHERFUCKING Jackson.
  • "Shaggy Dog" Story: In the manga and video game, when he finally reaches Justice and tries to stab him. Only to find out Justice is long since dead and his body crumbles to dust. In the video game, Afro fights representations of Justice in his mind to eventually comes to terms with himself. In the manga, well..the quest more or less is just meaningless and Afro actually has a Heroic BSoD for a few years before Kotaro comes and unwittingly snaps him out of it.
  • Smoking Is Cool: He’s usually seen smoking and boy does he look cool doing it.
  • The Stoic: Generally composed and unfazed by anything during his journey.
    • Not So Stoic: A few times throughout the series. Particularly his father's death, his friends' slaughter, and finding out Justice has been dead all along.
  • Sympathetic P.O.V.: Pretty much the only reason we can call him a hero at all. He has a tragic past and a reason to fight, but it's made abundantly clear that so does every single person that he's fighting, some of which were caused by Afro himself.
  • Trademark Favorite Food: In the Anime. "Lemonade. Ice cold."
  • Tragic Keepsake: His father's pendant (which he ties to the end of his sword's handle), and head (for a time). He later receives Otsuru/Okiku's hairpin, though how he gets it varies depending on the version.
  • Tranquil Fury: He almost never utters a word.
  • Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: Tries note  to kill a guy for information on the Number Two Headband as a kid. Later kills the guy's friends in self-defense.
    • Averted in the manga, for the most part. While living with The Swordmaster and the other orphans, he actually leads a relatively normal life.
  • The Unfettered: Revenge is pretty much all that on Afro's mind. Especially evident in the manga version of the series in which a story features Afro using two innocent bystanders (a boy and his handicapped sister later on) as shields to avoid attacks, showing no remorse in causing their deaths. That he killed his master to reclaim the No. 2 further establishes him as one.
  • Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Well, considering he saw his father beheaded in front of him when he was a toddler, he was always pretty messed up, but during the flashbacks to his time at the dojo we see him laughing and smiling with the other students, showing that he hadn't completely lost himself to revenge just yet.
  • Villain Protagonist: In the manga.
  • Would Hit a Girl: Afro has no problem attacking Tomoe in Resurrection and there are female enemies in the game that can be killed just as brutally as the male enemies. Justified as both examples are generally in self defense.
  • You Killed My Father: Afro’s sole purpose in life was to hunt down his father’s murderer. Too bad the killer was dead all along.

    Ninja Ninja 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/afroninja.png

"If you don't stop dissin' me, I'm gonna stop following your brutal ass around."

Apparently Afro's only friend, he follows Afro on his quest for revenge. He seems to disappear before every fight or is seen as a spectator commenting on the battles. It's heavily implied, if not outright said that he is the personification of what's left of Afro's humanity.

Appears in: All versions.

  • Adaptational Heroism: Ninja Ninja is much more morally reserved and conscientious of Afro's decisions in the anime and video game than he is in the manga. In the anime and video game, he actually discourages Afro from continuing his quest of revenge at times, acts much friendlier towards Afro, and pleads for him to try to find happiness.
  • Adaptational Villainy: Ninja Ninja is much more ruthless and sinister in the manga than he is in the anime and video game. In the manga, he actually encourages Afro to complete his quest regardless of who ends up dead, actually threatens to kill Afro a few times just to prove he can, and honestly does whatever he feels like because It Amused Me. In the manga, he states the only thing he cares about is guiding Afro to the location of the Number One.
  • Break the Fourth Wall: In the Video Game.
    "I can tell what you're thinking. You think you know how this ends. You saw the T.V. show right? Right? But that was a T.V. show, and T.V. shows demand a happy ending. You know this ain't the kind of story that has a happy ending..."
  • Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Despite being obnoxious comic relief most of the time, in the few occasions where he actually shows off his ninja skills, he proves himself to be one of the few people capable of keeping up with Afro and implied in the manga he could kill Afro anytime he wants. He also managed to quickly one-shot Takimoto in the manga when he gave Afro a hard time.
  • Doppelgänger Spin: In the game.
  • Foil: He's more or less Afro's other half. Scratch that, he is Afro's other half.
  • Greek Chorus: Acts as this during Afros journey.
  • Hallucinations
    • In the manga, there are hints he may be more than that.
    "Man, quit makin' crazy shit up. I am what I am, ya dig?"
  • Hidden Depths: Interestingly enough, he's the embodiment of Afro's hidden depths, showing him to be suppressing a lot more emotion than he lets on.
  • Highly-Visible Ninja: He doesn't really do any ninja things at all.
  • Jive Turkey: Until the end of his final monologue to Afro, where his voice turns into Afro's.
  • Phrase Catcher: On more than one occasion, he’s had Afro tell him to “shut up”.
  • Plucky Comic Relief: For a dark show filled with death and drama, this guy always has something funny to say in serious situations. You can tell Samuel L. Jackson was having a lot of fun voicing him.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Red Oni to Afro's Blue.
  • Sarcastic Devotee: He's constantly complaining about all of Afro's actions, but follows him anyway.
  • Spirit Advisor: In the manga, his stated purpose is to guide Afro to Mt. Sumeru to fight Justice.
  • "They're Not Real" Reveal: Whenever he's around to provide comic relief and acts as Afro's right hand man and advisor, it turns out he was never there in the first place. That would explain enemies never even acknowledged him, acting like they only see Afro and him alone.
  • Uncle Tomfoolery: Played with a bit in that he's just as deadly as Afro is when he wants to be and far more compassionate and insightful than his companion as well.
  • You Can See Me?: Takimoto can see him (and talk to him) in the manga. In the anime, Justice can see him, but never interacts with him.
    • The latter case may have just been based on Justice's observation of Afro, since he does occasionally talk to Ninja Ninja but stops after the fight with Kuma.

    Justice 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/afrojustice.png

"With this band, across my forehead... I will rule this world, as God himself."

Voiced by: Ron Perlman

A gunslinger who before the series began became the Number Two, he becomes the Number One when he kills Afro's father, setting the plot in motion.

Appears in: All versions.

  • Ambiguously Evil: It's not exactly clear whether Justice is a genuinely well-meaning man who did evil things to achieve his goals, or a delusional Knight Templar with his own twisted idea of world peace. The fact he looks downright sinister doesn't help matters.
  • Ambiguously Human: Though he's seemingly just a highly-skilled middle-aged warrior, his mottled skin, Healing Factor and third arm suggest otherwise. Generally, he appears to be some sort of mutant so it's unclear if he classifies as human at all anymore.
  • Anti-Villain: Comes into play more in the manga. After winning the Number 1 Headband, Justice fancies himself a god and brings order to the world. Even in the main series, keep in mind that his stated goal is "Using unlimited power to bring about ultimate peace."
  • Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Justice became the ruler of the world by virtue of his incredible fighting skills, earning him the number 1 headband.
  • Badass Cape: A flowing cape which makes Justice look like the badass cowboy he is.
  • Back from the Dead The ending to Resurrection makes it very clear that this is one hard sonuvabitch to put down for good.
  • Big Bad: A subversion as he’s hardly there and in the manga he died a long time ago.
  • Break Them by Talking: During the final fight in the game, Justice calls Afro out on how the duo are not that different, and how his path of revenge has resulted in so much bloodshed.
  • Comes Great Responsibility: Justice believes in a somewhat unorthodox variation of this philosophy.
    "I believe it's a sin not to rule the world if you've been blessed with the strength!"
  • Dark Is Not Evil: He looks like a typical bad guy with a sinister voice, however he wants to bring ultimate peace to the world by any means necessary.
  • Dark Messiah: He's established himself as a messianic figure in the world after becoming the Number One and even established a religion in the manga that paints him in a similar light to Jesus Christ.
  • Dead All Along: Happens in the game and in the manga. Afro finally arrives to Justice's lair, only to found him already dead after a long time from the moment that Justice killed Afro's father.
  • Enemy Within: At the end of the game, Afro finds Justice long dead. Justice then appears to him as a vision, and they have a Battle in the Center of the Mind.
  • A God Am I: He believes that the Number One Headband makes him a god, and that he has the power to bring order to this world.
    • In the manga, he becomes Messianic Archetype before he dies, with at least one religion based on his teachings.
    • In the game, he achieves this in a different way...
    "My desire was to become a god. In the pursuit of revenge... You made me yours.
  • Guns Akimbo: His main weapons of choice are revolver guns instead of swords.
  • Healing Factor: Note that apparently being diced was not enough to kill him.
  • Hero Antagonist: Word of God states that Justice's reasons for killing Afro's father were justifiable.
  • Laughing Mad: It kinda undermines your apology to young Afro when you start laughing afterwards, Justice.
  • Lightning Bruiser: As one would expect from the World's Best Warrior. Justice is very quick on his feet, can inflict a lot of damage and has a Healing Factor that allows him to regenerate from life-threatening injuries.
  • No Name Given: His name is never actually spoken in the first season.

    Jinnosuke 
"My dream is to fulfill the dreams of my father, to become a master swordsman and open up a dojo."

Voiced by: Yuri Lowenthal

Afro's childhood friend and rival at the dojo, he thinks of Afro like his brother. When The Number Two Headband is tracked to the dojo, Jinno is nearly killed, but survives and is transformed by Dharman into Kuma.

Appears in: All versions.

  • Ancestral Weapons: In the manga, the Sword Master says the katana he presents Jinno with came from Jinno's father, Jintaro.
  • Big Brother Instinct: Towards Otsuru.
  • Chaste Hero: Before his cyborg transformation, he never shows any romantic interest in anyone. In the manga, he dreamed of one day running a dojo to honor his deceased father and mentioned he had no time for romance in pursuit of that dream.
  • Dual Wielding: He wields two swords, in his words "to be the best".
  • Foil: He's the orphan son of a famous samurai too, and like Afro he holds his father in incredibly high regard. Unlike Afro, he seems comfortable with abandoning revenge to be with his friends. Then again, he didn't have to see his father murdered in front of him.
  • Friendly Rival: He and Afro were competitive, but also the best of friends and never far from the other.
  • Idiot Ball: Jinno, when your choices are rushing into battle to save two warriors at least as skilled as you, and protecting a group of kids who (with the odd exception) can't handle themselves, you don't choose the first.
    • The manga portrays the massacre as being much less his fault.
  • Like Brother and Sister: Very close to Otsuru, but in an entirely platonic sense.
  • Nice Guy: While a little cocky, he's an amicable and considerate guy overall who was liked by all of his peers, Afro included.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red to Afro.
  • The Rival: To Afro but it’s downplayed as their friends.
  • Shipper on Deck: In the manga, he actively supports Afro/Otsuru, and tells Afro as much.
  • True Companions: To Afro, Otsuru, and everyone else at the Swordmaster's dojo.

    "Kuma" 
"Long time, no see, Afro..."

Teddy-bear mask-wearing cyborg, created by Dharman. He waits on Mt. Shumi (Sumeru in the Manga), guarding the path to Justice.

He eventually reveals himself to be Jinno, rebuilt after he was nearly killed.

In Resurrection, he returns, serving Sio in her plot to revive Afro's Father, his personality almost entirely gone due to the constant repairs to his cybernetic body.

Appears in: All versions.

  • Badass Biker: In Resurrection.
  • Berserker Tears: After being reconstructed, he never stopped crying.
  • Cybernetics Eat Your Soul: In Resurrection, due to constant repairs, he lacks all of his former personality. Until the end, when he remembers who he is and sacrifices himself to save Afro.
  • Diabolus ex Nihilo: Dharman doesn't appear at all in the game, which raises the question: how did Jinno become Kuma?
  • The Dragon: To the Empty 7 and Dharman in the anime, Sio in Resurrection, and Justice in the Manga.
    • Dragon with an Agenda: Rather than having designs on his masters, however, he just wants Afro.
    • Dragon-in-Chief: Fought after the Empty 7 and much, much harder than all of them put together.
  • Dual Wielding: Uses two blades at a time.
  • Emergency Transformation: Uses this during his fight with Afro.
  • Et Tu, Brute?: Afro's betrayal of all of his loved ones drove Jinno over the edge.
  • Evil Counterpart: Well, counterpart at least. He's just as singlemindedly driven by revenge as Afro is.
  • Evil Former Friend: He's either Afro's or Afro is his, depending on how you look at it. In a way, both men have become villains on opposing sides to achieve their revenge.
  • Eye Lights Out: When he dies for good in Resurrection.
  • Final Boss Preview: In the manga, he shows up right after the defeat of the Empty 7, and hands Afro his ass. While only drawing his swords ''once''.
  • Foreshadowing: His mask looks eerily similar to Otsuru's teddy bear which, along with his comments about already knowing Afro, hint at his identity.
  • Good Costume Switch: Well, a costume switch at least. At the end of Resurrection his mask comes off right as he decides to fight with Afro. Considering who Afro is it could honestly be called an Evil Costume Switch.
  • Hot-Blooded: While Afro takes out his revenge through Tranquil Fury, he loves screaming his head off.
  • Hypocritical Humor: During an otherwise intense scene, his line "Come to think of it, I can't even take you seriously with that ridiculous hair of yours!" comes off as pretty hilarious considering he fights with a teddy bear mask on.
  • Informed Ability: In the game, Ninja Ninja describes him as a "300 hundred pound bear man". Unless Kuma is incredibly dense for his slim build, he certainly doesn't look 300 hundred pounds.
  • Laser-Guided Amnesia: In the game, he has forgotten who he is, and simply wanders the mountainside, attacking anyone he comes across.
  • Manly Tears: "My tears have never stopped falling since that day."
  • Master Swordsman: His swordsmanship is on par with Afro's.
  • "Not So Different" Remark: He states in the manga that his own desire for revenge is just like Afro's.
  • Red Eyes, Take Warning: Or eye, in his case. In the Manga and Anime, one of his eyes is cybernetic, and glows red (though the manga is in black and white, so this is only assumed there).
  • Riddle for the Ages: Who rebuilt him in the Flash Forward at the end of the series? How did they know that to get the divine power the #1 promises, you need to collect all the headbands? We may never know.
  • The Rival: There's a reason he appears in more promotional material than even Justice.
  • Screaming Warrior: While his swordsmanship is comparable to Afro's, his audio levels most certainly aren't. He constantly screams and pants while fighting. In Resurrection, his cybernetic enhancements have reached a point where he can no longer speak, making him no longer one of these.
  • Smoking Is Cool: Through his bear mask, no less! (Though in the anime, he only does it in the Season 1 epilogue.)
  • Vader Breath: Most noticeable in the first movie, since he talks more in it.
  • Worthy Opponent: The only foe barring Justice or Afro Droid who Afro struggles against, to the point where the fight against him takes longer than the other two.

    The Empty 7 
"Dear brothers, it seems that our long-awaited day has arrived! Our prayers, like paved stones, have led us to the door of the Number One!"

Voiced by: Phil LaMarr (Brothers 1, 3 and 5), John DiMaggio (Brother 2), Terrence C. Carson (Brother 4) and Greg Eagles (Brother 6)

The leaders of a cult that worships the power of the headbands, and seek to gain control of the Number One in order to become gods. To do this, they must kill Afro, to which end they hire assassins from all over the world, and build various cyborg warriors when those assassins prove inadequate.

Appear In: All Versions.

  • A God Am I: Brother 7 is "Empty". That is, he's supposed to represent the presence of God that is nestled at the heart of the organization and its religious philosophy.
  • Agent Scully: Brother 2 in the manga doesn't believe that the headbands have any divine power which gets him killed when he argues this to Brother 1.
  • Artificial Limbs: Brother 1. In the manga, they're both artificial.
  • Big Bad: The Empty 7 are the ones sending assassins after Afro in the series by either building cyborgs to kill him or putting out contracts on his head with massive rewards.
  • The Big Guy: Brother 6
  • Boring, but Practical: Brother 3, as opposed to attempt to murder Afro, merely offers him tea and rice crackers, and politely asks for the headband, not doing anything when Afro just walks past him. He's also the only one who survives.
  • Cain and Abel: Brother 2 tries to pull this on 1 in the manga, after learning of his intention to betray Justice. 1 turns this around on him, punching a hole in him.
  • Disney Villain Death: Afro kicks Brother 5 over the waterfall in the manga. Subverted in that we very clearly see his dead body floating face down in the water later.
  • The Dragon: In the manga, they have a contract to protect Justice.
  • Dual Boss: Brother 4 and 5 attack simultaneously, alongside 1 in the game, and jumping out of 6's backpack in the anime and manga.
  • Dual Wielding: In the manga, Brother 5 wields a pair of tanto. In the anime, he uses a jian.
  • Eye Scream: Brother 2 in the anime, and Brother 4 in the manga, both courtesy of Afro's fingertips.
  • Fate Worse than Death: Brother 1 is shown in Resurrection to have survived his brutal beatdown by Afro Samurai in the original anime, but it's left him severely brain-damaged, little more than a twitching, gibbering wreck strapped into a glorified moving cart and hooked into a catheter because he no longer has any control over his own bodily functions.
  • Headphones Equal Isolation: Brother 3 is constantly listening to music on a pair of headphones, and so largely ignores the world around him, resulting in his siblings ignoring him.
  • Hyperspace Arsenal: Brother 6 in the anime and game supplements his staff with a flamethrower and a Muthafuckin' RPG, in his backpack.
  • Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Several examples related to them:
    • 2 inflicts this on Okiku in the anime.
    • Afro stabs both 4 and 5 through the head in the anime.
    • 1 punches through 2 in the manga. Then tears his insides out.
    • Afro kills 1 this way in the manga.
  • Meaningful Name: Rokutaro ("Roku" is "6" in Japanese).
  • No Name Given: For all except Brother 6, who in the Manga is named Shinojiryu Boujutsu Rokutaro, or "Rokuta" for short.
  • Not Blood Siblings: Rokutaro is explicitly stated in the manga not to be related to the other 5, and in fact is never referred to as Brother 6 (though he still has "6" tattooed on his head and painted on his hat).
  • Not Quite Dead: Brother 1 shows up in Resurrection, in 3's care, strapped to a stretcher and hooked up to a catheter.
  • Signature Headgear: Brothers 4 and 6 wear round straw hats bearing their numbers.
  • Sole Survivor: Brother 3 in most versions of the story is the only one not to die at Afro's hands. Depending on how you read the manga (see What Happened to the Mouse?), he may be the only character never to die in any version of the story. That includes Afro himself.
  • Technical Pacifist: Brother 3 in the anime. He just simply asks for the #2 head band and offers Afro some tea and rice crackers. When Afro meets up with him again in Resurrection, he instead wages information on the current Number Two against Afro's life in a dice game.
  • Tyke-Bomb: In the manga, Brother 6 was raised from early childhood by the Brothers to be their enforcer.
  • Uncanny Family Resemblance: All of the brothers save 6 (who may not be related: see above) look exactly the same, to the point where they have their numbers tattooed on their heads.
  • Voice Grunting: Brother 4 in the manga only speaks in "Mmm." of various lengths (and screaming when Afro rips out his eyes).
  • What Happened to the Mouse?: Brother 3 simply disappears during the showdown with Afro in the manga. It could be argued that he was killed as collateral damage during Afro's fight with Brother 1, and/or that the brother shown crushed under debris was him and not Brother 4.

    Rokutaro 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rokutaro_afro_samurai_251.jpg

"Wait here, son... it'll soon be over."

Voiced by: Greg Eagles

Father of the protagonist, and bearer of the Number 1 Headband. Killed by Justice in order to claim said headband. Resurrected by Sio in Resurrection.

Appears in: All versions.

  • Came Back Wrong: His resurrection in Resurrection is interrupted, leaving him a bloodthirsty killing machine.
  • Evil Knockoff: In the manga, Afrodroid is disguised as him.
  • His Name Is...: His voiceless last words are revealed in the game to be "Don't lose your way." Unfortunately, Afro gets a different message...
  • Losing Your Head: He surely does.
  • Master Swordsman: Like his son. Enough to be able to obtain the status of Number One.
  • People Jars: He's regrown in one in Resurrection.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: Like Justice, he became the Number One to stop the cycle of bloodshed caused by the headbands by obtaining the Number One and hiding it away, unlike Justice who wanted to use the power of the headbands to forcefully make the world a more peaceful place.

    Sword Master 
"We are born men in order to live, not to kill."

An old warrior who owns a small dojo, where he trains orphans in the art of the sword. He finds Afro after his father's death and he takes him in, attempting to sway him from the path of revenge. Eventually, Afro discovers that he has become the Number Two, and he challenges him for the headband.

Appears in: Season 1, Manga, and Game.

  • Combat Pragmatist: "The point of dueling is to kill your enemy. Not twisting and turning, demonstrating flowery form."
  • I Let You Win: Implied in the anime and game. He definitely uses this trope in the manga, secretly using a bamboo sword.
  • Made of Iron: Keeps fighting after being stabbed with numerous spears in the anime.
  • Old Master: More like old Master Swordsman.
  • Secret Test of Character: His duel with Afro, especially in the manga.
  • Single-Stroke Battle: His duel with Afro ends in one of these.
  • The Stoic: Less so in the manga, where he cracks smiles more frequently.
  • Turn the Other Cheek: He tries to drill this into Afro, though it's not so much revenge he discourages as seeking to become Number Two, and entwining his fate with the constant bloodshed.
    • In the manga, he's more understanding, acknowledging that Afro is a man, and must make his own decisions.

    Otsuru 
"Lenamode?"

"When things get hard, look at this comb and think of Master and the rest of us, and of this mountain."

Voiced by: Tara Strong

One of the orphans adopted by the Sword Master, she acts as the heart of the family, and always carries around a teddy bear.

Only appears as a child in the anime and game sort of, but in the manga, she grows up alongside the rest of Afro's True Companions, even developing a romance with him.

Appears in: Season 1, Manga, and Game.

  • Childhood Friend Romance: Of the Victorious type. Afro confesses his love for her in the Manga after the graduation, promising to return to her after he has taken his vengeance on Justice.
  • Faux Action Girl: In the manga, the Bokken tied to her back when she was little suggests that she was actually training in the use of swords along with the other orphans. By the time we see her grown, though, she seems to have given it up.
  • Iconic Item: Her teddy bear. In the manga, she keeps it tied to her back even after she reaches her (presumably late) teens.
  • Improbable Infant Survival: In the anime, she's thought to be killed at the battle under the Bohdi tree. She actually survived, and grew up to be Okiku.
  • Not Allowed to Grow Up: In the anime, she appears the same age in all of Afro's flashbacks, despite the flashbacks taking place over many years (as evidenced by Afro's own growth). Subverted when it's revealed that the very, very grown up Okiku is Otsuru.
    • Averted in the manga, as she is actually somewhat older than Afro, and grows up alongside the rest of Afro's True Companions at the Sword Dojo.
  • Precocious Crush: She has one on Afro in the anime (though how precocious it is is unclear, given that unlike Afro, she is Not Allowed to Grow Up.
  • She Is All Grown Up: In the manga. Also in the anime, though by then she is known as Okiku.
  • Tragic Keepsake: Her hairpin, which was found with her by the Sword Master. She later gives it to Afro before he leaves the Sword Dojo to search for Justice.

    "Okiku" 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/okiku_copy.png

"Will you stay and watch the fireworks with me?"

Voiced by: Kelly Hu

A village healer who find Afro after his battle with Brother 6. She nurses him back to health, but at the same time probes his dreams to extract his skills for use in the Empty 7's Afro Droid. She eventually receives orders to kill him, but can't bring herself to go through with it, and is killed for her betrayal.

She is revealed in the Anime to have been Otsuru, having survived the massacre at the sword dojo. Curiously, no mention of her past identity of Otsuru is made by her in the game, which is odd, as she narrates her own chapter.

Appears in: Season 1, Game.

  • Sex Signals Death: Averted. She isn’t killed during or after the sex. But when the Empty Seven finds out she didn’t kill Afro, they killed her.

    O-Sachi 
"This man is bound by his past..."

A young woman who found Afro after his slaughter of the Empty 7 and subsequent asskicking at the hands of Kuma. She belongs to an isolated community that follows the teachings of "The One". As she cares for Afro, she seems to develop an attraction to him, and it appears that Afro might reciprocate. Unfortunately, it turns out that "The One" would probably be more accurately referred to as "Number One". When she learns that Afro cannot forgive Justice, and intends to kill him despite all the good he's done, she attempts to kill Afro first. This leads to Afro slaughtering the entire community.

Appears in: Manga.

  • Action Girl: She reveals herself to be a former ninja when she attacks Afro.
  • Expy: Okiku is hers or vice-versa.
  • In Name Only: A character named Osachi appears in the game as an elite mook. Apart from her sister having been killed, she bears no resemblance to the manga's O-Sachi.
  • Navel-Deep Neckline: In her Spy Catsuit.
  • Rescue Romance: She asks Afro to return to be with her once he has finished his quest for revenge. Of course, she then finds out that his target is her messiah.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: She went on a "hellish journey" seeking revenge for her sister, until she was found by "The One", and taught forgiveness by him.
  • Yamato Nadeshiko: She is devoted to her religion and the teachings above all else. Which leads Afro to kill her when she attacks him.

    Sasuke, Jiro, and Matasaburo (and the rest of the Sword Master's Students) 

Voiced by: Jason Marsden (Sasuke), Tara Strong (Jiro), Dave Wittenberg (Matasaburo)

The students at the Sword Master's dojo, they collectively help to try and bring Afro out of his shell.

And then they all die in the battle beneath the Bodhi Tree.

Appear in: Season 1, Game (Sasuke).

  • Can't Catch Up: Supplementary material says this is true of Sasuke.
  • Flat Characters: Those not named weren’t given much character and their deaths lead this to be a foregone conclusion.
  • Sacrificial Lambs: Their deaths are what inspired Afro to continue his journey for vengeance.

    Kazuma 
"I welcome you wholeheartedly and will gladly teach [drowned out by Big Boy] within my know-[drowned out again] you sho-[interrupted once more.]"

The youngest of the orphans adopted by Sword Master until Afro comes along. Talks a lot.

Appears in: Manga.

    Daigo "Big Boy" 
"I'm gonna be the WORLD'S GREATEST CHEF!!"

The last of the orphans adopted by the Sword Master, his defining trait is his lack of indoor voice.

Appears in: Manga.

    Dharmannote  
"Nothing is mightier than the fundamental laws by which all things in this world operate."

Voiced by: Phil LaMarr (S. Scott Bullock in the Director's Cut)

A mad scientist in the employ of Justice (in the manga) and the Empty 7 (in the anime). He was responsible for Jinno's conversion into Kuma, and was the creator Afro Droid.

In Resurrection, Sio hires him to perform the revival of Afro's father. After she interrupts the process, she kills him.

Appears in: Season 1, Resurrection, Manga.

  • The Dragon: He serves the Empty 7 in the anime (though even after they are destroyed, he continues to order Kuma to take the Number Two headband). In the manga, he works for Justice under Takimoto, maintaining Bhava-Agra's machines.
  • Eye Scream: In the manga, he is killed when Afro throws a spear through his eye.
  • Insult Backfire: Nothing Sio says to him about his depravity seems like anything less than the highest praise to him.
  • Mad Scientist: He loves to create robot monstrosities like the Afro Samurai droid. As well as Kuma to an extent.
  • Punny Name: A dharama is a round wish doll, common in Japan. They feature a beard and mustache, and the eyes are left unpainted. When you make a wish, you paint in the right eye, and leave the left blank until your wish is fulfilled. Dharman is a bearded, mustachioed Mad Scientist in a round robotic body, with a blank left eye.
  • You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Sio kills him once he has restored Afro's Father to her satisfaction (letting her vassals go into battle to either die or ruin her plans probably didn't help).

    Afro Droid 
"Danger! Danger! Danger!"

A Terminator-esque robot built in Afro's likeness (or in the manga, his father's), complete with a false skin covering. It is meant purely for battle, and it does it well, utilizing Afro's moves with a 20% increase in physical strength.

Appears in: Season 1, Manga, and Game.

  • Arm Cannon: In the manga, it has machine guns mounted inside its wrists.
  • Breath Weapon: The cannon in its mouth.
  • Conservation of Ninjutsu: One Afro Droid? A tough challenge, and nigh invulnerable. An army of them? Afro tears through them like butter. Partly justified since the one was mentioned by Dharman to have been specially enhanced, and Takimoto notes that after beating the one, Afro has completely learned the droids' patterns.
  • Cool Shades: Deploys them as a blast shield for his dick gun in the anime.
  • Energy Weapon: Has one in its forehead.
  • Evil Knockoff: An Afro Samurai rip-off.
  • Giant Mook: Dharman's last resort is to deploy a giant Afro Droid consisting only of the head and torso.

    Shichigoro 
"There's no place in this world for dangerous men like us, don't you think?"

Voiced by: Liam O'Brien

A fisherman that Afro comes across in his travels, along with his son Kotaro. The two end up in a duel, though the reasons why differ greatly between Resurrection and the manga:

In the manga, Shichigoro and Oi-chan are former assassins for the Empty 7. After Oi-chan botched a job, Shichigoro betrayed the clan, protecting the old man from the Empty 7's cleaners, and the two, along with Kotaro, began traveling the province with a hotpot stand, trying to stay under the 7's radar. When Shichigoro realizes who Afro is, he challenges him in the hope that presenting his head to the Empty 7 will settle his debt, making the world safe for Kotaro.

In Resurrection, he is in fact the new Number Two, but chooses to hide the headband, hoping that by hiding it, humanity will forget about the headbands and their so-called power. He meets Afro when Afro cuts down the man trying to kidnap his Kotaro, and recognizes him as the former Number Two. He reveals to Afro that Kotaro is in fact his adopted son, and that the boy's father was one of the many warriors who died seeking the Number Two headband. Shichigoro promised his dying friend that he would end the wars over the headbands.

Appears in: Resurrection, Manga.

  • The Alcoholic: Frequently seen drinking.
  • Badass and Child Duo: The Badass to Kotaro's Child.
  • Badass Boast: Several times during his duel with Afro in Resurrection
  • Beware the Nice Ones: He’s friendly but he has no problems attacking people if someone challenges to battle even Afro.
  • Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He seems like a laid back drunk, but he matches Afro blow for blow.
  • Epic Flail: One of his weapons is a manriki that he can use to strike from a distance or trap an enemy's sword.
  • Friendly Enemy: In the Manga. Subverted in Resurrection, where he reveals that Afro's disregard for the lives of others disgusts him.
  • Hero Antagonist: The most heroic character in Resurrection, who happens to be aligned against the main character.
  • Morality Pet: Kotaro is his.
  • The Promise: The reason he won't just give Afro the Number Two Headband in Resurrection. He promised Kotaro's real father he'd make a better world for his son.
  • Retired Badass: In the manga, he's retired from assassination and is currently on the run from the Empty Seven with Oi-Chan.
  • Tyke-Bomb: In the manga, he was raised by the Empty 7 to be an assassin.

    Kotaro 
"Daddy!"

Voiced by: Zachary Gordon

Shichigoro's young son (adopted in Resurrection). He watches Afro kill his father in a duel, mirroring how Afro saw his own father slain by Justice.

Appears in: Resurrection, Manga.

  • Cycle of Revenge: At the end of Resurrection, Afro gives a young Kotaro (who has been following him) the Number Two headband. In the manga, he shows up many years after Afro becomes Number One, having become Number Two the old fashioned way.
  • Harmful to Minors: How he dies.
  • Ironic Echo: Everything about him echoes what happened to Afro as a child.
  • Morality Pet: To Shichigoro.
  • Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Presumably went on one of these to become Number Two.
  • Shoot the Shaggy Dog: When he shows up for revenge in the manga, Afro cuts him down effortlessly.
  • Took a Level in Badass: In the manga, he shows up many years later as the new Number Two.
  • Worthy Opponent: Afro acknowledges the kid's resolve and commitment to revenge by handing him the Number 2 Headband. Such an act surely means that he fully expected the kid to become this in time Mores the pity that he lost so easily.
  • You Killed My Father: In Resurrection, this trope is in effect twofold: Afro killed both Shichigoro and Kotaro's birth father (though Kotaro only knows about the former).

    Oi-chan 
"We took countless lives. Just like you."

Voiced by: Mark Hamill

An old hotpot stand vendor and friend of Shichigoro, Oi-chan becomes Kotaro's caretaker after Shichigoro's death.

Appears in: Resurrection, Manga.

  • Cool Old Guy: A kindly caretaker to Kotaro.
  • Retired Badass: In the manga, he was a former assassin for the Empty 7, like Shichigoro, who became injured and now is on the run as an undercover food vendor after being declared a target.

    Kougansai Takimoto 
"Humans cannot survive without a god to control them. That's the truth of things."

A mysterious watcher who serves the Number One, working to kill the Number Two.

In the manga he works as Justice's eyes and ears out in the world or presumably did before Justice died.

In Resurrection, he only appears at the very end in the old Mt. Shumi sanctuary, welcoming back Justice.

Above all else, he believes in the power of Number One to free the world from chaos and pain.

Appears in: Resurrection, and Manga.

  • Air Jousting / Single-Stroke Battle: Engages in one of these with Ninja Ninja. He loses.
  • BFS: Well, the nodachi is certainly bigger than he is.
  • Complete Immortality: Claims to be. Ninja Ninja proves him wrong. Turns out he was another type.
  • Cool Mask: He has this.
  • The Dragon: Serves Justice in the manga. Resurrection seems to set him up to fulfill this role in the anime.
  • My Master, Right or Wrong: Serves the Number One and will ally himself with the former Number Two should that warrior become the Number One.
  • Mysterious Watcher: He claims this is his job.
  • The Napoleon: Even smaller than Ninja Ninja. He is about as far from hotheaded as it gets, though.
  • Razor Floss: Wields a series of wires to entrap his foes, or control his sword from a distance.
  • Stepping-Stone Sword: The scabbard of his sword has an office chair wheel specifically so he can perch on top of it.

    Gorokube 
"Even the great No. 2 can't do nothin' besides run off and hide at the site of my great, big cannon!"

A warlord contacted by the Empty 7, Gorokube engages Afro in battle at the parade, wielding an RPG and a minigun. In exchange for his help acquiring the Number Two headband, he demands all of the Empty 7's wealth. His arsenal gives Afro a bit of trouble, but Afro bests his assassins and the man himself through a use of human shields.

Appears in: Manga.

  • Enemy Mine: His alliance with The Empty 7 might count as this, since his first words to Brother 1 are a complaint about the assassins sent after him by the 7.
  • Fat Bastard: Extremely large and filthy.
  • The Hedonist: Is seen surrounding himself by chained-up naked women. One of whom he eats off of. Silverware and all.
  • More Dakka: His minigun and rocket launcher.
  • Off with His Head!: How he dies by Afro.

    The Daimyo 
"You're chasing a lie. There are no 'sacred' headbands; there are no gods keeping us in check. There is only man."

Voiced by: William Morgan Sheppard

The lord of the province in which the Sword Dojo resides, and Sword Master's elder brother. He was present when Afro was first found by the Sword Master. Afro raids his castle seeking The Number Two headband, eventually facing the Daimyo in combat.

Appears in: Game.

  • Bad Ass Boast: After springing a tower full of poisonous gas on the young Afro:
    "Oh, is that what you want from me, Afro? Forgiveness, redemption, a clean slate? The more men you kill, the harder it is to sleep. And I am so very tired. There is only one way I can help you..."
  • Battle Harem: He has a few almost naked female assassins in his mansion acting as guards and as his personal playthings.
  • Bodyguard Babes: Has some in his mansion, which somehow got past the ratings board despite being topless.
  • Break Them by Talking: What he tries throughout his entire stage, as Afro is chasing him to the roof.
  • Death Seeker: When threatened with death by Afro.
    "Oh I hope so; that would be an elegant death."
  • Evil Old Folks: The Daimyo is visibly wrinkled while wearing a full suit of armor, and bears the attitude of a Retired Monster proudly. Had Afro not shown up, the Daimyo probably would have shifted into the latter trope. This also doubles as Dirty Old Man when one considers the topless Bodyguard Babes he has guarding his castle.
  • The Hedonist: His brother went for a humble life, and the Daimyo went the exact opposite way.
  • Man of Wealth and Taste: Afro cuts a path through the Daimyo's ornate castle, full of luxurious furniture and refined decor. It's a lot more red by the time Afro catches up to the Daimyo.
  • Rank Scales with Asskicking: The leader of the province and he’s strong as well.
  • Scam Religion: What he believes of the headbands is summed up by the above quote, dismissing the idea that there are even gods with the same breath.
  • Stealth Mentor: Mixed with Evil Mentor. He actually encourages Afro to become an "infamous stone killer" while fighting him. He acts as the game's tutorial on parrying, even lecturing Afro on kobo ichi (the perfect parry) as the Sword Master would never teach Afro that.
  • Warrior Poet: Speaks like this to Afro.
  • You Killed My Father: A small child (presumably the Daimyo's son) sees Afro kill the lord. Interestingly enough, the child bears a resemblance to Kotaro, but with the Daimyo's hair.

    Sio 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/afro_samurai_lady_sio.png
"Do you remember me? I remember you. And all that you've done. How many hundreds of lives have you ended? How many thousands have you made mourn the loss of their loved ones?"

Voiced by: Lucy Liu

Kuma's long lost sister, who was apparently adopted by a rich family while he studied swordplay. She kicks off the plot of Resurrection by breaking into Afro's home and stealing the Number One headband. She also plans to revive Afro's Father and torture him in retaliation for what Afro did to Kuma.

Appears in: Resurrection.

  • Anti-Villain: Mix of Type II and III. Her goal is kinda noble; she claims vengeance for all the people that Afro has killed over the years. She makes no efforts to harm anyone else and doesn't do anything particularly horrible. What keeps her from being a Hero Antagonist is just how dark her scheme is and desecrating a dead man's bones to torture her quarry.
  • Dark Action Girl: An action girl who has no problem using ruthless means to torture Afro.
  • Hoist by His Own Petard: Her devotion spelled her end as she was impaled by the Droid when he used Kuma as a meatshield.
  • Hidden Depths: She is genuinely remorseful of what's happened to Kuma and the others. She seems to be a very caring person underneath her mask of a cold Femme Fatale.
  • Male Gaze: Mostly when she's talking to Dharman, the camera focuses especially on her breasts and butt.
  • Ms. Fanservice: Sio is an extremely beautiful woman, and the film has no qualms about showing off her assets.
  • Navel-Deep Neckline: Her outfit is so low cut that it leaves her cleavage and stomach exposed.
  • New Rules as the Plot Demands: She and Kuma attack and steal the Number 1 headband from Afro at the start of Resurrection without even having the Number Two headband.
    • Potentially justified as at the time Afro refused to wear the Number 1 headband for years.
  • Non-Action Big Bad: She can defend herself well enough but fighting Afro, or anyone really, was definitely not a part of her plans. She relies on Kuma to be her muscle.
  • Redemption Equals Death: She dies trying to stop the Afro droid, being inspired by Jinnosuke awakening to defend his "brother".
  • Remember the New Guy?: Afro apparently met her as a kid. She just didn't have any bearing on season 1's plot, so no flashback appearances.
  • Revenge: Her motivation and what kickstarts the plot. Sio hates Afro for what he's done to her family and the families of others around the land in his own quest for vengeance.

    Bin, Michael and Tomoe 
"We must not allow our Lady Sio to tread the path of darkness, such a sweet lady she is. We will not allow her to fall from grace. Instead, we will be the sinners..."

Voiced by: Mark Hamill, none and Grey DeLisle

Sio's "vassals", who helped raise her in the rich household she was adopted by. When their town is destroyed, they are revived by Dharman, and continue to serve Sio, aiding her in her revenge. Secretly, they plan to kill Afro before her plans come to fruition to keep her from becoming a murderer.

Appear in: Resurrection.

  • Cool Mask: All of them, but Bin and Michael wore masks before becoming cyborgs.
  • Cyborg: To varying degrees; Michael is nothing more than a head hooked up to a robotic shell; Bin and Tomoe still have partially organic bodies.
  • Kill Us Both: Tomoe grabs Afro and tells Michael to shoot both of them. Michael hesitates, and ends up only shooting her when Afro escapes her grasp.
  • More Dakka: Michael reveals that he has a Chain Gun under his cloak.
  • Remember the New Guy?: Since they served Sio in her youth, they fall under this as well.
  • Shoe Phone: Bin's Cigar-Dart Gun and Boombox-Spike Gun, and Tomoe's Shamisen-Saw-On-A-Stick.
  • Sparing Them the Dirty Work: They think of themselves as protecting Sio's innocence by killing Afro before she can become a murderer.
  • Yamato Nadeshiko: Tomoe was teaching Sio to be one, implying that she was one herself.

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