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Bringing His Story to Life
Yasuke: Dead Man Walking follows two men shaped by power and survival as destiny draws them toward a collision that will change history. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration came unexpectedly one day while I was scrolling the internet. I came across an image of a Black man dressed in full samurai armor, standing beside an Asian woman and their mixed-race child. I stopped immediately and asked myself, “Who is this?” That question led me down a research rabbit hole that changed everything.
I discovered his name was Yasuke, and I became completely intrigued. How could a Black man wear samurai armor in feudal Japan? As I dug deeper into his history, I uncovered this incredible connection to one of my secret obsessions—Asian culture and feudal Japan specifically. The more I researched, the more I realized there were significant gaps in Yasuke’s documented history. Entire periods of his life remain a mystery. I felt a responsibility to honor what we do know while using fictional prose to fill in those missing pieces and bring his full story to life. That’s how Yasuke: Dead Man Walking was born.
Why did you choose to frame the novel around both Yasuke and Oda Nobunaga instead of centering on one figure alone?
Framing the story around both Yasuke and Oda Nobunaga was absolutely critical to the type of narrative I wanted to tell. At its core, Yasuke’s story is a “fish out of water” tale, but I also wanted to explore this fascinating “odd couple” dynamic between two men from completely different worlds. After all, it was Lord Nobunaga who elevated Yasuke to the unprecedented position of samurai within his military ranks—there’s no telling Yasuke’s story without telling Nobunaga’s.
Interestingly, I chose to open the novel with the first three chapters dedicated entirely to Lord Nobunaga. At first, I questioned that decision—it felt bold, maybe even risky—but ultimately, I realized it was necessary. I needed to establish the world of feudal Japan, educate readers on the political landscape and cultural dynamics of that era, and introduce Nobunaga as a young man destined to inherit his father’s lordship and transform Japan forever.
In my mind, there was no way to authentically portray feudal Japan—its economy, its people, its brutal beauty—without giving Nobunaga the rich backstory he deserved. By the time he reached the peak of his power, the Oda clan’s dominance was undeniable, and readers needed to understand how he got there. When Yasuke finally appears in Chapter 6, both characters have been so thoroughly developed that their meeting feels genuine and weighted with significance. Even though their true working relationship doesn’t develop until many chapters later, that foundation made their bond feel earned and authentic.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The central theme, as I mentioned, is the “fish out of water” journey. You take Yasuke—a man enslaved from the Sudan—and place him in feudal Japan, where he knows nothing: not the land, the people, the religion, the commerce, the politics, the warfare tactics, or even the language. It’s the ultimate setup for a hero’s journey, and it fit beautifully within the three-act structure I used to craft his arc.
But beyond that, I was deeply interested in exploring the “odd couple” dynamic between Yasuke and Lord Nobunaga. Here are two men who don’t even speak the same language, yet they share core qualities: natural-born leadership, a desire to inspire strength in those around them, and an unshakable presence that commands respect. Watching that relationship develop—slowly, authentically, through mutual respect rather than words—felt natural and right. It became one of the most rewarding aspects of writing this novel.
I also wanted to explore themes of identity, belonging, and what it means to find your place in a world that sees you as fundamentally “other.” Yasuke’s journey isn’t just about survival—it’s about transformation and legacy.
Will there be a follow-up to this story? If so, what aspects will the next installment cover?
Absolutely. There’s already a graphic novel that picks up exactly where Yasuke: Dead Man Walking ends. It’s called Yasuke: Resurrection, and it takes the story in a direction I don’t think anyone expects—into full fantasy territory.
Resurrection is a “what if” story that extends Yasuke’s journey beyond death itself, exploring his legacy through a fantastical lens. It pays homage to incredible works like Afro Samurai and classic Japanese and Chinese tales where samurai and warriors battle deities, demons, and otherworldly forces. This allowed me to flex my creative muscles in a completely different way—moving from grounded historical fiction into epic fantasy while still maintaining the authenticity and emotional core of Yasuke’s character.
The graphic novel format was perfect for this evolution. Visual storytelling brought a new dimension to the mythology I was building, allowing readers to experience Yasuke’s world in vivid, dynamic ways that prose alone couldn’t capture.
And to answer your question fully: even beyond the duology—the novel and graphic novel—there will be many more comics to come. The ending of Resurrection contains subtle hints about what’s next, and I’m excited to continue expanding Yasuke’s universe across multiple stories and timelines.
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From the slave markets of India to the battlefields of feudal Japan, Yasuke: Dead Man Walking tells the extraordinary historical fiction story of history’s first African samurai. Torn from his family and sold into bondage, Majok endures unimaginable hardships until fate delivers him to Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful warlord in 16th-century Japan. Through courage, honor, and an unbreakable spirit, he transforms from nameless slave Majok to legendary warrior Yasuke, earning the respect of emperors and the hatred of those who refuse to see beyond the color of his skin. But when betrayal strikes at the heart of the empire, Yasuke must face his greatest enemy in a final battle that will determine not only his own fate but also the future of Japan itself. A gripping tale of transformation, brotherhood, and the timeless truth that a man’s worth is measured not by his origins, but by his choices.
Yasuke: Dead Man Walking
Yasuke: Dead Man Walking opens as a sweeping historical fantasy that follows two rising forces whose lives move toward eventual collision: a young Oda Nobunaga shaking off immaturity to claim power in a fractured Japan, and Majok, an enslaved African warrior whose journey through loss, love, survival, and purpose slowly shapes him into the man history will one day call Yasuke. The book blends political intrigue, action, and character-driven storytelling, shifting between Nobunaga’s ruthless ascent and Majok’s transformation with a pace that feels cinematic.
I was pulled into the grounded emotional beats first rather than the sword clashes. Nobunaga’s early chapters surprised me, especially the way they trace his shift from reckless youth to cold, decisive leader. His world is painted with detail: the scent of incense in Kyoto, the tense quiet after battle, the heavy expectations of lineage. The writing keeps these moments vivid without slowing things down. When the betrayals start hitting him from every direction, the story sharpens. The tone grows darker, hungrier. I noticed how the author lets Nobunaga learn painful lessons through blows rather than lectures, which makes the moments that change him feel earned. Majok’s chapters carry a different emotional weight. They’re quieter but more intimate, and they made me pause more often. His memories of home, the tenderness with Amara, and his love for his daughter create a softer countercurrent that keeps the book from drowning in war and ambition.
I also appreciated how the author plays with contrast. Nobunaga’s path is all fire and force while Majok’s is rooted in endurance and the slow rebuilding of self. Their stories feel like two storms forming on opposite horizons. The fantasy elements appear with restraint at first, which I liked, because it keeps the genre grounded in history while still promising something larger. The pacing sometimes jumps quickly between timelines or tones, but the shifts feel intentional, like the book wants you to stay just a bit off balance as these characters become who they must become. The action scenes hit hard, while the emotional ones are slow and thoughtful. And when brutality appears, it’s not glamorized; it’s presented as the cost of survival in a world shaped by war, pride, and fear.
By the end, I felt like I’d traveled through two very different lives carried by a single thematic spine: what a person becomes when the world refuses to let them remain who they were. The story sits firmly in the historical fantasy genre, but its emotional centers feel close enough to real history to make you think about the people behind the legends. If you enjoy tales of rising power, morally complex leaders, richly built worlds, and characters shaped by both tenderness and violence, this book will speak to you. It’s especially fitting for readers who like their fantasy threaded with cultural depth, political tension, and personal transformation.
ASIN : B0G4NSDKC2
