Synopsis
The mind-shattering prequel to the hit cult thriller, Ichi the Killer!

A masochistic mobster meets his match in the dark streets of Tokyo. His nemesis, Ichi, is a psychopathic killer with an unrelenting thirst for bloodshed. A horrifying secret burns in his mind, and his hands deal death without mercy. At last, the shrouds of mystery are parted to reveal the origin of the monster. The city will know its greatest fear at the unveiling of Ichi the Killer!

Review
A show with all the things necessary to satisfy the crude and horrendous minds of some disturbingly violent people is what Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero is. This series is cool, do not get me wrong. I like a series that just makes me sick with the happenings on the screen. I find myself laughing to the way some of these characters in this series get their ass kicked or killed by Hajime (Ichi).

Now I have seen the live action movie directed by Takashi Miike. I did not understand anything that was going on there. Maninly due to the fact that I did not care to understand. But after watching the animation I got a sense of why Ichi is the way he is. Now I understand why Miike had a scene where a woman got a big bruised eye from some guy and Ichi was just standing there, looking as if he did not know what to do. That is what is so great about his works, it is unpredictable, strange, and just when you think you understand what is going on, you have to go back, because most of the time you are wrong.

Ehh… anyhoo enough with the preaching of the live action hehe. :)

The show starts out with what I assume is the ending. Then it flashes back to how Hajime became Ichi. I tell you, if you are a bully and pick on some kid profusely, you better watch it. I guarantee you will stop once you see what happens when that kid snaps.
Throughout the episode you are kept glued to your seat as the pace quickens and Hajime’s character just makes you want to know more about his life. You are in a denial state during certain scenes, as you say to yourself, “Oh no, he did not…”

Ichi the Killer is sadistic; it is what I consider a guilty pleasure, because I am crazy. Uhh no, because it just seems fun to envision myself beating the crap out of someone. I am sure you have imagined yourself knocking someone out throughout your life time and Ichi the Killer accomplishes this job for you, as it is action packed and filled with a sad/dark theme that is sure to attract.

The Breakdown
I would not expect myself saying this about Ichi the Killer, but this first volume really impressed me a ton, I am looking forward to how it develops.