Nope.  Don’t need to read Volume 1 to appreciate these chapters.  Basically:  Hero’s trekking thru apocalyptic wastelands, he’s a dual-wielding cybernetically enhanced soldier about to get in the gunfight of his life, and his own side’s planning to kill him after he does the job.  If you want, there are Zen/Eastern spiritual themes I’ve woven into the writing.  Enjoy!  Chapters 1-3, Echo Vol.2.  Start reading here:  Echo, Volume 2, Chapter 1.