Vol. 1, Akira

This was the book that got me started in the whole Anime/Manga stuff,how could I not like it? This book has got a wonderful, interesting storyline..one that is so original that it is unique in a very nice way. What caught my attention was the storyline,but now I can safely say that I fell in love with the artwork as well. But,my heart is with the characters. As I read this,I found myself developing a connection with the characters and because of this,unfortunately,I heard myself talking out loud,and that got me wierd looks :) "Watch out! Oh,no,don't do that! Wrong way!" No other book has ever gotten that reaction from me. It is a tad bit gorey at some parts,but nothing too terribly violent. Myself being female,I can honestly say that it wasn't as awful as I thought it would be. From a high schooler's perspective,as well as a newbie to Anime,I can say this was an awesome book..I highly recommend it to Anime/Manga fans of old and new.

I've seen the anime of Akira. I knew the manga was long and had tons more things happening than in the anime. This still did not prepare me for reading this series!
Akira is a classic, and once you read all six volumes you'll understand why. It is a massive plot branching out further than the movie. The characters are far more developed and the story is more involved. I don't know what else to say besides, "GO BUY IT! ALL OF IT!"
For those of you who have not seen the movie, and/or are just getting into the whole anime/manga thing, pick these books up. It's a great example of what the world of anime/manga has in store for you! It also helps that the series is complete, unlike some that were cancelled ("Bio-Booster Armor: Guyver" from Viz) or are still being published ("Ranma 1/2" also from Viz) I recomend these as well.

Ever see the theatrical version of Akira? Like that? Good. But it doesn't really matter. I am, like most people who wrote these reviews, a big fan of the movie, because I saw it first. Of course, I didn't have access to the comic book epic version. First off, the book is quite a bit different than the movie. The same themes are expressed, but way more clearly than in the movie, due to the fact that Otomo could use more pages to explain it since he didn't have to compress his story into a 2 hour movie. The themes are also expressed at different times, in different ways. The action is completly different, and the book contains many characters not included in the movie. The most stand-out thing for me so far, had to be in the second book though. I don't want to give anything away, so let's just say that Akira himself plays a far more concrete role than he did in the movie. Anyway, the first 2 have been ridiculously awesome, you'll want to read them again and again. I'm sure the next 4 will be great too, and I can't wait until late july for the DVD release of the theatrical version. Note: if you want an easier time reading this, see the original dub of the movie first, it will give the characters in the book far more realistic personalities, and you'll be able to more closely identify with the story's protagonist- Kaneda.

When I heard of Akira, people regarded as the finest Anime ever. I watched when I was 11 or 12, and it blew my mind. It was unlike any other animation I have ever watched before. Years past, and I have watched more anime. Akira didn't hold the same spot as it once did. With series like Evangelion and Cowboy bebop and movies like Ghost in the Shell and Princess Mononoke, who can blame me? Well, to celebrate the revival of Akira on the scren, Dark Horse brings the fame anime in a form most americans have never seen before...Manga! I knew there was a manga for it, but never had the chance to read it. Luckly, my friend (and fanboy in arms) ponied up the... bucks for volume one. You knowhow people say the book is better than the movie...it's so in this case. And, all things considered, it makes sense. A 2,000+ page manga cut down into 2 hours means a lot of things will be left out. It's a shame, but now comes a chance to redeem yourself...like myself. Pick this book and see what I mean. Oh, and one more thing: Tetsuo!!!!!!!

Akira Book 1. Originally serialized in a Japan's "Young Magazine" from 1982-1990. I really cannot say enough about this book or series as a whole. I have read a lot of comics and graphic novels in my day, and Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira stands out as one of my all-time favorites. I have to point out that this is classic cyberpunk, so Akira won't have the critical acclaim or broad audience of, say, Sandman or Watchmen. Set in Tokyo 2030, this is straight-up, unabashed, futuristic action. It's fast-paced and wrought with mayhem and destruction, but over the course of 6 huge volumes (2000+ total pages) also manages to weave a complex and epic tale. Otomo first published Akira as a serial in a Manga magazine. The series is collected (I believe) as the first book and he subsequently conceived and published the remaining volumes as stand-alone books in order to take more time and care with the story and art. This is not to say that there is anything lacking in this volume, though. The art and background is superbly detailed and few compare to Otomo when it comes to drawing urban landscapes and machinery. The people are drawn in the classic Manga/Anime style, but never too cartoony. One of the strengths of Manga is the Japanese ability to depict complex action sequences better than most other comic-forms. This is never more evident in Akira, and boy do we get plenty of it! Book 1 centers around the establishing of the main characters, friends Testuo and Kaneda, as well as most of the supporting characters and plotlines: the mysterious children with psychic powers, rival bike gangs, involvement of military-industrial powers, and of course, the greater mystery of Akira. Dark Horse has a done a faithful job with these reprints. Those that have seen the Akira animated film will find this book the most familiar. Highly recommended. Story 5/5 stars. Art 4/5 stars.

Akira, hands down, is probably one of the greatest, if the greatest, graphic novels ever. It is an amazing, unbelievably-detailed, engrossing, visually stunning, and fantastically written book. One that will stay with you like a great novel does. You can't help but be drawn into the plot, the characters, the artwork and not be profoundly changed by it. I remember being introduced to it as a teenager and feeling that my life had changed somehow because I'd read Akira.

In the first volume, we get a taste of the genius to come. We get introduced to Kenada, Tetsuo, and the lovely Kai. I'm a big fan of Ryu and you've got to love the Colonel.

Read the first volume of Akira. And prepare to be amazed...

I won't bother telling you what the story is about as you can read it on the store...

I am picky about stories and the artwork to go with it. It is very hard to find a good art with a good story. This one does it. Exceeded my expectations!

Fantastic science fiction that it blew my mind as I was reading it. Very very well written and the artwork is just fantastic!! 6 phone-book sized volumes long and well worth every page!

I read this series 4 years ago or so and it still blows my mind. I'm going to re-read it again one of these days. Very very highly recommended!

This book is a science fiction manga. Manga is a type of
Japanese graphic novel that is typically black and white.
In the story, Tokyo was destroyed in 1992 by a mysterious
explosion that triggered World War III. It was rebuilt as
Neo-Tokyo, a dystopian city with military police and
teenage gangs. The year is now 2030, and Tetsuo and
Kaneda are two of these gang members who attend a school
filled with violent teachers and students. Tetsuo is
injured in a motorcycle crash when a man appears in the
middle of the road. However, the man disappears before
Kaneda can confront him. During another encounter with
the man, Kaneda meets Kei and Ryu, who have a relationship
resembling younger sister and older brother. They tell
Kaneda that the mysterious man has escaped from a shady
government organization. This organization is finding
people with paranormal abilities and harnessing their
power. Kei and Ryu are fighters for a group that is
resisting this organization. All three of them try to
find the old man and help him escape but are foiled by the
government. Before escaping, Kaneda steals a mysterious
pill from the government. Kei and Ryu escape separately
from Kaneda. Kaneda then returns to school to find that
Testsuo has been released from the hospital. However,
Tetsuo's personality is unbalanced and his strength has
drastically increased. The head of the government
organization shows up at the school and takes Tetsuo to
the group's headquaters. Kaneda soon meets up with Kei
again, and they wind up on the run and living together,
which Kei is not pleased with. By the end of the story,
Kaneda and Tetsuo are both involved in the world of the
paranormal.

This book was very interesting. It is the
first in a series, and I am definitely going to read the
others. The story is unique, with conflict between a
shady government organization seeking people with
paranormal talents and a fairly suspicious rebel group.
There is a backdrop of impending doom and fear of a
creature called Akira. One weakness is that the
characters are not outstanding or particularly likable,
but the plot is good enough to make up for this. The
drawings are detailed and intriguing, even though they are
mainly in black and white. The ending is not very
conclusive, but that is because it is in series. Despite
its many good points, this book may not be for everyone.
I personally love action, science fiction, and manga.
This book is probably best for people who enjoy action
stories and are open to reading a graphic novel instead of
a traditional book.

This book has very graphic violence,
due to the fact that it is illustrated, and some fairly
mild sexual references. It is probably best suited for
high school students and adults.

Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer
Flamingnet Book Reviews
Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

Man... I love Akira and I've read other books by Otomo... Mother Sarah.. Child's play but this one is definitely his masterpiece. Back in high school I saw the anime at least 15 times and we were waiting for the 12th book like it was the second coming or something. It was a big deal. Love It.

Akira is awesome. Even from a time when you would have just about had to commit a crime against the person of a Japanese tourist, or pay ridiculous amounts of money to get anime and manga and things like that, Akira was available.

It is no surprise that it was, as is an example of that artform at its finest.

Neo-Tokyo is a city recovering from devastation and world war.

When a young bikie gang leader rescues a young boy named Tetsuo, after almost running him down, Kaneda soon comes to realise this is no ordinary boy, because of the government interest in him.

When people say that Akira is the best manga of all time, they sure are not kidding! Action explodes from one page to the next in a hip, stylish fashion. The sweet gunfight in the beginning is especially awesome! It kept me entertained for hours at a time, and I am sure it will keep you like that too! Akira is GREAT AND A MUST-BUY FOR ANY ACTION OR MANGA FAN!!!!! It is appropriate for kids 10 and up, because some scenes are bloody, and it has some bad language in it. But.....IF YOU DO NOT OWN AKIRA; WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!!!

Don't call yourself a fan until you've read this series. As much as I love the theatrical version of Akira, this manga series is the "complete" story, and it's far more detailed than what most people have seen in the movie. There are six of these volumes and it's simply mindblowing how ahead of his time Otomo was in creating this series. If you liked the movie, definately check this out, even if you don't read manga. If you're into comics but don't know what Akira is, then this is the place to start.

I began reading Akira about a year ago, from the first page I was hooked, I couldn't believe what a great story was unfolding, by using pictures. I mean I'd read graphic novels before but none like this, it was set in a futuristic city and its main characters, a motorbike-gang of Teenage Delinquents that prowl the streets. It is a well written, well drawn manga, and I would reccomend it to anybody in search of something a little different. (probably only teens upwards though due to some graphic violence etc...)

Do you love mind-blowing graphics and cool stories?Then Manga(Japanese comix) and Anime(Japanimation) are ALL you need...I thought American comix were fun. European ones were better-until I discovered the Japanese jems.Needless to say,I am addicted since.Frank Miller and Todd Mcfarlane both cite these to be inspirational(read Miller's "Ronin"?)
So where should one start on Manga/Anime?I would recommend the "Akira" series-for the depth of its story and animation/graphics.Watch the Anime first and read the Manga next-you'll understand the story better that way.("Akira" the Anime can be thought to happen in a shadow universe-a la "The fabric of reality" by David Deutsch- of the original "Akira" the Manga...the stories are slightly different).Katsuhiro Otomo has presented us with a dystopian view of a possible future-where Tokyo has been destroyed by a devastating explosion(A uniquely Japanese preoccupation with ww ii atomic disasters) and the neatly ordered,squeaky clean society is fast degenerating into an arena of anarchy and mayhem.The grown-ups may be content being Sarariman(Jap workoholics) but the younger generation want only their daily dose of fun,excitement and drugs.(A recent TIME magazine report on Japanese youth culture brings a sharp feeling of de ja vu!).
Kaneda, the teenage hero of "Akira" is the leader of a biker gang.He is happy being a juvenile delinquent along with his buddy Tetsuo.But their biker days change forever after an accident involving a runaway psychic kid called Takashi.The are drawn into a maelstrom of violence and death and the fate of the world depend on their quest to unravel the enigma of the entity called "Akira"...
Afficianados of radical bikes,fights,Japanese pop culture,attitude,girls,special powers,fate of the world,destruction,etc will find the Anime and Manga series worth their trouble and money.I spent years in despair searching for the other volumes after reading the first(by Mandain paperbacks) and seeing the subtitled VHS "Akira".These days one could buy the special edition DVD and all 6 volumes of the Manga at the store.com(best place to shop on the net) without getting scalped by shady book dealers/importers.Thus one could enter the multiverse of Anime/Manga, explore its complex and varied contents and ultimately attain the blissful state of Otakuhood!
Neo-Tokyo is about to E X P L O D E!!

It is refreshing to read a graphic novel, though it was first published almost twenty years ago, that doesn't center around lycra-wrapped superheroes. The story is without a doubt compelling and gripping, drawing you into Neo-Tokyo of the future. The artwork and pacing of the action sequences flowed smoothly and kept me glued to the pages. Definitely a comic to pass on. As great as this work was, I had problems with the dialogue. At times the dialogue seemed cheesy and comic-booky. I'm unsure whether the problem arose through the translation or whether the original Japanese language was inherently flawed. As a writer myself, I prefer realistic and nonexpository dialogue. Check out Kingdom Come (without a doubt the best graphic novel ever) for an excellent example of realistic dialogue in comic book form. Regardless, Akira is definitely a must-read.

I love Akira when I first read it 3 years ago. Those first few issues that I read was in color. I was initially happy to know that Dark Horse Comics had decided to republish this great comics. But when I picked up the tradepaperback in my local bookstore, I was extremely disappointed to realise that the comic is in Black and White. Oh My God! I took up volume one and flip through it, recalling how it looked like in color and immediately I realise it made a great difference.
Reading the comic in Black and White seemes to be just reading the story, but the color adds to the overall atmosphere of the story and that is what attracted me to this comic in the first place. Without color, the comic seems too dry. Characters seem to have less identity, background seems to be too chaotic. I am so sad when I read volume 2, its like watching StarWars or The Matrix in Black and White. In the end, I still buy the volumes due to the fact that I love the story so much.
Now to the good point. As I mentioned, this comic is super. I have read numerous titles from US, Japan, Hongkong, and Taiwan over the years and Akira remained as one of the best comic experience I have ever had. The story, development, characters, panel arrangements, angles, everything, easily beats SinCity (Which is another line that I really love) or Spawn (Which I had stopped following about 2 years ago). Akira is a classic, and I love it!

I just finished Akira vol. 1 about five minutes ago, and it is undoubtably the best manga ever written! This book's art is incredibly detailed, from the characters to the graffiti on the walls!!! It wasn't dull at all either. It was action packed from the moment it started. The fight in the streets at the begining was especially great. It can be bloody at times, and there's some language, but definately not over the top. I can't wait to read the next book! Buy this NOW!

The book of Akira, Volume 1 is one of the more massive editions you'll see at a book store. I bought it because it stood out, and looked entertaining on the inside. I was beyond satisfied.

The story immediately draws you in, with haunting images of destruction and a summary of a giant world war. Then, you meet the biker gang, from which most of the main characters originate. Kaneda splits the main character role with his friend, Tetsuo, who gets into a bad accident and winds up becoming a human test subject. These tests give Tetsuo unspeakable power, and all-out anarchy errupts!

To find out more, read the story! It's higher-priced than other graphic novels, but it's a good amount larger and more detailed.

The artwork is also admirable. Katsuhiro Otomo is great at drawing city scenes, especially when they involve explosions.

This is my first exposure to the 'real' Akira. I had heard whisperings of the series for some time, and now, I could read 300 pages plus of Tetsuo and Kaneda.

Neo-Tokyo is a dangerous place. Built on the ashes of the old city, Tokyo, street wise teens Tetsuo, Kaneda and their friends from the 8th District Youth Vocational Training School come hard against the Colonel and his authoritarian troops. Right off the beginning, when the boys (on bikes) discover a ghostly victim, later known as 26 (Takashi) and his companion Masaru, we discover a conspiracy so deep that it engulfs the whole city. Tetsuo is almost killed, and upon his return to school, he is different. He begins to exhibit psycic abilities bordering on dangerous. Along the way, a growing awareness of capsules and administered drugs fuels a flurry of activity. This is not just manga, not just sci fi, but rather a dark, science, futuristic noir drama that makes Bladerunner seem tame.

Otomo has created an exciting cast of characters that has me waiting for volume 2.

Highely recommended.

A year ago I rented the movie AKIRA, hearing from friends that it was awesome, visually and plot wise. After renting it I was very confused and felt let down after hearing how this movie was such a culture sensation. I never gave up anime though and continued to rent and buy animes. On the store I discovered that the Akira comic book was being releasd in the US. Knowing that this comic started all the Akira craze, and knowing that the author/artist won nummerous awards for his work I thought I would take a longshot and see what it was all about. This time I was not dissopointed... I was amazed by the artwork and level of detail, and this made more sense than the anime. Since buying the first book I have purchased book 2 & 3. I'm hooked. The story has tons of plot, scenes, and characters the movie missed! I find the comic to be more indepth with more character development, and beautiful visual sequences. If you liked the anime you will live this book, and if you didn't like the anime you will probably like this book more!

The book of Akira, Volume 1 is one of the more massive editions you'll see at a book store. I bought it because it stood out, and looked entertaining on the inside. I was beyond satisfied.

The story immediately draws you in, with haunting images of destruction and a summary of a giant world war. Then, you meet the biker gang, from which most of the main characters originate. Kaneda splits the main character role with his friend, Tetsuo, who gets into a bad accident and winds up becoming a human test subject. These tests give Tetsuo unspeakable power, and all-out anarchy errupts!

To find out more, read the story! It's higher-priced than other graphic novels, but it's a good amount larger and more detailed.

The artwork is also admirable. Katsuhiro Otomo is great at drawing city scenes, especially when they involve explosions.

A lot of people are familiar with the film version of Akira. Readily available in the US, it's become a keystone in many American anime collections and is revered by many as one of the best Anime films ever made.
Of course, along with the praise comes the obvious (and, in many cases, justified) complaints regarding the movie's plot and pacing. As wide in scope as the movie is, it's also exceedingly vauge on many topics, and it seems like it only offers a glimpse into something much larger as opposed to being a singular narrative in and of itself.
Well, Akira fans, your boat has come in. The original Japanese Mangas (comics) are now available in the US, and to those unfamiliar with the works of Mr. Otomo, brace yourself. This is the world of Akira as it was originally concieved, and the result is simply breathtaking. If you thought the movie lacked scope, wait 'till you get ahold of these books.
The futuristic story of Akira revolves around several factions - government, anti-government, spiritual, political, and more - all struggling against each other in an attempt to unearth a secret that started the third world war. That secret is a child, Akira, subjected to tests and adjustments by a government project to bring his latent psychic abilities to their full potential. Now, he is gifted with a complete attunement to the ebbs and flows of all the energies in the universe...And the ability to control them. He is the ultimate evolution of humanity, and the most dangerous and uncontrollable weapon ever unearthed by science. After an unleashing of his energy sets off World War III, he is locked deep underground at absolute zero, kept asleep until modern science can figure out a way to deal with him.
I won't get into the story for anyone who doesn't know it (it's significantly expanded and altered when compared to the movie version). For anyone expecting a graphic novel version of the events in the movie, however, you're going to be surprised. Many of the characters that made simple cameo appearances in the film, such as Joker or Lady Miyako, are now key characters who play major roles in the unfolding plot. Other principles, such as Tetsuo, are altered slightly in order to fill their original roles.
Tetsuo is not the runt of the biker group, as he was in the movie. In fact, he's much more agressive and dark in the comics, and the deep friendship between Kaneda and Tetsuo that was evident in the final scenes of the movie is replaced with an intense sense of rivalry. You get the impression that, rather than Kaneda defending Tetsuo in the early years, they've been bucking heads for a long time. For his part, Kaneda seems to have lost some intelligence and gained some coarseness, but since the focus of the story no longer rests on his shoulders alone, this fits very well (though you do want to smack him sometimes.)
Kei is similar to her movie counterpart, at least in the first novel, though Ryu is much more prominent in his role. The Colonel has a fantastic charatcer development that was only hinted at in the movie, but you'll need to get the books that come later in the series for that.
The first book follows the plot of the movie pretty well, and while it has several additions added in, those who have seen the movie will feel right at home. The second book in the series is the same way. It's starting with book three that things become radically different from anything in the movie, but the first two are important in that much is clarified, and after reading them you can go back to the movie and notice things that you might have missed the first time around.
A note on the artwork and translation: The artwork is top notch, but in the first book the style is quite different than the later installment. The characters look fairly rough to begin with, Kei and the Colonel in particular, though they fall into their usual forms fairly quick. Otomo's astounding attention to detail shines through from the very first panel, however, and the cityscapes are simply breathtaking.
The artwork is flipped to accomodate english readers, and it's sometimes a little weird as the flow gets interrupted in spots. The translation is also pretty accurate. The dialouge isn't the greatest prose ever written or anything, but it's a far better translation than one might expect.
It's worth noting that the books have not been edited in any way, as should be expected. Still, this regulates it to the 13 and up crowd, at least. The violence is quite bloody and frequent (the Akira series is known for frequent exploding heads), so concerned parents might want to pass this series up. There's also rampant profanity throughout the book, which (oddly) gets more prominent as the series progresses (by book 5, the F-word is thrown out on a regular basis, in book 1 it appears once.) There is also a fair amount of nudity, mostly upper female but some male as well, so if that sort of thing worries you, take note. It's a series meant for mature readers, and while Kudos should go to Dark Horse for not butchering it, don't fall under the common American assumption that, because it's a comic, it's therefore kiddie stuff.
This series is a true landmark in science fiction storytelling, and I highly reccomend it to anyone who's ever wanted to read a thought provoking, action packed, and genuinely startling story that will keep you turning the pages until you hit the back cover.
This is only the first book, and chances are, once you read this one, you'll wind up buying the other 5.
I did!

This is my first exposure to the 'real' Akira. I had heard whisperings of the series for some time, and now, I could read 300 pages plus of Tetsuo and Kaneda.

Neo-Tokyo is a dangerous place. Built on the ashes of the old city, Tokyo, street wise teens Tetsuo, Kaneda and their friends from the 8th District Youth Vocational Training School come hard against the Colonel and his authoritarian troops. Right off the beginning, when the boys (on bikes) discover a ghostly victim, later known as 26 (Takashi) and his companion Masaru, we discover a conspiracy so deep that it engulfs the whole city. Tetsuo is almost killed, and upon his return to school, he is different. He begins to exhibit psycic abilities bordering on dangerous. Along the way, a growing awareness of capsules and administered drugs fuels a flurry of activity. This is not just manga, not just sci fi, but rather a dark, science, futuristic noir drama that makes Bladerunner seem tame.

Otomo has created an exciting cast of characters that has me waiting for volume 2.

Highely recommended.

A year ago I rented the movie AKIRA, hearing from friends that it was awesome, visually and plot wise. After renting it I was very confused and felt let down after hearing how this movie was such a culture sensation. I never gave up anime though and continued to rent and buy animes. On the store I discovered that the Akira comic book was being releasd in the US. Knowing that this comic started all the Akira craze, and knowing that the author/artist won nummerous awards for his work I thought I would take a longshot and see what it was all about. This time I was not dissopointed... I was amazed by the artwork and level of detail, and this made more sense than the anime. Since buying the first book I have purchased book 2 & 3. I'm hooked. The story has tons of plot, scenes, and characters the movie missed! I find the comic to be more indepth with more character development, and beautiful visual sequences. If you liked the anime you will live this book, and if you didn't like the anime you will probably like this book more!

“KANEDAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!”
“TETSUOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”

That’s basically the extent of my memory of Akira, an anime movie I watched when I was 9. So I was interested to learn that it’s also a critically acclaimed comic that’s hailed as one of the finest the medium has ever created. First published in 1982, the comic predates the film by 6 years though interestingly both were created by one man, the visionary artist Katsuhiro Otomo, who was an astoundingly young 28 years old when this book was first published, meaning he’d written/drawn this epic story at an even younger age! It’s astounding because of how accomplished the style here is and how well Otomo understands the language of comics - but I’ll come back to that in a moment.

Akira is set in 2030, a decade after a powerful new bomb destroyed Tokyo completely, leading to World War 3. Neo-Tokyo is populated with drug-fuelled biker gangs battling each other over turf, one of which our protagonists Kaneda and Tetsuo, two best friends, belong to. During a late-night race they encounter a weird young boy with the face of an old man being chased by shady government types. Tetsuo crashes his bike and is abducted by this secret army force. When he re-emerges, Tetsuo has blinding migraines but possesses incredible psychic powers – what is this secret organisation, who are these weird-looking kids, and what is Akira?

I really wanted Akira to live up to the hype but unfortunately it doesn’t. I’d forgotten the character flaws that were probably in the film but are shown here in all their disgrace. Kaneda, our “hero” is probably one of the most despicable protagonists I’ve read since “Message to Adolf Part One”, a book by another acclaimed manga artist, Osamu Tezuka. And like Tezuka’s main character, Otomo’s Kaneda is a sexual predator. After knocking up the school nurse and completely ignoring her pleas for help in deciding what to do about it, he tries to rape the only other female character in the book, Kei! What is it about Japanese artists and their appalling treatment of women?!

When he’s not being a sexual creep, he’s getting stoned and drag-racing his motorbike through the streets - and we’re supposed to think this is awesome and cool! I realise Akira is a 6-volume story and it’s altogether possible that Otomo’s setting up Kaneda in the first book as this immature prick at the beginning of his arc and ends with him completely changed for the better, but the way the character is written doesn’t make me want to invest any more time in reading the rest of this series.

I think the story’s emotional crux is predicated on Kaneda/Tetsuo’s friendship but I never believed they were very close. You could tell they were pals, but besties? Tetsuo just seemed like another member of the gang. We never see why Kaneda would care so much about him. None of the characters are very well written either. The Colonel character is your regular army officer stereotype, the various gang members act as you’d expect, ie. like punks, and so on. They’re all pretty much one-dimensional.

There also isn’t much of a story. This 360 page book is basically a series of chase sequences between Kaneda and the resistance and the army. But who are the resistance and why are they helping free the experimental old-faced kids? Who are those weird kids? Why is Kaneda holding on to a special pill everyone’s chasing? And if it’s just a pill, why don’t they have more? Pills are mass-produced after all. I never really understood the point of the book or much of the world of the story. Besides the biker gangs and the army, there isn’t much to Neo-Tokyo, it’s just unpopulated urban sprawl with lots of empty highways and construction zones.

As weak as the story and characterisation was, I was still impressed with the storytelling style. The action is ambitious and frenetic but always clear to follow. It’s easy to see Otomo moving on from making comics to making movies later in his career as he has a strong eye for visual storytelling. He knows the importance of providing an establishing shot for a scene, when to focus on a character, when to pull back and include other characters, how to populate a panel perfectly so it’s not cluttered, and when to let a scene breathe. He knows implicitly where to put the “camera” for the best effect of a scene and how to represent different kinds of scenes – traditional panelling for dialogue/character-driven slower scenes, and more dynamic layouts/splash pages and so on for pacier scenes like chases and gunfights.

Continuing the idea of Otomo as a visual storyteller, there’s a notable lack of narrative boxes in the comic and almost nothing in the way of exposition. This is another aspect of the book I really liked, with the artist letting the reader see the story play out naturally and allowing more opportunities for the reader to engage with the story – pay attention or fall behind! I like that the story isn’t spoon-fed to the reader.

It’s surprising that someone so young could not only understand but execute such a sophisticated way of storytelling like he has in this book. It’s an expertise you tend to see in older artists but underlines how dedicated Otomo was to his craft that he must’ve started very young to develop so quickly in the way he did. I wish Otomo had had another writer do the script for him, partly to overcome the problems I’ve mentioned, or at least had an editor who could’ve tightened it up for him and maybe directed him in a more fruitful direction, because I think Akira has the potential to be the legendary comic others have said it is, but because Japanese manga is almost always long-form storytelling, it was allowed to run to 2000 pages and becomes a bit of a stagnant story to readers like me as a result.

The art itself is unmemorable and resembles a lot of generic manga. It also has the problem of the characters looking too much alike. Kaneda and Yamagata looked the same in certain scenes and during the biker fights I couldn’t tell which side was which – colour might’ve helped, assuming the gangs wore gang colours to differentiate between themselves (this is a black and white comic).

I wouldn’t dismiss Akira entirely because of its commendably ambitious sci-fi/horror story that was enormously influential and the masterful visual storytelling Otomo possesses, but it’s a book that’s difficult to like for its characters and often directionless, sometimes rambling plot. Maybe the series gets better in later volumes but based on this first book alone, I’d say this might be one of those rare instances where the movie surpasses the book (I’ll have to re-watch it to decide). Either way, I’m not particularly interested in picking up Volume 2 to find out who or what Akira is, so this book fails in delivering perhaps the most important job of a first volume: leaving the audience wanting more.

I have heard many people say that the books are better than the movie, I don't think this is true. The movie version of Akira is much better than the books. I'm not insulting the books but the story of Akira is better in the movie. The books contain much more detail and character development but lots of the events I thought didn't move the story along; like Tetsuo taking over the clown gang and that society Tetsuo starts in Vol. 5. The movie moves along very quickly and all of the detail's are important. It moves along faster and the ending is better. The books are still much better than most I have read and Akira is the only anime I find really interesting but the movie version is better. I would recommend this after seeing the film.

I watched the Akira special edition movie and was completely blown away. The animation was outstanding, the story was intense and everything was perfect. I imediately ran out to get the book and I was even more amazed. I didn't think it was possible but the Akira book( vol. 1) was better than the movie.
I can't wait until I get the second one. Watch the movie first though.

I first saw the anime akira when I ws about 11 and it was, and still is, one of my favorite movies ever. A year or so later, as I became more and more envolved in anime and manga, I wanted to finaly get the full akira experience, so I bought the mangas.First things first, the artwork is stunning. The 2000+ pages are bursting with action, energy and emotion. Then there is the story. Anybody who likes a deep, exciting and philosophicaly driven story is in luck. Sometimes confusing, but always entertaining, it's easy to pick up and hard to put down. Katsuhiro Otomo really has created a epic piece of art. A spectical of horror, beauty and imagination.If you are evenly remotely interested in science fiction, manga or graphic novels, you owe it to yourself to read these.

I started out with the movie and I never felt that I had a solid understanding as to the whole storyline. The manga spans 6 BIG volumes and it shows how the movie was just bits and pieces of the manga put together. The story become much more clear afterwards.

I've been a fan of anime for several years now, and ever since I saw Akira, it has been one of my favorite movies. Only now, have I been fortunate enough to read the comic series. Wow. Despite how wonderful the movie is -- and it is wonderful -- the comic has so much more to offer. It is truly a science fiction masterpiece.

BUYER BEWARE !!! This edition is entirely in BLACK AND WHITE. If you want to read the BEST version of this story, try to find the full color MARVEL editions. It really is the only way to read this excellent story!

-/< /\ >-

akira will expand your mind if you can truly understand the underlying images and symbols. People can learn from a book like akira its sheer brilliance is resplendent within all of its underlying themes. People do not understand what is going on and that is why they do not enjoy ehat is being portrayed. Sometimes you have to put in the extra effort and read the books or watch the movie more than once to understand the full capacity of what Otomo is trying to portray. if you have any questions email me other than that figure it out for your self

i first read the entire saga in german - it was released in 19 parts there some years ago, and a friend of mine had bought it. i am in the process of re-buying it for my collection.
the story, flow, and graphics are the best i have seen, and, reading it for the second time, i still can't put it down until i am all the way through. the only complaint is that the dialogs are sometimes kind of ... wrong, unfitting. i don't remember that about the german version, so i think the translation is somewhat screwed up. still: i recommend it.

Gosh let me tell ya, Akira has one of the best and coolest storylines I have ever seen. I am so glad i got a copy of the first volume. I can already tell that this series will greatly surppass the movie in all areas. There will be 6 volumes so don't be surprised if you really understand it too well. more information will come later in other volumes. I cannot recommend this series enough. You have to read it yourself to understand. I love AKIRA!

This is the manga Katsuhiro Otomo from the 80's uppon which the all time classic anime film AKIRA was based. This is the first tome of 369 pages (!) full of cyber futuristic scenes of violence in Neo Tokyo. This edition is the black and white original (there was a reissue in color, but I prefer the B&W version). Defenetly a must to any manga lover....END

Classic manga at its best. This story is so huge when you read it for the first time, you will end up wishing that the now classic AKIRA anime was seven hours long. Must read for any fan of the japanese comic world.

Amazing? Yes, definitely. I got this book only a few short days ago, and I've read it three times and am already into the fourth reading. It's quick paced, proves that automotive chases can work in the comic medium. It's funny, intelligent, awestriking. If you've seen the anime and liked it at all, you owe it to yourself to see the entire (or the beginning at least) story. If you've seen the anime and didn't like it, pick the book up and give it a try. I'm sure you'll be amazed at it.

This sort of manga is dark and dramatic. However, the concept really digs into the future of our race as well as the untapped potential we all have. Metaphor and incredible art merge to make this gritty character-perspective story into a tale you won't forget, and will share with friends. I wouldn't show this to kids under 13 though. Its content is highschool level. The movie was a fine testament. The books are where it all comes from.

Awsome book that started my favirtie movie Akira. The book is better than the movie because the charactor's are better. This is a really fun book to read. If you like this I would also recomend the movie.

I remember when I first read this book. It was durin finals @ my school, & I had nothin to do since I had a free block. My friend had this book, so I read it. I loved it. I have read it SEVERAL times. I have yet to read the second book. (I've only read the beginning of book 2) If you love anime comics like this, this one is a top pick.

Although AKIRA is wonderful and a must have for every manga collection, this version is completely westernized and the pages are flipped so readers are able to read front to back. Flipping completely ruins the original composition of every page and most mangakas are against their work beings flipped as the natural flow of the images is completely distorted. I bought the whole series for a present and was very disappointed to discover it was flipped.

The king of all manga/anime of all time. Artwork is untouchable..Otomo is a genius. Storyline....boy...what can I say...there's never been a storyline as good as Akira...apart from Domu ( again Otomo at work again)...but it never quite reached Akira...
Usually I would say a lot but to be honest Akira can speak for itself.
Have a go read it...or at least watch the video.
Later

This book is terrific... I have only read the first, but I'm here on the store buying the rest and pre-ordering the 5th. Oh my Goodness, this book rocked. It left me antsy and full of suspense for the Book 2. If you love japanese animation as I do, you will love this story. ....KANEDA....

I first came to Akira because i'm a big fan of the anime film, I was happy to find that this is just as good (maybe better) and also fairly different so it is not just a repetition of what I had seen on screen. A great Read!!

This thing was great, I had seen the cartoon a while ago. And someone told me to pick this puppy up. I finally got around in doing so, and WOW. It's completely different from the movie. I suggest to pick this up if you like the same story told in a slightly different angle.

Best manga out there?? I think so!!!! Akira is over-stuffed with action and excitment! This book takes you into a whole different world! Where drug using bikers and paraonrmal physics rampage through out the town. Akira is considered to be one of Thee best anime/manga ever created. Creator Katushiro Otomo really did his best on this series.
The story tells of a bike gang lead by Kaneda, a 16 year old boy who you do not want to cross paths with. One night a member of his bike gang, Tetsuo, crashes into a small, wrinkled kid. The military takes Tetsuo and somehow unleashes an amazing physic power that was hidden deep inside him. But Kaneda has a problem when Tetsuo starts leading their rival bike gang, the clowns. So he decides to get all the bike gangs together and gang up on the clowns. The ending of this volume is great! You don't want to miss it!!
This volume has very good drawings and amazing action scenes. The plot thickens as you get further along. AKIRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!