▪	RELEASED BY:		KODANSHA COMICS
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		KATSUHIRO OTOMO
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE/ B&W
		▪	PAGES:		352
		▪	RATING:		OT
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		10/13/2009
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		11/13/2009
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		SCOTT CAMPBELL

The setting of this story is in Japan, 2030 A.D. in a desolate future where mankind struggles to hold on. Welcome to Neo-Tokyo, built on the ashes of a Tokyo annihilated by a blast of unknown origin that triggered World War III. The lives of two streetwise teenage friends, Tetsuo and Kaneda, change forever when paranormal abilities begin to waken in Tetsuo, making him a target for a shadowy agency that will stop at nothing to prevent another catastrophe like the one that leveled Tokyo. At the core of the agency’s motivation is a raw, all-consuming fear of an unthinkable, monstrous power known only as Akira. Katsuhiro Otomo’s stunning science fiction masterpiece is considered by many to be the finest work of graphic fiction ever produced, and Otomo’s brilliant animated film version is regarded worldwide as a classic. This particular edition includes a new foreword from the author and a postscript from Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson!

Akira is undoubtedly important in the manga/anime world. But what’s more interesting than that is that it is so good that it has the ability to “jump out” of just that genre of interest, and be of interest to a wider variety of people. What I mean is that Akira is a series people read even though they aren’t necessarily into manga. Akira was a gateway manga and anime for many people, being the first manga or anime that many people came in contact with because it was so good that it broke the gap between normal everyday people, and the slight few of us in North America that already knew what anime and manga was. This is a big part of what makes Akira really important, but also goes to show just how good it really is. It can’t be stressed enough that this is an amazing and detailed story full of incredible action and character development. Akira is just “special” – most people experience and then nod to themselves and go: “This is something really unique – I was really lucky to find this.” That’s how I always felt about, from the day I rented it on VHS, all the way up until now where I own all the manga and the DVD, and even the Blu-Ray DVD. It might very well not be for everyone, but I think the majority of people (especially science fiction fans) should be able to enjoy this series very much. It should also be noted that Akira in many ways just about defines “cyber-punk.” What is now a well-understood genre, cyber-punk was very obscure when Akira came out in the 80’s. To me personally, and likely to many other people, Akira is a “godfather” of cyber-punk, and helps very much to define the kind of stories and series that fall under this genre that many have come to know and love.

Beyond all the history, and Akira being very well-known and popular, it must be said that this series has excellent art. The story is so vast and complicated in a way, that it is difficult to explain or get into because everyone gets something different from it – but the art is easy to place on a high level of entertainment value because it is so detailed and professional. For its time it was amazing, but even now the art of Akira is something to be astounded by. The details included in the landscapes and destroyed inner-city that much of the story takes place in is beautiful. It’s one thing to draw something all made up and nice, but it’s more challenging I think to draw something after it has been destroyed and aged for almost 40 years. Cyber-punk is all about this kind of desolate, changed future where all is not well, and Akira captures it perfectly in the art. The characters are well done too, and the mechanical designs for equipment, tanks, motorcycles, and everything else is beyond awesome. All in all, Akira is awesome. Hopefully this review expresses that enough to make you go pick it up if you haven’t already!

IN SUMMARY:
Akira is an important work of art and entertainment, relevant to more than just the anime and manga community. It is a fantastic story with intricate characters, and is full of action and tension. Perhaps one of the best manga ever made.