Alternative TitlesJapanese: アキラ
Information
Type: Manga
Volumes: 6
Chapters: 87
Status: Finished
Published: Dec 20, 1982 to Jun 25, 1990
StatisticsScore: 8.761 (scored by 1789 users)
Ranked: #182
Popularity: #148
Members: 3,250
Favorites: 333 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
action psychological sci-fi supernatural |
SynopsisIn the year 2038. A police state, scheming politicians, religios sects, revolutionaries and a secret scientific project all combine to produce an explosive mixture in Neo-Tokyo. The rival groups all have their eyes on one prize: control of Akira, a boy of such destructive psychic ability that he has been held in cryo-stasis for over 30 years. A coup is planned, but there is a wild card in play: the psychic Tetsuo, an impetuous young biker who releases Akira and so forces all of the groups to make their move.
|
Related MangaAdaptation: Akira
Reviews
|
|
martusf
8 of 15 people found this review helpful
|
38 of 87 chapters read
|
| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Art |
10 |
| Character |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
Story:
The story is nothing short of amazing, so well done and with lots of consistency. It develops nicely through the 6 volumes, with a nice ending. Very few things to pick on, but I guess it isn't for nothing this is considered a great work of art. Nonetheless the progress is a bit slow in the middle (specially volume 3), but it isn't enough to do anything about the greater feeling that the story has. Also, I have some mixed feelings about the position of the bikes in the story, it seems kinda a bit too important.
Art:
Nothing bad about this. The art pleased me all the way through, both in the actionscenes and when it was more slowpaced. Characterdesign was also really cool, and panoramic views totally awesome.
Character:
The characters are really well done, with the title character topping it all (no spoilers, but he was really cool). Kei and Kaori are well done, moreso than in the anime I imagine. Most of the others were devolped in a great manner, with a good bunch of mysteries and intrigues. But I must say that the protagonist, Kaneda, got on my nerves some times, though many male protagonists are like that. I can't really explain, but I didn't like him as much as the rest of the characters.
Enjoyment:
Enjoyment is really important, and that's where Akira is the best. I finished it in about 5 days I think, it was really thrilling, and I couldn't wait untill the end, so that I could discover how it all ended. Nothing less than highly entertaining, and I enjoyed every second I was reading it. I just had to read a bit more and a bit more. On the other hand, it didn't feel to long either, thus making it almost perfect.
Overall:
I discovered it on a whim, and I'm happy I did. It's the best manga I've read, by far, and I recommend it to everyone. It was really great. read more
|
|
Sentinel57
4 of 22 people found this review helpful
|
38 of 87 chapters read
|
| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Art |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
I actually would rate this lower if I read just the normal black and white volumes that are being printed right now. Fortunately for me I was able to come across the 38~ volume full color version of this manga.
The art style in fully detailed color definitely blows the story to a whole new level. It just makes the whole thing 'pop'.
If you are able to get access to these original color manga versions please read them/buy them/steal them. They really make this manga a true work of art.
|
|
Both manga are set in post-apocalyptic settings and show the aftermath of rebuilt society and all the corruption and violence that entails. Full of visual detail and cyberpunk depth, Eden and Akira are great companion pieces.
When you read Akira and Eden, second one looks like some lineal heir of Otomo's work. The same setting - post apocalyptic future without any useless hopes, brutal world that will kick your ass without hesitation. Main protagonists are almost the same too - young guys trying to help their friends to live in this world, they will use everything to get what they want and won't strain to spill some blood. Art looks similar too.
|
|
|
I know, it may not seem similar but again looks may be deceiving. On a surface level, Akira and Nausicaa were the two momumental animes and mangas of the 1980's with their historical importence almost eclipsed only by the rise of Gegika, Osamu Tezuka, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
On the story, both are layed with socialogical and political themes imbedded into the story. The themes are different, but that really doesn't matter sense since mangas with social commentary are few and far between. The scale of both of them are epic with headscratching ending that are surprisingly dense and the culmination of all of the subtext. On the actual stories, they are very well thoughout and crafted, so everything happens for a reason and nothing comes out of the blue.
Artistically, they are both almost unparralled yet share one very rare similarity that few mangas share. Both are profoundly influenced artistically by the french comic artist Moebius (the setting and world of Nausicaa is heavily influenced by Moebius' Arzach and that is where the her glider comes from (I have the picture that is on the cover of one of the editions on my profile page if you don't believe me)). From him, Otomo takes the staggering amount of detail and the emotional moments while Miyazaki takes the surreal world and atmosphere and what Moebius described as quality (see Moebius vol. 4).
Overall, both stand at the pinnacle of all of manga. It will be a long time before either of them are ever surpassed.
|
| No posts for this board were found |
Related Clubs"Hidden Gems of Manga", ***Legend of Anime***, After the Apocalypse Anime & Manga, Akira, Anime History Association, Cogito Ergo Sum - Philosophy In Anime and Manga, Critics and Connoisseurs, Cyberpunk Club, Dark Horse Manga, Haitou, Manga And Light Novel Lovers, Manga Masterpieces Club, Read Everything And Discuss: Manga, Scooter Girls, SKYclub ~ SKY Animes, The Akira Club, The Alternative Manga Club, The Anime Adaptation Club, The Classics Club, The Exclusively Private Anime Club, The manga is always better, The Noble Heroines, The Real Man Club, Virus
|
1 hour ago |
4 hours ago |
8 hours ago |
9 hours ago |
Today, 8:50 AM | |
Today, 4:16 AM |
Yesterday, 5:07 PM |
Yesterday, 4:03 PM |
Yesterday, 4:00 PM |
Yesterday, 2:51 PM |
|
External LinksMangaUpdates, Wikipedia
|
|