Akira - Katsuhiro Otomo

Advantages: Classic Example of Japanese Anime/Manga Art, Cult following
Disadvantages: Expensive! And quite hard to find. American translation of Japanese is never positive either

...a big comic book fan. Akira is a Japanese comic book series, the brainchild of artist Katsuhiro Otomo, a ridiculously talented man that I have discovered has done many more works than just Akira, but I haven't checked them out. The Akira series is set in the future in Neo-Tokyo, a rebuild of Tokyo after the original city was destroyed in some kind of WW III type apocalypse. I won't divulge the plot too far here, as it is the magic of the book ...
...phenomenal, so much so that Akira is often used as a reference for Japanese manga and anime students to look at. Explosions, battles, motorcycles and of course strange powers eminating from humas are all aspects of this wonderful piece of art, the abilities of Otomo are definately shown off in this work. Even if you are not a comic book fan, I would suggest taking a look just for the artwork, which is so seminal to many modern shows and comics. ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful artwork, epic plot
Disadvantages: Expensive

...the Dark Horse reprint of Akira that was released in 2001 (I think?). Each copy is pretty difficult to get hold of and you can expect to pay in the region of £25 for each of the 6 volumes (thats right. I paid £150 for a comic). It is a 2,500+ page piece that took creator Katsuhiro Otomo 10 years to finish. The plot is essentially the same as the well known (and quite superb) anime but with one very major difference. The film was created mid-way through ...
...and 'Dude' are used. But thats a minor gripe. Akira is arguably the greatest piece of graphic fiction ever produced. That said, it is also one of the most expensive and difficult to obtain. If you have the opportunity to read it then I strongly recommend that you do. ... Read review

Advantages: Detailed, essential manga, action packed
Disadvantages: pricey and hard to find

Comics, in our western world its thought that they are only for children, but in Japan they are a beautiful artform for all ages (sometimes shocking and explicit). Akira, the complicated plot revolves around around a biker gang who, one oe of their hi-speed races around the city of Neo-Tokyo (destroyed in WWIII and rebuilt) they come across a child with the feaures of an old man. Which leads to the death of one of the bikers, later one of the gang ...
...They then get tangled up with a strange agency and other gangs, and then the reader finds out about Akira, so dangerous it has to be kept at absolute zero. All this means an exciting and at times violent story,the artwork is amazing, extreme detail gives the reader the feeling that they are part of the story. If you pick this up you wont be disappointed. Trust me you HAVE to read this! ... Read review

Advantages: A terrific storyline, and groundbreaking animation
Disadvantages: The fact that it is animated may put you off

...that they are right. Akira is action packed with explosive effects, and a terrific storyline. One of the best things about it, is that you do not need to be a manga expert, to be able to speak Japanese or to even like science fiction particularly in order to watch it. I won't ruin the storyline for you, but I can tell you that if motorbikes, telepathic powers, exploding objects and great characterization are your forte then you should check this ...
...which to start anime watching, but I feel that it is possibly not the wisest place to start- the sometimes visceral violence, and certainly the complex storyline, may confuse people who do not have experience in the way anime movies are made. If you have no problem however with violence, and are willing to try something new and different from the typical Hollywood action offerings, usually starring Vin Diesel, then I would certainly recommend this. ... Read review

Advantages: Unusual, Japanese, funky
Disadvantages: Hard to get into, hard to get hold of too.

...West who has heard of Akira has probably just heard of (or seen) the Manga animation, but the roots of that were in the long running japanese comic of the same name. Like so many comicbooks, there is a BIG backstory, and if you want to get into Akira, then your best bet is to hunt down a local comicbook store (or trawl the net for your nearest mail order stockist) and catch up by reading the trade paperbacks (collected editions of comics as big paperbacks). ...
...sweeps and unusual expletives, but Akira does it all VERY well. I think the artist was called Katsuhiro Otomo, but I have hunted my attic and can't find the original comics. This op is based on my memories of reading the comics a few years ago, so forgive the sketchy detail. The stories I remember were similar to the film, cyber influence, techno, young vigilantes, romance, but I remember the storys and action sequences dared to push the boundaries, ... Read review