Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira Volume 1: A Sci-Fi Classic

Abai: Beautiful art by Otomo Katsuhiro as always

United States on Oct 18, 2023

Prashant Nerkar: Can't write or say anything as it's a gift for someone.

India on Jun 19, 2023

Andrew Arhelger: Great manga series for avid anime and comic book fans! Highly recommended!

United States on Mar 31, 2023

James R Southard: Great

United States on Mar 16, 2023

Pan Poiman-Earle: Being a huge fan of the books and movie already, my review would be a but biased! Most important thing for large Manga books is that it came in perfect condition; no folds, creases or marks.

United Kingdom on Jun 14, 2022

Fenris Brükks: I remember seeing Akita on channel 4 (uk tv) waaaaaaay back in something like 1987/8. I remember being utterly blown away that cartoons could be this graphic, and it birthed my fancy Japanese graphic novels and film. In my travels I’ve seen the books, flicked through them from time to time, but never pulled the trigger as it were. Well… I needed something to read whist I recovered from my heart surgery, and why not a blast from my past. If you’ve seen the film, be prepared for a mind flip. It’s completely different. Many characters have been left out and many parts removed entirely. But dear lords and ladies of the aesir and Vanir, it’s AMAZING. I have read many classics. Akita has to be number one,

United Kingdom on Apr 03, 2022

Zag: If you only read one Manga Akira is THE one to go for. All six volumes are awesome. The amazing detail, flawed characters, the sense of movement in the action and the frankly HUGE story. The anime is a masterpiece but only really scratches the surface really. All six volumes are to be devoured then reread annually! I always get something out of each revisit whether it's just flicking through or reading properly. Otomo is a true auteur. Love it!

United Kingdom on Jan 18, 2022

Jonas: The book came in perfect condition, but some pages where not cut properly and where larger than the other ones.

Netherlands on Jan 07, 2022

Ariel: NOTE: This description probably contains spoilers! (This review covers the first two volumes)

Young, tough, motorcycle-riding gang ruffians stumble onto a bizarre government experiment in postapocalytic Tokyo in this classic manga series from Katsuhiro Otomo. The government sequesters and essentially holds captive a few hyper-aged children with a variety of bizarre powers, keeping one of them in deep hibernation, lest another apocalypse be unleashed upon the beleaguered populace of Tokyo. Badness ensues when one of the motorcycle-riding ruffians acquires one of the unique powers the government is doing its level best to control, and his powers, of course, eclipse any that have before been observed. Our new super-powered ruffian proceeds to remove Akira, the super-weapon kept in deep hibernation, from his prison, and then a game of grab-Akira-and-run occurs with the government, the ruffian, and antigovernment forces (which, being antigovernment, are of course the good guys). The art in this book is astonishing and all completely hand-drawn, and, my art friends tell me, contains some of the best manga page spreads in existence. I confess that some of the high-action scenes...

United States on Nov 10, 2013

Bradley: I don't see a point in reviewing each novel individually, and anyone looking to purchase volume 1 will likely want to purchase the rest of the collection as well, so this review is for volumes 1-6.

When I watched Akira for the first time I was completely blown away, though I must admit that I really had very little idea of what was actually going on. Well, little did I know at the time that the movie was in fact an attempt at cramming almost 2000 pages of graphic novels into a 2 hour movie. I still consider Akira the movie a remarkable 2 hour experience, but after reading the graphic novels the movie seems more like a preview to the graphic novels, which offer far more depth and enjoyment.

In case you are new to Akira, the basic plot of the story is about how underdog Tetsuo Shima obtains mysterious telekenetic and psychic powers after getting into a motorcycle crash. A secret government organization then abducts him and performs experiments, and we learn that Tetsuo is not the only one with strange powers. Meanwhile, his friends and fellow motorcycle gangstas led by Kaneda search for him. But, with his newfound powers Tetsuo doesn't need saving, and after escaping...

United States on May 05, 2006