Akira (1993)

[アキラ]

Volume 6

Author/Artist: Katsuhiro Otomo
Publisher: Kodansha

Synopsis:
The Tokyo Olympic Stadium becomes the site of the final battle as Tetsuo's powers spiral out of control.

Story/Characters:
You're probably wondering how the finale of the manga compares to its counterpart in the movie. The scope is definitely larger here, with far more characters being involved in the fight with Tetsuo. It's a big fight, too, covering nearly 400 of the 434 pages of the volume. The battle plays out in waves, giving each faction their crack at Tetsuo. Surprisingly, even with his powers going berserk, he's able to reel it in a few times so the conversations aren't entirely one-sided. Several characters get to shine and a few that go out do so rather memorably.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about the epilogue. I suppose it's in keeping with the tone and spirit of the series, but I think it may have been better if we went without it.

Art:
We get plenty of large-scale destruction and big fight scenes that we've come to appreciate, but there's also the fully realized body horror with Tetsuo. The fact that it doesn't happen just once may leave you with a bigger impact. Miyako manages to be dang cool and Kay also has her moments.

Conclusion:
Otomo doesn't disappoint this volume, giving the readers the very best of what the series has to offer to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the series. It easily warrants a place in your collection.

Rating:
Own It