Akira (1984)

[アキラ]

Volume 1

Author/Artist: Katsuhiro Otomo
Publisher: Kodansha

Synopsis:
In post-WWIII Neo-Tokyo, a biker gang finds itself caught in the middle of a government conspiracy involving psychics.

Story/Characters:
Like most anime fans, I've of course seen the film adaptation of Akira and it had quite an impact on me. I'd read a bit of the manga in translation years ago and I knew there was a much larger story than what was brought to the screen. With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics approaching, I decided to pick up the original and experience it in full. Now, for the uninitiated, about the only things that the manga and the film share are the setting, the characters and a few story beats. The difference is even more dramatic than with Nausicaa.

Normally I'm not fond of following delinquent characters, but it makes sense for the setting and I rather find Kaneda and his antics amusing. He quickly finds himself in way over his head yet he just keeps on pushing his luck. I'm also rather fond of the Colonel as he's one of the few competent people on the government side. I swear, the Army is at rent-a-cop level. Fortunately for them, the anti-government terrorists are even more incompetent with the exception of Ryu and Kay.

We take our time this volume establishing the setting and slowly peeling back the layers of conspiracy with Tetsuo acting as the axis we revolve around. It's quite effective to take a little punk like him with a massive inferiority complex and give him psychic powers. Watching his rise to villainy is one of the main enjoyments to be had and there's a good distribution of action set pieces to pick things up after stretches of exposition.

Art:
Otomo has a rather distinctive style that's generally appealing unless he wants to make something ugly, in which case he makes it very friggin' ugly. The backgrounds are remarkably detailed and are so integral that Neo-Tokyo is practically a character itself.

Some aspects of the designs look very 70s, reflecting the time the series was made. You see it particularly in the hairstyles, notably with Kay and some of the government agents, and in some of the costuming as well. The retro future aesthetic works, though, and I'm sure some people find resonance with the crime-ridden 70s-era malaise and the dystopian setting.

Action scenes have a lot of punch, especially the motorcycle brawl and the sewer chase. Tetsuo flexing his powers is also rather impressive, but we're just getting started on that note.

Conclusion:
If you're looking for a dystopian story with plenty of action and intrigue, then look no further. Given how influential this series is, I definitely recommend giving it a read. If you've seen the film and want the full story, then you owe it to yourself. It easily earns a place in the collection.

Rating:
Own It