Akira (manga)

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{{Infobox animanga/Header

|    title_name = Akira
|         image = Akira Volume 1 Cover Japanese Version (Manga).jpg
|       caption = Japanese cover of Akira Volume 1
|       ja_name =アキラ
| ja_name_trans = Akira
|         genre = Sci-fi

}} {{Infobox animanga/Manga

|       title =
|      author = Katsuhiro Otomo
|   publisher = Kodansha
|  serialized = Young magazine
|   first_run = 1982
|    last_run = 1990
| num_volumes = 6

}} Template:Infobox animanga/Footer

Akira (Template:Lang-ja) is a cyberpunk manga by Katsuhiro Otomo. In 1988 an anime film based on the series was made, also called Akira.

1 History
2 Plot summary
3 Awards
4 Book references
5 References
6 External links

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History

The manga originally began publication in 1982 in Japan's Young Magazine and finally concluded in July 1990. The collected manga totalled over 2000 pages and was released in 6 volumes by Kodansha. In 1988, it was published for the first time in the U.S. by Epic Comics, a division of Marvel Comics. This colorized English version ended its 38-issue run in 1995. An English version of the 6 volume collection was released in the USA in 2000 by Dark Horse Comics.

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Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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Book One

The story begins with a prologue of sorts, detailing the events leading up to the main plot. In December 1992, a unexplained but destructive explosion completely destroyed Tokyo, Japan. Believed to be the work of a new type of nuclear bomb, it leads to the start of World War III. Because of the mention of a "2000 accord" later in the story, it can be assumed that the war didn't end until the year 2000.

The story really starts over thirty years in the future, in the year 2030. Tokyo has been resurrected as the futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo, which stands on a manmade island in Tokyo Bay. Shotaro Kaneda, a teenage deliquent who leads a motorcycle gang, trespasses into the "old city" - the dead ruins of Tokyo. After stopping at the "Heart of Destruction" - the giant crater left by the 1992 event, and the future site of the next Olympic Games. It's when the gang that Kaneda's best friend, Tetsuo Shima, finds what seems to be a small child in his path. Just as Tetsuo is about to hit the child, his motorcycle explodes, leaving him badly wounded. Kaneda confronts the child, but finds that the seemingly six-year-old boy had the face of an old man, and has the number 26 tattooed to it's palm. The child then disappears before Kaneda's very eyes.

It is then that a group of soldiers arrives at the crash site and take Tetsuo into custody. Kaneda and his gang are arrested, but are later released. The next day, they spend all day trying to find out Tetsuo's wherabouts, but find none.

(Will be expanded at a later date)

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Book Two

The second book starts where the first left off, with Tetsuo being taken away by on board a helicopter by the Colonel. Kaneda and Kei are arrested by the military. They are taken to the army's skyscraper headquarters in Neo-Tokyo and taken to seperate rooms, waiting for interrogation. Tetsuo's bullet wound has healed miraculously quick, despite the fact he was shot just hours earlier, amazing the Doctor and the Colonel. He is given intelligence tests as he recovers.

(Will be expanded at a later date).

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Book Three

(Will be expanded at a later date)

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Book Four

It has been an unknown length of time since Akira's destruction of Neo-Tokyo, and much has happened. The ruins of the city are now split between two cult-like factions. One is led by Lady Miyako and her monks at the temple, where she gives food and shelter to the refugees. The other is called "The Great Tokyo Empire," which is led by Akira and Tetsuo, whose zealous followers hail them as gods incarnate.

(Will be expanded at a later date)

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Book Five

(Will be expanded at a later date)

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Book Six

(Will be expanded at a later date)

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Powers, personal and social

Akira, like Otomo's other work (such as Domu), revolves around the basic idea of individuals with superhuman powers, in particular psychokinetic abilities, but much of the story does not focus on these abilities themselves, but rather the people involved, social issues and politics. The social commentary is not particularly deep or philosophical, but rather a wry look at youth alienation, government corruption and inefficiency, and a military grounded in old-fashioned Japanese honor, displeased with the compromises of modern society.

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Additional material

A short story called 'Candy Flower Napalm', written by Warren Ellis and drawn by Terry Shoemaker, was published in Akira #38 of the Epic Comics' release. The story retells Lady Miyako's dream she had whilst laying in a coma. The dream is a vision of the future (told in the books, seeing as this vision occurred in the past) and shows, amongst other stuff, Tetsuo, the use of drugs and destruction.

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Awards

The series has won a good deal of recognition in the industry, including a nomination for the Harvey Award for Best Graphic Album of Previously Published Work in 2002. The series has won several Squiddy Awards, including Favorite Reprint Volume in 1990 and 1991, Favorite Established or Continuing Series in 1990 and 1991, and Favorite Continuing Series for the 1980s.

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Book references

Akira, Volume 1 : Publisher: Dark Horse ISBN 1569714983 Release: December 2000
Akira, Volume 2 : Publisher: Dark Horse ISBN 1569714991 Release: March 2001
Akira, Volume 3 : Publisher: Dark Horse ISBN 1569715254 Release: June 2001
Akira, Volume 4 : Publisher: Dark Horse ISBN 1569715262 Release: September 2001
Akira, Volume 5 : Publisher: Dark Horse ISBN 1569715270 Release: December 2001
Akira, Volume 6 : Publisher: Dark Horse ISBN 1569715289 Release: March 2002