Akira

Review by Jane D.

Author: Katsuhiro Otomo

Artist: Katsuhiro Otomo

Publisher: Dark Horse

Pages: 354 story pages.

Category: Sci-Fi

Rated: R (Violence, language, partial nudity, suggestive situations)

EXTERNAL EXAM

On December 6, 1992, Japan suffered a massive bomb explosion over its metropolis, which was shortly followed by World War III. Thirty-eight years later in 2030 AD, the county shakily stands rebuilt, and the new government is desperate to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe, as is the resistance organization opposing them. For each understands there is a connection between what happened and a mysterious being of immense psychic power called Akira. To gain the advantage, they rush and fight one another to bring its source into their folds and under their control.

In Neo-Tokyo City where biker gangs of juvenile delinquents joyride through slums, that same kind of incredible energy emerges. Teenage gang member Tetsuo Shima crashes his motorcycle in the street while attempting to avoid colliding with a child appearing to be ravaged by Progeria. Before anyone can respond appropriately, the accident awakens in Tetsuo the ability to move objects with his mind. Filled with anger at the wrongs in his life, he uses his power to destroy anyone who thwarts him, and it is up to the government, the resistance organization, and his friend Kaneda to defuse him at any cost.

DVD VISION TEST

ARTWORK: Katsuhiro Otomo departs from the typical manga and anime style drawings of people in this work. His characters have full, rounded faces, a bit like Rumiko Takahashi's sketches in Ranma. Bodies are filled out and look sturdy. The art is particularly detailed when it comes to motorcycles, racing scenes, buildings, and battles in which objects are crashed into other objects. Panel sizes and shapes differ to accommodate content, and some illustrations take up two full pages. Pose shots include a defiant Tetsuo making use of his psychic power by riding his motorcycle with his arms folded across his chest instead of steering with the handlebars, and an angry Kaneda aiming a pistol in his direction.

SOUND EFFECTS: They are plentiful and exclusively in English. The text signifying the loudness of motorcycle engines and structures collapsing tends to be so large you can almost hear those things go off in your mind.

EDITS: There are no edits in a strict sense such as the blotting out of explicit images, but graffiti manages to camouflage graphic doodles on the walls to a certain extent.

EXTRAS: The opening pages detailing the explosion leveling Japan and segue to the ride Kaneda and Tetsuo's biker gang take along the freeway are in color, unlike the rest of the story. On page 216, the terms "kelvin" and "dewar flask" are defined outside of the story, at the bottom of the page. At the back of the book there is a biography of Katsuhiro Otomo that mentions the work he has done in manga, animated films, and even commercials. It also discusses the incredible success Akira has had around the world and over time.

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY: Akira is a post-apocalyptic science fiction story infused with political intrigue. The tale centers around the use and effect of power of all kinds on individuals and society. Katsuhiro Otomo does a good job of showing what happens when people get what they think they want.

TRANSLATION: This has been adapted from the Japanese in a recognizable manner. Characters sound very much like modern day Americans as they make use of American expressions.

FAN SERVICE: There are references to literature here. The famous quote from Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, "Abandon hope all ye who enter", is spray-painted on the entrance to Harukiya, a bar the biker teens hang out in. A Pegasus from Greek mythology is suspended from the ceiling in the nursery where children with power like Tetsuo's play. Motorcycle fans will take note that the red motorcycle Kaneda rides is credited as a Honda. Sorry, no panty shots.

THE 2 VIEW

Akira is one of the most recognized names in anime and manga. Part of the appeal, I think, has to do with wish fulfillment. Certain characters are given astounding power everyone dreams of obtaining, so readers can enjoy living vicariously through them for a while. The story also affirms a deep irony and caveat regarding life that resonate with readers who are wise to them. The first is that there appears to be a randomness to existence that allows for some people to attain great things without meriting them, as is the case when a drug addicted brawler like Tetsuo attains the power of a god. The other is that power often corrupts the one who holds it, and this is revealed when Tetsuo's magnified violent and uncontrollable behavior extends even towards Kaneda and Yamagata, who are his friends. The veracity of those messages have a universal significance and play out well in this manga.

The consequences of having extraordinary power are examined from a political angle. The Colonel, remembering Akira, fears Takashi, though he has not done anything even remotely like Tetsuo in the way of harming people. His potential alone is reason enough for The Colonel to shut him away from the world, as was once done to Akira. When this happens, Takashi is branded with a number like the other children who have his ability, and any chance of their having a normal life is taken away. Not trusting the government with the children, Ryu and Kei's resistance group relentlessly looks to undermine their objectives, as does Kaneda indirectly when he tags along with them after being betrayed by Tetsuo. These actions taken together explore the role of power in the destabilization of society, which is a major theme of this book.

Overall, Akira is an epic science fiction masterpiece that makes for great reading, but a major drawback to this volume is its price. At $24.95, it is more than twice the amount of most manga currently for sale. The large book size is a factor in that I am certain, but it is absolutely worth buying to see this excellent story appropriately conveyed in a big format.

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