PREFACE
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.
MANGA 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.
BOOK REPORT
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.
CHARACTERS:
Kaneda - He is a teenaged leader of a teenaged biker gang who does
not take important things seriously and often makes jokes when it is
inappropriate, like when he is in danger. The change in Tetsuo
sobers him and he resolves to fight against his friend.
Tetsuo Shima - He is a biker teen who was originally in
Kaneda's gang, but defected to another after his power began to
manifest. Though friends with Kaneda since childhood, he is
resentful of his leadership and does not hesitate to attack him with
his special ability.
Kei - She is a young woman who works for a government resistance
organization and sabotages government operations when and where she
can. She has unwillingly joined up with Kaneda for the time being,
as he has learned of her identity and illegal activities.
The Colonel - He is a middle-aged, high-ranking government official
who wants all those who display powerful psychic abilities in his
grasp. He greatly fears what will happen if those people are set
free on the world, so he struggles to get a hold of Tetsuo when he
learns of what he can do.
Ryu - He is a young man who is a member of the same government
resistance organization as Kei and unconvincingly refers to her as
his sister. He obtains information on the plans of the
government through a covert connection and relays it to his group to
direct their further movement.
Yamagata - His malapropisms make him appear not very bright, but he
is a loyal though hotheaded member of Kaneda's gang who bravely
stands up to Tetsuo after he turned his back on his friends and
attacked them.
Takashi - He is the young boy who looks like an old man who Tetsuo
almost killed while driving on the road. Possessing similar powers
to Tetsuo, the government and resistance organization want to get to
him. The number twenty-six is marked on his palm.
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.
FOOTNOTES:
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.
OTHER OFFICIAL STORY ADAPTATIONS
The Akira manga inspired an anime of the same name to be created,
and it is considered one of the greatest anime of all time.
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