Akira, Vol. 6 (Six) [Paperback]

Katsuhiro Otomo (Author), Katsuhiro Otomo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2002

The explosive finale to one of graphic fiction's greatest achievements is here! The mad psychic colossus Tetsuo, the world's military, and the remaining psychics of The Project face off -- with the child psychic god, Akira, the wild card -- in what may not only decide the fate of mankind, but may determine the next step in human evolution! This long-awaited volume -- a staggering 440 pages -- features the impossible-to-find final chapters of Akira, never before collected in the U.S., presented as they were intended to be seen in their original, stunning black and white! Featuring a revised translation and top-quality art reproduction, this is the final edition of one of comics' definitive works, a six-volume epic of over two thousand pages. Katsuhiro Otomo's entire masterpiece is finally available -- only from Dark Horse!

Editorial Reviews

Review

 • "One of the most important manga of the 1980s...four stars." --Manga: The Complete Guide --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

In 1982, manga modernist Katshuhiro Otomo created a worldwide literary sensation when Japan's Kodansha Publications released the first volume of his 3000 page sci-fi fable of the apocalypse, AKIRA. Few westerners had experienced manga (Japanese comics) before AKIRA, and its rocketing ascent through cultural divides helped impress a cynical world that had long been convinced that pictures in books should be relegated to children's stories. Now pictures were being used to tell one of man's most explosive and harrowing tales. Since his groundbreaking work on Akira.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse (March 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569715289
• ISBN-13: 978-1569715284
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #866,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Climax, Conclusion...and Beginning..., May 11, 2002

By 

Ian Vance (pagosa springs CO.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Akira, Vol. 6 (Six) (Paperback)

Allow me to reiterate:

Amidst the flotsam and jetsam of former pop-culture sensations, there are a few items of media that, through sheer visceral creative force, transcend the `cool one moment, cliché the next' element of disposable entertainment. The Japanese manga/movie _Akira_ is among these rare and dignified. Although the movie version is cluttered and convoluted, an epic mess--and what can one expect from the effort of reducing 2000 pages into two hours?--there still remains a power and presence to it that is at once unnerving and captivating.

I "got" Akira upon my first viewing, but like many others found the movie unsatisfying on a basic level. Characters and concepts popped up out of nowhere, seemingly important to the overall arc, yet remaining undeveloped. It felt as if an enormous amount of back-story was left untold. Thankfully, Dark Horse has decided to give the manga version of _Akira_ the definitive publishing it deserves, to fill in the gaps and give us a deeper and far more gratifying glimpse into Katsuhiro Otomo's astonishing vision of dystopia.

And now, finally, volume six is here, containing story and art never before seen on these shores. Here Otomo takes the hints and fragments presented by the film--Tetsuo's metamorphosis, the fate of Neo-Tokyo, the showdown of primal force between Akira and his prodigy companions--and ties them together in a way that, as an end result, far overshadows the 16mm attempt. I have to agree with a fellow reviewer who claims that the movie and manga compliment each other...but while the former is interesting and challenging, the latter is far more essential in terms of scope and overall achievement.

The art is, as usual, clean and crisp and amazingly complex; one can simply contemplate the detail of various panels for hours on end. But the story is paced at such an ongoing peak (especially considering the cliffhanger ending to vol. 5) that upon first reading you may do what I did: breeze through the pages, totally involved in the build-up/release of conflict, while using the art as merely a visual representation for the ongoing story. Thus, Akira vol. 1-6 contains immense re-read potential: firstly to glean Otomo's philosophical ponderings on energy and consciousness, secondly to appreciate the amazing artwork.

And the ending...in true Japanese form, the very ambiguity of it hints at a far larger story in progression; the end is the beginning, apparently. Those with concrete story-structure paradigms may find it unsatisfactory, but I personally loved the surreal suggestions.

Truly an epic, in all sense of the word. Five stars.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great ending to a great story, April 17, 2002

By 

Rock J. Janecek (California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Akira, Vol. 6 (Six) (Paperback)

First and foremost, if you are not familiar with the Akira universe Katsuhiro Otomo has created, the one-page synopsis they give at the beginning of this volume wouldn't please any reader, regardless of how easy they are to please. Nor will the pages of gorgeous explosions that seem to serve no purpose other than pure eye candy. But for those who have embraced this work and want to see how it ended, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

The ending of this volume may disappoint some, but I for one was happily confused, as I expect many others should be. Like the ending to the "other" great six part science fiction drama, Dune (heresy, I know), the head-scratching that will undoubtedly go on will most likely be remembered as the best confusion one can partake in.

I wouldn't want to spoil any of the story, but all the pieces seem to fit, all the loose ends tied up, and many possibilities unravel at the very ending (thus, the confusion). When you set down this very big (and very digestable) volume, I hope it will be with a feeling of disturbing peace, and leave the impression that science fiction is viable in all mediums, be it the written word, art, or, as this series proves, a combination of both.

Those who buy it for the art won't be disappointed. Those who buy it for the story won't be disappointed. Those who buy it out of pure curiosity will find themselves truly blessed. But do yourself a favor. Before tackling Volume 6, beg, borrow, or steal the other five volumes and prepare to be immersed in a science fiction epic unrivalved in this medum, and greater than some books in print.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Non-Stop action!, May 20, 2002

By 

Daniel V. Reilly (Upstate New York, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Akira, Vol. 6 (Six) (Paperback)

Akira Volume 6 brings the story to a shattering conclusion, as all of the surviving characters converge to attempt to stop the mad Tetsuo. And what will they do with the Godlike child Akira..?

The great thing about epics, in any medium, is the amount of time they have to develop their characters. I can't imagine the Akira movie being as satisfying as the books. (I'll see soon enough- I loved the books so much I ordered the Akira DVD.) Considering that the final chapter is 400+ pages of non-stop action, it's a good thing Otomo built his characters up heavily in the previous 5 chapters. The art is sensational, and the writing is top-notch; Otomo manages to deliver a satisfying (If somewhat head-scratching...) ending. Maybe the highest compliment I can give is that I was sorry to see it end.