Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
Volume 4 seems to continue a little bit after the ending of Volume 3, maybe a few months; I'm not entirely sure. Either way, a lot of stuff happens, whether it's the creation of the Great Tokyo Empire that follows the lead of our eponymous character Akira as supreme ruler (which I personally think is hilarious because Akira is still a child with the most petulant look on his face all the time. Plus, all he seems to do is eat and sleep and sit around on his chair, looking like he would really like to play with toy trucks or something) or the downfall of the radical group, of which Kei and Ryu and Chiyoko were all a part. Kaneda, our mouthy protagonist, isn't a part of Volume 4 and you would understand why if you'd read Volume 3. Is his presence really missed? Nope, because we have a whole bunch of really interesting characters separated by the chaos who are going through some interesting shit and we don't really need to see what Kaneda is up to because that would be way too much to keep track of.
Otomo is still amazing at drawing the destroyed landscapes and destruction scenes. His storytelling is great during the trippy dream sequences, making you really want to know more about both Akira and Tetsuo. There's some tell-not-show parts with Miyako-sama, but it's a manga and that's kind of expected with the genre. There is still a decent amount of showing within that telling sequence however.
The badasses of the manga series continue to be Kei, my homegirl, and Chiyoko (man, this lady is FIERCE).
Otomo is still amazing at drawing the destroyed landscapes and destruction scenes. His storytelling is great during the trippy dream sequences, making you really want to know more about both Akira and Tetsuo. There's some tell-not-show parts with Miyako-sama, but it's a manga and that's kind of expected with the genre. There is still a decent amount of showing within that telling sequence however.
The badasses of the manga series continue to be Kei, my homegirl, and Chiyoko (man, this lady is FIERCE).
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is by far the bleakest volume yet. While I still have deep respect for the art and story being told, I rated this lower than the other volumes because I didn't personally enjoy reading this installment. As I mentioned, it's incredibly bleak. It's also heavy on exposition and the ending is wild.
I have no idea where we're going to end up in the final two volumes remaining, but I'm guessing I shouldn't hold my breath for a "happy ending" to this epic series.Hoping that Chiyoko survives to the end, as she's become my favorite character.
I have no idea where we're going to end up in the final two volumes remaining, but I'm guessing I shouldn't hold my breath for a "happy ending" to this epic series.
4.25
Things slow down and more world building and character development come into play as we are introduced to our newly realised post-apocalyptic world. This is where the scope and meat of the story really begins to take shape, and it's great to be getting to this part of the story.
Of course, this is Oshi; so "slowing down" does not in any way mean the absence of action. In some instances the brawls feel a bit contrived and unnecessary, and it's sadly no suprise that we get a bit of nudity and attempted rape (a manga cliché). Overlooking these unnecessary additions, it is a great piece of work. The final act especially just elevates everything, possibly making this the best volume so far.
Things slow down and more world building and character development come into play as we are introduced to our newly realised post-apocalyptic world. This is where the scope and meat of the story really begins to take shape, and it's great to be getting to this part of the story.
Of course, this is Oshi; so "slowing down" does not in any way mean the absence of action. In some instances the brawls feel a bit contrived and unnecessary, and it's sadly no suprise that we get a bit of nudity and attempted rape (a manga cliché). Overlooking these unnecessary additions, it is a great piece of work. The final act especially just elevates everything, possibly making this the best volume so far.
Lo leí ayer y lo releí hoy...
Hasta ahora el tomo con más acción, con más horror, con más secretos y el mejor cliffhanger!!!!
Hasta ahora el tomo con más acción, con más horror, con más secretos y el mejor cliffhanger!!!!
Me tiene totalmente enganchada la serie y parece que en este volumen se ha superado la parte que conocía por la película. Tres de los personajes más molones de la serie son mujeres: la dura Chiyoko, la calmada Lady Miyako y la decidida Kay. Veremos si personajes como el Coronel o Ryu evolucionan por los acontecimientos y hacia dónde van. La trama se está centrando, pero todavía quedan cosas para los dos tomos finales.
While this volume was very action heavy, I really liked it. The different twists and how the new society reworked itself was so interesting. Plus, I loved the ending!
This series continues to have amazing art. Volume 4 gets more graphic than any of the prior volumes. There's more nudity, and rape is a constant threat to the female characters.
[Comics Canon Review]
I had forgotten that Akira takes this additional major turn beyond what the film version retells. This volume begins a stunning and brutal second part to the story and has a much stronger socio-political point of view.
In the aftermath of the prior volume’s climax, Tokyo is returned again to ruin and is isolated from the outside world. The survivors band together into two groups, each with a religious cult leader at its head: one group pledged to violence, the other to healing and sheltering the wounded. Psychic abilities begin appearing in others and lead to gruesome conflicts between the two groups.
What had been a gritty near-future tale in the first three volumes shifts gears in this fourth volume toward even darker conditions. The cyberpunk tone of the earlier volumes gives way to a Mad Max-like nihilism that plays out in and among civilization’s ruins. This book is bleak and horribly violent, but its characters become more complicated and interesting in the process. The action sequences are well-earned and serve the drama, rather than the other way around.
A great read.
I had forgotten that Akira takes this additional major turn beyond what the film version retells. This volume begins a stunning and brutal second part to the story and has a much stronger socio-political point of view.
In the aftermath of the prior volume’s climax, Tokyo is returned again to ruin and is isolated from the outside world. The survivors band together into two groups, each with a religious cult leader at its head: one group pledged to violence, the other to healing and sheltering the wounded. Psychic abilities begin appearing in others and lead to gruesome conflicts between the two groups.
What had been a gritty near-future tale in the first three volumes shifts gears in this fourth volume toward even darker conditions. The cyberpunk tone of the earlier volumes gives way to a Mad Max-like nihilism that plays out in and among civilization’s ruins. This book is bleak and horribly violent, but its characters become more complicated and interesting in the process. The action sequences are well-earned and serve the drama, rather than the other way around.
A great read.
As yeah. This one was goooooooooood.
I think I ended re-reading it twice, because there's so much delicious stuff to take in, from the dialogue (When man looks in the distance, he narrows his eyes) to some incredible artwork (That big berserker dude's face! So cool!)
I could live without the sexual violence. I find the pervasive notion in dystopian fiction that men would turn into imbecilic rape machines in times of massive upheaval to be counterintuitive. And gross. We.
However! Chiyoko! I would sit on an active landmine for Chiyoko. I would let Chiyoko gut-punch me until I exploded and be thankful for the privilege. I want an entire comic devoted to Chiyoko please.
I think I ended re-reading it twice, because there's so much delicious stuff to take in, from the dialogue (When man looks in the distance, he narrows his eyes) to some incredible artwork (That big berserker dude's face! So cool!)
I could live without the sexual violence. I find the pervasive notion in dystopian fiction that men would turn into imbecilic rape machines in times of massive upheaval to be counterintuitive. And gross. We.
However! Chiyoko! I would sit on an active landmine for Chiyoko. I would let Chiyoko gut-punch me until I exploded and be thankful for the privilege. I want an entire comic devoted to Chiyoko please.