A review by nolansmock
Akira, Vol. 4 by Katsuhiro Otomo

4.0

Compared to the action of prior volumes this is a murky dive into the psyche and societal disorder. I haven't seen the movie yet (reading this first) but I'm pretty sure none of this makes it in there. That's not to say there's no action because there is and Akira constantly reminds me of why it's so well-regarded. The artwork and pacing is still probably the closest experience to a movie that I've read in manga. I was also reminded of Eden: It's An Endless World reading this, maybe my favorite series, sadly unfinished in the west. Like Eden, it lingers in the nonstop chaos of proxy warfare in a sci-fi setting and often shocks you with its intensity. I was surprised that volume four of Akira nearly matched that series in violence because it's brutal. Finally, the ending calls back to the end of volume three in a way that doesn't feel rehashed, literally flipping the premise upside down. I look forward to the next entry.