Akira: Vol. 2: Bk. 2 [Paperback]

The condensed action here, all located around Kaneda and Kei's escape from the Colonel's security forces and Tetsuo's further psychic awakenings is crisply staged and the scenes of psychological and scientific discussion do not grate with Kaneda's sometimes two-dimensional propensity for switching between action and bewilderment.

Socio-political debates arise around the nature of scientific curiosity and the ethical stance of most of the main characters are brought into focus, further fleshing out their (mostly) rounded characters, this is most obviously shown in the character of the Colonel, a character rightly given a strong sense of righteous opinion who in my opinion becomes one of the most sympathetic and rounded creations in the whole series.

As with the first volume, Otomoto lets loose his anarchic streak by giving Tetsuo a goal and the means to acheive it, be it through psychic frenzies or sly manipulation, interestingly Tetsuo's lacklustre participation of a psychological attitude test mimics the one used in Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange to deduce the 'evil' Alex's mental state.

Along with Book 5 I would hazard to say that this is the best one in the series and, like almost all of the other books, Otomoto ends with a flourish and a marvellously enigmatic and thought provoking final image to carry the reader over to the next editiona and to encourage another twenty-five odd pounds to leave your bank balance, all in all, marvellous, destructive, ethical and 'ripping' (hehehe, you'll see) fun.

Otomo adopts a different narrative style this time. The first volume covered a longer time period, with a huge collection of characters and constant changes in place. This covers about two days and sticks to the characters we left in the last pages of volume one. This change could cause a serious jar in the narrative, but Otomo retains absolute control - it's fluid, engrossing, worrying and thrilling. It's also easy to understand, since one episode is spread over several pages and with well-translated dialogue. The artwork is, of course, beyond caompare and the plot will have you looking at any friend suspiciously, just wondering if they'll detonate your head - Scaaners style.

Otomo's imagination and range is unparalleled, and he introduces some completley unexpected situations (such a Star Wars incindent that would have Ronald Regan cheering). The characterisation is sharp and plausible, the characters of the Colonel and Doctor being particularly well constructed.

Otomo manages to draw his set pieces and action sequences magnificently, fitting the images together for maximum effect and with realistic sound effects that'll have you making pretty funny noises

This is more sober than the first volume, with less emphasis on the dazzling metropolis that is Neo-Tokyo and more time devoted to the scientific and social ramifications of the events depicted. You will feel a genuine threat.Tetsuo, now held by the government is developing faster than he can be controlled and is anxious to 'meet' Akira - totally ignoring the fact that the muppet may have kick-started World War Three. Kaneda and Kei are out to stop him (and out for revenge) while the resistence movement is desperate to find out more information. Meanwhile Mr. Nezu is up to no good, and some secret service agent wants his own back for being slashed.

All hell is really about to break loose, and if you thinks that's, wait until you see the book's final image.

Unforgettable