Akira: Vol. 6: Bk. 6 [Paperback]

 

 

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This is the final volume of a series that is one of the great masterpieces of the 20th Century. There's not much to add to what everyone has written about the other volumes. Anyone with the slightest interest in art, film or literature should own all six books. The plot is compelling, the huge cast of characters each vividly presented and memorable, the dialogue well translated into natural English (and it must be good in Japanese too), and the drawing consistently brilliant. Otomo is a true heir of Hokusai, and almost every page contains a gem of artwork. Here and there are the big set piece drawings which are simply stunning. Just buy it, all six, in order.

Well, lets be honest. You won't be reading this review if you haven't read the previous Akira books. This book without a doubt rounds it all up [Hence it being the last in the series] But it rounds up the story amazingly well! Otomo is a pure genius to create and construct this series, the story, unique vast amount of characters, artwork.. Listen to me ramble on, I could go on all day.
If you are just a fan of the film, pondering wether to buy the books because you liked the films, go for it. So much more things added to the film, more characters and depth of the twists and plots. A "Must buy" for all Akira or manga fans

After reading the previous 5 volumes over the last few weeks I've been anxiously awaiting the final book, partly because I wasn't sure if I wanted it to end and there was a nagging concern that the end might be anti-climactic - I needn't have worried though. This final book is a fitting end to an incredible story.

The volume starts with Tetsuo in a state of flux - momentarily losing control of the power which surges through the fibres of his body and breaking through forcing his body into hideous mutations before managing to regain his shape. It's clear that he can't maintain the internal war and that sometime very soon something dramatic is going to happen, something grotesque. Tetsuo is very much the central character of this book and at times his ugly metamorphosis provides some amazing visuals while his muted cries for help from an old friend inject an emotional edge. The books have always made sure not to completely demonise Tetsuo, there's always been an element of the boy inside the monster and here we empathise with him. He's a destructive force but he's not fully in charge of his actions and at times he wants help.

It's all-out war in this final volume as the characters we know well attempt to destroy the destructive collaboration of Tetsuo and Akira, but there are several different plans being executed by different parties. Some specifically targeting the pair using knowledge of how to combat their power, and some by outside military designed to destroy the entire city along with everybody in it. Neo-Tokyo takes another beating and there are harrowing scenes when civilians run into the street ready to receive Red Cross supplies, but the aeroplanes are delivering something very different and the American bombing of the city commences.

Volume 6 gives very few hints as to what the final few pages will reveal, an unnerving smile on the otherwise silent Akira hints at something impending, something catastrophic but whether it will happen or not isn't made clear in the early chapters. There are revelations but they tend to be personal ones, such as glimpses of the aged children as they should look, developments between Kaneda and Kei, and unlocked memories from Tetsuo's early life.

Giving a critique on the artwork is almost becoming boring now - I can't really find any other ways to express how incredibly detailed and impressive the illustrations are. The level of destruction is captured perfectly and the destructive forces themselves really do seem to have a palpable power behind them. You might think that more images of a ruined city would simply start to feel a bit blasé after a while, but they don't - they are still captivating and you find yourself studying the pages to take it all in. The re-read potential of Akira is much higher than most other Manga books - you can revisit the books simply to look at the images and absorb it all once again. There are lots of double page frames in this volume, more so than the previous ones and some are cleverly used to show the complexity of all the various relationships between the people involved in the story at this stage.

Western audiences are used to seeing American films with clearly defined 'goodies' and 'baddies' with a sentimental ending delivering justice, whereas Japanese culture tends to deliver less obvious heroes who don't conform to 'black and white' roles of good and bad, they also use more abstract plot devices and employ spirituality and folklore. This book ends in a thought provoking way, it may be a let down for some people as it isn't exactly definitive, instead it is open in both scope and interpretation. For me it was satisfying and is the sort of ending which allows the characters and story to live on in whatever thoughts and ideas you may have about the events of the final chapter and where they lead. Instead of being the end to an epic work of science-fiction it feels like the beginning of a new one which could take the remaining characters anywhere.

In a nutshell: Akira is consistently excellent and is rightly considered to be a seminal work of science fiction of incredible cultural significance. Katsuhiro Otomo breaks the mould with his creativity here in the final book. Personal battles taking place in the middle of an international attack lead to the reaching of natural conclusions and an ending which will leave you thinking.

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