“Neo-Tokyo 2019: biker friends Kaneda and Tetsuo uncover government secret Akira after WWIII's destruction.”
Akira
AKIRA
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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Neo-Tokyo 2019: biker friends Kaneda and Tetsuo uncover government secret Akira after WWIII's destruction.
1988: It is World War III. Tokyo is decimated by a mysterious black explosion, unmatched in magnitude. 2019: Fast forward 31 years. Neo-Tokyo, hastily built on the ruins of old Tokyo, is a sprawling cityscape of neon extravaganza. It is a fusion of towering skyscrapers and cutting-edge technology that is permeated through and through with an explosive, hyper-violent cocktail of biker gangs, poverty, and revolutionaries. In this derelict metropolis live Tetsuo Shima and Shoutarou Kaneda, two bikers who are the best of friends and the fiercest of rivals, despite being affiliated with the same gang. Desperate to prove himself as Kaneda's equal, Tetsuo unwittingly pulls a stunt that culminates in the awakening of a cryptic existence that threatens to change both the face of Neo-Tokyo and the lives of those who call the city their home—the awakening of a government secret simply known as Akira.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 38 sampled reviews
What 38 readers settled on.
Polarized
σ 2.22 · split reception
4.4 pts
Recommenders 8.6 · others 4.2
↓ 2.66
Running avg · Jan 2008 → Jan 2026
- 10 “I actually would rate this lower if I read just the normal black and white volumes that are being printed right now. Fortunately for me I was able to come across the 38~ volume full color version...”
- 10 “This book's main draw is the non-stop action and the sheer spectacle of it when taken as a whole. The scenes of complete destruction are fucking raw; you can almost FEEL the painstaking lengths...”
- 10 “Akira was one of the first manga films I ever watched, only a few years ago now; I didn't even know we had it on the shelf! To be perfectly honest I adore the film, despite it being so different...”
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A Manga Publication
- Format 120 × 6 ch × vol
- Total read 16h 00m approx
- Published Dec 1982 – Jun 1990
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M0632 catalog