Akira: Book 2
No. 2 in the Akira series
by Katsuhiro Otomo
|
Dark Horse Manga (Milwaukie, Oregon): March 2001. Trade paperback: 301 pages. ISBN-10: 1-56971-499-1 Suggested retail price: $24.95 (US) Tags: drugs; gangs; Graphic Novel; guns; Japan; made into movie; Manga; motorcycles; Tokyo Tactical strength: [8/10] |
Compare prices on Akira: Book 2 by Katsuhiro Otomo at Book Cost
Akira: Book 2 picks up right where Book 1 leaves off. Tetsuo dominates this second volume. To maintain a supply of the high-potency drugs, Tetsuo goes back to the Colonel's facility, where the Colonel assigns Tetsuo number 41 and the Colonel's staff resumes testing Tetsuo. Tetsuo gets bored with testing and demands that the doctor take him to meet the other subjects. Tetsuo meets Takashi (number 26) and two other kids, Kiyoko and Masaru (number 27), who tell Tetsuo that Akira (number 28) lies asleep deep under ground zero. Tetsuo starts making his way to meet Akira, killing anyone who attempts to stop him.
In the mean time, Kiyoko at several times takes over Kei's body in an attempt to kill Tetsuo. Kiyoko has foreseen Tetsuo awakening Akira, and she wants to stop that from happening, so she manipulates Kei several times to try killing Tetsuo, first with regual weapons and finally with a high-power laser rifle. While under Kiyoko's control, Kei frees Kaneda, and together they make their way down toward Akira.
Of course, everyone's attempts to keep Akira in his stasis chamber fail. Apparently his powers and Tetsuo's resonate at the same frequency, so as Tetsuo nears the chamber, Akira awakens and destroys his prison. Tetsuo leads Akira to the surface, followed by Kei and Kaneda. The Colonel doesn't want to take any chances, so he uses an orbital laser rifle to attack Tetsuo and Akira. The Colonel's attempts fail, but Tetsuo does lose an arm. And in the final scene, Kei and Kaneda have carried Akira's unconscious body away from ground zero.
In this second volume, Otomo continues with his highly detailed art work. The story line progresses well, developing most of the characters. Kaneda demonstrates his caring for Kei by saving her, although she doesn't return his affection. Tetsuo continues to expand his psychic abilities, demonstrating that power does corrupt.
One oddity I noticed: The Colonel insists on calling Tetsuo "Number 41" although he clearly calls the kids, including Akira, by their names and not their numbers. I don't know if Otomo meant to show that the Colonel regards Takashi as different from the other subjects, or if Otomo just didn't make the Colonel's behavior consistent. Still, an excellent progression of the storyline and marvelous artwork.
Related Review
Akira directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
