Akira -- still worth reading?

[JTLauder]

I know this is a really old manga, but I've never read it.
I watched the first Akira movie years ago--my introduction to anime.

I love the serious sci-fi, post-apocalyptic setting, while I find most manga these days to be adolescent and silly (aka, pokemon-esque).

Dark Horse has all the Akira books listed in this month's Previews backlist, and getting all 6 books would be a SERIOUS dent in my wallet.

Question is, is it still worth reading.
If not, what's a worthy current replacement?

[chojinlocke]

I say it's still worth reading. It's a classic and still holds up really well. Plus Barnes and Noble is putting out a 15 dollar hardcover version. I looked at their site and it's on sale for half price. I don't know if this bodes ill for the rest of the series coming out in hardcover (it did years ago, but that version is OOP). I agree about the wallet dent, but at least the first hardcover is less than most manga on shelves....

[Ayo]

Akira > any other manga you were thinking of buying in it's stead.

[Expletive Deleted]

If you've only seen the anime, you've only seen a fraction of the story. The movie only covers the first two or three books.

[Captain Sarcasm]

Akira > any other manga you were thinking of buying in it's stead.

And also:

Akira Manga >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Akira Anime

[Ayo]

And also:

Akira Manga >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Akira Anime


Goes without saying. Sad thing is, it's still one of my top five animes. Shrug. It's well done, but not even holding a candle to the books.

[pirulaso]

when u said first akira movie. does that mean there is a sequel?

[JTLauder]

when u said first akira movie. does that mean there is a sequel?I saw this probably about 10 years ago, so I don't know if it was just the one film, or if there were other volumes. I just assumed there might have been since there are multiple volumes of the books.

[chojinlocke]

There's only one movie. It was super state of the art for its time, but was done before the series was complete (If I remember correctly). There's been talk over the years of a movie or series that encompasses the books, and even scarier talk of a Hollywood version. The last script I heard about had the story set in New York and sounded pretty bad. I hope that never gets made actually. I know we have the technology to make cool anime/live-action stuff, but I wish someone would use it to do an original creation rather than an adaptation or "re-imagining". That being said, I thought the new "Sin City" movie was pretty darn faithful to the books (at least as far as I remember them--it's been a while), and was a good use of available technology. But, that isn't really on topic.
Here's to hoping that we can see this and maybe Nausicaa done as a series or mini series that encompasses the whole story. Akira manga does indeed ROCK!

[lazykarateguy]

Just wondering if someone could give me a rundown (if they have the time, because it sounds long) of the Akira magna, I LOVE the movie, think it's a great piece of art. However, I definitely don't forsee picking up the magna collections, because of the price, and well, I've already seen the movie.

[pirulaso]

lol who buys books anymore. just go and read and mooch off of the book store.

[heavy_metal]

The original dub for Akira was just terrible. What was with that silly Marlon Brando kid?? Ugh - I shouldn't have seen the dub first, it turned me right off Akira. I heard they made an new one though...I want to get my hands on that.

[beryl]

The original dub for Akira was just terrible. What was with that silly Marlon Brando kid?? Ugh - I shouldn't have seen the dub first, it turned me right off Akira. I heard they made an new one though...I want to get my hands on that.

...Really? I rather enjoyed the Original Dubb. If you that was rubbish, than I'd stay clear of the new one.*shudder*

Its got nice packaging, but O/T.

So, yeh. The Manga's definitely a keeper.

[heavy_metal]

...Really? I rather enjoyed the Original Dubb. If you that was rubbish, than I'd stay clear of the new one.*shudder*

Its got nice packaging, but O/T.

So, yeh. The Manga's definitely a keeper.

Wow - you could really deal with Leonardo's voice and take that Marlon Brando thing seriously? Well, to each his own. Personally, this is why I've always prefrerred subs to dubs. The voice-overs always manage to mess us the translations and are usually more irritating than their Japanese counterparts.

[beryl]

Wow - you could really deal with Leonardo's voice and take that Marlon Brando thing seriously? Well, to each his own. Personally, this is why I've always prefrerred subs to dubs. The voice-overs always manage to mess us the translations and are usually more irritating than their Japanese counterparts.

Yeh, well I really no choice but to deal with the Voices, but yes the Original Jap's totally better than both of the dubs.

Went out and paid the extra $15 bucks they were charging for the Widescreen Special Edition VHS when it came out.

:O/T: Once in a great while there'll be a good dub, last one I was totally in awe of was Trigun. They got Vash's voice perfect, plus I was suprised to find out it was an Ex-Power Ranger who did the voice.

[Ayo]

Leonardo's voice


YES!


That and, the translation was so funny, me and my godbrother riffed on that for months and months afterwards. Sure, unintentional comedy is "bad," but it made ME happy! :)

The new dub is soulless.