Marvel/Epic Comics

The Original 38 Issue Run of Akira

Published by: Marvel/Epic Comics
Released: 1989 to 1995
Format: Squarebound Paperback, Computer Coloured
Run: 38 Issues
Language: English Translation

This 38 volume run of Akira is the first version of Akira to be translated and released in the west. What makes this release so significant is the fact that it was one of the first Japanese Manga to ever be translated and released in the west and it was also one of, if not, the first comic books to be coloured by a digital method.

Unfortunatly these comics represent a cut down version of the original Japanese story and the translation isn't very accurate. Katsuhiro Otomo was commisioned to write a different ending for the west which resulted in the last bunch of comics being delayed for quite some time. Add this to the fact that the comics were coloured and you have something that is quite different from what was intended.

This tampering with material is something that won't be missed at all and to me seems quite disrespectful of the creator's work. That said these are still an important set in the evolution of comics and are worth reading only if you intend to read the 6 Volume set by Dark Horse which is far superior.

"Akira was groundbreaking in the development of digital colourisation of comic books. Steve Oliff created the process while colourising Otomo's pencils strictly for Akira. Later in 1992 he founded Digital Chameleon and did the colouring for all the Image books. DC and Marvel soon followed and all comics became coloured digitally instead of by hand." - "If you thought Cliffhanger was late, Marvel/Epic published the first 33 issues of Akira monthly and waited almost 2 years to publish the last 5 issues." - Michael Ryan [www.ryaninteractive.com/comicvault]

Olyoptics won over a dozen industry awards for color excellence, beginning with a Harvey award in 1989 for Akira, by Katsuhiro Otomo." Read the full article on [colouring the akira manga] here.

Chapter 1 - The Highway - No ISBN
Chapter 2 - Pursuit - No ISBN
Chapter 3 - Number 41! - No ISBN
Chapter 4 - King of Clowns - No ISBN
Chapter 5 - Cycle Wars - No ISBN
Chapter 6 - My Friend, My Enemy - No ISBN
Chapter 7 - Prisoners and Players - No ISBN
Chapter 8 - Weapon of Vengeance - No ISBN
Chapter 9 - Stalkers - No ISBN
Chapter 10 - The Awakening - No ISBN
Chapter 11 - Akira Rising - ISBN-10: 0-87135-586-8
Chapter 12 - Enter Sakaki - ISBN-10: 0-87135-587-6
Chapter 13 - Desperation - ISBN-10: 0-87135-588-4
Chapter 14 - Caught in the Middle - ISBN-10: 0-87135-589-2
Chapter 15 - Psychic Duel - ISBN-10: 0-87135-590-6
Chapter 16 - Akira Unleashed - ISBN-10: 0-87135-591-4
Chapter 17 - Emperor of Chaos - ISBN-10: 0-87135-618-X
Chapter 18 - Amid the Ruins - ISBN-10: 0-87135-619-8
Chapter 19 - To Save the Children - ISBN-10: 0-87135-620-1
Chapter 20 - Revelations - ISBN-10: 0-87135-621-X
Chapter 21 - The Rage and the Torment - ISBN-10: 0-87135-622-8
Chapter 22 - Blood Siege - ISBN-10: 0-87135-623-6
Chapter 23 - Akira's Rain - ISBN-10: 0-87135-624-4
Chapter 24 - A Western Wind - ISBN-10: 0-87135-683-X
Chapter 25 - Vision Underground - ISBN-10: 0-87135-684-8
Chapter 26 - Assassination Corps - ISBN-10: 0-87135-685-6
Chapter 27 - The Grand Convocation - ISBN-10: 0-87135-686-4
Chapter 28 - Swept Away - ISBN-10: 0-87135-687-2
Chapter 29 - Ride to Revenge - ISBN-10: 0-87135-688-0
Chapter 30 - Arms Race - ISBN-10: 0-87135-689-9
Chapter 31 - Stadium Show - ISBN-10: 0-87135-690-2
Chapter 32 - Class Reunion - ISBN-10: 0-87135-793-3
Chapter 33 - Strike from Space - ISBN-10: 0-87135-794-1
Chapter 34 - Phantom Voices - ISBN-10: 0-7851-0161-6
Chapter 35 - Face to Face - ISBN-10: 0-7851-0165-9
Chapter 36 - Miyako's Last Stand - ISBN-10: 0-7851-0166-7
Chapter 37 - Evolution - ISBN-10: 0-7851-0167-6
Chapter 38 - The Final Chapter - ISBN-10: 0-7851-0168-3

The Collected 10 Volume Set of Akira

Published by: Marvel/Epic Comics
Released: 1990 to 1993
Format: Squarebound Paperback, Computer Coloured
Run: 10 Volumes Collecting the first 31 issues of the original Epic 38 issue run
Language: English Translation

This set was intended to collect together the 38 issue run from Epic Comics, but due to the delay in releasing the last 8 comics in the run because Otomo was comissioned to create a new ending for the Western audience, these collected volumes were posponed and then forgotten about so remain the incomplete collected volumes. A further volume 11 and 12 would have been neccassary to finish the collection off.

Collection 1 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-697-X - Pub. Date: 1990
Collection 2 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-782-8 - Pub. Date: 1991
Collection 3 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-831-X - Pub. Date: 1991
Collection 4 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-832-8 - Pub. Date: 1992
Collection 5 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-900-6 - Pub. Date: 1992
Collection 6 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-901-4 - Pub. Date: 1992
Collection 7 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-939-1 - Pub. Date: 1992
Collection 8 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-940-5 - Pub. Date: 1992
Collection 9 - ISBN-10: 0-87135-941-3 - Pub. Date: 1993
Collection 10 - ISBN-10: 0-7851-0002-4 - Pub. Date: 1993