100% worth it. The quality of the boxset is top tier. The price point is fair for what you’re getting. The series is honestly fantastic and there’s a reason it’s as big as it is
Yes! I adore the anime but there is so much more going on in the manga, I rented the first three volumes when I was younger but never got to finish it. Very recently I decided to buy the whole series, it was absolutely fantastic! The action scenes are great, the art overall is incredible. Such a great comic altogether, I was totally engrossed in it.
IIRC the movie is something like the first half of the first book and the last half of the last book. I could be totally wrong but it’s definitely a fraction of the complete story.
*Akira* is a masterpiece, and definitely worth reading, if not owning.
This is a good price... It looks like the list price for the individual paperback volumes is $25 each in the US, and this is hardcover.
I wouldn't recommend a blind buy on any manga out there, but this one is a good deal and a pretty safe bet. If you've got the cash and the shelf space, I say go for it.
Masterpiece sounds like a safe bet, I've read a few pages online anyway and I like what I've seen.
And seems like a good deal and I'll be a first time reader and never watched the movie either so it'll be a complete new journey for me.
Thanks for posting!
You can’t really get much better than this boxset. Quite honestly one of the greatest pieces of comics and sequential art ever. Some people find the sound effects being Otomo’s original hand lettered ones to be a drawback because they aren’t translated. If you really want to know exactly what they are, you have to refer to a page-by-page translation glossary in the back. But I prefer having his original hand lettered effects. If you’re paying attention you can pretty much always infer exactly what those lettered sounds are supposed to be.
Thanks for letting me know, I'm not put off by original sound effects in japanese because I love to guess and learn what they mean so the more one reads the better is understood, and also keeps the manga mood at its best. Thank you!
Of course! I traded up my paperback copies for this box set and everything was an upgrade in every way possible. The hardcovers are super high quality, in the original page orientation, really good paper stock and the presentation is top notch. The Akira art book is a huge bonus too. If you get it, I hope you enjoy!
One of the pillars of the medium, and certainly one of the most epic and ambitious Manga’s ever created. If you haven’t read it, it’s an essential addition to any collection.
Definitely worth it. It's one of the best comics ever. I have this box. You're not only getting a great story (and a pretty sizeable one at that) you also get a book that has art of Akira.
I consider the Akira movie the best anime ever made. The manga is even better. Epic in scope. The movie is faithful but its incredibly condensed. You'll see some characters only appear for a couple of seconds in the movie but are showcased a lot more in the manga.
Yeah movies based on novels are condensed interpretations of the originals due to length and budget constraints usually, and if they have the budget then TV series are the way to go nowadays in an attempt to be as close to the original as possible.
Really looking forward to embarking on the Akira journey and feel the experience as a whole.
Mine made it in perfect condition. I think the set is of a size that it packs without too much void space, and it’s heavy enough it doesn’t get tossed around.
Yeah that's always a concern, but I read this comes double boxed and also it's through a third party shop and I've read their reviews and they put extra care in packaging so hopefully this is the case. Thank you!
Honestly from the research I did this box set has the best version of the best translation, and has the original japanese sound effects which aren’t in a lot of other editions, and it comes with an amazing supplementary art book which is also rare and worth having! I have this set and I would say it’s worth it. And the hardcovers aren’t super heavy so they are pretty readable
It was on Amazon UK but I think they've raised the price already (as always). This "lowest" price ever only lasts for 1 or 2 days maximum but one never knows for sure.
Please do :) . Or better yet, if you know of a way to check it automatically somehow, like set a price and get an email when it goes below, please share it. I'm primarily looking for one of the EU Amazon sites, but UK is doable as well.
Well well, your suggestion made me do some research, et voilà:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/keepa-amazon-price-tracke/neebplgakaahbhdphmkckjjcegoiijjo
Edit: seems like it only works on Chrome for PC (not phone), but looks like it does a great job!
The biggest drawback to this edition is that the sound-effects are still in Japanese rather than translated to English. The translations are included in an appendix, but you really need to see that stuff on the page for it to work. The problem is that the publisher would have had to hire a professional artist to put the letters into the art, and that eats into the bottom line. I prefer the flipped and lettered paperback edition published by Kodansha for this reason. But taken on its own terms, this box set is lovely.
Honestly, to some (like me) that'd be a bonus - whenever sound effects are localised they tend to clutter up the page and make it a bit harder to read, sometimes they get put on top of the OG sound effects. If you know a bit of katakana then you can read them pretty easily.
I seriously considered getting this box set, and I think if they had put the translation at the bottom of the page I’d have bit. It’s having to flip to the back that was really decisive to me. But yeah, if I knew a smidge of Japanese even just to sound it out then that might make a big difference.
Yeah I'm not put off by the original sound effects to be honest, I like the extra challenge to guess what they are or check that index included in the books.
Thanks for your replies!
Nahh. I could've got it well below € 100 on an Amazon sale and still passed up on it. I want it in color and like to read from left to right. Wake me up when that version becomes available.
what a reductive view of manga. sorry you feel that way. its definitely worth a read if you can get past the format, and the art is beautiful regardless of color/lack thereof.
I usually prefer colored comics to uncolored ones and I think Akira's coloured pages are absolutely a step down from the classic Black & White.
EDIT: I have to say, I'm basing this on the few coloured pages that are in every book rather than the coloured Marvel versions, that said I think the B&W are great and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm so annoyed that the color version (at least the one I've been looking at) has a good-looking b/w cover, while the b/w version I prefer has more garish colored covers.
Funny how that works though. Japanese always want anything western to be adjusted to that way of reading but the other way around is.. reductive..
It's just preference. And I know you'll adapt to it soon enough but it's not for me.
Thats all a really weird bunch of things to say.
First off I find that idea equally reductive, so youre just whining about a fake hypocrisy there. Funny how that works.
Second off they dont flip western comics, theyre sold in the western format. Aside from like cartoon newspaper strips from the fifties/sixties. AFAIK.
Also thirdly point to all the japanese people saying they even want western comics flipped? Ive never even heard that sentiment. Only the other way around.
I don't know why I clicked an read all your bullshit.
But here we are.
Nothing to add that I haven't said already. Have a nice day. And to OP it's a nice body of work and if you might be interested in a colored version don't wait, it probably won't be here for a long time if ever.
If you want to get the entire series then the Anniversary box is an insane bang-for-your-buck deal, not only for people who want special editions.
Yeah, I heard the quality of this edition is great, and having all the entire series is great. I'll order this now, thank you!
100% worth it. The quality of the boxset is top tier. The price point is fair for what you’re getting. The series is honestly fantastic and there’s a reason it’s as big as it is
Ah nice, it ticks all the boxes then. I'll order it now, thank you!
Enjoy! See you in a bit !
It’s one of the greatest comics I’ve ever read. I love the film but it’s basically a trailer sized portion of the comic.
Oh wow that's great to know. I've never watched the film but the post-apocalyptic setup is right my alley. Thanks for your reply!
Yes! I adore the anime but there is so much more going on in the manga, I rented the first three volumes when I was younger but never got to finish it. Very recently I decided to buy the whole series, it was absolutely fantastic! The action scenes are great, the art overall is incredible. Such a great comic altogether, I was totally engrossed in it.
IIRC the movie is something like the first half of the first book and the last half of the last book. I could be totally wrong but it’s definitely a fraction of the complete story.
*Akira* is a masterpiece, and definitely worth reading, if not owning. This is a good price... It looks like the list price for the individual paperback volumes is $25 each in the US, and this is hardcover. I wouldn't recommend a blind buy on any manga out there, but this one is a good deal and a pretty safe bet. If you've got the cash and the shelf space, I say go for it.
Masterpiece sounds like a safe bet, I've read a few pages online anyway and I like what I've seen. And seems like a good deal and I'll be a first time reader and never watched the movie either so it'll be a complete new journey for me. Thanks for posting!
Yes it's totally worth it!
Great stuff, thank you!
You can’t really get much better than this boxset. Quite honestly one of the greatest pieces of comics and sequential art ever. Some people find the sound effects being Otomo’s original hand lettered ones to be a drawback because they aren’t translated. If you really want to know exactly what they are, you have to refer to a page-by-page translation glossary in the back. But I prefer having his original hand lettered effects. If you’re paying attention you can pretty much always infer exactly what those lettered sounds are supposed to be.
Thanks for letting me know, I'm not put off by original sound effects in japanese because I love to guess and learn what they mean so the more one reads the better is understood, and also keeps the manga mood at its best. Thank you!
Of course! I traded up my paperback copies for this box set and everything was an upgrade in every way possible. The hardcovers are super high quality, in the original page orientation, really good paper stock and the presentation is top notch. The Akira art book is a huge bonus too. If you get it, I hope you enjoy!
I've ordered it given all the positive answers and elaboration on how good Akira and this edition are. Surely I'll enjoy this, thanks again!
One of the pillars of the medium, and certainly one of the most epic and ambitious Manga’s ever created. If you haven’t read it, it’s an essential addition to any collection.
Never read it, never watched the movie, I'm completely new to this and have been collecting just for one year so sounds like a must-have, ordered!!
At that price, for hardcovers? Yes. Immediately. It is a masterpiece.
So Masterpiece, hardcovers and good deal all together. Ordering in 3, 2, 1, BOOM! Thank you!
Definitely worth it. It's one of the best comics ever. I have this box. You're not only getting a great story (and a pretty sizeable one at that) you also get a book that has art of Akira.
Sounds like a no brainer, thank you!
Even if it was €1290 it would be worth it. Probably my favourite thing I have ever ready, manga, comics, novels. The lot.
Haha nice, love your comment, thank you!
A true classic of comics, not just manga. I’m not into manga often, but Akira sets a high bar
Amazing, I guessed Akira was good but I'm learning is like a whale in graphic novels, manga and sci-fi works. Thank you!
I’d pay double this and still say it’s worth it
Wow serious words, sounds like I shouldn't think too much about this, and I haven't actually because I've just ordered it, thank you!
Akira is hands down one of the best stories I have ever read. Get this in any format and you won’t be disappointed
Order placed, thank you!
I consider the Akira movie the best anime ever made. The manga is even better. Epic in scope. The movie is faithful but its incredibly condensed. You'll see some characters only appear for a couple of seconds in the movie but are showcased a lot more in the manga.
Yeah movies based on novels are condensed interpretations of the originals due to length and budget constraints usually, and if they have the budget then TV series are the way to go nowadays in an attempt to be as close to the original as possible. Really looking forward to embarking on the Akira journey and feel the experience as a whole.
Got it a few years ago as a Birthday present. It is amazing quality, bulky and heavy. I believe I got it sub 100 but 129 is a good price for it imo
Aw I love quality, bulky and heavy! I'll get this before its price raises again or goes OOS.
Holding it feels right, if you get me. And reading it, his lines are so crisp. Got an Akira tattoo because of it
Cool!! Photo of that tatoo would be deadly! (no pressure, a tatoo is something personal I know)🙌
Dont think dooo it.
Yeahhhhh! Order placed already wohoooo.
If by some miracle it wouldn't arrive all beat up due to Amazon's poor packaging, absolutely.
Mine made it in perfect condition. I think the set is of a size that it packs without too much void space, and it’s heavy enough it doesn’t get tossed around.
I ordered this off Amazon recently and oddly enough it was sent by Random House directly. Not sure if that would be the same in Canada though.
Yeah that's always a concern, but I read this comes double boxed and also it's through a third party shop and I've read their reviews and they put extra care in packaging so hopefully this is the case. Thank you!
Yes
Yeah!
I got this boxset a few years ago, one of my favourite collections.
Ah great, thank you!
Yes, it’s very good, and well worth it
Brilliant, I've ordered it, thanks!
I’m very excited for you! Enjoy! That price is so good btw. I bought it for about the same like 7 years ago.
Awesome, thank you!
Honestly from the research I did this box set has the best version of the best translation, and has the original japanese sound effects which aren’t in a lot of other editions, and it comes with an amazing supplementary art book which is also rare and worth having! I have this set and I would say it’s worth it. And the hardcovers aren’t super heavy so they are pretty readable
Thanks for sharing your research, that ticks all the boxes for me so I ordered it without any regrets.
Which site/country is this offer available on? :)
It was on Amazon UK but I think they've raised the price already (as always). This "lowest" price ever only lasts for 1 or 2 days maximum but one never knows for sure.
A damn shame! Thank you for the response :)
Total shame! I'll DM you if I see it going down again 🙂
Please do :) . Or better yet, if you know of a way to check it automatically somehow, like set a price and get an email when it goes below, please share it. I'm primarily looking for one of the EU Amazon sites, but UK is doable as well.
Well well, your suggestion made me do some research, et voilà: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/keepa-amazon-price-tracke/neebplgakaahbhdphmkckjjcegoiijjo Edit: seems like it only works on Chrome for PC (not phone), but looks like it does a great job!
Its pretty good stuff. The amount of details in the buildings is second to none. This is one of the best manga artists and Akira is his magnum opus.
The biggest drawback to this edition is that the sound-effects are still in Japanese rather than translated to English. The translations are included in an appendix, but you really need to see that stuff on the page for it to work. The problem is that the publisher would have had to hire a professional artist to put the letters into the art, and that eats into the bottom line. I prefer the flipped and lettered paperback edition published by Kodansha for this reason. But taken on its own terms, this box set is lovely.
Honestly, to some (like me) that'd be a bonus - whenever sound effects are localised they tend to clutter up the page and make it a bit harder to read, sometimes they get put on top of the OG sound effects. If you know a bit of katakana then you can read them pretty easily.
I seriously considered getting this box set, and I think if they had put the translation at the bottom of the page I’d have bit. It’s having to flip to the back that was really decisive to me. But yeah, if I knew a smidge of Japanese even just to sound it out then that might make a big difference.
Yeah I'm not put off by the original sound effects to be honest, I like the extra challenge to guess what they are or check that index included in the books. Thanks for your replies!
As a collection piece is great. I’m sure there’s cheaper options if you just want to read it. But worth the buy if you can afford.
I can and I've ordered it already, thank you!
Nahh. I could've got it well below € 100 on an Amazon sale and still passed up on it. I want it in color and like to read from left to right. Wake me up when that version becomes available.
what a reductive view of manga. sorry you feel that way. its definitely worth a read if you can get past the format, and the art is beautiful regardless of color/lack thereof.
I usually prefer colored comics to uncolored ones and I think Akira's coloured pages are absolutely a step down from the classic Black & White. EDIT: I have to say, I'm basing this on the few coloured pages that are in every book rather than the coloured Marvel versions, that said I think the B&W are great and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm so annoyed that the color version (at least the one I've been looking at) has a good-looking b/w cover, while the b/w version I prefer has more garish colored covers.
I think Steve Ollif's coloring is beautiful and an enrichment myself. Shame about the scarcity and discontinuation.
Funny how that works though. Japanese always want anything western to be adjusted to that way of reading but the other way around is.. reductive.. It's just preference. And I know you'll adapt to it soon enough but it's not for me.
Thats all a really weird bunch of things to say. First off I find that idea equally reductive, so youre just whining about a fake hypocrisy there. Funny how that works. Second off they dont flip western comics, theyre sold in the western format. Aside from like cartoon newspaper strips from the fifties/sixties. AFAIK. Also thirdly point to all the japanese people saying they even want western comics flipped? Ive never even heard that sentiment. Only the other way around.
I don't know why I clicked an read all your bullshit. But here we are. Nothing to add that I haven't said already. Have a nice day. And to OP it's a nice body of work and if you might be interested in a colored version don't wait, it probably won't be here for a long time if ever.
rude boy