Original English Graphic Novels (All Published)

AKIRA [Complete Epic Comics Graphic Novels]

Otomo, Katsuhiro

Notes: The first US graphic novel edition of the influential post-apocalyptic manga set in Tokyo after a nuclear accident triggers World War III. Otomo's Akira is the series "that could be said to have properly begun the craze for manga among English-speaking audiences"—Cambridge History of the Graphic Novel. This story was also the source of the acclaimed cyberpunk anime film of the same name.

The publication history of this set is a bit confusing. Epic Comics (a division of Marvel) began publishing the AKIRA story in a colorized English translation in a comic book format in 1988. The planned 38 issues were delayed and took seven years to complete. These graphic novels collected the comics, three at a time, as they were issued. But the graphic novels for the final eight comics were never issued, making this set of ten complete in itself (but not the complete AKIRA, if you get my meaning).

When Dark Horse and later Kodansha reissued the graphic novel, they followed the Japanese six-volume black-and-white format, with a few color pages in each book.

Edition + Condition: First printings of each volume. The condition of this set is quite good, averaging fine comic books condition. No. 2 has surface scuffing to the covers near the spine; no. 3 has wear along the spine front and some fading at the spine; and no. 6 has some fading to the spine and corner wear. Overall, a nice set. Uncommon with all the published volumes present.

Publication: New York: Epic Comics, 1990–1993.

Item No: #361434

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