Any list that compiles the best that anime has to offer will inevitably include Akira, and for good reason. The 1988 film raised the bar for film animation and is widely credited for introducing the medium to mass audiences outside of Japan. However, the anime adaptation is only part of the story. Like countless other anime projects, Akira is an adaptation of a much longer, albeit lesser known, manga series. Although the Akira manga has been available in print for decades, a new version has appeared. Akira Hardcover Edition launched earlier in 2025 and offers the most authentic presentation of Katsuhiro Otomo's groundbreaking sci-fi saga. If you've ever wanted to experience the entire Akira saga, this is one of the best ways to do it—and, if you're lucky, you can save a few bucks on these premium hardcover editions. Four volumes of a six-volume series. available for purchase on Amazonand while they typically cost between $30 and $40, you can get them for up to 25% off. Volume 5 And 6 will also be launched in the coming weeksand pre-orders are active.
Save up to 25%
The Akira hardcover books, published by Kodansha, use updated translations and lettering from the 35th Anniversary Edition box set, and each book is presented as a large 7″ x 10″ collector's item. Like traditional manga, they are read from right to left, and the manga's original hand-drawn Japanese sound effects have been restored. Each hardcover book features a cover based on the original cover of the Tanabon manga volume.
As mentioned above, there are four volumes released so far, and they are currently discounted to around $26-$27 on Amazon (usually $30-$35 each). The next release, Akira Hardcover Collection 5, will be released on December 23rd. Pre-order discount is $34 (was $36). This will be followed by Akira Hardcover Collection 6 a month later on January 27, 2026. Pre-orders for volume six are available for $40. Check out all the hardcover editions of the Akira Collection below.
While the hardcover editions above are fresh reprints, you can also purchase all six of them as part of Akira 35th Anniversary manga box set. All six volumes come with a hardcover Akira Club art book and an exclusive pill-shaped patch. It's currently sold out, but Amazon restocks periodically, so it's worth checking to see if it's available.
The book takes place in a dystopian future. Akira first began publishing in 1982 and ran for 120 chapters. The series is set in the post-apocalyptic city of Neo-Tokyo and explores the aftermath of a mysterious explosion that nearly destroyed the city. Thirty years later, teenage biker gang leader Shotaro Kaneda finds himself at the center of a conspiracy involving militant revolutionaries, psychically gifted individuals, military forces, and his childhood friend Tetsuo Shima, who has begun to develop his own dangerously destructive psychic abilities. The Akira manga has received critical acclaim for its mature themes, well-developed characters, intriguing storylines, and Otomo's illustrations. In the years since its publication, it has come to be considered one of the pioneering works in the then growing science fiction subgenre of cyberpunk.
As mentioned above, the manga eventually received a film adaptation written and directed by Otomo while the manga series was still in production. Although the film has eclipsed the manga in popularity, it is also a truncated and reworked version of the manga's extensive story. Both have a similar structure, but the manga explores storylines such as the military coup and the growing resistance in much more detail, and gives Akira and Tetsuo more time to develop as characters. While this makes the manga a must-read for fans, it doesn't mean Akira's film isn't worthy of praise. There's a reason why it's still called one of the greatest anime films of all time. If you haven't seen it yet, you can download Akira on 4K Blu-ray at any standard edition or steelbook version. Both versions include a ton of extra content from the original DVD, including featurettes about Akira's music, world, and style. There's also an interview with Otomo that was originally filmed for the vintage laserdisc release, a feature on how the film was restored, and archival promotional material from the '80s.
Akira Blu-ray
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