Katsuhiro Otomo

This volume 2 was in B&W throughout. The tale continues and we find out who Akira is...(SPOILER) a young boy being held captive underground in a secret cryogenic chamber-facility at the construction area of Neo Tokyo's Olympic stadium site. I love the inclusion of almost mythological characters, very Japanese, old-wise-children, Takashi, Kiyoko, and Masaru, who can control the minds of others; the youth culture of drug-using, restlessness, and teenage reasoning (believing they are in the right fight for justice); and most of all the science fiction story of children (named Numbers) being used for political control. The future technologies include flying underground vehicles and satellite lasers. I'm not so fond of the violence, but the fight scenes are well depicted. I look forward to reading the rest of the story.… (meer)