I'm so happy you young'ns are appreciating Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira. I'm 45 and I've collected the OG single editions printed in COLOR by Epic Comics in the late 80's. The last 4 issues of that run was rare and difficult to find but I managed to complete the set right before the pandemic and now collection's value has skyrocketed. If a new box set is released- it MUST be the colored version, it adds so much more drama! When the movie came out in '88, the film blew my then 12 yr old brain; I knew I wanted to be an animator instantlyl. Fast forward 3 decades later and I've animated on countless films and tv shows. You should consider doing a review of the film, I'd love to see another generational viewpoint of the anime.
I love Akira the movie. I knew this collection of manga existed. I googled it and this was like the first video that came up as I wanted to see what it had. You convinced me to buy it. I got this as well as 4 of the Berserk omnibuses...... anyway.. Keep on Collecting!
I fell in love with the film first as well and then picked up the manga box set, so I had a similar path with the series. Can't go wrong with the Akira box set or the Berserk Deluxe Editions; Both are beautifully made, so that's awesome that you have both on the way! Thanks so much and happy collecting!
@@AnimeCollective It's at 250 euros on BD today. While at 205 euros on Blackwells. The thing is if you were to buy the 6 volumes separately [not the boxset] it would cost you approximately 140 to 150 euros. Are the additional 50 to 60 euros [to get the boxset] really justified? You essentially pay for the Akira Club Artbook, the box, and the sticker! And of course for the overall value this boxset offers - but this is mostly for collectors... 🙄
I watched the anime for the first time almost twenty-five years ago and have wanted to read the manga for almost as long, but I was wary as to the quality of the trade paperback editions (I do a lot of re-reading); from my time working as a bookseller back in the ‘90s I know the manufacturing quality with volumes of this nature is very inconsistent. So I was thrilled to learn that this 35th Anniversary Edition existed; the packaging and binding quality is tremendous, the artwork companion book is a VERY nice addition to the set and the storage box is a very nice way to keep dust from gathering on the books (though it can be a chore equivalent to solving the Lament Configuration Box to open it at times). When I bought my set the price had dropped to the point where the difference between the full set in softcover or hardcover was effectively negligible; for a better presentation, more durable books, as well as the extra artwork volume included it made no sense NOT to buy the hardcovers. Honestly this is practically heirloom quality and I wish more manga was available this way.
I actually didnt know this existed. I wish the standard editions followed this format being as true to the original japanese manga as possible. Amazing video!
Been wanting to pick these up for sometime. The hard cover and art style with colored and b&w are so nice, these edition are nice! Thanks for your review! Helps decide before buying
Of course!! This is my favorite box set that has been released so far and the hardcovers are beautiful, so couldn't wait to show you guys these! Let me know what you think if you pick them up!
@@AnimeCollective finally got my hands on Akira, but it is vol 1 the 10 inch by 7 inch book verses the nice hard cover box set. Still glad to have it in my possession! Only problem I have with it is the fact you read it as an American book verses a Japanese book. Maybe someday I can work my way up to the box set when available.
The first German edition of Akira was coloured throughout (4 colours only). The six original volumes were split into 19 individual paperbacks and slightly downsized. Although this altered (and very expensive) presentation of Akira was my first contact with the work as a kid reading single volumes at the library, , I will highly recommend going for the original bw version I bought a decade later. As impressive and bombastic a full coloured version may be, it takes away from the fast paced reading experience the original provides.
I didn't know they released color editions of Akira in Germany. Thanks for letting me and everyone else know! Also helpful to hear that you would choose the bw version over them. I really enjoy the bw version also and couldn't be happier with the way these volumes look and turned out!
@@AnimeCollective Furthermore everything was mirrored for adopting the western reading direction from left to right. Therefore all Kanji symbols in the background are wrong as well. Editorial choices for commercial reasons.
I’ve had this boxset for some time now. What an incredible boxset. I’m still making my way through. It’s high quality and all inclusive. You won’t miss out on anything. A really funny anecdote in the art book is a story of how a life size Akira motorcycle got stolen in the UK at a convention. It ends with a quote “probably, a crazed English fan must have stolen it”. Made me laugh 😂
The first manga I bought and I'm almost 32. So good that I'm reading it for the second time now! I highly recommend this even if people haven't got into manga before. What should I read next if I love this one?
That's really cool that Akira was the first manga you ever purchased! Been a favorite of mine for quite some time as well. In terms of what I'd recommend, you may want to check out anything by Tsutomu Nihei. He is an amazing artist with intricate settings and post-apocalyptic themes. I also highly recommend anything by Hiroya Oku, such as Gantz and Inuyashiki. 20th Century Boys and Battle Angel Alita are awesome too and are probably the two I'd most recommend fans of Akira check out. There's also Inspector Shinya Kogami and All You Need Is Kill! Hope this is of help!
@@AnimeCollective wow cool how you can recommend specific manga based on his initial experiences (Akira). Most of the time I’m used to people just recommending Berserk, Vinland, Vagabond etc (all of which I love, especially Berserk); they don’t consider the person’s taste and just recommend their favourites
this should be noted the english sound effect were also done by Katsuhiro Otomo when marvel asked him for the publishing right for an import he was excited to color in the manga and redraw panel to make the new reading formate better for western audiences so both versions are vailed experiences of akira.
I'll definitely be doing reviews of a lot of the volumes behind me as well as the box sets I already have in the collection in addition to the new volumes and box sets I get in over the course of the year! If you have any particular requests from those you can see, let me know and I'll put them at the top of the list! 😃
@@AnimeCollective amazing collection there.. I'm someone who's very new to graphic novels and just started with Ed Brubaker's and I'm really loving them..Do you think that I would be able to enjoy this one..Also, I have heard a lot about Death Note series and have just seen the Netflix movie.. Can you do a detailed review of Death Note Black and color and what differentiates them both? Cheers..
Ah this is one of my favorite videos of yours. I go back to rewatch it occasionally, I love how well you presented everything + I really enjoy that music in the background, can you please tell me the name of the song/songs? I think I may just have to get this box set for myself as well at some point in the future, since Kodansha US really outdid themselves with how nice it is + I still want to get the Japanese editions of Akira since they're really fun editions with colored book edges (apparently the term for that is book edge painting).
this is so sick! great videos been watching for hours now, can you do a video on Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Complete Series Box Set if you have it thanks!
Sorry for the dumb question... new to Manga comics. Since this is read from back cover to front, how do you read the pages themselves? Do you read the right page first then the left? Or start with left hand page and then right side?? 🤔🤔 Thanks and great unboxing/review 👍
Awesome that you are getting into manga!! Not a dumb question at all. It was something I too definitely had to get used to at first. The panels and pages are read from right to left, so you technically read everything in reverse of how you would read a comic or graphic novel. Thank you so much and hope that helps!
I Iove love this edition the only thing I would say the dust jacket/slip covers are very thin for what they I was expecting something thick like on my ominbus with marvel dc Image and dark horse guessing it would run up the price a bit but still nice tho but gunna be as careful with them as I can
I bought this version before the French release. Casing, covers and presentation are gorgeous. BUT honestly, the paper is not so good, with a strong recycled paper a bit lavish look. I was disappointed. Sold it and bought the French one, whith better whiter paper. (But not pill patch bonus and no hardcover sadly, but quality paper is more important for me).
Hi, I wonder if your books had covered with something like yellow dust. Recently in my case, about 3weeks ago, when I received this box set, something yellow dust is covering the books' spine, even though the box was sealed with plastic film.. So I thought it was sprayed at the manufacturing stage as a precaution against covid19. So I wonder if you had the same experience.
Hello! I didn't see anything like that when I got mine. I ordered it back in July 2020 from RightStuf. That's interesting that yours came with a yellow dust on it, maybe you are right that it was a precaution but not sure!
The hardcovers are beautifully made, so I think they are worth the purchase! Definitely my favorite version of Akira's manga to release so far! The box set also comes with the Akira Club book, which is an awesome addition and is a great collector's item. There's a few differences between the hardcovers and the paperbacks too that you might want to consider before repurchasing. They read in the original right to left format and they have the original hand-drawn sound effects, so there are some differences between the two. Hope that helps!
Just checked and it looks like RightStuf has it in stock right now as well as Barnes & Noble and last time I checked Amazon only had 14 left in stock but they also state that there are more on the way on the listing. Hope you are able to pick it up!
At first, I was put off by the high price because I assumed that it's just a box of paperbacks but wow, they're nice, quality hardbacks with slipcovers and all! Totally justifies the price in my view.
