When I first started to read Akira I had to rent each book from a library and I often had to wait several weeks before I could get my hands on the next instalment. I started to buy the books a few years afterwards but I did so sporadically as they were quite expensive. In fact volume six was given to me by a friend as a present (thanks again Nath) although he was also reading the series and think he just got sick of waiting for me to buy it. My point is that this is the fastest I have ever read Akira.
Like marathoning a series of movies or a T.V boxset you become immersed in the world of the story. I understand that reading each chapter as its released gives you the thrill of anticipation but it can't compare to to the satisfaction you get from gorging on something you love. There's something quite hedonistic about taking a story that took the author seven and a half years to create and devouring it in six days
Part five of Akira is unsurprisingly good. The first half really felt like a Mad Max movie, which to me is a good thing. Joker, a gang member last seen in volume one, is back and he has rebuilt some motorbikes, among other things. Its great getting to see Kaneda tearing through the wasteland on some cobbled together motorbikes and a caretaker robot. Sadly Chiyoko isn't really in this volume but Kaisuke is a good replacement character. Having him as a foil for Kaneda works perfectly and it's good to have some comic scenes after the grim nature of book four.
In this volume Katsuhiro introduces characters from foreign nations which gives an interesting perspective on the whole situation. It was nice to see the collective of scientists try to ascertain the nature of the powers we've seen. I was shocked by how Tetsuo choose to treat them, I'm really surprised that I had forgotten that scene entirely. Speaking of Tetsuo I think the way Otomo choose to subtly change the way he draws him is genius. Its very apparent that he's undergoing a profound change and its all done with shading, very clever.
There are several plots going on at once at this part of the story yet it flows very smoothly. There is an equal weighting given to each storyline that helps keep things on track. This is another mammoth book though and it is a wordier volume that the others so its good that there is plenty to keep your interest. There are some of my favourite parts of the story in this volume but he highlight of part five for me is seeing Tetsuo's struggle to maintain human form as his power reaches unprecedented levels.
With so many different stories all gearing up for a conclusion this volume has a palpable energy and while the pace is slow it moves with a certain purpose. The last scene lets you know the flood gates have opened and there will be no stopping now until it is finished.
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