AKIRA Vol 3 from the Otomo The Complete Works is out ! This was released on the same day (9/2/25) as the Steamboy Storyboards (Vol 1) which I will be reviewing shortly as well. I just love the choice of the cover art featuring a very stylish and confident looking Kay give us that side glance ( see image further below ).

I’ve already talked about how this new release of the AKIRA manga ( Young Magazine Serialized edition ) differs from the older releases in my review for Vol 1, so take a read here.

Just like Vol 1 and Vol 2, the print quality here is fantastic on account of the better paper stock, as compared to the older Japanese tankobon edition, where cheap pulpy paper that yellows with age was used. Another notable highlight are the select few pages of colored panels/chapter dividers painted by Otomo himself ( see images further below ); to the best of my knowledge, these have never been released in any of the older editions, and it is just delightful to seem them here.

(image below) The new edition is just a tad bit smaller in print size as compared to the older tankobon edition. Photo courtesy of Jona Sanpo.

????????????#Katsuhiro #Otomo #AKIRA #AKIRA???? #???? #?????? #???? #???? #manga #Anime #Animation pic.twitter.com/jmMZoXhSJd

— JonaSanpo? (@JonaSanpo) September 1, 2024

(above right) I do not have a copy of the old tankobon to do a side-by-side comparison, but I am fairly certain that this panel showing a frontal shot of Akira exists only in the serialized edition.

Yep, now I remember why I'm an Otomo fan…his exquisite paneling work and ability to 'freeze-frame' action is just unparalleled –
my review for Vol 3 coming soon; purchase links in comments below ? pic.twitter.com/xZwQTuYqz2

— blauereiter (@blauereiter) September 9, 2025

With never before seen colored pages, original panels from the Young Magazine serialized pages as well as a superior print quality, this new edition of AKIRA is imho the best way to enjoy Katsuhiro Otomo’s magnum opus manga work. Even for a big fan like me who has read it countless of times, the new features gives me a great opportunity to re-discover the manga again, and I love it. Highly recommended.

Will Kodansha publish an English language edition ? At the time of writing this review, there has not been any solid word or news of one. In the event that it does happen, I reckon it is still going to be a long wait.

“AKIRA 3 ( Otomo Complete Works ) Manga 大友克洋全集 コミック” details :

Dimensions – 17.7 x 2.1 x 24.9 cm
Softcover with dust jacket, 278 pages
B&W with color on select pages, In Japanese language

  
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