AKIRA 4 (OTOMO THE COMPLETE WORKS)

Volume 4 of 8 in the "OTOMO THE COMPLETE WORKS" edition of "AKIRA" collects installments 43 through 57 (corresponding to p.168 of Young Magazine KC Volume 3 through p.147 of Volume 4), created by Katsuhiro Otomo in 1984-1985, when he was 30-31 years old, and originally serialized when Young Magazine was published twice monthly. The installments are reproduced in the form in which they originally appeared. Continuing the presentation of Volumes 1-3, this volume is published as a "serialized version," restoring everything, including the title-page illustrations, as closely as possible to its original serialized form. (For details on the concept and editorial policy behind the "OTOMO THE COMPLETE WORKS" edition of "AKIRA," please refer to the product description for "OTOMO THE COMPLETE WORKS No. 12 AKIRA 1.") Without question, the highlight of this volume is the opportunity to read the "Collapse of Neo-Tokyo," the mid-story climax that shook the manga world, in its original serialized form. It has long been known among devoted fans that the Collapse of Neo-Tokyo sequence in the Young Magazine KC edition was extensively restructured when it was compiled into book form, with pages from the serialized version removed, newly drawn pages added, and the order of pages rearranged, resulting in an edit significantly different from the serialized version. At the end of "AKIRA CLUB," the collection of title-page illustrations published in 1995, there was a section comparing and explaining the differences between the two versions. However, because the roughly 30-page collapse sequence was reduced and arranged on a single page, readers could understand how the structure differed but could not experience the full impact of the original sequence. Now, that "original version of the Collapse of Neo-Tokyo" is finally unveiled. And, of course, this is the first book edition in which the "Collapse of Neo-Tokyo" sequence can be read exactly as it appeared during serialization! Otomo himself has commented, "I tried re-editing it for the collected edition, but even now I still don't know which structure is the right one," reflecting just how much thought went into constructing this shocking catastrophe sequence that has earned a place in manga history. Experience the origin of that legendary scene exactly as it first appeared in serialization. The Young Magazine KC "collected edition version" or the OTOMO THE COMPLETE WORKS "serialized version" -- which one is the "right answer" for you? *"OTOMO THE COMPLETE WORKS" Volume 15.

1984―1985年、30―31歳の頃の大友克洋が制作し、月2回刊時のヤングマガジンに連載していた『AKIRA』の第43～57回(ヤンマガKC版3巻のp168から4巻のp147まで)を発表時のままの形で収録した、大友全集版『AKIRA』の第4集(全8巻)。今巻も1～3巻の収録仕様を継承し、扉絵を含めた全てを出来うる限り連載時の状態に戻した「連載バージョン」にて刊行(※全集版『AKIRA』の企画意図や編集方針の詳細については『大友克洋全集No.12 AKIRA 1』の内容紹介文を参照)。今巻の目玉は何といっても、漫画界を震撼させた作品中盤のクライマックス「ネオ東京崩壊」を“連載時の状態”で読めること。実はヤンマガKC版のネオ東京崩壊シーンは単行本化の際に構成し直されており、連載時ページの削除、描き下ろしページの追加、ページの前後入れ替えなどで、連載版とまったく違った編集になっていることは、マニアの間では知られていた。1995年刊行の扉絵集『AKIRA CLUB』の巻末には、そのバージョン違いを比較解説するページが収録されていたが、約30ページにわたる崩壊シーンが縮小され1ページ内に並べられたものだったため、構成の違いは理解できるものの臨場感を体験できるものではなかった。今回、その“オリジナル版「ネオ東京崩壊」”が遂にヴェールを脱ぐ。そして、もちろん連載時のまま「ネオ東京崩壊」シーンを読める単行本は本書が初! 大友氏自身が「単行本用に再編集してみたが、どの構成が正解か未だにわからない」とコメントするほど悩み抜いて構成した、あの漫画史上に残る衝撃的カタストロフシーンの原点を、ぜひ連載時のまま体験してもらいたい。ヤンマガKCの“単行本版”と大友全集の“連載版”、あなたにとっての「正解」はどっち!? ※「OTOMO THE COMPLETE WORKS」第15巻