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.