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AKIRA
BY KATSUHIRO O7-0iM0

STADIUM SHOW
WHAT HAS Most powerful of all the
GONE children is Number 282—
Akira—a docile and
BEFORE enigmatic boy who was
placed in a cryogenic sleep
forty years ago after he
030. The world hovers inadvertently started the Third
on the brink of World World War with a mental
War IV. Kaneda, one- blast. He was recently
time leader of a delinquent reawakened by the jealous
gang, is caught up in the and ambitious Tetsuo. Shortly
aftermath of a power struggle thereafter, he responded to
between a Japanese military emotional trauma by again
research organization—led by devastating the reconstructed
a man known only as the city of Neo-Tokyo, Japan now
Colonel—and a resistance exists in a state of emergency.
group whose members The forces of the army and
included Kay, Ryu, and a the resistance are scattered.
formidable woman named In the western part of
Chiyoko. Neo-Tokyo, the Great Tokyo
Under his control, the Empire is formed—a
Colonel had a number of monarchy with Akira on the
psychic children, each throne and Tetsuo as his
identified by a number prime minister. Together the
tattooed on the hand. Among pair use their powers, healing
them were Kiyoko and the sick, wielding control of
Masaru—Numbers 25 and the faithful, and organizing
27—and the blind Lady their subjects into fighting
Miyako—Number 19—was units to defend their land. To
‘once among their ranks but increase the Empire's power,
now heads a great religious Tetsuo uses drugs and
cult. Number 41 is Tetsuo, training to develop psychic
‘once Kaneda’s friend, but now abilities in some of their
his greatest enemy. Tetsuo subjects. Most faithful among
lost his left arm to a laser their numerous followers are
blast from the military Tetsuo's girlfriend, Kaori, and
satellite-weapon SOL, and has his dapper, ambitious
used cybemetics and tele- assistant. Their headquarters
Kinesis to fabricate for himself are Neo-Tokyo's Olympic
a prosthetic replacement. Stadium. To the East, Lady

The Colonel Lt Yamada

Miyako welcomes refugees, could become another Akira.
including Kay and Chiyoko, to However, military forces
her shrine. She is aided by outside Neo-Tokyo are trying
Kiyoko, Masaru and a number| to wrestle computer control of
of loyal, psychically gifted SOL from him.
monks. Aboard an American
The Empire is infiltrated by naval vessel, an international
teams of spies from the conclave of scientists is
outside world, but all of them studying the Akira phenome-
except Lieutenant Yamada— non — which they have
who takes temporary shelter codenamed Juvenile A. They
with Ryu—are killed, Ryu are aghast to learn that the
wants to join Yamada, world's armies have amassed
until he learns that the spy an Akira Assassination
plans to assassinate Akira, Corps, despite their recom-
even if it means taking mendations. They are even
innocent lives. After that he more upset by the knowledge
keeps an eye on Yamada, that the young, dedicated
trying to protect both the soldiers are sure to be
invader and the people of slaughtered by the inconceiva-
Neo-Tokyo. Yamada and his ble might of their enemy. One
men meet one of Tetsuo’s of the scientists — Stanley
trained psychics — the Simmons — leaves the ship
Hozuki man. To their dismay, without authorization, hoping
they find that he can with- desperately to implement a
stand gunfire... and kill secret plan. Meanwhile, Lady
without touching, Miyako, Masaru and ko
‘try to convince Kay to join
them in battle against Tetsu
because although Kay lacks
native psychic al she
@ powerful medium, through grossly mutated form. He runs
whom the others could project amok, killing any of his
their powers and strike as followers who come too close,
one. Lady Miyako explains until Kaori is able to calm
that Akira’s personality has him. After a brief encounter
been destroyed by his power, with the Colonel, Tetsuo
leaving him a passive vessel, again teleports to the ship,
and that when Tetsuo’s where Karma Tangi—a wise.
character is likewise eroded, and sensitive monk — warms
he too will be beyond control. him that his power has grown
Kay agrees, remembering that, beyond what his body can
‘on a whim, Tetsuo recently contain and that it is now
destroyed part of the moon trying to absorb its very
and set off geological surroundings.
cataclysms. A pitched battle between
Kaneda, who's teamed up Tetsuo and the Navy ensues.
with Kai and Joker — a The ship's Admiral — who
former rival from his gang witnessed Tetsuo's encounter
days—is outraged to learn of with Karma Tangi and the
the risk Kay is taking. He scientists — is the only
vows to kill Tetsuo himself fighting man capable of
rather than let her face such understanding their enemy's
danger. Then, at long last, he nature. Tetsuo seizes control
kisses Kay and promises her ‘of bombs and planes, using
that they'll spend the night his attacker's weapons against
together when they next meet. them,
Kaneda, Kai and Joker Kay, channeling the powers
formulate an attack strategy of Lady Miyako and the
involving most of their men, numbered children, attacks
as well as such state-of-the- Tetsuo, distracting him. Then,
art weapons as they've before he can kill her, she
salvaged, including laser rifles, teleports safely back to the
flying platforms, and one shrine. Tetsuo, collapses in
caretaker robot. Together, they pain, overcome by his power's
hunger.
Then, as Tetsuo's assistant
broods about the future and
expenditure of power, Tetsuo potential ruin of all his
begins to lase control, and his schemes, Akira awakes.
artificial arm assumes a

Akira
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