# Is "Akira (English collected, Epic Comics)" by Katsuhiro Otomo a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Akira (English collected, Epic Comics) by Katsuhiro Otomo (Marvel/Epic Comics, 1988 (US color) / 1984 (Japan tankobon)) is identified by: US first English edition: the Epic Comics colorized floppy series, Akira #1 cover-dated August 1988, colored by Steve Oliff (an early showcase of computer coloring). The Japanese Kodansha tankobon (volume one, 1984) is the original-language collected true first, drawn from serialization that began in 1982.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- US first English edition: the Epic Comics colorized floppy series, Akira #1 cover-dated August 1988, colored by Steve Oliff (an early showcase of computer coloring)
- First prints carry the 1988 Epic indicia and no later-printing line
- Japanese original: serialized in Kodansha's Young Magazine from December 1982, then collected in six tankobon volumes beginning with volume one in September 1984, printed in black and white and read right to left
- Correct publisher/imprint: Marvel/Epic Comics

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Katsuhiro Otomo |
| Publisher | Marvel/Epic Comics |
| Year | 1988 (US color) / 1984 (Japan tankobon) |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Comic / graphic novel |
| Key point | US first English edition: the Epic Comics colorized floppy series, Akira #1 cover-dated August 1988, colored by Steve Oliff (an early… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
US first English edition: the Epic Comics colorized floppy series, Akira #1 cover-dated August 1988, colored by Steve Oliff (an early showcase of computer coloring). First prints carry the 1988 Epic indicia and no later-printing line. Japanese original: serialized in Kodansha's Young Magazine from December 1982, then collected in six tankobon volumes beginning with volume one in September 1984, printed in black and white and read right to left.

## Is this the true first?
The Japanese Kodansha tankobon (volume one, 1984) is the original-language collected true first, drawn from serialization that began in 1982. The Epic Comics colorized US series (1988) is the first English-language edition. The later Dark Horse black-and-white collected volumes of the 2000s are a separate English first-thus. Three precedence layers: Kodansha, Epic, Dark Horse.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. Distinguish Kodansha (Japanese, black and white, 1984 tankobon) from Epic (US, color, 1988) from Dark Horse (US, black and white, 2000s). Verify imprint, language, and color.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Akira (English collected, Epic Comics)* by Katsuhiro Otomo a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/akira-english-collected-epic-comics
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.