Are we finally going to get that long-awaited live-action adaptation? Rumors have been swirling for years that Hollywood was looking to channel its inner anime. Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company bought the film and television rights back in 2021, and he reportedly paired with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring the famed anime to life. However, the Akira talk died down, and it seemed the project was in development hell.
The latest news is that Taika Waititi is back in talks to spearhead the adaptation, which is likely to draw criticism from longtime Akira fans. Although Waititi is an Oscar-nominated director who took pop culture by storm with Thor: Ragnarök, Jo Jo Rabbit, and What We Do in the Shadows, Thor: Love and Thunder’s failings gave his reputation a black eye. It led to many Marvel fans calling for his expulsion from the MCU, something that felt a bit premature.
What will come of Akira is anyone’s guess at this point, but it seems like DiCaprio is intent on bringing the project to movie screens. That will have ripple effects across the market, and it just so happens that prices are down for some key issues.
AKIRA #1
This has long been a coveted issue. Published in conjunction with the movie’s release, Akira #1 has fetched triple digits for several years. When DiCaprio acquired the film rights, the graded 9.8 hit record highs and averaged over $900. After the movie chatter quieted, those prices deflated, and last year saw that fair market value dip to just shy of $600.
As of late, prices have continued to fall, but that makes for investment opportunities. For the past 90 days, the average has rested at $482, though the most recent sale was for $526 on April 13.
If you are looking for something a bit more reasonable and not attached to having a pristine 9.8, prices fall dramatically beginning with the 9.6. For all intents and purposes, there are no obvious differences between the two grades, but the latter sells for closer to $150. In fact, you can downgrade slightly to the 9.2 and keep your investment to around $50.
AKIRA #1 SECOND PRINT
Once upon a time, second prints were widely ignored in favor of the all-important first print run. These days, collectors adore these because they generally are harder to find given that there were fewer copies printed.
In the case of Akira #1, the second print has become the more valuable of the two as of late. Back in 2021, its prices rivaled those of the first print. So far this year, only one 9.8 has traded hands online to the tune of $750 in February.
AKIRA #38
The final issue in the series is highly sought after, and it is not easy to find. Akira #38 is relatively scarce due to a low print run, which naturally drives up prices. Throughout all of last year, there were only four graded 9.8s that were bought and sold online for an average sale price of $1,122. The last time one was purchased from an auction site, it went for $1,030 in November.
TET-SU-OOOOO!
If Waititi gets behind the camera for Akira, will he infuse it with the silly shenanigans that made him famous? For anime fans, 1988’s Akira helped change opinions on what animated movies could be. At the time, it was much more mature than the average American viewer was accustomed to seeing in a cartoon. In many ways, it ushered in the abundance of mature animated content we see today. Hopefully, any live-action adaptation will stay true to both the comics and the genre-defining film.
Given Akira’s genre-defining history, fans would revolt if Waititi traded the drama and gore of the original manga and the ‘88 film for campy slapstick fun. However, this could be the director’s opportunity to showcase his more dramatic prowess.
