"Akira (アキラ)", Original Japanese Promo Poster 1990, Epic Comics × Kodansha / Marvel Release, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N160 A

AKIRA Epic Comics × Kodansha / Marvel Promotional Poster, 1990
Original B2 Poster | 51 × 73 cm | Offset Lithograph | Printed in 1990

NOT FOR SALE ITEM | Epic Comics / Marvel × Kodansha Promotional Release

This is an ultra-rare, original B2-size promotional poster for Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo, published in 1990 by Epic Comics in collaboration with Marvel and Kodansha.

Created to promote the groundbreaking English-language color edition of Akira, it was distributed as a shop-display item and never made available for commercial sale, making it one of the hardest-to-find crossover Akira posters today. 

The Epic/Marvel edition of Akira marked a historic milestone: it was the first time a Japanese manga had been translated and published in full color for Western audiences. Adapted by Jo Duffy and colored by Steve Oliff under Otomo’s direct supervision, this series introduced Akira to an entirely new readership, cementing its influence on global comics and anime culture.

Poster Design
The composition features Kaneda confronting the containment chamber of Akira, bathed in the eerie glow of the underground facility. The monumental AKIRA wordmark dominates the layout, with inset portrait panels of key characters integrated into the typography. To the right, a block of text titled “What Has Gone Before” summarizes the post–World War III setting of Neo-Tokyo, Kaneda and Tetsuo’s fateful encounter, and the rise of rebellion against the military state. The result is a powerful blend of Otomo’s stark imagery and bold Western graphic design, unique to this promotional campaign.

Condition & Details
The poster is in excellent condition for its age, please see the provided images of the exact item for sale).
Size: B2 (approx. 51 × 73 cm)
Print Date: 1990
Publisher: Epic Comics × Marvel / Kodansha
Purpose: Promotional shop-display poster (非売品 – not for sale)

Rarity & Significance
This is one of the only Akira posters produced specifically for the Epic Comics × Marvel collaboration, a pivotal project that opened the door for manga in the West. Distributed in extremely limited numbers to comic shops and bookstores, most surviving examples were discarded after use, making this poster exceptionally scarce today.

Please refer to the detailed images provided — this is the exact poster for sale.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.