If you enjoy reading books by Katsuhiro Otomo then you might also like the following authors:
Masamune Shirow creates manga with detailed art, futuristic worlds, and thought-provoking stories. He often explores themes like technology's impact on society and the blurred lines between humans and machines.
His book Ghost in the Shell is a classic example, focusing on cybernetics, identity, and the nature of consciousness, making it a great read for anyone who enjoys Otomo's style.
Yukito Kishiro writes manga with dynamic action scenes and deep storylines set in gritty, futuristic settings.
In his popular manga Battle Angel Alita, Kishiro combines intense cyberpunk action with a thoughtful exploration of identity and humanity, similar to Otomo's engaging futuristic storytelling in Akira.
Tsutomu Nihei offers readers a unique blend of science fiction, horror, and complex architectural environments in his manga. His world-building often feels expansive and dark, illustrated with stark, atmospheric visuals.
Fans of Katsuhiro Otomo may appreciate Nihei's work Blame!, a journey through a dystopian mega-city filled with suspenseful encounters, intriguing mysteries, and haunting imagery.
Hayao Miyazaki is best known for crafting visually stunning, emotionally rich stories with memorable characters. Though his work tends to have a gentler tone than Otomo's, Miyazaki similarly examines complex themes like technology, war, and human nature.
His manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind mixes adventure, environmental concerns, and philosophical questions, making it appealing to Otomo fans looking for stories with depth and meaning.
Satoshi Kon is known for creating mind-bending manga that blur the edges between dreams, reality, and memory, often resulting in psychological twists and complex storytelling.
Fans of Otomo's intricate, engaging narrative style may enjoy Kon's manga Opus, a story about a manga artist pulled into his own creation.
Naoki Urasawa creates intricate, suspenseful stories that explore deep aspects of human nature. His manga often blends mystery, psychology, and realism, drawing readers into emotionally powerful narratives.
In Monster, Urasawa explores morality, identity, and the nature of evil through characters whose depth and struggles stay with you long after reading.
Moebius, the artistic name of Jean Giraud, offers complex visual worlds filled with dream-like imagery and detailed storytelling. His style mixes science fiction, fantasy, and surrealism, transporting readers into vividly imagined realms.
A prime example is The Incal, where Moebius' mesmerizing visuals combine with philosophical themes to create a classic graphic story.
Geof Darrow crafts comics full of highly detailed, busy panels that draw you into elaborate alternate realities. His hyper-detailed style offers readers both humor and violence, often set against dystopian or futuristic scenes.
In Hard Boiled, Darrow teams up with writer Frank Miller to present a strikingly violent and visually dense cyberpunk narrative that pushes visual storytelling to extremes.
Frank Miller is known for gritty storytelling and bold, high-contrast visuals. His work often explores themes like corruption, power struggles, and moral ambiguity.
A good example is Sin City, a noir-soaked series filled with gritty characters, stark black-and-white artwork, and moral complexity.
Taiyo Matsumoto's books have a distinctive style featuring loose, expressive artwork and heartfelt, character-focused stories. His narratives frequently center on themes such as friendship, coming of age, and the challenges of youth.
Tekkonkinkreet beautifully encapsulates Matsumoto's style, blending vibrant urban landscapes, emotional depth, and an imaginative touch of surrealism.
Jiro Taniguchi creates manga with thoughtful storytelling and beautifully detailed artwork. Like Katsuhiro Otomo, he pays close attention to the urban setting and people's lives amidst modern challenges.
His graphic novel, The Walking Man, is a quiet reflection on daily life observed through simple walks, offering a gentle yet insightful view into ordinary moments.
Inio Asano is known for honest storytelling, complex characters, and sharp observations about modern youth.
His style blends realism with surreal elements, showing the alienation and emotional confusion faced by contemporary people—something fans of Otomo's introspective characters will appreciate.
Goodnight Punpun stands out as an emotionally intense work about growing up and dealing with life's uncertainties.
Shintaro Kago creates manga that is provocative, darkly humorous, and experimental. He uses grotesque imagery and shocking scenarios to explore societal norms and human psychology.
Readers who admire Otomo's boundary-pushing stories might appreciate Kago's willingness to confront disturbing content. His work Fraction combines bizarre storylines with imaginative visuals, offering a distinctive reading experience.
Osamu Tezuka, known as the "God of Manga," set the foundation for modern manga storytelling. His creative vision covers a wide range of themes, including humanity, technology, morality, and existential questions—similar themes that attracted fans to Otomo's Akira.
Tezuka's influential series Astro Boy blends accessible storytelling, striking visuals, and thoughtful social commentary on what it means to be human in a technological society.
Shotaro Ishinomori is one of manga's pioneers, known for dramatic storytelling and action-driven narratives that grapple with technology and humanity. His style captures dynamic movement and emotion with clarity and impact.
Fans of the futuristic themes in Otomo's works would likely appreciate Ishinomori's classic series Cyborg 009, where he explores themes of identity, war, and technology with fast-paced storytelling and striking visuals.