Akira is a classic.
I can only imagine how revolutionary it was for its time.
My biggest complains I have with the manga are that while it may had been breathtaking with its storytellling and characters on the 80/90's, and I did enjoyed the characters and apocalyptic scenario, both these just dont felt that amazing anymore in the current days.
The theme of Akira's was well explored, the whole death/life sci fi stuff was awesome, but the characters... with time I came to enjoy them more, but if I had to point Akira's main weakness, it would be those.
I can connect with Kaneda and the others, even Tetsuo (later on), but overall they werent that appealing.
And again, the story had some very interesting plotwists and events, but it also had some more boring arcs, so expect it, but it is interesting, and when it goes out of proportions, IT BLOWS IT SKY HIGH!

The best damm thing about Akira is the art! For its time, it is outstading, detailed, massive, clean, sharp and the action scenes are quite great.
I cant praise the manga enough in this category, it is that artisticly good.
From the gore, the pumping detailed action(great set pieces of action, some very massive and epic in scale, at least for its time), to the beautiful landscapes, ugly decaying city, full of dirt, rubble and dust...
Otomo Katsuhiro's hands are godlike with pencil, the guy is that good.
Still at this day and age, the art is just stunning beautifull, it still feels classic, but has that charm and detail to it.
I would reccomend reading the Epic version, which comes in full colours, 37 chapters, 70 pages per chapter, FULL COLOUR!
Its quality is quite good.
There will be some that will prefer to go with the classic black and white, for those... I do understand, but just think of the colour has some great extra, that you will enjoy to check out, after you have readed with original.
Seeing it drawned with the rich pallete of colours epic used, it feels like you are watching an artbook.

The manga itself (it or without colours, is already) a giant artbook! Add it
a solid and mature plot, interesting character development, amazing action scenes, and a great setting.
The Sci Fi aspect is great, I was pleasently surprised with all the phylosophy and other themes that the mangaka was bold to keep and keep exploring, again, and again, while keeping it real and interesting.

When you hear people talking about the classic manga Akira, all the praise, fear not, it is really a masterpiece that aged very well with the times.