I personally enjoy Ito more for the psychological elements, and although I certainly appreciate the art in and of itself, that wasn’t my main draw so I might not be the best person to make recommendations.
That said, Akira’s original manga form really is just as seminal to that medium as it’s anime counterpart was. I think the storytelling is a bit dated, but the illustration is phenomenal. Since you’re sailing the seas anyways, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to take a quick peek at the art to see if it appeals to you.