Rating: 
Summary: Shirow fans should snatch this up, but for the rest of us...
Review: "Apple Seed" is the Sci-Fi/Mecha work by popular manga artist Masumune Shirow. This tale of Mechas, government secrets, and a very tough heroine was also made into a anime of the same name. "Apple Seed" is, at times, deemed Shirow's greatest work, a triumph.Art-wise, things are a mixed bag. While I was not particular blown away, the art is not difficult to view. Duenan looks just to cool with her body armor on, and Briareos is...interesting. However, while many of the mecha designs were good, many of the character designs were pretty lame, and lacked any kind of originality. Also lacking are the battles. Some deem the battles "cool", I beg to differ. Many of the battles should be appriotely labeled "overblown". The mech flew back back and forth, a couple of explosions, followed by several injuries and apparent deaths. The series of panels holding the images were laid out in a way that was, in my opinion, utterly confusing. It looked as if the images had been swiched up side down, causing bewilderment. The plot is overly complex. Text and battles are unevenly distributed between the pages.for example, think about no text for four pages, then tons of text, trying to depict the story, and mostly failing. There was so much text in some of the panels that I found it difficult to correctly read the text, and I never fully understood the plot. The main character, Duenan, also has a drab, typical personalitie that I've noticed in his other works. Duenan is brave, strong, shoots before she asked questions, but is not entirely the most reliable. Sound familiar? Why, then, do I award "Appleseed" three stars? Would two or one stars be more like it? To its credit, "Appleseed"'s artwork is certainly a step above the first volume of "Appleseed", marked with a signifigant amount of increased detail. Also, this is a must for Shirow fans. While it would skreching it a bit to call it epic, the book is pretty long, providing countless hours of enjoyment for those who enjoy Shirows work. Those who are looking for a manga with better artwork and easy to follow plot are better off reading something else.
Rating:
Summary: Shirow fans should snatch this up, but for the rest of us...
Review: "Apple Seed" is the Sci-Fi/Mecha work by popular manga artist Masumune Shirow. This tale of Mechas, government secrets, and a very tough heroine was also made into a anime of the same name. "Apple Seed" is, at times, deemed Shirow's greatest work, a triumph. Art-wise, things are a mixed bag. While I was not particular blown away, the art is not difficult to view. Duenan looks just to cool with her body armor on, and Briareos is...interesting. However, while many of the mecha designs were good, many of the character designs were pretty lame, and lacked any kind of originality. Also lacking are the battles. Some deem the battles "cool", I beg to differ. Many of the battles should be appriotely labeled "overblown". The mech flew back back and forth, a couple of explosions, followed by several injuries and apparent deaths. The series of panels holding the images were laid out in a way that was, in my opinion, utterly confusing. It looked as if the images had been swiched up side down, causing bewilderment. The plot is overly complex. Text and battles are unevenly distributed between the pages.for example, think about no text for four pages, then tons of text, trying to depict the story, and mostly failing. There was so much text in some of the panels that I found it difficult to correctly read the text, and I never fully understood the plot. The main character, Duenan, also has a drab, typical personalitie that I've noticed in his other works. Duenan is brave, strong, shoots before she asked questions, but is not entirely the most reliable. Sound familiar? Why, then, do I award "Appleseed" three stars? Would two or one stars be more like it? To its credit, "Appleseed"'s artwork is certainly a step above the first volume of "Appleseed", marked with a signifigant amount of increased detail. Also, this is a must for Shirow fans. While it would skreching it a bit to call it epic, the book is pretty long, providing countless hours of enjoyment for those who enjoy Shirows work. Those who are looking for a manga with better artwork and easy to follow plot are better off reading something else.
Rating: 
Summary: Can it get any more confusing?
Review: Deunan Knute and Briareos find themselves in a war between the many political factions of Olympus. The artwork, like the plot, can become very confusing, as battle after battle is fought in the streets. Just how MANY sides are fighting each other is hard to tell, as we have humans, bioroids and even machines. Who will win the city becomes a side-issue, as all the factions end up just trying to survive and keep the city in one piece.
And this is only volume number two!
Rating:
Summary: Can it get any more confusing?
Review: Deunan Knute and Briareos find themselves in a war between the many political factions of Olympus. The artwork, like the plot, can become very confusing, as battle after battle is fought in the streets. Just how MANY sides are fighting each other is hard to tell, as we have humans, bioroids and even machines. Who will win the city becomes a side-issue, as all the factions end up just trying to survive and keep the city in one piece.
And this is only volume number two!
Rating: 
Summary: Fast-Paced Sci-Fi Action!
Review: Easily the best of the Appleseed books, book 4 is an egde of your seat thrill ride that takes the Appleseed characters to their limits. The characters are stretched beyond their limits with more detective work and a complex mystery that comes to a spectacular conclusion. The fight scenes are amazing, and the whole book takes place in matter of a few hours which keeps it almost real-time and it never slows down. This is my favorite Masamune Shirow work. Highest reccomendations.
Rating:
Summary: More - just squish me with more of this stuff!!!!!!
Review: Here is volume three of Shirows "life's work". Our heroes must continue to fight against biological enemies and find their place in Olympus. Peace is not easy to achieve amd more gruelingly difficult to maintain when the outside world sees paradise as a threat to humanity, and the real humans of the city aren't always happy. "We are like birds that live in cages".
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: I love this book and the rest of the series. It is actionpacked but not like a [poor] Rocky or some other movie with noplot. This has all the quallitys for a great book. The drawings are great the plot is good, thats all you need and the charecters are fantastic. I recomend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Science a-la-mode
Review: In America the general public is subjugated to an industries whims and woes. In the case of the comics scene here, we chose between syuper-hero and non super-hero comics. Some are good, some excellent, but most are just packages of neat art with very little substance to hold a mature interest. That is the life of a comics collector in America. However, there comes once in a great while a company like Studio Proteus whom decide to give consumers, not just an alternative, but an eye opening experience. Such is the case with this manga by Masamune Shirow whom could very well be the greatest comics creator of the twentieth century. I'm not throwing gas or anything, I'm rather serious about it! I've read Chris Claremont, Jim Lee, Mark Silvestri, Tom McFarlane and this guy whom is rather obscure publicly even in Japan (Not on the Japanese comic market-he is just busy as Todd Mcfarlane and there is much demand for his work there), I've seen the art work of the American artists and it is great. Unfortunately, they work in a market that refuses to give credit to its clientel. That's right! You the readership!! Listen this book is volume four in Shirows "life's work" sereal comic and is the best so far from the Appleseed series. The Art has made quantum-century leaps from the time of Black Magic and Appleseed book one. Shirow gives explanations on the side whenever he feel its necessary, bu the real treat in this comic isn't that there are is great character development, lots of action, but there is an actual superstrucyture. Superstructure is the underlying theme of the book which it touches every now and then but does not directly give it away like the American comics whom just spoon feed readers the answers. The best recommendation that I can give is that if you love Sanbdman Mystery Theater (Who doesn't?), this book is right up your alley. A true master of the medium. Shirow will flip your world up side down and you night never buy American comics again, unless, like Darkminds, they have a manga theme. Good bye and please buy the book! You don't know what you're missing. The art, the action, the masterful pacing! Tres magnifique!!!
Rating:
Summary: you must buy anything by Masamune Shirow
Review: Masamune Shirow is definitely one of my favorite manga authors...there is not a single work by him that does not show thought and planning. His storytelling is excellent, and his art is great too. He can be very precise with the artwork, and in the next panel drop in a little cartoony figure to break up the mood. You must buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: A great collection
Review: Masamune Shirow's works are THE standard by which all sci-fi/cyberpunk mangas are written, and Appleseed is no exception. This first book is filled with action, amazing technical designs, and great characters, all of which is rounded off by a nice dose of humour (which is sadly lacking from books three and four). A highly recommended purchase.
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