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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: 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: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: One of Masamune Shirow's best works. If you like manga, you'll like this.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome to the golden cage...
Review: World War Three is over. Nuclear weapons were not used, but just about everything else was. Old nations have died out and new powers have replaced them. A nomad soldier, Deunan Knute, and her cyborg partner, Briareos, have been taken from the ruins, out of the wastes, to utopia. A utopia called Olympus, the central city of the new Earth.
Yet, even utopia has power struggles. Will mankind be changed and became something better IF nonhuman or embrace total peace at the cost of his spirit? Or will it all be destroyed again by uncontrolled emotions such as hate and greed?
Or will mankind be able to find a way, a path that combines it all? Shirow is the best artist to help us ask the question and maybe the only one who can help us answer it.
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