Appleseed: Databook

アップルシード [Appleseed]

by Masamune Shirow

Collected in this 128-page volume is the two-issue series Appleseed Databook, containing detailed descriptions of the people, places, machines, and organizations that populate this fascinating world, plus a previously unreleased twenty-five-page story featuring all of those people, places, machines, and organizations! Appleseed Databook is an absolute must for established fans of the Appleseed saga!

Genres: Manga, Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Cyberpunk, Comics Manga, Fiction

Paperback

Published September 28, 1995

About the author

Masamune Shirow is an internationally renowned manga

Masanori Ota, better known by his pen name Masamune Shirow (Japanese: 士郎正宗), is a Japanese manga artist renowned for his influential contributions to the cyberpunk genre. Born in Kobe in 1961, he studied oil painting at Osaka University of Arts, where he developed an interest in manga. His early work Black Magic led to the critically acclaimed Appleseed, which won the 1986 Seiun Award for Best Manga. Shirow achieved global recognition with Ghost in the Shell, a groundbreaking manga that inspired multiple anime films and series, a live-action Hollywood adaptation, and numerous video games. His stories are known for blending action with philosophical inquiries into AI, post-human existence, and the ethics of technology. He has collaborated with Production I.G on projects like Ghost Hound and Real Drive. Shirow’s distinctive style and thought-provoking narratives have left a lasting impact on manga, anime, and science fiction worldwide, influencing creators including the Wachowskis of The Matrix fame.

Reviews

[Coremi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un manga muy interesante, no hay que dejarse engañar por el trasfondo de acción pues tras esto se oculta una historia bien pensada: tiene mucho peso las reflexiones ético y sociales. Me agrada que el autor incluyera asuntos políticos, dando mayor peso a la historia. Sin embargo debo reconocer que los diálogos sobre armamento y tácticas me marearon un poco, además me habría gustado que se aclararan algunos puntos en relación a la creación de Olimpo, los bioroides, y el sistema GAIA. Pero según tengo entendido es un manga que Masamune sigue desarrollando. A pesar de estos detalles, sigue siendo una historia muy disfrutable, con un dibujo muy cuidado y detallista. Las reflexiones del autor en el número extra las aplaudí: van desde la responsabilidad de la sociedad para con el cuidado del medio ambiente, hasta el respeto entre personas y el desarrollo del pensamiento autocrítico (y todo esto en el año 1989), lástima que Japón no está cruzando la calle para poder ir a dialogar con Masamune. Lo recomiendo si gustan de robots, tramas futuristas y una protagonista de armas tomar.

[Eric Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the most part this book, while small, is a great resource to explain the gadgets and doohickeys of the Appleseed world, as well as artist ramblings. What is also cool is a short story that unlike the Hypernotes, isn't a half a story (as with Hypernotes) that doesn't leave you hanging just as it got good. I've had this years ago and unfortunately can't find it but after years of not having it the book is still one to recommend for the description of the overall "feel" for the outside world of Appleseed beyond Olympus.