Japanese: アップルシ－ド
English: Appleseed
Type: Manga
Volumes: 4
Chapters: 25
Status: Completed
Published: Feb 15, 1985 to Mar 15, 1989
Genres: Sci-Fi
Mangaka: Shirow Masamune (Story & Art)
Serialization: Comic Gaia (Seishinsha)
Synopsis: It is the 22nd Century, the Third World War (2099-2126) has decimated a large part of Earth even though nuclear weapons have not been employed during the conflict. Old nations such as England, France and China have survived but have difficulty restoring their power. On the other hand, new nations and organizations such as the Sacred Republique of Mumna and the Poseidon Organization have been born on the ashes of the world resulting from the Third World War.
In this bleak future, we are introduced to ex-L.A. SWAT members Deunan Knute and Briareos Hecatonchires. Having survived the world conflict and living in a desolated city, they are found by a young woman called Hitomi who proposes them to follow her to the utopian city of Olympus which has become the world's most powerful organization and which registers the new relations in terms of politics, economics and military between new and old nations/organizations. In Olympus, they are integrated in the prestigious ESWAT (Extra Special Weapons And Tactics) organization, whose main mission is to protect Olympus from terrorist attacks and Olympus's interests in the world.
From here on, the two main protagonists encounter a great number of other characters and organizations who will be implicated in international plots that target Olympus.(MAL)
Baka updates: World War III is over, and nomad soldier Duenan Knute and her cyborg partner Briareos struggle to survive in the abandoned cities and demilitarized zones of the post-war wasteland, the "Badside." Matters appear on the upswing, however, when they are found and brought to Olympus, an urban utopia and centerpiece for the reconstruction of civilization. Duenan and Bri join the Olympus police, a force that seems hardly necessary in such a paradise. But, like in most pretty pictures, perfection is an illusion, and Olympus's peaceful facade hides a dark secret, a violent struggle between human and cyborg that could once again plunge the world into war... and genocide.
Background
Won the Seiun Award for Best Manga in 1986.
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| Cover of Appleseed Alpha, 2 volumes, Completed, No English translation. |
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| Appleseed XIII cover, 3 volumes, Completed, No English translation. |
Related Manga
Side story: Appleseed Hypernotes
Prequel: Appleseed XIII
Alternate story: Appleseed α
Adaptation: Appleseed
Groups Scanlating
MangaProject
The Furry Triangle
Licensed in English
Dark Horse (5 Volumes - Complete)
Source: MAL MAnga info, Baka updates
Side notes: Adding after a break.
Main characters
Deunan Knute (デュナン・ナッツ)
As an ESWAT member, Deunan is a specialist in weapons handling, explosive devices manipulations, hand-to-hand combat, and an excellent Landmate pilot. According the Appleseed Databook, she is trained to be ambidextrous. In the original manga, Briareos (her lover and partner) was a cyborg before Deunan arrived at Olympus, and she managed to lose an eye in Volume 4, due to a training accident. In the 2004 movie, it is shown that Briareos becomes a cyborg only after he leaves on a mission and is presumed (by Deunan) to be missing.
The following data is from the 2004 Movie adaptation.
The daughter of Carl and Dr. Gilliam Knute, Deunan, who is considered a highly skilled warrior, has spent almost her entire life fighting a war that has been, for the most part, over. It isn't until she is captured by an ES.W.A.T. (Especial Weapons And Tactics) team in the middle of a ruined city that she is finally evacuated from the Badlands. She also reunites with her former lover Briareos who is a part of the team sent to recover her. He is now a cyborg, having lost over 75% of his natural body to injuries. She also befriends a girl called Hitomi.
The day after she wis brought to the city of Olympus, Deunan learns that over half of the population of the city is composed of artificial humans called Bioroids. She also found out that her new friend, Hitomi, is one herself. Deunan soon becomes embroiled in the fight between a faction of humans and Olympus as some humans strive to wipe out the Biodriods completely. When she's sent on a mission to retrieve the Appleseed, she learns of her past and also of a greater conspiracy.
Briareos (ブリアレオス)
Briareos is a prime example of the technology of cybernetic implants in Appleseed. Although his body is almost completely artificial, he suffers little loss in humanity. His outer skin is elastic, capable of feeling sensation, and the temperature can be adjusted to the cyborg's preferences. He has eight eyes mounted on his head, four in his face (The large sensor in the middle is actually his nose) two at the bases of his "rabbit ear" sensors, and two at the tips, which allow him to safely look around corners. His brain is augmented by an auxiliary brain that acts as an information processor, and is capable of handling information in a conceptual format rather than hard numerical data. His cybernetics controller, the Hecatonchires system, is named after the same 100 handed giants from Greek mythology. It is capable of controlling dozens of limbs or other cyborg bodies independently from one another, with no additional strain on the user. In the manga, it is pointed out that a cyborg equipped with the Hecatonchires system is able to fully control an entire aircraft carrier on his own. This ability to process multiple limbs at once is seen in the film when he is seen using one rifle in his Landmate's arms, and another in the control arms.
Note: Briareos is the only known cyborg who has successfully integrated with the Hecatonchires system, all other test subjects could not handle it and died. This is shown in the latest Appleseed movie.
Source: MAL
Appleseed Alpha
Anime movie trailers
Appleseed Movie (2004)
English Dub
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