“Appare Sorano's dreams are big—bigger than his village, bigger than the sea, bigger than the Earth itself. So when fate sweeps him away to Los Angeles without a penny to his name, Appare sees not catastrophe but an opportunity. Likewise, when he hears talk of the $1.51 million prize for the Trans-America Wild Race—a transcontinental trek through the American frontier—he jumps right into the thick of it, dragging a prideful samurai along for the ride. After all, how else is he supposed to get enough funding to fly himself to the moon?!” (Yen Press)
Collecting the entire manga run of three volumes, the “Appare-Ranman!” omnibus is a perfectly bundled collection due to its lighthearted and straightforward premise. Following the exploits of a young Japanese inventor/engineer competing in an American race across the country, the story compacts a relatively large-scale event while keeping the story engaging. Moreover, its somewhat classic aesthetic and character design oozes nostalgia despite the 2021 original release. Yet, the series is a mixed bag regarding execution, where strengths for some will be deterrents for others.
The characters are wonderfully expressive and over-the-top in a classic cartoonish way, setting up a more mature, Japanese version of “Wacky Races.” However, this also brings the negative of relying on overly simplistic stereotypes in the place of actual character development. Those in particular who dislike stereotyping in entertainment will find some of the characters challenging.
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Otherwise, the characters should appeal to those seeking nostalgia when manga/cartoons were heavily defined by exaggerating character traits to make outlandish personas. The designs have a degree of modernization that not every eccentric personality will come across as anachronistic. Thankfully, the central character of Appare shucks these elements and comes across as a sincerely developed character–an eccentric creator with big dreams.
The book's length, or lack thereof, is also a potential for splitting opinions. The briefness makes it a friendly, relaxed, and quickly consumed read, yet the actual action and idea of delivering on this grandiose race among characters feels oddly rushed and lacking action. In addition, beyond Appare and his crew, the other competitors are fascinating only in appearance as they lack any meaningful origins or motivations beyond surface-level observations. One can still enjoy “Appare-Ranman,” but everyone who checks out the omnibus will feel the potential of what could have been.
Visually, the book is beautifully presented, and Antonsiku's artistic style is a perfect fit for an action/adventure tale of this ilk. Everything from the backdrops, vehicles, and character designs feels crafted with an appreciation for the source material—notably, Antonsiku's ability to bring the various racers to life and capture these boisterous personas. However, the limitations also creep into the art, presenting misguided stereotypes and lack of the action-heavy content readers would want when considering the focus is meant to be on a high-octane race across the USA.
Adapted from a single series anime of the same name from PA Works, “Appare-Ranman!” expands on the source material and adds a few extra plot points. These additions are compliments and not distractions, adding to the appeal of the existing fandom. Alternatively, as the anime reception was only moderately positive, readers can revisit the series in another medium that may leave a more favorable impression. Ultimately, the manga can be enjoyed with or without familiarity with the one-season anime.
While “Appare-Ranman!” does have issues, those who overlook the rushed narrative and the (potentially) overly cartoonish stereotypes, the manga has its charms–as simplistic as they might be. The omnibus makes for an ideal light-read, perfect for the summer, and should entertain the majority of manga fans. Just curb expectations, and you will likely have a blast!
