DRAGONBALL Z (THREE IN ONE VOLUME 1)
November 11th 2009 22:36
Category: Graphic Novels/Comics
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Story & Art by: Akira Toriyama
English Adaptation: Gerard Jones
Translation: Lillian Olsen
Touch up art & Lettering: Wayne Truman
Shonen Jump Series Design: Sean Lee
VIZBIG Edition Design: Courtney Utt
Using a bag full of superlatives that I have borrowed from various sporting commentators and the back of this particular manga this volume of the greatest fighting manga ever is chock full of rip roaring, high octane, jaw clenching and landscape altering biffo, in fact more biffo than could ever be found in any major contact sport be it NRL or Super 14s. Fighting is definitely the name of the game and with numerous champion martial artists who serve either good or evil it would be rather unusual for there not to be any significant combats occurring within the pages of this particular manga, fights are to be expected and the scale of such battles is in a nutshell breath taking, this is no mere ordinary punch on; this is full scale mega biff…
But apart from the fighting just what is taking place within the pages of this manga? Actually there is something of a story going on here that underlies the overall events which occur and give them significance and meaning. In the time line of the Dragonball universe this particular volume opens five years after the Tenka’ichi Budokai (Strongest Under the Heavens) fighting tournament which was detailed in the original Dragonball manga. Son Goku the protagonist of that series and this one was triumphant in the Tenka’ichi Budokai tournament, since then Goku has married and fathered a child, Son Gohan. All is well in the Dragonball universe and as old friends look to catch up at the house of the master martial artist, Kame-senin (Turtle Hermit) things look like settling into an atmosphere of chill out relaxation. Unfortunately for all concerned such is not to be the case.
A mysterious stranger arrives on the planet from the depths of space, a stranger who calls himself Raditz and is a member of the Saiyan species. Now for those of you not in the know apparently the Saiyans are a species of ultimate warriors whose skill and expertise is feared throughout the known universe, even the gods themselves are a little bit scared of their power and prowess. It seems that the raison d’être of such beings is to go forth out into the various inhabited worlds of the universe and destroy the inhabitants that are currently living on such worlds. Once these worlds are cleared of indigenous life forms the Saiyans then sell these cleansed planets onto other species thus being able to indulge in their love of battle and carnage as well as interstellar real estate dealing. No doubt they feel it is very much a win win situation.
Raditz is here on earth after journeying through space to find his long lost younger brother who as a child was sent to Earth to clear out the place. Apparently it’s the custom of the Saiyans to send even their children out on their real estate rampages, usually the children are sent to the worlds that are home to relatively weak species as Saiyans rate them. Earth happened to be a world inhabited by a very weak species which is why Raditz’s young brother was sent there in the first place, the only problem was that things did not turn out to plan. Kakarrot, Raditz’s young brother, ended up living on this planet and becoming part of the local society and training to become a great martial artist, so great that he eventually ended up being the winner of the Tenka’ichi Budokai tournament. Yep that’s right Raditz’s young brother is in actual fact…cue dramatic music…Son Goku.
Naturally Son Goku has absolutely no recollection of this, but apparently when Raditz explains this to him his friends confirm that he is indeed telling the truth. In fact one could pretty much say that this particular volume is very much an origin story, one that has the protagonist finally learning the truth of himself as well as coming to be made aware of the consequences that his origins may have; not only for himself but for his child and the rest of the world as a whole – cue dramatic drum roll. It seems that the Saiyan homeworld has been destroyed in one of the catastrophic astronomical events; you know the kind of event that is speculated as having wiped out the dinosaurs except this was more catastrophic, the entire planet having been destroyed. Now there are only four Saiyans still living in the universe, Son Goku being the fourth remaining Saiyan. Raditz wants him to join him and the other two Saiyans; Vegeta and Nappa in wiping out a potent species that inhabit a world whose value is incalculable on the interstellar real estate market.
Hmmm join up with some guy who claims to be his brother and wipe out a hapless and potentially innocent alien species are just tell this guy to take a hike and possibly give him a good bit of biffo should he prove somewhat recalcitrant in leaving. It’s fairly obvious to see which course our protagonist takes, although it is one that is fraught with danger and inherent risk as Raditz is as strong as he claims to be and Goku is only able to take on this fearsome opponent with the aid of his former enemy; Piccolo. Still when the dust finally settles on a titanic battle the result is not quite what everyone was hoping for. Raditz is defeated but Goku is slain, whilst Piccolo is grievously wounded. And everyone knows now that the other two Saiyans are on their way to complete the job that should have been done by Kakarrot so many years ago. According to Raditz the other two Saiyans; Vegeta and Nappa are even stronger and more potent than him. Not exactly a cheerful resolution, but rather than letting themselves get depressed and giving into fear the survivors opt to gird their loins and prepare for the confrontation that will take place in twelve months time.
It’s all gripping stuff frankly; Akira Toriyama doesn’t waste anything in bringing his story to light, letting the action start pretty much from the get go. It literally is a roller coaster ride of a tale and I have to say once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. Four hundred and eighty one pages of nonstop action that even when you finally reach that last page you know it’s only a mere breather as this is the first volume. The Dragonball Z saga has only just started but you find yourself wanting more, no wonder it’s such a successful manga and anime series. I picked up this particular edition from the shelves of the local library but I’m sure you can probably get a hold of it at major comic stores; if martial arts and heroic drama are up your alley then this is the manga for you.
Story & Art by: Akira Toriyama
English Adaptation: Gerard Jones
Translation: Lillian Olsen
Touch up art & Lettering: Wayne Truman
Shonen Jump Series Design: Sean Lee
VIZBIG Edition Design: Courtney Utt
Using a bag full of superlatives that I have borrowed from various sporting commentators and the back of this particular manga this volume of the greatest fighting manga ever is chock full of rip roaring, high octane, jaw clenching and landscape altering biffo, in fact more biffo than could ever be found in any major contact sport be it NRL or Super 14s. Fighting is definitely the name of the game and with numerous champion martial artists who serve either good or evil it would be rather unusual for there not to be any significant combats occurring within the pages of this particular manga, fights are to be expected and the scale of such battles is in a nutshell breath taking, this is no mere ordinary punch on; this is full scale mega biff…
Raditz is here on earth after journeying through space to find his long lost younger brother who as a child was sent to Earth to clear out the place. Apparently it’s the custom of the Saiyans to send even their children out on their real estate rampages, usually the children are sent to the worlds that are home to relatively weak species as Saiyans rate them. Earth happened to be a world inhabited by a very weak species which is why Raditz’s young brother was sent there in the first place, the only problem was that things did not turn out to plan. Kakarrot, Raditz’s young brother, ended up living on this planet and becoming part of the local society and training to become a great martial artist, so great that he eventually ended up being the winner of the Tenka’ichi Budokai tournament. Yep that’s right Raditz’s young brother is in actual fact…cue dramatic music…Son Goku.
Naturally Son Goku has absolutely no recollection of this, but apparently when Raditz explains this to him his friends confirm that he is indeed telling the truth. In fact one could pretty much say that this particular volume is very much an origin story, one that has the protagonist finally learning the truth of himself as well as coming to be made aware of the consequences that his origins may have; not only for himself but for his child and the rest of the world as a whole – cue dramatic drum roll. It seems that the Saiyan homeworld has been destroyed in one of the catastrophic astronomical events; you know the kind of event that is speculated as having wiped out the dinosaurs except this was more catastrophic, the entire planet having been destroyed. Now there are only four Saiyans still living in the universe, Son Goku being the fourth remaining Saiyan. Raditz wants him to join him and the other two Saiyans; Vegeta and Nappa in wiping out a potent species that inhabit a world whose value is incalculable on the interstellar real estate market.
Hmmm join up with some guy who claims to be his brother and wipe out a hapless and potentially innocent alien species are just tell this guy to take a hike and possibly give him a good bit of biffo should he prove somewhat recalcitrant in leaving. It’s fairly obvious to see which course our protagonist takes, although it is one that is fraught with danger and inherent risk as Raditz is as strong as he claims to be and Goku is only able to take on this fearsome opponent with the aid of his former enemy; Piccolo. Still when the dust finally settles on a titanic battle the result is not quite what everyone was hoping for. Raditz is defeated but Goku is slain, whilst Piccolo is grievously wounded. And everyone knows now that the other two Saiyans are on their way to complete the job that should have been done by Kakarrot so many years ago. According to Raditz the other two Saiyans; Vegeta and Nappa are even stronger and more potent than him. Not exactly a cheerful resolution, but rather than letting themselves get depressed and giving into fear the survivors opt to gird their loins and prepare for the confrontation that will take place in twelve months time.
It’s all gripping stuff frankly; Akira Toriyama doesn’t waste anything in bringing his story to light, letting the action start pretty much from the get go. It literally is a roller coaster ride of a tale and I have to say once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. Four hundred and eighty one pages of nonstop action that even when you finally reach that last page you know it’s only a mere breather as this is the first volume. The Dragonball Z saga has only just started but you find yourself wanting more, no wonder it’s such a successful manga and anime series. I picked up this particular edition from the shelves of the local library but I’m sure you can probably get a hold of it at major comic stores; if martial arts and heroic drama are up your alley then this is the manga for you.
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