Dragon Ball Highly recommended

Publisher
Viz
Writer
Akira Toriyama
Artist
Akira Toriyama
Country of origin
Japan
Year
1984

Dragon Ball

By KRis
24th May 04

Dragon Ball Manga is the only Manga I own. And I probably won't get anymore. One reason I am too lazy to read, so I watch anime. Now here is the weird thing, I prefer subtitles over dubbed. So really, I am still reading. But there are some benefits to Manga. One is that they are the true work of the artist in it's unedited and hand drawn glory. Two is that it has more content then an anime show would since a show would have to fit a certain time period. But you end up paying more for Manga in some cases. So it's a win win situation. I would only buy Manga if I was so obsessed with a series that I would have to see everything. I don't feel that way about Dragon Ball too much, but..... oh fuck, lets just get on to the review.

Dragon Ball is the first chapter of Akira Toriyama's ever popular series. Dragon Ball came after Docter Slump and was an instant success. Originally, Dragon Ball was published in a Japanese magazine called Japan Jump, and week after week, Toriyama submitted his Manga. Dragon Ball goes on for quite a while before ending. I have seen most of the animated Dragon Ball but the Manga is in many ways better. Sadly, I watched Dragon Ball in crappy dubbed version, still ok, but didn't compare to what the Manga had to offer. I can't say I have read the WHOLE series, but I have read enough to know what Toriyama's work is really like. Dragon Ball is in my opinion, the best chapter to the Dragon Ball universe. It has way more comedy. DBZ and GT lack that. Also, the fighting style is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better, they actually fight. DBZ is all about who has the biggest and most powerful beam, re-used cels appear in every fight. What's with the stupid punching thing where they take shots at each other, none of them managing to ever hit? Although you would have to see the show to see the Dragon Ball fighting style in action, but you will get the impression just reading the Manga.

I'm not going to write about the storyline because I will write a Dragon Ball anime review as soon as fucking Funimation releases it in English, and it will have more info. It's worth the wait though, go buy some DB Manga right now. It's funny, action pack, perverted, you name it and it's there. Watch out for my Dragon Ball anime review coming soon, to the Boredom near you.

8/10

-- KRis 24th May 04