Customer Reviews

Dragonball (Volume 1)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I live in Indonesia, where Dragon Ball is the most popular saga among kids. But I give five stars for this book is also because I think the Dragon Ball series is a lot funnier than the Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball GT. While DBZ and DBGT give you plenty of space adventures, world-destroying aliens and extreme battles between super beings ( who have similar powers ), DB takes us down to( Akira Toriyama's )earth where a shapeshifting pig, a floating cat and a boy riding a cloud are everyday sights. On the graphic side, I think DB is better as well. If you like the tiny, silly details Mr. Toriyama put on his other book Dr.Slump, you will find this book as lovable. I can't wait for volumes 2 - 14 to be released. I have the complete volumes 1- 42, but they are censored and poorly translated here in Indonesia.

This is the best version of Dragon Ball involved in English. Even though it's censorsed, it's only a 1/100 as much as the television show is. The parts that are censored only one part is really messed up is that they took out some of the scenes from the No Balls part of it. The nudity which was edited out was cleverly taken out but bubbles and exclamination. But if you like Dragonball, and want a close to perfect version this is it to get.

I would like to start off by saying that if you have ever heard of Dragonball or Dragonball Z, I want you to buy this book. A great read for all ages, Toryama's drawing style is great, and there is no shortage of laughs in the 184 pages. I was hooked at the first page, and have read the book about 3 times. The story chronicles the adventures of an amazingly strong boy named Goku, and a boy-crazy teenage girl called Bulma, who travel around the world in search of the 7 Dragonballs which, when found, grant the user any one wish. Once again, a must-read, for just about anyone.

Let me start by saying that I don't care that much that it's censored. Why? Because I've had to put up with all this pitiful and obnoxious American DBZ censoring--almost seeing Bulma naked is a welcome change. As for the book itself, it's top-notch, especially as translated manga goes; the dialogue is great, and the translators didn't seem to miss a beat when they tried to capture the feel of the original. The story starts very fast, and you're immediatly carried along for the ride; thrust into a quest for the Dragon Balls, with a moody, hot 16 year old girl, a shapeshifting pig who collects panties, a dashing highwayman, a monkey-tailed 14 year old kid with excellant Marshal Arts kills, and minions of other unique characters await, in this volume and beyond; you can see how the entire Dragon Ball saga managed to last so long (though I don't consider 75 episodes of fighting Cell counting as keeping the series "fresh"). The art, of course, is by Akira Toriyama, so you're in for a treat. Now, some people might not like this manga because it's laden with sick humor, usually involving panties; sophmoric, if you will, but, hey, I'm not even a freshman yet. Overall, it's just a well rounded beginning to an enjoyable narrtive. Trust me, after you start, you'll want to own all 42 volumes....

This is a great book. However, it's censored a little, which can be a bad thing at some times. Its censorship doesn't completely take away from the overall story, though. In fact it is censored very little. There's nothing wrong with it. In fact, if you've seen the videos of the original Dragon Ball, this is much better in that it isn't censored even half as much, as the videos were heavily edited. This is a great book, and a must-have for Dragon Ball or DBZ fans.

Dragonball kicked off the phonemon known as Dragon Ball Z. This is the first Vol. in the series and includes tales 1-11. You'll be surprised that Pilaf isn't included in this novel, it wasn't included till the second novel in the manga. This novel includes Bulma and Goku, oolong, puar, yamcha, turtle and the turtle hermit. The oxking and Chichi are seen at the end. You'll see the meeting of Bulma and Goku, Yamcha and Goku kicking each other's butt, Oolong in all of his shapshifting cowardness, and the mean old Oxking and that hick of a daughter, Chi-Chi.

Dragonball tells the story of Son Goku, a boy skilled in the art of Kung-fu, and Bulma, a girl from the city. Together they go on the search for the 7 dragonballs, which when united, will grant one wish. Of course the orbs don't always wind up in good hands, which makes for intresting plot developments.

Dragonball is by far the funniest manga i have ever had the inclination to read. Goku's primitiveness gives the storyline a comedic flow and Toryama's creative (A shapshifting Pig?!) sub characters set up many comedic jokes that Toryama fully embraces and plays on.

The pictures are high quality. You feel like your watching the tv show as his flued drawings flow from frame to frame. Very Nice.

Dialog is just as good. The characters don't swich thier ways of speech and remain consistent. I never got confused and had to double-read anything. Well done Viz.

As for reading from right to left, at first its a little awkward but once you get involved with the story, it becomes second nature.

I don't mind the censoring at all in this book. It doesn't detract from the storyline. If u were to compare this to the American version, you'll find this is vastly superior in that the american version cut out lots of scenes for run time and editing. This particular volume doesn't have any cursing at all basically, just one mild word. Nothing bad at all. There's quite a bit of sophmoric humor, but its nothing worse than a PG-13 movie (Certainly no worse than Austin Power's 3).

Some of you have probably seen the price and are thinking What the heck?! Why the $.. Well, getting this is like getting the first 7 eps. of the show. First off, the anime was never dubbed uncensored in America, so unless you resort to uneathical, illegal subbed eps, your gonna have to drop that $... $.. isn't as bad as it seems, look at the price for a DVD of two eps in a subbed/dubbed version and you'll get my point.

This Vol ends at a little cliffhanger (alright you don't have to Jump around in dismay checking amazon everyday for when the other book'll come) so I suggest getting vol 2 with it, which sums up the first 13 eps. (Emporer Pilaf included). It makes a nice stopping point and doesnt leave you in a cliff hanger. In conclusion, get the first 2 books. Yhat will give you the first saga and you can be at a stopping point to give your wallet a little rest before getting the padding taken off again.

Hoped I helped you! Cheers!

This has to be the best idea! Putting the comics all together into volumes. I don't know why people say "its hard to read right to left!" Thats the charm of it! Just be happy that the words aren't read right to left! This is about Goku (the strongest boy in the world), who lives by his self, and meets Bulma. There adventures are sidesplitting. All in all, DO buy this, its dead funny and makes a great collecyion. 6 out of 5 dragonballs!

If you love the DBZ series and wish to know more about how it all began, this is a book to get. The book tells you how they all met each other. It seems that the original DB is more comical than the DBZ series. The book contains minor sexist language, so it isn't a good idea to buy this, if you intend to purchase it for a very young audience. Other than that, it is better to read the manga than watching the MAJOR edited version of the DVD boxed-set.

I am looking forward to obtaining the whole DB manga once all comes out.

The book reads from back to front. Make sure that you are aware of that before reading it.

I'm going to start it off by saying this: Don't buy this because you watched and liked the Dragonball/DBZ episodes you saw on Cartoon Network. Instead buy it because Toriyama's art and writing are great. It's a solid retelling of the myth of the monkey king, Goku, and his journey to please the great dragon Shenlong, with some changes and comedy thrown in. The fluid art keeps one reading, despite the unfamiliarity with the format (the book and its panels all go from right to left).

I suggest picking this up. Get this manga, then get the others. They blow the anime out of the water if you can read, and if you can't, then just look at the pictures, because those are good too.

awsome book i read it 4 times .anybody that likes dbz will love it.veryfunny,nice storyline.could't be better.