VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa
LETTERS: Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9254-1; paperback (May 2017); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 US, $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK
Dragon Ball was a long-running Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995 and was comprised of 519 individual chapters. The hero of Dragon Ball was Son Goku, and the series began with the story of his childhood.
Currently published in V Jump, Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series. Dragon Ball is also an anime series, from which the manga adaptation takes its lead. Dragon Ball Super is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.
Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 9; entitled Warriors from Universe 6) finds Goku bored with his life on Earth. He is now the greatest hero on Earth because he gathered the seven Dragon Balls and defeated the evil Majin Boo.
Now, Goku and his friends will have to defend the Earth again. Lord Beerus and Lord Champa, twin brothers from different universes and Gods of Destruction, have been destroying planets, but their feud leads them to challenge each other in combat. Goku and his friends have chosen sides in the Universes 6 vs. 7 Gods of Destruction Invitational Fighting Tournament.
[This manga includes bonus content.]
I am an occasional reader of Dragon Ball manga, and I have had the chance to read several manga by Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama, over the last decade, thanks to my VIZ Media rep. He recently sent me a copy of the debut volume of the Dragon Ball Super manga
Dragon Ball Super Volume 1 is mildly entertaining. I don't find it nearly as attractive as I find those Dragon Ball Full Color graphic novels which are filled with beautifully colored Akira Toriyama art work. In Dragon Ball Super, artist Toyotarou draws this story in a style that is similar to the Toriyama style, but with more detailed line work and sharp line work that is not a pliable as Toriyama's style.
The story is typical Dragon Ball battle manga, but these opening chapters seem to be hiding something bigger or edgier or darker. It makes me wonder if this series will veer from the original Dragon Ball and, if so, how far?
B
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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