Showing posts with label Akira Toriyama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Akira Toriyama. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

I Reads You Juniors: March 2024 - UPDATE #48

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

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NEWS:

DC CINEMA - From CBR:  According to an insider report, "The Batman II" will begin principal photography April 2025.  Also, casting announcements won't be made before this coming Fall.

IDW - From YouTubeIDW Publishing has released a video to promote its upcoming "Batman: Year One Artist's Edition" (featuring the art of David Mazzuchelli), with commentary by Mike Mignola.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCoolDC will celebrate Batman's 85th anniversary this year (1939-2024), and part of the celebration is a new logo.

DC CINEMA - From Variety:  The musical sequel to Joker (2019), entitled "Joker: Folie a Deux," will include 15 cover songs.  It will also include original songs, but the exact number of those remains a mystery.

DC TV - From Variety:  Warner Bros. has released a teaser trailer for its upcoming HBO Max series, "The Penguin," starring Colin Farrell in the title role.  The series is a spinoff of the 2022 film, The Batman, and is due in the Fall.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Writer Nicole Maines talks about two new DC projects: "Suicide Squad: Dream Team" and the YA graphic novel, "Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story."

COMICS TO FILM - From THR:  Filmmaker Alex Proyas has maintained that his 1994 film, "The Crow" should not get a reboot out of respect for his film's star, the late Brandon Lee, who died as a result of an on-set firearm accident.  Thus, Proyas has disavowed "The Crow" reboot film, which is set for release June 7th, 2024.

DC STUDIOS - From THR:  Beloved DC Comics' super-team, the "Teen Titans," will get its own live-action movies.  The film will be written by Ana Nogueira, who is also writing the screenplay for "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow."

DC ANIMATION - From CBRWIT Studio has revealed the third trailer for it anime film, "Suicide Squad: ISEKAI."  The film is set for a June 2024 Japanese release.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  A look at the first women to write for DC Comics, including Leigh Brackett, Barbara Friedlander, and Mary Skrenes, to name a few.

MARVEL - From BleedingCoolMarvel Comics releases a press release at SXSW that reveals its upcoming plans for its "X-Men" line of comic books.  This includes a back-to-basics "Uncanny X-Men" title written by Gail Simone.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Kelly Thompson talks the past, present, and future of "Birds of Prey."

SONY MARVEL U - From Variety:  "Venom 3" has an official title, "Venom: The Last Dance."  It's new release date is Oct. 25th, 2024, up from the previous date of Nov. 8th.

DC STUDIOS - From IGNWarner Bros. has changed the release date for "The Batman 2," the sequel to the hit film, The Batman (2021).  The film has moved from its recent October 2025 release date to Oct. 2nd, 2026.

IMAGE - From BleedingCoolRobert Kirkman's Skybound imprint has the license to publish "G.I. Joe" and "Transformers" comics, which Kirkman publishes via a shared universe, the "Energon Universe."  In under a year, Energon Universe comics have sold over a million copies.

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  Writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Javier Rodriguez are producing an "adults-only" Zatanna graphic novel for DC's "Black Label."  Entitled "Zatanna: Bring Down the House," it is scheduled for a June 25th release.

EN MEMORIAM - From ANN:  The Japanese manga artist and character designer, Akira Toriyama, has died at the age of 68, Friday, March 1, 2024.  Toriyama is best known for creating the seminal Japanese manga (comic book), "Dragon Ball," which was originally serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" from 1984 to 1955.  "Dragon Ball" would go on to become a massive media franchise that included live-action and animated films and television series, action figures, video games, and more.  VIZ Media's Dragon Ball 3-in-1 Edition, Volume 1 collects the first 36 chapters of the "Dragon Ball" manga.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Writer Dan Jurgens and artist Mike Perkins talk about their new miniseries, "The Bat-Man: First Knight."

DC STUDIOS - From DCBlogJames Gunn's Superman movie begins production with a new title, "Superman," changed from the previously announced "Superman: Legacy."

IMAGE - From ComicsBeat:  At Seattle's Emerald City Comic Con, Image Comics plans to introduce the wave of talent and new projects for 2024.

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FEBRUARY 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  1First Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "X-Men" titles for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Massive for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000AD for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  10 Ton Press for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for February 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for February 2024

MARCH 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  CEX Publishing for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC "Batman" comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dead Sky Publishing LLC for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon Universe" titles for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" titles for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  IPI Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "X-Men" from Marvel Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel "Fall of the House of X" and "Rise of the Powers of X" from Marvel Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Massive/WhatNot for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000AD for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for March 2024
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for March 2024

APRIL 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Billy Tucci for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blackbox Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics LLC for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' "Batman" titles for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' Superman's "House of Braniac" titles for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics' Todd McFarlane titles for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Kodansha Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Magma Comix for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  X-Men & Avengers crossover from Marvel for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  "The Fall of The House of X" and "The Rise of The Powers of X" from Marvel Comics for April 2024.
From BleedingCool:  Massive/WhatNot/Summerian for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000 AD for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  TOKYOPOP for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Udon Entertainment for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for April 2024
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for April 2024

MAY 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  Free Comic Book Day 2024 for May 4, 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ablaze for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Blood Moon Comics LLC for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' Amanda Waller for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' "House of Brainiac" for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dstlry for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Blood Hunt" crossovers for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "X-Men" for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Massive for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion/2000AD for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Scout Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  VIZ Media for May 2024
From BleedingCool:  Yen Press for May 2024

JUNE 2024 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for June 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics' "Absolute Power" for June 2024
From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Batman Family" for June 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon Universe" for June 2024
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics Todd McFarlane titles for June 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for June 2024
From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Blood Hunt" for June 2024


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Sunday, December 13, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER Volume 8

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 8
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0941-0; paperback (March 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, 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.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who works on Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 8 (Chapters 37 to 40; entitled “Sign of Son Goku's Awakening!!”) opens, the “Tournament of Power” continues.  It will determine the fate of universes!  Each universe that competes must field ten warriors, but these warriors must be mortals, as gods are forbidden.  The universes that lose will face complete destruction at the hands of “the Lords of Everything.”

As the tournament quickly approaches its time limit, Universes 3, 4, and 10 are eliminated.  Kale of Universe 6 summons powers no one knew she had, but as she grows more powerful, she also loses control.  Now, she beating her own teammates!

Meanwhile, Son Goku and his Universe 7 team is down to six warriors, and Goku still has not found a way to defeat Universe 11's mightiest warrior, Jiren.  Can he awaken the power within him, “the ultra instinct,” to the extent that he can beat Jiren?  Can he do it in time to beat Jiren?

THE LOWDOWN:  As I wrote in my previous review of the Dragon Ball Super manga, 2020 is a strange year … for a number of reasons.  Of the many strange things that have filled my 2020 is that this is the year that I have read, by far, the most Dragon Ball manga ever.  This is mostly because of the Dragon Ball Super manga.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 8 reaches the height of the battle manga segment of this “Tournament of Power” story arc.  Toriyama and Toyotarou are in the midst of eliminating most of the eclectic cast they created for this arc.  They make up for that, however, by having a number of the remaining characters power-up in delightfully entertaining ways.  This is the height of Dragon Ball battle manga euphoria, dear readers, so let's enjoy it.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

This manga includes the the following bonus material:

  • the sketchbook section, “Toriyama Sensei's Corrections,” which features Akira Toriyama's corrections of Toyotarou's character designs and story pages
  • bonus illustrations
  • a four-page “Dragon Ball Super” story originally published in the “Jump Victory Carnival Official” 2018 Guidebook
  • Toyotarous Asks! Tell Us , Toriyama Sensei!! in which Toriyama talks about the process behind character design and story-crafting


A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"



https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).


Saturday, November 21, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER Volume 7

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 7
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Caleb Cook
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0777-5; paperback (December 2019); 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.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who works on Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 7 (Chapters 33 to 36; entitled “Universe Survival! The Tournament of Power Begins!!”) opens, the “Tournament of Power” begins.  It will determine the fate of universes!  Each universe that competes must field ten warriors, but they must be mortals, as gods are forbidden.  The universes that lose will face complete destruction at the hands of “the Lords of Everything.”

Universe 7's mightiest warriors are Son Goku (our hero), Kame Sen'nin, Son Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, Kuririn, Android #17, Android #18 (a female), and the resurrected Freeza.  But Universe 7's mightiest may not be enough, especially when faced against Universe 11 and its best of the best warrior, Jiren.

And it is not long into the tournament that the first universe is obliterated.  Meanwhile, some teammates plot to betray their teams … or are they?

[This manga includes the sketchbook section, “Toriyama Sensei's Corrections,” which features Akira Toriyama's corrections of Toyotarou's character designs and story pages and also bonus illustrations.]

THE LOWDOWN:  2020 is a strange year … for a number of reasons.  Of the many strange things that have filled my 2020, I have discovered that this is the year that I have read, by far, the most Dragon Ball manga that I have ever read.  This is mostly because of the Dragon Ball Super manga.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 7 moves into the heart of the battle of this current story arc.  The “Tournament of Power” story is the third threat to its existence that Universe 7 has faced, and it is the most entertaining threat … at least for the readers.  Vol. 7 is pure Dragon Ball shonen battle manga.

Toriyama and Toyotarou offer so many different and inventive ways to present the fights.  I found myself on the edge of my seat because combatants were dropping like flies, often at times and in ways that I didn't expect.

Caleb Cook's translation captures the tartness of the dialogue and the conniving and betrayal.  James Gaubatz's lettering is cool and calm, expect for the sound effects with are fat on the page – suggesting the crazily loud sounds of this battle.  Vol. 7 may be Dragon Ball Super's most fun volume yet.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

A
8.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"



https://www.viz.com/
https://twitter.com/VIZMedia
https://www.instagram.com/vizmedia/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVIZMedia
https://www.snapchat.com/add/vizmedia


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

---------------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).


Sunday, November 1, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER Volume 6

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 6
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa, Christine Dashiell, and Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0520-7; paperback (September 2019); 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.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who works on Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 6 (Chapters 29 to 32; entitled “The Super Warriors Gather!”) opens, the “Zen Exhibition Match” between the “Gods of Destruction” comes to an end.  And the Lords of Everything are bored, so they change some rules.  Now, the “Tournament of Power” will only feature mortals, and gods are forbidden.

Each universe that competes must field ten warriors, which means that Goku and friends have to recruit Universe 7's mightiest warriors.  But they must win because the universes that lose will face complete destruction.

[This manga includes the sketchbook section, “Toriyama Sensei's Corrections,” which features Akira Toriyama's corrections of Toyotarou's character designs and story pages.]

THE LOWDOWN:  Because of a scattering of review copies I received, I became an occasional reader of the Dragon Ball manga.  I do enjoy reading the manga, and the Dragon Ball Super manga is a nice fresh start for new readers... at least I think so.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 6 follows the changes that began with Vol. 2.  This saw the series move on from its original premise – the fight between Universes 6 and 7 – to this current battle of the universes.  After several volumes dealing with Goku and company's epic battle against the multi-universal villains, Zamas and Goku Black (which ended in the middle of Vol. 5), Toriyama and Toyotarou move readers deeper into the “Tournament of Power” story line.

Vol. 6 may be the volume that I have enjoyed the most.  It is mostly battle manga and some comedy-drama about the gathering of warriors.  It promises much battle manga fun to come, so I'll keep reading... and recommending this to you, dear readers, who happen to be Dragon Ball fans.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball manga will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

A
8.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.


---------------------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

 

Friday, July 31, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER: Volume 5

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 5
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa, Christine Dashiell, and Caleb Cook
LETTERS: Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0458-3; paperback (May 2019); 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.

Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who has produced Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  Dragon Ball Super has been published in the Japanese manga magazine, V Jump, since June 2015.  VIZ Media has been publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series since May 2017, under its “Shonen Jump” imprint.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  This sequel is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 5 (Chapters 25 to 28; entitled “The Decisive Battle! Farewell, Trunks!”) opens, Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks continue their battle on the “Future Parallel World” of Universe 7.  Their adversaries are “Goku Black” and Zamas, who have now fused into “God Zamas,” a being even harder to beat than its formidable progenitors.  And just when Goku and Vegeta think that they have beaten God Zamas, their problems multiple...

Next, Goku has been itching for an “interuniverse tournament” that would pit the greatest fighters of 12 universes against one another.  It turns out that two “Lords of Everything” want the same thing.  Thus, begins the “Tournament of Power,” in a way most unexpected by many beings, including Goku!

[This manga includes a bonus story that was originally published in the Jump Victory Carnival Official 2017 Guidebook.]

THE LOWDOWN:  I began as an occasional reader of the Dragon Ball manga, and I do enjoy the franchise.  The Dragon Ball Super manga, which is a nice fresh start for new readers, has made me a semi-regular Dragon Ball reader.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 5 follows Vols. 2 to 4, which moved the series beyond its original premise – the fight between Universes 6 and 7, and introduced the villains Zamas and Goku Black, as well as a future parallel world.  I will play spoiler and say that by the middle of Vol. 5, that Zamas-Goku Black story arc is resolved... with finality.  I'm glad, as I was tired of this story line.

This “Tournament of Power” feels like a return to classic Dragon Ball battle manga.  In between the end of the previous story line and the beginning of the next, Toyotarou draws a fantastic, fifteen-page battle between Vegeta and Beerus, which makes this one of the better recent volumes.  He also draws a large group of new characters, which makes this volume sound like a must-have for Dragon Ball manga fans.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

A
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.



-------------------------


Tuesday, May 12, 2020

#IReadsYou Review: DRAGON BALL SUPER Volume 4

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 4
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

STORY: Akira Toriyama
ART: Toyotarou
TRANSLATION: Toshikazu Aizawa
LETTERS: Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli
EDITOR: Marlene First
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0144-5; paperback (January 2019); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, 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.

Dragon Ball Super is a sequel to the Dragon Ball manga and to the “Dragon Ball Z” anime series.  Dragon Ball Super is written by Toriyama and drawn by Toyotarou, a writer-artist who has already produced Dragon Ball spin-off manga.  This new series is set several months after Goku's victory that brought peace back to Earth.  Goku and his friends must defend Earth, this time from fighters from other universes and timelines.

As Dragon Ball Super, Vol. 4 (Chapters 21 to 24; entitled “Last Chance for Hope”) opens, Goku and Vegeta return from the world of “Future Trunks.”  It was there that they got their butts handed to them by “Goku Black,” a mysterious warrior who looks exactly like Goku.

It turns out the Goku Black is really Zamas, the Lord of Lords from Universe 10, teamed-up with another Zamas.  Now, Goku trains with Master Roshi to perfect the technique, “Matū-ba,” which he can use to seal Goku Black.  When Goku and Vegeta return to the Future Trunks future parallel universe – with more allies – they find the two Zamas have come up with a way to make themselves seemingly unbeatable.

[This manga includes a bonus story.]

THE LOWDOWN:  While I am an occasional reader of Dragon Ball manga, I do enjoy the series.  The Dragon Ball Super manga is a nice fresh start for new readers.

Dragon Ball Super Graphic Novel Volume 4 follows Vols. 2 and 3, which moved the series beyond its original premise – the fight between Universes 6 and 7.  It is true that the new direction can be a little confusing because the reader has to keep up with characters from multiple universes and timelines and also with a few duplicate characters from other timelines and universes.

Still, Vol. 4 is an example of a quintessential battle manga, and I have to admit that it is a fun read, and Toshikazu Aizawa's translation is quite useful  Letterers Paolo Gattone and Chiara Antonelli continue to pack the chapters in each volume with explosive sound effects that go just right with the kinetic battles.  And thanks to that cliffhanger, I want to come back for more.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers looking for more Dragon Ball will want to try the “Shonen Jump” title, Dragon Ball Super.

A-
7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint or syndication rights and fees.

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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Review: DRAGON BALL Super: Volume 1

DRAGON BALL SUPER VOL. 1
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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Thursday, January 15, 2015

Review: JACO the Galactic Patrolman

JACO THE GALACTIC PATROLMAN, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Akira Toriyama
TRANSLATION: Tetsuichiro Miyaki
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6630-6; paperback (January 2015); Rated “A” for “All Ages”
248pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is a shonen manga comedy from Akira Toriyama, best known as the creator of his breakout and breakthrough hit manga, Dragon Ball (published in the U.S. as Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z).  Jaco was originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan from July to September 2013.  Jaco the Galactic Patrolman focuses on the unlikely friendship between a stranded alien cop and a reclusive, island-dwelling scientist.

VIZ Media recently published Jaco the Galactic Patrolman as a paperback graphic novel, with the story being complete in one volume.  This stand-alone book is published under VIZ Media's Shonen Jump imprint, and is rated “‘A’ for All Ages.”  The printed edition of Jaco the Galactic Patrolman has a MSRP of $9.99 in the U.S. And $12.99 CAN.

The digital version of Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, which is also currently available, is $6.99 (USD/CAN) from VIZManga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones.  The digital volume of Jaco the Galactic Patrolman can also be purchased through the Nook, Kobo, ComiXology, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.

As Jaco the Galactic Patrolman opens, we meet Jaco Teirimentenpibosshi (or Jaco the Galactic Patrolman), an interstellar cop.  He crashed his ship on the moon, which forces him to make a crash-landing on a small island on Earth.  There, he meets retired scientist and engineer, Omori Tokunoshin.  A widower, Omori lives alone on this deserted island, while continuing his research into time-travel.

Omori is perturbed that his quiet life is interrupted by Jaco, who decides to move in with Omori.  A member of the Galactic Patrol (which protects the peace of the galaxy), Jaco claims to be “Super Elite,” but he is quite clumsy and always gets into trouble, which aggravates Omori.  Can Jaco get along with old man Omori long enough to save the earth from a dangerous threat... and also to save Tights, the 17-year-old girl about to embark on a dangerous rocket ride?

[This volume includes the bonus story, “Dragon Ball Minus: Departure of the Fated Child.”]

Akira Toriyama seems to have a magic touch when it comes to creating manga for young readers, from the Halloween-appropriate COWA! to the beloved Dragon Ball.  Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is perfect for young readers.  It is cute and fun, but it isn't simple-minded.  Like Toriyama's other manga, it is quirky, delightful, and especially inventive and imaginative.

The other cool thing about Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is that it is tied to Dragon Ball, with Jaco and Omori's adventures mostly taking place just as the beginnings of Dragon Ball come together.  I have to admit, with some embarrassment, that I was quite happy to discover this connection – like a little kid.  In fact, this volume's bonus story is a kind of prequel to Dragon Ball, as it tells the story of how Goku's journey to Earth began.  If you need a reason to buy Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, this is it.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.



Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Review: DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR Saiyan Arc Volume 1

DRAGON BALL FULL COLOR SAIYAN ARC VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Akira Toriyama
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Gerard Jones
LETTERS: John Clark
COVER:  Akira Toriyama with Shawn Carrico
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6592-7; paperback (February 2014); Rated “A” for “All Ages”
248pp, Color, $19.99 US, $22.99 CAN, £12.99 UK

Originally published in Weekly Shonen Jump, Dragon Ball is a long-running Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.  Serialized from 1984 to 1995, Dragon Ball is comprised of 519 individual chapters, and focuses on the hero, Son Goku, beginning with his childhood.

VIZ Media is Dragon Ball’s North American publisher, and it has been publishing the series is various formats for some time.  VIZ Media’s latest Dragon Ball publishing project is Dragon Ball Full Color Saiyan Arc.

Basically the “Saiyan arc” begins with Chapter 195 of the original Dragon Ball.  If I have figured this out correctly, VIZ Media published 42 volumes (graphic novels) of Dragon Ball.  Beginning with Vol. 17, VIZ Media changed the title to Dragon Ball Z.  Chapter 195 opens Dragon Ball Z Volume 17.

Dragon Ball Full Color Saiyan Arc, Vol. 1 opens with the arrival of an alien warrior, named Raditz, on Earth.  He is a Saiyan, a warrior race that exterminates native inhabitants of planets.  Raditz claims that Son Goku is not only a Saiyan warrior, but is also his brother.

Raditz first battles Goku’s nemesis, Piccolo, and then, Goku.  The alien is more than a match for Piccolo and Goku, even after the two enemies unite.  There is a surprising result of the battle between Raditz and the Goku-Piccolo team.  Soon, both Goku and his four-year-old son, Son Gohan, are training on two different worlds, as they prepare for the arrival of more of Goku’s Saiyan brothers.

I am a new reader of Dragon Ball manga, but I have admired other Akira Toriyama manga for several years now – thanks to the Toriyama manga that VIZ Media has sent me.  VIZ gave me a copy of Dragon Ball Full Color Saiyan Arc Volume 1 for review a few weeks ago.

I must admit that I prefer seeing Toriyama’s work in black and white, especially Dragon Ball.  However, the more I read this first volume of Dragon Ball Full Color Saiyan Arc, the more I liked it.  As I’ve said before, Toriyama blends the best of Carl Barks, Jack Kirby, and Peyo into one super-cartoonist.  Dragon Ball Full Color Saiyan Arc Volume 1 is like one of Jack Kirby’s classic superhero comic books without being a superhero comic book.

It is comedy on a big scale, and, thanks to the battles, it is an unabashed fight comic.  The color simply heightens the fantastic nature of the story.  The format of Dragon Ball Full Color Saiyan Arc Volume 1 makes it look like a kind of archival book for serious manga fans and collectors.  However, I think it can also serve as a big-old picture book for young readers.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.




Saturday, August 31, 2013

Review: DRAGON BALL 3-in-1 Edition, Volume 1

DRAGON BALL 3-IN-1 EDITION, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Akira Toriyama
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Gerard Jones
LETTERS: Wayne Truman
EDITOR: Annette Roman, Jason Thompson (manga edition)
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5564-5; paperback (June 2013); Rated “T” for “Teen”
576pp, B&W, $14.99 US, $16.99 CAN, £9.99 UK

Akira Toriyama is a hugely influential Japanese mangaka (manga creator), and his signature creation is Dragon Ball, the long-running shonen manga (comics for teen boys).  Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995, Dragon Ball is comprised of 519 individual chapters.  Various anime series have been adapted from Dragon Ball, most notably "Dragon Ball Z," which some believe boosted the popularity of Japanese anime amongst Western audiences.

VIZ Media is Dragon Ball’s North American publisher, and it has been publishing individual graphic novel collections of the series for some time.  Now, VIZ Media is republishing the series in its “3-in-1 editions,” which collect three individual graphic novels in one large-sized paperback edition.

Dragon Ball 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 1 contains Dragon Ball Volume 1: The Monkey King (Chapters 1 to 11), Volume 2: Wish Upon a Dragon (Chapters 12 to 24), and Volume 3: The Training of Kame Sen’nin (Chapters 25 to 36).  Chapters 1 to 36 cover the introduction of the hero, Son Goku, and the start of his adventures to the beginning of a famed martial arts tournament in which Goku is participating.

In Dragon Ball, Vol. 1, Bulma, a young woman and genius inventor, meets Son Goku.  Goku is a monkey-tailed boy who both learned kung-fu and inherited a magic staff from his late grandfather, Son Gohan.  Bulma is looking for the seven Dragon Balls, precious orbs that when put together summon a powerful dragon.  This dragon is Shenlong, the Dragon Lord, and when he appears because of the union of the seven Dragon Balls, he grants one (and only one) wish.  Bulma convinces Goku to join her on her quest, and they meets lots of strange, new people:  Kame Sen’nin “the Turtle Master,” Oolong the shape-shifting pig, and Yamcha and Pu’ar, among many.

In Dragon Ball, Vol. 2, Goku, Bulma, and Oolong meet more strange people:  some good, some bad.  The quest for the Dragon Balls reaches an unsatisfying conclusion.  In Dragon Ball, Vol. 3, Goku meets Kuririn, a young martial artist and Shaolin monk.  They become rivals and then, friends as they train under Kame Sen’nin.  After some truly grueling training, Goku and Kuririn enter the 21st Tenka’ichi Budokai (“Strongest Under the Heavens”) martial arts tournament.

I first heard of Dragon Ball as an anime, having no idea that it was also a manga.  Years later, VIZ Media sent me an Akira Toriyama manga for the first time (maybe Dr. Slump).  Then, I learned that Dragon Ball was not only an anime franchise, but that it was also a hugely-influential manga.  After reading Dragon Ball 3-in-1 Edition, Volume 1, I am ready to be a regular reader of Dragon Ball, if not also a Toriyama fanboy.

Dragon Ball is wild and silly like an old American Saturday morning cartoon.  Toriyama is as inventive and as imaginative as classic American and European comic books; think of someone who blends Carl Barks, Jack Kirby, and Peyo into one super-cartoonist.  Dragon Ball is sprawling and epic in the way we’ve come to expect of shonen manga like Naruto and One Piece, whose creators Dragon Ball both inspired.

Mississippi, goddamn!  Dragon Ball is one of the best manga and comic books I have ever read.  Take that for your recommendation.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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