To
the Nines . . .:
Dragon Ball Volume 9 (DB 9 of 42)
Dragon Ball Z Volume 9 (DB 25 of 42)
Story and Art by Akira Toriyama
Graphic
Novel reviews by Troy Brownfield
More
Info: www.viz.com
,
www.dragonballz.com
Viz's
superb reprints of one of the most beloved manga titles of
all time rolls on. The recently released ninth volumes of
"Dragon Ball" (the comedic adventures of Goku and his friends
as youngsters) and "Dragon Ball Z" (the much more serious
adventures of an older Goku, his son Gohan, and their allies)
represent turning points in their various epic journeys. "Dragon
Ball" keeps up the light-hearted (and sometimes risqué) humor
while simultaneously introducing concepts that will be revisited
later in the series. "Dragon Ball Z"sees the defeat of one
powerful villain, and the return of a hero at a critical juncture.
The prime
appeal of "Dragon Ball" has always been the delightful craziness
of the world. Every situation is explored for comic effect
while throwing dozens of lunatic ideas at the reader. Shapeshifting
monsters stuck as talking pigs? Done. Monkey-tailed children
possessing enormous power? Normal. Lecherous old martial masters
whose driving motivations are chicks, chicks, and chicks?
Yep.
Even as
all that insanity abounds, Toriyama apparently decided to
inject some familiar characters into the mix. Thus, when young
Son Goku goes to the palace of Baba Uranai in search of guidance
on his quest, it should really come as no surprise that she
summons Dracula, the Invisible Man, the Mummy, and the Devil
himself to fight the youngster and his friends in a test of
worthiness. The various battles are quite funny; the Devil
cheats of course, but the resolution to the Invisible Man
fight is hilarity in the absurd. As it is, Goku finds that
he has one more foe to contend with, but this one is much
more welcome.
"Dragon
Ball" Volume Nine conforms much more readily to much-appreciated
"fighting archetype" that would later drive "Dragon Ball Z".
Some of the concepts herein, from the dead being granted a
day to meet with their family back on Earth, would be used
later in the series for much dramatic effect. It's also interesting
to note that while Toriyama plays with versions of Frankenstein,
Dracula, and others in these early volumes, he revisits the
concepts later with his own fresh, striking versions (Android
16, Cell, etc.).
As much
as DB9 is stepped in hilarity, DBZ9 is soaked in action. The
installment opens as Vegeta is clobbering the rest of the
Ginyu force before turning on Ginyu himself (who has fiendishly
switched bodies with Goku). The dilemma of how to wage a fight
against a possessed ally is cleverly handled by Toriyama,
as each character stays true to form; Gohan and Krillin want
to exercise care, Goku (in Ginyu's body) tries to direct the
traffic of the confrontation, and Vegeta just wants to hurt
someone.
Of course,
the arch-villain Freeza isn't far behind in all of this, and
before too long, the heroes find themselves in the position
of needing serious reinforcements. However, only of their
dead friends can be returned to life to help: which one? The
way that Toriyama juggles moral quandaries against a backdrop
of characters who continually offer themselves in sacrifice
to the greater good is terrific. You have to appreciate the
all-out adrenaline of a story where villains keep getting
bigger and more terrible, while the heroes grow stronger at
a frightening pace.
As is
typically the way with DBZ, things aren't resolved by the
end of the volume. Still, you're left in white-knuckled anticipation
of where the battle will lead, and who, if anyone, will be
left standing. That's one appeal of DBZ: the fight is NEVER
over.
The respective
ninth volumes are particularly strong entries into the lengthy
"Dragon Ball" pantheon. While I wouldn't necessarily urge
the new reader to jump in with these volumes (not while the
earlier ones are in print and readily available), Toriyama's
storytelling is clear enough to easily follow. And as always,
the retention of the original Japanese "backward reading style"
is a treat.
Troy
Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. For
the LAST TIME, he is NOT Akira Toriyama; he just writes reviews.
Email him here.
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