Getting
Serious in Epic Fashion:
Dragon Ball Z Volumes 1-3 (DB 17, 18, & 19 of 42)
Viz
Graphic Novel Reviews by: Troy
Brownfield
Story
and Art by:
Akira Toriyama
More information: www.viz.com,
www.dragonballz.com,
www.irwintoy.com
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 The
word "epic" gets tossed around far too casually
in the world of comics nowadays. Any two-issue event that
entails a minor change in continuity that will dissipate with
the advent of the next creative team can get tagged as an
"epic". Here then is beginning of a new chapter
in an enormous narrative that truly earns the use of the word.
If
you've never been exposed to the original "Dragon Ball",
know this. Running from 1984 to 1995 in Japan's Shonen Jump
magazine, "Dragon Ball" and "Dragon Ball Z"
erupted into enormous popularity. The beloved anime began
in 1986, drawing even more fans into the mix. "Dragon
Ball" featured the adventures of the young, super-strong
Son Goku and his friends as they undertook comedic quests
and merry adventures. "Dragon Ball Z" raised the
bar significantly, as the now-adult cast began to take on
the greatest villains in the universe. The "DBZ"
anime debuted in America on Cartoon Network in the late '90s,
and its stateside notoriety just exploded. The combination
of intense fighting, operatic drama, and mass destruction
sucked in a waiting legion of fans.
Viz
has been printing Akira Toriyama's amazing original manga
work here in the States, and these three volumes lay the foundation
for the second phase of the "Dragon Ball" universe.
Viz reprints these volumes in original Japanese style (right-to-left),
but even without that clever addition, these tales would be
a unique reading experience on their own.
Just
what is it that makes "Dragon Ball Z" so good? That's
easy:Toriyama, Toriyama, Toriyama. His stories are clever
and told on a grand scale. He taps into mythic concepts with
Campbellian confidence and backs up his imagination with absolutely
superior art. The fact that the man was capable of producing
a series that in all spans 42 volumes of approximately 150
pages each (that's about 6,300 pages) to tell one massive
complete tale is incredible in itself. (Note: This isn't even
Toriyama's only series. Let the Joe Mads of the world mull
that over).
Toriyama's
art really is a wonder to behold. His style on "Dragon
Ball" complemented the comedic story he had to tell,
but on "DBZ" he's sharpened his focus, delivering
shockingly detailed scenes with laser-like clarity. He's also
a master of conveying emotion, from subtle surprise and curiosity
to abject fear and blistering anger.
Moving
the characters from children and teens to a tight-knit group
of adults between volumes can be a difficult proposition as
well, but Toriyama executes it flawlessly. Moreover, the addition
of Goku's son, Gohan, as a primary character shows that Toriyama
can balance the concerns of parents and childhood evenly in
the mix of his gigantic battles.
 Fans
of "DBZ" know the storylines of the series by their
various "Sagas" (this applies to the anime as well).
These three volumes (and volume four) comprise what is called
the "Saiyan Saga". Readers are reintroduced to the
cast of "Dragon Ball" (and introduced to Son Gohan)
and learn of a threat posed to Earth by a new alien arrival.
This extraterrestrial warrior, Raditz, reveals the truth about
Goku's heritage and launches a spectacular series of battles
and quests that will take our heroes into outer space (and
some of them, to the grave).
All
of this high adventure is masterfully depicted by Toriyama.
The implacable Saiyans seethe pure evil, yet you can't help
but be intrigued by the cocky Vegeta (a major fan favorite,
to be sure). The formerly vicious Piccolo evinces a humane
side by teaming with Goku and training Gohan. The relations
between fathers and sons are a major point in the "DBZ"
universe, and you can see those themes taking root even in
these early installments.
"Dragon
Ball Z" contains 100% octane excitement shot through
with some of the most outrageous action to be found anywhere.
There's a character for all tastes and they develop on the
run, charging from one impossible situation to the next. It's
bravura storytelling, executed at a breakneck pace by a master
of the craft.
It
should be obvious that I'm a major fan. These early adventures
(in their anime form) are what piqued my interest in Toriyama's
world. I give "Dragon Ball Z" Volumes 1-3 my highest
possible recommendation. It's a classic, folks, and there's
a reason for that.
Troy
Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. His
favorite characters are probably Vegeta and Piccolo; surly
guys rule. Email Troy at psikotyk@aol.com
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