Manga Review: Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha by Dragongarow LEE and Akira Toriyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~2

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Goodreads Synopsis:

One Dragon Ball fan's dream of being reincarnated in the Dragon Ball world turns into a nightmare when he's actually reborn as everyone's favorite punching bag.

A Dragon Ball fan’s greatest dream is getting to live in the Dragon Ball universe and fight alongside Goku and his friends! But one particular fan is in for a rude awakening when he suddenly dies and gets reincarnated as everyone’s favorite punching bag, Yamcha!

A Japanese high school student is on his way to a Dragon Ball event and makes a detour to hit on a cute girl. Unfortunately, he meets with an unfortunate and fatal accident before he reaches her and, to his great surprise, wakes up in the Dragon Ball universe as Yamcha! Being a Dragon Ball fan, he knows exactly what misery awaits him as Yamcha, so he takes matters into his own hands and vows to make Yamcha the strongest Dragon Ball character ever!

Review:

A normal school boy in Japan, when running to get a better view of a schoolgirl, falls down some stairs, and wakes up as Yamcha in Dragon Ball. It's a fanboys dream, and he gets into some crazy antics while in that world. He goes back to Earth with a new perspective, kind of.

As a mediocre fan of Dragon Ball, this wasn't really the book for me. I barely know any of the characters, and given that this guy is a fanboy from the start, he's excited to jump in and see the characters he loves and live as Yamcha as he knows he is. I didn't really follow much, but I don't have much history with the series.

For an avid fan, I'm sure this is a really fun volume, though; an easy, funny, fanfic kind of story. Not for me, though.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dragon Ball Full Color Freeza Arc, Volume 3, by Akira Toriyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2016

Volumes: 8.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Gohan and Kuririn, forced to team up with Vegeta, stand their ground against the Ginyu Force while Goku tries to get his body back. Gohan and Kuririn must now use the seven Dragon Balls of Namek to summon the mighty Dragon Lord, who can grant any three wishes. What will they wish for?

Review:

Son Goku finally shows up, and he might be a super saiyan now! Only, maybe not, because he gets rather beat up, and he also is apparently not evil enough? He's almost invincible, but not quite. I guess.

The group is still on planet Namek, and they're still trying to collect and keep the dragon balls, and then figure out how to use them correctly. We do finally get to see the dragon balls used, though they're interrupted from their final wish—which, thank god, because they were going to be super dumb about it.

Then we see the start of a showdown with Freeza, in which we get to see his final form.

Oh man, this series is so cheesy. The “I am invincible!” “No, I am!” is so ridiculous. It can definitely be enjoyable at times, and is aimed at the right age group for it. Pretty easy to read, though.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dragon Ball Full Color Freeza Arc, Volume 2, by Akira Toriyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2016

Volumes: 8.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

After years of training and adventure, Goku has become Earth's ultimate warrior. And his son, Gohan, shows even greater promise. But the stakes are increasing as even deadlier enemies threaten the planet. Now experience this legendary manga classic in full color!

Gohan and Kuririn struggle to keep the last Dragon Ball from falling into Freeza and Vegeta’s possession, but how will they fare against Freeza’s Ginyu Force—a group of five of the strongest fighters in the galaxy? If they want to survive, they may have to do the unthinkable and team up with Vegeta!

Review:

The fight on Namek continues. The two kids continue to sneak around and try to collect the dragon balls while Vegeta is getting closer, and then they all end up against Freeza’s men. They give a good fight, but they’re really getting the crap beaten out of them. It’s good that Goku shows up when he does.

While these books aren’t too bad to read, they really aren’t my favorite. It’s just not my normal kind of book. But they are easy to read, and I really don’t mind them. This one was a bit slower than the others I’ve read, I think.

I am intrigued to see what Goku does in the next one, what all his training has led to.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Dragon Ball Full Color Freeza Arc, Volume 1, by Akira Toriyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~3
Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Spoilers?: No.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.
Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Akira Toriyama's original, bestselling series now in a full-color version!


After his epic battle with Vegeta, Son Goku must obtain the wish-granting Dragon Balls in order to resurrect their fallen allies! Their search will take them all the way to the planet Namek, where the evil Freeza and his minions are slaughtering the Namekians in order to fulfill Freeza’s wish for immortality. What will it take to defeat this great evil?

Review:

Since I’m not a normal reader of the Dragon Ball books nor do I watch the show, this was a little slow to start for me. I don’t really have any background for the characters or the storyline—I’ve really only read the one book. But it’s a pretty simple story to follow.
It’s surprisingly brutal, with a lot of character deaths happening, a lot of fighting, only most of it brushed off and eased over. But it is a story based on fighting, so I’m not surprised by that part.
Vegeta, Son Goku and Kuririn, and Freeza and his men, are all invading planet Namek to find the dragon balls and to stop each other from finding them all. Son Goku and Kuririn stay in the background mostly, out of the fighting because they know they’re weaker and they are waiting for backup, a.k.a. Goku. Vegeta and Freeza’s group are the ones doing most of the fighting and most of the killing. As we reached the end of the volume, Vegeta is fighting and Goku has almost reached the planet.
This is still a surprisingly fun read. I’m not the audience it’s aimed at, and I have barely read any of the books. But it’s still fun to read, easy to follow, a bit childish but in a good and purposeful way. It’s fun and I can see the appeal.


A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

(Short) Manga Reviews: Dragon Ball Full Color: Saiyan Arc, Volume 1, and Max Steel: Hero Overload, Volume 2

Dragon Ball Full Color: Saiyan Arc, Volume 1, by Akira Toriyama
Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 2014

Volumes: 3?

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Son Goku is the greatest hero on Earth. Five years after defeating the demon king Piccolo, he's grown up and had a family--he's married, and he has a child, Son Gohan. But what is the real reason for Goku's incredible strength? A visitor from outer space arrives bearing terrible news--Goku is an alien, and the visitor, Raditz, is Goku's brother! When Raditz turns out to be a ruthless killer, Goku must fight his incredibly strong brother to save his family and the entire human race. A surprising alliance may be Earth's last hope: Goku will team up with his old enemy Piccolo—archenemies united to save the world!"

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

Review:

I have never read or seen any of the Dragon Ball series, including any of it’s spin-offs or other versions. The most I’ve ever seen of this series is the image of a few of the characters. So my understanding of this series was minuscule when I received this book, and I was a little deterred when I thought this was the first, only to find out it was a later arc of the series.

I’m even more surprised to say that this wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be—it was even a little enjoyable. I didn’t mind reading it.

I was thrown into the world with little explanation, but everything was explained well-enough along the way. I got at least some understanding of their powers and how they worked. There was a bit more violence than I expected, and I didn’t grow too attached to the characters, but it was interesting. The fight scenes were pretty easy to follow. The art wasn't too bad, either.

I didn’t really appreciate that the SFX were translated at the end of the volume, but I respect their decision not to clutter the panels. And this is definitely a sturdy, pretty volume. It’s full color, with a solid spine and thick pages; it is not a flimsy book, which is nice.

This was a pretty average book for me, and I’m happy with that, given I had no idea how I would feel about it. I don’t know if I want to pick up more volumes, but I’m not so turned off from watching the show now, at least. And I have a better understanding for why so many people like it.

&

Max Steel: Hero Overload, Volume 2, by B. Clay Moore and Alfa Robbi
Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5
Publisher: Perfect Square (VIZ Media) and Mattel
Release Date: January 2014
Spoilers?: No.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.
Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Maxwell McGrath is just your average 16-year-old boy…until he starts experiencing uncontrollable Turbo Energy! To control this superpower, he must merge with a know-it-all alien ultralink named Steel. Together this unlikely duo will battle to save the earth as the ultimate turbocharged superhero—MAX STEEL!

Review:

I received this book for review, and it isn’t really something I would normally pick up. I just don’t read a lot of middle grade, cartoon network, superhero stuff.

But it was all right. The artwork was all right, the story was okay. It was pretty average for me, honestly. The humor wasn’t that great, it was a little exaggerated with the overall plot predictable. The moral lesson at the end was good, although it was pretty much just tacked on to the last two pages.

But I do think that elementary, maybe grade school, kids will enjoy it. I’m just not the target audience.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!