A review by emily_m_green
Dragon Ball Z, Vol. 1 (Vizbig Edition) by Akira Toriyama

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Dragon Ball Z begins with Son Goku and his son Son Gohan visiting Master Roshi, who taught Son Goku how to fight. Son Gohan has never learned combat, because Chi Chi, Son Goku’s wife and Son Gohan’s mother, has forbidden it, as she has determined her son should be a a scholar. It seems that the universe has different plans for Son Gohan.

An alien lands on Earth, who turns out to be Son Goku’s brother, and he is furious at Son Goku for going soft and rails at him for not conquering the planet and denuding it of humans. With the help of his buddies and his enemy Piccolo, Son Goku manages to defeat his brother. However, he is sure that there will be retaliation. 

When Son Goku and Son Gohan are separated and Piccolo takes the role of training Son Goku, it is unclear whether Piccolo will have the compassion and patience to train such a young child. 

Meanwhile, Son Goku has his own training to do, his friends recover the Dragon Balls. Together, friends and enemies must combine their efforts to save the planet and all human kind. 

The volume has some odd moments, including some potty humor that would please my three and six year olds. There is also death, fighting, aliens, and revenge. The book certainly fits the bill of interesting and entertaining. 

Would I teach this book? I suppose if there were some sort of class specifically about manga or creating characters for CCGs, I would consider it. Since I have only read this volume, it would be difficult for me to say whether or not it represents the rest of the series. I was not wild about the book, but if my students were very interested in discussing it, I would teach it.