Okay, picture this: I'm at my local comic book store, right? Stacks upon stacks of manga, a veritable paper mountain of adventure and weirdness. I'm usually drawn to the indie stuff, you know, the quirky stories with hand-drawn art that look like they were scribbled on a napkin after a particularly potent dream. But today, a familiar orange and blue gi catches my eye. Yep, it's Goku, grinning like he's just powered up to Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Evolved Kaio-Ken x 20 or whatever the heck they're calling it these days. Dragon Ball Super, tome number… uh… a lot. Let's dive in!
So, Dragon Ball Super, or DBS, as the cool kids (and Wikipedia) call it, is the continuation of the legendary Dragon Ball saga. Let's be honest, most of us grew up with Goku shouting at the top of his lungs, Krillin getting blown up (again), and Vegeta brooding magnificently. It's nostalgia in its purest, most spiky-haired form. But nostalgia only carries you so far. Does the DBS manga actually deliver, or is it just riding the coattails of its iconic predecessors?
The Story: Beyond Z
DBS picks up after the defeat of Majin Buu. Earth is (relatively) peaceful. Goku's farming (badly), Gohan's studying (good for him!), and Vegeta's… well, probably training in the gravity chamber, muttering about surpassing Goku. Classic Vegeta, right? Things quickly escalate, however. We're talking Gods of Destruction, multiversal tournaments, and villains who make Frieza look like a slightly grumpy kitten.
Key Story Arcs:
- Battle of Gods & Resurrection 'F': These arcs retell the stories from the first two DBS movies, with some differences and added details. Beerus, the God of Destruction, arrives looking for the Super Saiyan God. Frieza gets resurrected (again!) and seeks revenge. Let's just say, things get explosively colorful.
- Universe 6 Tournament Arc: This is where DBS really starts to carve its own path. Goku and Vegeta represent Universe 7 in a tournament against Universe 6, led by Beerus's twin brother, Champa. We meet new characters, like the stoic Hit, and the power scaling goes completely bonkers (as it always does in Dragon Ball).
- Goku Black Arc: This is arguably the darkest and most compelling arc of DBS. A mysterious figure, Goku Black, wreaks havoc in Future Trunks's timeline. The mystery surrounding his identity and motivations is genuinely intriguing, and the battles are intense. (Side note: Zamasu's motivations are, let's just say, unique.)
- Universe Survival Arc: A tournament featuring warriors from eight different universes, with the losing universes facing total obliteration. High stakes, right? This arc is packed with action, new characters, and some truly epic team-ups. The power levels? Forget about it. You'll need a calculator (or maybe a supercomputer) to keep track.
- Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc: Moro, a powerful magic user, escapes from the Galactic Patrol prison and seeks to consume the energy of entire planets. This arc introduces a fresh dynamic and expands on the universe’s lore. It's got some really interesting new techniques for Goku and Vegeta too!
- Granolah the Survivor Arc: The latest arc (as of this writing) sees Goku and Vegeta facing Granolah, a Cerealian seeking revenge on the Saiyans. This arc explores the Saiyans' dark past and introduces some morally gray characters. Prepare for unexpected alliances and some serious power-ups!
The story, while sometimes convoluted (it is Dragon Ball, after all), is generally engaging. It expands the Dragon Ball universe in exciting ways and introduces new characters and concepts that are (mostly) well-integrated into the established lore. But is it perfect? Nah. There are moments where the pacing feels rushed, and some plot points could definitely use more fleshing out. Still, it's a fun ride.
Art and Animation (Well, Art, Anyway)
The art in the DBS manga is handled by Toyotaro, who was mentored by Akira Toriyama himself. He does a pretty solid job of capturing the essence of Toriyama's style while adding his own flair. The character designs are consistent with the original series, and the action sequences are dynamic and easy to follow.
- Character Designs: Most of the original characters look as they should, and the new characters are generally well-designed. Toyotaro does a good job of making each character distinct and memorable. Although, I still struggle to remember all the Gods of Destruction... Maybe they should get name tags?
- Action Sequences: This is where Toyotaro really shines. The fight scenes are fast-paced, energetic, and visually stunning. You can practically feel the impact of each punch and ki blast. Though sometimes, they do get a little chaotic.
- Backgrounds & Details: Okay, this is where the art sometimes falls a little flat. Backgrounds can be sparse, and sometimes the level of detail isn't quite up to par with the original Dragon Ball manga. But hey, nobody's perfect! (Except maybe Whis, and even he probably spills his tea sometimes.)
Overall, the art in the DBS manga is good. It's not going to win any awards for groundbreaking visual storytelling, but it's perfectly serviceable and captures the spirit of Dragon Ball. And let's be honest, we're here for the power-ups and the screaming, not the meticulously rendered landscapes, right?
Is It Worth Reading?
Okay, the big question: should you actually read the Dragon Ball Super manga? The answer, as with most things in life, is "it depends."
You'll probably enjoy it if:
- You're a long-time Dragon Ball fan. Duh.
- You're looking for more over-the-top action and power-ups. Seriously, the power levels get insane.
- You're interested in exploring the expanded Dragon Ball universe and new characters.
- You don't mind some inconsistencies and plot holes (hey, it's Dragon Ball!).
You might not enjoy it if:
- You're expecting a profound and intellectually stimulating story. This isn't Tolstoy.
- You're easily bothered by power scaling issues. Prepare for characters to become inexplicably stronger/weaker from one chapter to the next.
- You're tired of the same old Dragon Ball tropes. (Goku shouting, Vegeta brooding, Krillin getting… you know.)
Personally, I find the DBS manga to be a fun and entertaining read. It's not perfect, but it's a worthy continuation of the Dragon Ball saga. It expands the universe in interesting ways, introduces new characters and villains, and delivers plenty of the over-the-top action that we've come to expect from the series. Plus, it gives me an excuse to yell "Kamehameha!" at my cat, which is always a plus.
So, next time you're browsing your local comic shop, give the Dragon Ball Super manga a look. Just be prepared for some serious power-up shenanigans. You've been warned!
And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go train. I'm pretty sure I can unlock Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Evolved Ultra Instinct Any Day Now. Wish me luck!
