Toriyama's one shot comic Lady Red

Scarz · Post by **Scarz** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:48 am

My question is pretty simply, what was Lady Red about? What magazine was it pulblish for and how long was it? Was it a full one shot comic like Mr. Ho or just a comic strip page that showed up between other stories? I'm not asking for download links (if you have images I guess it wouldn't hurt to share).

Example of Lady Red Comic page (NSFWish)
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a209/ ... adyred.jpg

I love the page above for hundred and one reasons I can not share.

The Time Traveller · Post by **The Time Traveller** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:05 am

I think I remember it being talked about, along with a pornographic pirate page drawn by Toriyama as well.

I remember it being described as a superhero who ends up being mistaken for a prostitute so she does that instead.

Innagadadavida · Post by **Innagadadavida** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:18 am

Wow, that was kind of fucked up and sexist. Like, more sexist than anything Toriyama has ever done. Like, even a Japanese man would look and that and think: "Hmmm... that ain't right."

Greenman · Post by **Greenman** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:31 am

The only info I could find is this:

(Super Jump #10, Apr. 1987)
An inept female crime fighter discovers that prostitution pays better money. Gag one-shot for young adults.

Innagadadavida wrote:Wow, that was kind of fucked up and sexist. Like, more sexist than anything Toriyama has ever done. Like, even a Japanese man would look and that and think: "Hmmm... that ain't right."

I didn't get it at first, but then I read it again after reading the description. I thought it was hilarious. Sorry, I'm a bad person.

Scarz · Post by **Scarz** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:43 am

The Time Traveller wrote:I think I remember it being talked about, along with a pornographic pirate page drawn by Toriyama as well.

It was an adult illustration titled "Bitch's Life."

Innagadadavida wrote:Wow, that was kind of fucked up and sexist. Like, more sexist than anything Toriyama has ever done. Like, even a Japanese man would look and that and think: "Hmmm... that ain't right."

I'm not a Japanese man, but I'm an American woman and I laughed. I laughed hard.

(Super Jump #10, Apr. 1987)
An inept female crime fighter discovers that prostitution pays better money. Gag one-shot for young adults.

Hm, that's kind of what I guessed from looking at the comic page. But I'm really glad to know what magazine it's from. Maybe by some god send miracle I'll be able to find it. And by young adults I'm sure they mean between the ages of "I'm too young to be reading this" and "I haven't discovered free porn yet."

Rocketman · Post by **Rocketman** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:52 am

Holy shit, it's the World Tournament Announcer.

Scarz · Post by **Scarz** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:01 am

Rocketman wrote:Holy shit, it's the World Tournament Announcer.

I always suspected him to be a debaucher.

fig404 · Post by **fig404** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:21 am

Wait, is this her?

No, I guess not...

Anyway, why does the comic read left-to-right?

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:34 am

Innagadadavida wrote:Like, even a Japanese man would look and that and think: "Hmmm... that ain't right."

No, they wouldn't.

I'm actually finding the premise pretty funny. Never knew about this little "gem" from Toriyama before.

MCDaveG · Post by **MCDaveG** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:30 am

Simply awesome, I can't wait to read the whole story somewhere

B · Post by B » Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:35 am

Holy shit, I am losing it at this. Too bad it's not a full series.

Post by **Herms** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:36 am

Hmmm...me and Hujio actually scanslated the whole thing quite some time ago, but Hujio's computer blew up or something afterward, and we never got around to releasing it. We were also kind of scared of people reacting negatively to it, so we were trying to release it at the same time as some other, more family-friendly Toriyama work. Maybe I'll get Hujio to release it now, if he's around. Until then, here's my translated script for the whole thing, with some notes to make it hopefully easier to follow without the pictures to go along with it. The whole thing is only 3 pages. It was originally published in Super Jump, and has been reprinted in the second of the Akira Toriyama Exhibition books and also the Toriyama Grand Feast collection volume 1, a collection of Toriyama's short works. It's supposed to be done in the style of an American comic, and so it reads from left to right; it even has a "this manga reads from left to right" message with arrow at the top of the pages, just like the "this manga reads from right to left" messages Viz has for its manga! Each panel is numbered as well, probably to drive home the intended reading order even further.

Page One
[title panel]
Lady Red by Akira Toriyama
Messenger of Justice, Lady Red—Akira Toriyama, Bird Studio

1
I’m Lady Red. Due to the rampant increase in evil, I quit my job as an office lady and became an ally of justice. I don’t have any money now, but that’s OK. This is my calling.

2
*Lady Red is driving around in her ordinary, very non-superheroish car*
I’m out on patrol today too. I won’t stop until evil itself is gone from this world.

4
*She gets into an accident*
Man: Where the hell were you looking?!!

5
Man (driving off): Watch out next time!!

6
*Gun shots*
LR: Ah!

7
Someone: I’ve been robbed! Somebody help!!

Page Two

8
LR (striking pose): Evil!!

9
LR (trying to start her car): No!! It won’t go!!

10
LR: Taxi!!

11
LR: Follow that car!!
Cabby: Sure

14
LR: He stopped at that house! OK, let me off here.

15
Cabby: That’ll be $21
LR: Huh!? You’d take money from an ally of justice!? There’s no way I’d have that much money!

16
Cabby: You’re shitting me!! In that case, you can pay with your body!
LR: Huh!?

17
*zoom-out shot of cab*
LR: A~~~~~~~h!

Page Three
18
*Cabby drives off, leaving Lady Red looking disheveled*
Cabby: So long!

19
LR (running): No!! This isn’t the time to get dispirited!!

20
LR (knocking on door): Open up! I know you’re in there!!

21
Robber: [l] Wha!? [r] Who the heck are you!?

22
LR: [l] I’m the messenger of justice, Lady Red!! [r] Give yourself up peacefully, robber!!

23
Robber: Don’t give me that crap. Let’s have some fun together!
LR: Ah, that hurts!!

24
Robber (getting undressed): Hehhehhe, you’re a pretty fine woman, aincha?
LR: W-wait, please!!

25
LR: A~~~~~~~h!

26
*afterwards*
LR: Sob, sob
Robber: Here’s some thanks for perking me up. Take it and go home.

[End panel]
*Lady Red, as prostitute*
Man: How much?
LR: 200. If you don’t like it, get lost.
Balloon: I am Lady Red. Now, I’m a Messenger of sexual skill.
[“sexual skill” being a pun on seigi/justice.]

Bottom: <Published in Super Jump #2, 1987>

[OK, so none of this counts as DB-related, unless you count the comic's shocking revelation of the Tenkaichi Budoukai announcer's rough and rowdy past]

B · Post by B » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:45 am

Holy crap, she's raped twice a page. Oh, Toriyama.

Great job as usual, Herms and Huj.

Post by **Herms** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:49 am

B wrote:Holy crap, she's raped twice a page. Oh, Toriyama.

Well, the first rape really happens at the end of page 2.

Hmm, looks like I actually still have the scanslated pages on my computer. Maybe I can work out a way to post them here. Assuming Mike doesn't lock the whole thread first. Where's that new general Toriyama forum someone set up?

Post by **VegettoEX** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:50 am

Herms wrote:Assuming Mike doesn't lock the whole thread first.

Yeah, we're done here. This has nothing to do with DragonBall, and is not content I am interested in having distributed anywhere related to this website.