Sally Beatty, staff reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has penned an article examining the violence in the DragonBall series and its rise to popularity in North America.

Brutality is a staple. In one recent episode, beads of sweat form on the brow of a character named Vegeta as he is nearly strangled to death by an evil foe named Frieza. In another, Frieza uses the horns on his head to impale a good guy named Krillin through the chest.

Read the full article as archived on Steve Simmons’ personal website.