Should I get the tankoubon version or wait?

[ManyFaces]

I've been a DragonBall fan since the late '90s; I've watched every episode/special/movie available, but I still haven't got the chance to collect/read the entire manga. Since I have some spare cash and nothing else in mind to read, I'm wondering if I should get the volume releases, but I don't want to buy them just yet because I'm afraid Viz will come out with either a kanzenban or kanzenban-like release that will be uncensored -- basically making the volume releases obsolete. I know the VizBigs are similar to the kanzenban releases, but they're too bulky and I hear they're even more censored than the tankoubon release.

So, the reason I made this thread is to ask what y'all think. Do you think they'll do such a release? Will the manga ever be completely uncensored!? I realize no one will know for sure, but if enough you think they won't do another, better release then I'll probably pick them up.

[Pokewhiz7]

I started a thread a few months ago about this. In my opinion, you should get the VizBigs. They're very cheap, have color pages, (only about 20%, but better then the Tankoubon's 0%), take up less shelf space than 42 Tankoubons and extras like Toriyama's "Ask Me Anything Corner". They are slightly bulky, but you get used to it. As for censorship, I can't really say how much there is, but it appears to be consistent, where with the Tankoubon you might find some censored volumes, some more censored, some less, etc. Really, the only example I can think of when it's intrusive is when Bulma gives Pilaf the index finger. The advantage to the Tankoubon is cool spine art when you line it up. That's about it. If a Kanzeban were to be released, it would likely make the VizBigs irrelevant, although they would still have the advantage of price. I would just say get the VizBigs.

Sorry if I sounded like a salesman.

[Herms]

Unfortunately the odds of Viz coming out with a kanzenban release seem pretty slim at this point, so I wouldn't worry about that. My advice would be to get the VizBigs if you're short on cash. They're cheaper, and I think the higher print quality and color pages outweigh the censorship. It also might be difficult to track down the uncensored graphic novels. The whole issue of which of the GN editions are or aren't censored seems endlessly confusing, and you might end up with ones that are just as censored as the VizBigs.

[ManyFaces]

Should of searched before posting this since your thread is basically the same as mine. Oh well.

After adding up some numbers, I now know how much I would save.

Amazon.com (The cheapest, most reliable website I can find.)

DragonBall VizBig vol. 1-4: $50.72 (Volume 5 is sold out just about everywhere; Rightstuf appears to be getting more on August 31st.)
DragonBall box set 1-16: $72.44

DragonBall Z VizBig vol. 1-9: $109.35
DragonBall Z box set 1-26: $117.17

The box sets cost more, but it's not by much. Iunno, the VizBig editions may be pretty, but I need something a bit more compact. To be honest, I don't really read much in my leisure. I typically read during my lunch break or when I'm out in the field (drill), so having lighter books is definitely a plus. Another reason why I'm leaning more to volumes is Viz turning the color pages from the kanzenban into black and white, which apparently looks terrible.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see the color pages, but the above reasons keep me away. Oh, and I thought the VizBigs having more edits than the tankoubons was, generally, a accepted fact. Are both releases just randomly censored and seemingly have around the same amount of edits?

Anyway, I guess I'll have to think about it more, and wait for more replies.

[Puto]

For the earlier volumes, some releases of the tankōbon have less censorship, and some have more. Which one you'd end up with would be a total gamble. For later volumes, I think they're identical in terms of censorship.

Also, if you can speak languages other than English, you could try to get either the Spanish, the French or the Dutch releases of the kanzenban -- I got the Spanish release of the Boo arc volumes myself.

[MCDaveG]

I think the best option are Vizbigs for Euro-US readers, if you can't at least read Japanese.

[ManyFaces]

How could the French, Spanish and Dutch afford to license the kanzenban, but not the US? Or did the US license the kanzenban, but cheap out and only color a few? If that's case then we'll probably never see a kanzenban release.

I'm kind of a newb in terms of the manga, so can anyone tell me what names (original or FUNimation) the volume and VizBig editions use? I think I remember hearing Viz used most of the original names in the latest tankoubon release, but I'm not sure about the VizBig.

[MCDaveG]

Probably becuase they are not doing any idiotic censorship, but Viz is probably thinking: Yeah, I will license kanzenban and it will be expensive to have a team on it again and list all those threats we must alter to keep our babies safe.....
If EU versions aren't censored, then it is simply translation and filling up clear bubbles in the production data from the rights seller or re-using previous translation from the ''tankoubon'' released previously.
Next to the rights, the most expensive thing is translation. At least with classic books.

Viz should hire Daimao Simmons and release the definitive kanzenban version.
I will definitely buy it.
Here comes the first customer!!!

[ManyFaces]

I was just thinking what if Viz never released the VizBigs, then when FUNi announced the Dragon Boxes, they saw just how many people were into the absolute original version and decided to release uncensored kanzenban alongside the Dragon Boxes.

I don't know... a world that does that is too perfect. It'd be scary.

It appears my skepticism about Viz doing another release had some merit -- no one thinks they will do another release. That just sucks.

[Herms]

Another reason why I'm leaning more to volumes is Viz turning the color pages from the kanzenban into black and white, which apparently looks terrible.

Well, the graphic novels also have color pages in gray scale. I have heard they look worse in the VizBigs (though I've also heard this improves in the later volumes), but they don't really look all that great in the GNs either.

I'm kind of a newb in terms of the manga, so can anyone tell me what names (original or FUNimation) the volume and VizBig editions use? I think I remember hearing Viz used most of the original names in the latest tankoubon release, but I'm not sure about the VizBig.

Viz uses their own unique naming scheme. Some names are the same as the original (Tenshinhan, Kuririn), while some are changed (Vegerot). Besides names that are the same as the original in both versions, the only point in common between Viz's name scheme and Funi's is that they both use "Her'cule" instead of "Mister Satan". The translation in the VizBig is the same as the later Viz GNs. They didn't change any names that I'm aware of.

[ManyFaces]

Yea, I knew that Viz did the same thing for the novels, but I guess since the VizBig has better quality paper, it's a lot more noticeable.

Thanks for the information, Herms, and everybody else too. Well I've decided what to do: Buy neither... Both releases sound terrible to me. I was really looking forward to buying the manga but after hearing all that's wrong with 'em, I guess I'll wait until Viz decides to make an uncensored release; it doesn't even have to be the kanzenban, just uncensored.

I know, Viz may never do another release, but to be honest, I rather just have my Dragon Boxes then have the Boxes and a mediocre manga release.

[Bardock the Mexican]

I've been a DragonBall fan since the late '90s; I've watched every episode/special/movie available, but I still haven't got the chance to collect/read the entire manga.

(Promotion of illegal streams and scans removed by moderator.)

I would recommend the tankoubon (I think that's the right spelling :s) for it's size and because that's the easier to store size. You can find the tankobon volumes used or semi-new, but you probably will have to buy them in chunks rather than all at once. Anyway, best of luck getting the volumes, whatever you choose to get.

[rereboy]

The Vizbigs are cheaper and have better quality than the normal edition and have a great number of the original color pages printed in color.

In short, they are superior to the regular release in most aspects.

For a in-depth look at the Vizbig release check these topics:

http://daizex.fanboyreview.net/viewtopi ... 71&start=0
http://daizex.fanboyreview.net/viewtopi ... 105&hilit=

[Bardock the Mexican]

I've been a DragonBall fan since the late '90s; I've watched every episode/special/movie available, but I still haven't got the chance to collect/read the entire manga.

(Promotion of illegal streams and scans removed by moderator.)

I would like to point out that I have bought a great deal of the Dragonball DVDs (the uncut ones) as well as the tankobon volumes. The only reason I linked to a site that had the chapters was because I can't imagine the hassle of trying to find the tankobon, much less to the quality a DaizenshuuEX fan would want. I didn't mean to say that a person shouldn't support the people who make the DVDs and the books. Most of the volumes and DVDs are out of print, which would mean that the only real alternative is to buy used. If the issue is who makes money or doesn't then I don't see what the "right thing to do" would be.

Who else besides Funimation is putting out anything resembling uncut DVDs of the Japanese version? I'm not being snappy - I just want to hear what the "right thing" would be.

[Bussani]

I would like to point out that I have bought a great deal of the Dragonball DVDs (the uncut ones) as well as the tankobon volumes. The only reason I linked to a site that had the chapters was because I can't imagine the hassle of trying to find the tankobon, much less to the quality a DaizenshuuEX fan would want. I didn't mean to say that a person shouldn't support the people who make the DVDs and the books. Most of the volumes and DVDs are out of print, which would mean that the only real alternative is to buy used. If the issue is who makes money or doesn't then I don't see what the "right thing to do" would be.

Who else besides Funimation is putting out anything resembling uncut DVDs of the Japanese version? I'm not being snappy - I just want to hear what the "right thing" would be.

There's no need to overcomplicate the matter. "Don't link to or recommend bootlegged material" is just one of the forum rules.

Also, I find it funny that anyone would think those hideous scanlations with flipped art and terrible translations are better than Viz's options...

[Bardock the Mexican]

There's no need to overcomplicate the matter. "Don't link to or recommend bootlegged material" is just one of the forum rules.

Also, I find it funny that anyone would think those hideous scanlations with flipped art and terrible translations are better than Viz's options...

I hate to play lawyer, but the rules mention "bootlegs"

I've read them a dozen times and only posted the links I posted or vaguely mentioned them out of ignorance of what the rules meant/what the intent was.

Also, I wouldn't want to buy the tankobon again since last time it was in the ballpark of $100 or more for the Dragonball and Dragonball Z tankobon.

Edit: $20 for some "Collector's Edition" of the first volume.

[Super Sonic]

$8 a volume isn't expensive. Hell, most gns go for $20. Or are you a foreigner?

[Bardock the Mexican]

$8 a volume isn't expensive. Hell, most gns go for $20. Or are you a foreigner?

lol

I guess it's not a ton of money, but...aww hell whatever it's not that bad.

At least cigarettes are still that cheap...

[TripleRach]

I hate to play lawyer, but the rules mention "bootlegs"

I've read them a dozen times and only posted the links I posted or vaguely mentioned them out of ignorance of what the rules meant/what the intent was.

The rules were written back when bootleg CDs and DVDs were the most prominent form of piracy. Streaming sites and manga scan sites didn't really exist back then the way they do now. But that rule does apply to those things, too.

If you feel the rule should be updated or clarified, you could tell that to VegettoEX (via email, PM, a thread in "Website Discussion," etc). But this thread should stay on topic from here on out.

[Kendamu]

Oh, c'mon! The Viz tankoubon isn't that bad! It does have room to improve, but you can get the whole thing for $170 and they come in neat box sets!

Really, though, go to a book store and sit down and read a couple volumes and see if you like it. There really isn't that much to censor, so the biggest examples (like bare breasts) only show up two or three times in the entire 42 volumes.