Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

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Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by RLZIII » Fri Nov 25, 2011 11:42 am

I've been doing a little reading about the various releases of the Dragon Ball manga in Japanese and English, and I've been learning quite a bit about what comprises each release. Of course there's always something missing from every release, and even the kanzenban (despite its name) is not a perfect release for everyone. So...what would be your "perfect" Dragon Ball release? Below is a list of things I'd love to see in my "perfect" release, assuming one day I discover dream world; I'd love to hear what everyone else has in mind!
  • 34 volumes, like the kanzenban release
  • Kanzenban-size release
  • Hardcover
  • Inclusion of every color page in...color
  • Inclusion of every original cover and special art that was present in the Weekly Shonen Jump and tankoubon releases
  • Inclusion of every "Ask Me Anything" and "Author Notes" feature
  • Nice seamless images of the tankoubon's and kanzenban's spine arts
  • The kanzenban ending where it belongs, as well as the original two-page version in color as a special (including Toriyama's farewell message)
  • For an English release: A refreshed translation (that doesn't have name changes, doesn't take as many liberties, et cetera)
  • For an English release: Zero censorship
  • For an English release: Dropping the "Z" in the title from chapters 195 and onward, keeping with the original manga release simply being titled "Dragon Ball"
EDIT: Some additional things that I thought of...
  • A digital download version to accompany the physical release
  • For an English release: The Japanese onomatopoeia to be kept intact, with small notations near the kana with the English equivalent/transcription (not in the margins, as I think that distracts too much)
  • For an English release: Retain the honorifics from the original Japanese; if necessary, add a reference at the end of the volumes with translations/explanations of what they all mean
Last edited by RLZIII on Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:33 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by DBZGTKOSDH » Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:37 pm

RLZIII wrote:
  • 34 volumes, like the kanzenban release
  • Kanzenban-size release
  • Hardcover
  • Inclusion of every color page in...color
  • Inclusion of every original cover and special art that was present in the Weekly Shonen Jump and tankoubon releases
  • Inclusion of every "Ask Me Anything" and "Author Notes" feature
  • Nice seamless images of the tankoubon's and kanzenban's spine arts
  • The kanzenban ending where it belongs, as well as the original two-page version in color as a special (including Toriyama's farewell message)
  • For an English release: A refreshed translation (that doesn't have name changes, doesn't take as many liberties, et cetera)
  • For an English release: Zero censorship
  • For an English release: Dropping the "Z" in the title from chapters 195 and onward, keeping with the original manga release simply being titled "Dragon Ball"
Well, that would be perfect! But I have to add one more thing to make it truly perfect(for me at least). Divide the Volumes to story arcs! I hate that the tankoubon volume 17(?) begins with the finale of Goku vs Piccolo fight and then enders to Raditz!
James Teal (Animerica 1996) wrote:When you think about it, there are a number of similarities between the Chinese-inspired Son Goku and that most American of superhero icons, Superman. Both are aliens sent to Earth shortly after birth to escape the destruction of their homeworlds; both possess super-strength, flight, super-speed, heightened senses and the ability to cast energy blasts. But the crucial difference between them lies not only in how they view the world, but in how the world views them.

Superman is, and always has been, a symbol for truth, justice, and upstanding moral fortitude–a role model and leader as much as a fighter. The more down-to-earth Goku has no illusions about being responsible for maintaining social order, or for setting some kind of moral example for the entire world. Goku is simply a martial artist who’s devoted his life toward perfecting his fighting skills and other abilities. Though never shy about risking his life to save either one person or the entire world, he just doesn’t believe that the balance of the world rests in any way on his shoulders, and he has no need to shape any part of it in his image. Goku is an idealist, and believes that there is some good in everyone, but he is unconcerned with the big picture of the world…unless it has to do with some kind of fight. Politics, society, law and order don’t have much bearing on his life, but he’s a man who knows right from wrong.

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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by RLZIII » Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:59 pm

DBZGTKOSDH wrote:Well, that would be perfect! But I have to add one more thing to make it truly perfect(for me at least). Divide the Volumes to story arcs! I hate that the tankoubon volume 17(?) begins with the finale of Goku vs Piccolo fight and then enders to Raditz!
At least that part is "fixed" with the kanzenban version of the manga (which I'd love my "perfect" version to be based off of), where volume 13 concludes the Piccolo arc, and volume 14 starts right off at chapter 195 (the introduction of Raditz). It seems like the kanzenban release does a great job in splitting the volumes up by "arc" after that as well, with volume 22 wrapping up the Namek/Freeza arc (thus leading into volume 23 beginning with chapter 330, "Freeza and Father Descend Upon the Earth"), and volume 28 wrapping up the Cell arc (followed by volume 29 starting off with the Great Saiyaman arc). However, it doesn't seem to be as favorable with the earlier arcs before Raditz's arrival; the Pilaf arc ends in the middle of volume 2, the Red Ribbon Army arc starts halfway through volume 4, et cetera.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by theoriginalbilis » Fri Nov 25, 2011 3:02 pm

I would've been perfectly happy with the VizBig-style releases, if only they were uncut with the names like H-e-rcule and Ve-ge-rot gone.

That's all I really want if the manga ever gets re-released: uncut with some slight translation improvments.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by B » Fri Nov 25, 2011 3:08 pm

The Kanzenban with a Japanese tutor thrown in for free.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by MCDaveG » Fri Nov 25, 2011 11:43 pm

Kanzenban, uncensored, unaltered dialogues, no rudiculous Hercule........ well, perfeeeeeext!!
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by wannywan » Sat Nov 26, 2011 11:40 am

I would love to see an all new English translation in a kanzenban style release.

To be perfect for me it would need to have; full colour pages with all the extras (ask me anything etc.) included and sound effects (and anything not within dialog boxes) in the original Japanese script, with notes added in the margin if needed.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by RLZIII » Sat Dec 10, 2011 2:33 am

wannywan wrote:[...] and sound effects (and anything not within dialog boxes) in the original Japanese script, with notes added in the margin if needed.
I'm sure this has been debated time and time again over the years (and of course not just with Dragon Ball, but manga in general). I've always had mixed feelings about this. I can read kana, and I have a familiarization with many common Japanese onomatopoeia, so I can read most manga sound effects without them being edited into English. However, I also don't like the margin notes that appear in most manga (and to do sound effects completely, there'd be tons of margin notes). I'd like the sound effects to stay in their original script as to keep the art as edit-free as possible; but at the same time I'd like to keep the margins as clean as to not distract from the actual manga.

Perhaps a good medium would be to add the sound effects in English in small text near the actual kana (as is popular in some scanlation projects; I'm not sure if I've ever seen this done in an "official" release of any manga States-side). So, in conclusion, I'm indecisive.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by thedarkuniter » Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:13 am

So far, I'm happy with the VIZ Big Edition. I guess if I wanted an improvement for it, it would have to be the adding of swear words and not calling Mr. Satan, H ercule.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by SylentEcho » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:29 am

VizBigs are kind of perfect, but they censor too many things and many of their names are weird.

I'd say my version of a perfect release would be the Kanzenban. The artwork is the best quality and clarity I've seen so far, it's uncut and it's big in size. It's got all the colour pages and almost all the original artwork.

Now if only Herms would translate and bootleg perfect replicas of them. :lol:

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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by Saiga » Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:41 am

SylentEcho wrote:VizBigs are kind of perfect, but they censor too many things and many of their names are weird.

I'd say my version of a perfect release would be the Kanzenban. The artwork is the best quality and clarity I've seen so far, it's uncut and it's big in size. It's got all the colour pages and almost all the original artwork.

Now if only Herms would translate and bootleg perfect replicas of them. :lol:
Viz need to release the Kazenban in a box set without the censorship and name changes, that would be my perfect manga release.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by wannywan » Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:27 pm

RLZIII wrote:
wannywan wrote:[...] and sound effects (and anything not within dialog boxes) in the original Japanese script, with notes added in the margin if needed.
Perhaps a good medium would be to add the sound effects in English in small text near the actual kana (as is popular in some scanlation projects; I'm not sure if I've ever seen this done in an "official" release of any manga States-side). So, in conclusion, I'm indecisive.
This is an even better idea than what I previously wrote!

Though from my perspective, (I can't read any japanese script) I would rather they didn't edit over the image with 'BOOM' etc., as I never actually read the sound effects. It actually took one of my friends to comment on the Dragonball manga for me to even notice this. For example:

Friend: Are you reading that Dragonball again?
Me: Yeah...
Friend: I don't know how you follow the story, all it ever says is 'BOOM' or 'ZZZZZ' etc. ...
Me: You know what, I had never even noticed that but you're kinda right...
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by redlinks » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:15 am

The VIZBIG's would've be a perfect release if they left in all the original color pages and hadn't edited it. Sadly, that's only a dream today.
- Been a Dragon Ball fan ever since 1995 (at the time, I was 7 years old).
- I prefer Saffron Henderson's Kid Gohan and Kid Goku over Stephanie Nadolny's.
- I still hope for a redub of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z with FUNimation's current cast.
- I prefer to watch Dragon Ball Z with the Faulconer Score, however I do not mind the original Japanese score.

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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by Tyro » Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:56 am

I think most of the better ideas have been taken, but here it goes:
  • Instead of collecting another bulky 34/42 volume set of the series, I'd much rather buy a complete electronic version. The quality of the pictures would be outstanding, and it's much, much more portable. Not to mention that you'd be getting all of the picture without having to worry about the outermost edges being snipped off or ink spills.
  • Obviously include the fixes and alterations (Vegeta's battle power on Namek, date of the Cell Game, correct spelling of Welcome, how Boo was destroyed, etc) provided in the Kanzenban release. Except for the Trunks special. Put that back where it was in the tankobon. Include Toriyama's goodbye as well.
  • Anything that was officially released in color (I'm looking at you, online early DB chapters!) should be present in place of their black and white counterparts. Same goes for pages that were drawn in color to begin with.
  • Like mentioned above, I really don't like it when the sound effects are removed and images have to be fixed to match the English equivalent when it's drawn in. They really are part of the picture as a whole and I'd prefer that they be written as *BOOM* or whatever out to the side. If the picture has a sound effect but no side area to write it, chances are that it's a big image and the *BOOM* can be written/squeezed over a part of the katakana/hiragana symbols. Like writing it in white over an all black symbol.
  • Super literal translation. It's okay to take some liberties with it like if something translated awkwardly and came out as "Said he what, now?!" (lol, Piccolo example) I'd be perfectly happy with a "What did he say?!" or equivalent translation in its place. But Goku almost completely losing his slang and sometimes the text being flat out changed for no reason is some complete bullshit.
  • No censoring. Period. Name changes, cussing, sexual references, violence, guns, nada. Don't separate Dragonball from Dragonball "Z" either.
  • Don't fuck with the speech bubbles. Most of the time there is a better way of fitting in the text rather than expanding the speech bubble out over other parts of the image, and it really grinds my gears. Only do this when it's absolutely called for.
  • I think the honorifics are and aren't needed. I suppose they should be kept in for consistency's sake, but that would get annoying to read over time if a main character is repeatedly spoken to with -kun or -san. They only part I recall where I think it should have definitely been left in the translation was the Ginyu Force calling Vegeta "Vege-chan." It's just so much more insulting!
  • Include all chapters and volume covers, as well as any extras released in any version of of the manga/weekly jump. The Ask Me Anything Corner and whatnot.

    That's all that I can really think of for now.

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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by redlinks » Wed Dec 28, 2011 3:35 am

Tyro wrote:I think most of the better ideas have been taken, but here it goes:
  • Instead of collecting another bulky 34/42 volume set of the series, I'd much rather buy a complete electronic version. The quality of the pictures would be outstanding, and it's much, much more portable. Not to mention that you'd be getting all of the picture without having to worry about the outermost edges being snipped off or ink spills.
  • Obviously include the fixes and alterations (Vegeta's battle power on Namek, date of the Cell Game, correct spelling of Welcome, how Boo was destroyed, etc) provided in the Kanzenban release. Except for the Trunks special. Put that back where it was in the tankobon. Include Toriyama's goodbye as well.
  • Anything that was officially released in color (I'm looking at you, online early DB chapters!) should be present in place of their black and white counterparts. Same goes for pages that were drawn in color to begin with.
  • Like mentioned above, I really don't like it when the sound effects are removed and images have to be fixed to match the English equivalent when it's drawn in. They really are part of the picture as a whole and I'd prefer that they be written as *BOOM* or whatever out to the side. If the picture has a sound effect but no side area to write it, chances are that it's a big image and the *BOOM* can be written/squeezed over a part of the katakana/hiragana symbols. Like writing it in white over an all black symbol.
  • Super literal translation. It's okay to take some liberties with it like if something translated awkwardly and came out as "Said he what, now?!" (lol, Piccolo example) I'd be perfectly happy with a "What did he say?!" or equivalent translation in its place. But Goku almost completely losing his slang and sometimes the text being flat out changed for no reason is some complete bullshit.
  • No censoring. Period. Name changes, cussing, sexual references, violence, guns, nada. Don't separate Dragonball from Dragonball "Z" either.
  • Don't fuck with the speech bubbles. Most of the time there is a better way of fitting in the text rather than expanding the speech bubble out over other parts of the image, and it really grinds my gears. Only do this when it's absolutely called for.
  • I think the honorifics are and aren't needed. I suppose they should be kept in for consistency's sake, but that would get annoying to read over time if a main character is repeatedly spoken to with -kun or -san. They only part I recall where I think it should have definitely been left in the translation was the Ginyu Force calling Vegeta "Vege-chan." It's just so much more insulting!
  • Include all chapters and volume covers, as well as any extras released in any version of of the manga/weekly jump. The Ask Me Anything Corner and whatnot.

    That's all that I can really think of for now.
You hit it right on the nail. Except, I would rather they give us the option if we want it digitally or printed. I personally prefer my manga printed. Nothing like smelling a brand new manga/book. lol Otherwise, I agree 100%.
- Been a Dragon Ball fan ever since 1995 (at the time, I was 7 years old).
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- I still hope for a redub of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z with FUNimation's current cast.
- I prefer to watch Dragon Ball Z with the Faulconer Score, however I do not mind the original Japanese score.

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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by Saiyajin and Juice » Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:53 am

Aside from all the obvious stuff that people have already touched on (uncensored, all the original colored pages in full color, etc), the one thing I really want to see is a "complete collection" book. As in, one giant bible sized book that contains all of the manga in one binding.

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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by Saiga » Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:02 am

Tyro wrote:
Obviously include the fixes and alterations (Vegeta's battle power on Namek, date of the Cell Game, correct spelling of Welcome, how Boo was destroyed, etc) provided in the Kanzenban release.
What was the change with how Boo was destroyed in the Kanzenban release?
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by hleV » Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:02 am

Herms-translated kanzenban.

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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by RLZIII » Fri Dec 30, 2011 2:27 pm

Saiyajin and Juice wrote:Aside from all the obvious stuff that people have already touched on (uncensored, all the original colored pages in full color, etc), the one thing I really want to see is a "complete collection" book. As in, one giant bible sized book that contains all of the manga in one binding.
That book would be about 7,500 to 8,000 pages; I don't think that'd be very reasonable. The average Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments) is around 1,200 pages...and they're normally printed on very thin paper, which wouldn't be suitable for a manga at all (it'd look like garbage, especially the color pages). I think this kind of idea would be better suited for a digital edition; but as a physical product, that'd be quite unreadable.
Tyro wrote:Except for the Trunks special. Put that back where it was in the tankobon.
I agree 100% with this; it's strange flipping to the back of the last Kanzenban and not seeing the end of the series. I cannot think of a good reason that this was moved.
Tyro wrote:Super literal translation. It's okay to take some liberties with it like if something translated awkwardly and came out as "Said he what, now?!" (lol, Piccolo example) I'd be perfectly happy with a "What did he say?!" or equivalent translation in its place. But Goku almost completely losing his slang and sometimes the text being flat out changed for no reason is some complete bullshit.
While I agree that I would love a translation without Viz taking liberties where they don't need to, a super literal translation doesn't work normally. Languages work differently. However, I think that the original intent should be kept intact, even if it means that the non-Japanese person might not fully understand it. For instance, I don't like how Kaio-sama's puns were translated in the Viz version; I understand that they were trying to make them sensible in English, but I still think it changes too much. I much prefer the way that the Funimation subtitles handle the situation (where they show the Japanese puns, but translate the word meanings in parentheses). Viz shouldn't be changing the content; but the translation needs to be readable as well.
Tyro wrote:Don't fuck with the speech bubbles. Most of the time there is a better way of fitting in the text rather than expanding the speech bubble out over other parts of the image, and it really grinds my gears. Only do this when it's absolutely called for.
I agree with this! I must have forgotten to mention it before.

Tyro wrote:I think the honorifics are and aren't needed. I suppose they should be kept in for consistency's sake, but that would get annoying to read over time if a main character is repeatedly spoken to with -kun or -san. They only part I recall where I think it should have definitely been left in the translation was the Ginyu Force calling Vegeta "Vege-chan." It's just so much more insulting!
I prefer that the honorifics be kept in, for examples like the one you mentioned (Vege-chan). It'd be too inconsistent to include them only sometimes and not all of the time.
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Re: Your "Perfect" Dragon Ball Manga Release

Post by Gaffer Tape » Fri Dec 30, 2011 6:49 pm

I would like the original release pages, without the kanzenban corrections, touch-ups, or new ending, but done in a kanzenban format with the color pages intact. So basically the tankobon brought up to kanzenban standards. And since I'm used to it, I would prefer the 42 volume layout, although it's not important enough for me to really care.
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