Viz to re-release Dragon Ball manga

[Kingdom Heartless]

A Kanzenban release at this stage seems impossible.

Then again, four years ago most of us would have said the same about a Dragon Box release.

[CaBrPi]

Are there any legal problems with Viz releasing an uncut version, or are they just being cautious because they're afraid of getting sued?

I'd go with the latter. They probably aren't willing to sell the uncut edition since it won't make as much money since they can't sell it to kids. They could, however, do a premium limited edition to please fans. Sell them online or with a higher maturity rating.

That's what I would like. Have they ever done this before?

[Insertclevername]

Are there any legal problems with Viz releasing an uncut version, or are they just being cautious because they're afraid of getting sued?

I'd go with the latter. They probably aren't willing to sell the uncut edition since it won't make as much money since they can't sell it to kids. They could, however, do a premium limited edition to please fans. Sell them online or with a higher maturity rating.

That's what I would like. Have they ever done this before?

No clue, if anyone knows, it'd be great to chime in. I feel like they would but are *hesitant* due to Dragon Ball being mostly a kid manga and wouldn't sell well on teen and adult shelves. Remember, printing out and releasing manga is expensive, and if Viz aren't seeing a profitable reason to do a risk like this, they aren't gonna budge.

[CaBrPi]

I'd go with the latter. They probably aren't willing to sell the uncut edition since it won't make as much money since they can't sell it to kids. They could, however, do a premium limited edition to please fans. Sell them online or with a higher maturity rating.

That's what I would like. Have they ever done this before?

No clue, if anyone knows, it'd be great to chime in. I feel like they would but are resilient due to Dragon Ball being mostly a kid manga and wouldn't sell well on teen and adult shelves. Remember, printing out and releasing manga is expensive, and if Viz aren't seeing a profitable reason to do a risk like this, they aren't gonna budge.

I suppose so. And I think you mean hesitant.

I think there's a niche market for an uncut manga release, so the idea of a limited premium edition makes sense to me.

[Nex Carnifex]

It would be pretty hot if it was an unedited version with a more accurate translation. And maybe even when they say Dragon Ball they refer to both DB and DBZ and are going to release the whole thing under the Dragon Ball title like in Japan. All unedited and true to the Japanese script, without all their embarrassingly awkward woolliness and changes to dialect. Majin Buu would even be called Majin Buu.

[Insertclevername]

That's what I would like. Have they ever done this before?

No clue, if anyone knows, it'd be great to chime in. I feel like they would but are resilient due to Dragon Ball being mostly a kid manga and wouldn't sell well on teen and adult shelves. Remember, printing out and releasing manga is expensive, and if Viz aren't seeing a profitable reason to do a risk like this, they aren't gonna budge.

I suppose so. And I think you mean hesitant.

I think there's a niche market for an uncut manga release, so the idea of a limited premium edition makes sense to me.

Ah yes, I don't know why I said "resilient" lol.

I'm not too familiar with manga in general so I can't really comment as I just like Dragon Ball but I hope your right!

[Nex Carnifex]

I really don't think their's a niche market for uncut releases. The anime is more popular with the kids than the manga, I'd think the manga would be more popular with the adult side of the fanbase, and yet the anime is sold uncut with nudity and everything while the manga is sold censored.

It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I'd go to say adult fans have been buying the manga censored with viz thinking they are kids buying it, but really the people buying it would be more happy with it uncut, I don't think a whole lot of 8 year olds are buying the manga instead of the anime. I didn't find out about manga until I was like 14, and I was pretty pissed when I realized my shit was censored. If they are going to leave all the blood in then minds well leave everything else, and don't dumb the script down for babies who aren't even reading it. Also, realize that the majority of american's that go and buy expensive manga and anime are actually adults/teens that are big fans which appreciate knowing they are reading the original manga as it was intended.

[Insertclevername]

If Viz could find an environment where they can sell manga volumes with covers like this and make money, we wouldn't be having this kind of problem. It sucks how Dragon Ball falls in the area of generally geared and marketed towards kids yet has a few naughty parts that keeps us from it being uncut.

[Nex Carnifex]

They can change the covers I don't care, but I want it uncut, and more importantly with dialogue that isn't butchered. You can tell how awkward the translation is right from the start. "Wazzup bro?"

You even lose some important power scaling with the translation. Originally, Goku states his body was a strong as stainless steel, an important feat that establishes his durability. Viz got rid of this for some weird reason, and probably got rid of a lot more, rending their manga obsolete for use in debates.

[Fulicer]

They can change the covers I don't care, but I want it uncut, and more importantly with dialogue that isn't butchered. You can tell how awkward the translation is right from the start. "Wazzup bro?"

You even lose some important power scaling with the translation. Originally, Goku states his body was a strong as stainless steel, an important feat that establishes his durability. Viz got rid of this for some weird reason, and probably got rid of a lot more, rending their manga obsolete for use in debates.

It would probably cost them too much money to do make an unedited copy with "fixed" translations, so I guess the print version would stay edited for now (since printing too versions would cost more than just printing one?). Fortunately I still have a few of their old, unedited Dragon Ball manga.

What might make sense is for them to release an online-only version catering to older audiences. They would still have to prepare a special version but they wouldn't have to print it. I'm guessing that would be easier than printing a special version. But I wouldn't be too optimistic.

[Insertclevername]

I was just using the covers as an example of the point I was making. I was more or less saying that in teen and adult sections, Dragon Ball would be out of place, both the outside and inside. Also, why do you not care about the awesome covers!? And what would even replace them, Viz art or just random Toriyama art that fits the content in the volume? If I'm going to buy the uncut Tankobon or Kazenban, I want the covers to be uncut as well.

[Nex Carnifex]

Because the covers aren't the story I guess? I want to read the story how it was originally intended, with accurate translations. Unfortunately fan translations are better than Viz's retarded one, trust me I've compared it to Herm's translations which somehow mimic fan translations, probably because they are accurate, oh yeah, of course that's what it means, which also means Viz's aren't.

[AgitoZ]

It would probably cost them too much money to do make an unedited copy with "fixed" translations, so I guess the print version would stay edited for now (since printing too versions would cost more than just printing one?). Fortunately I still have a few of their old, unedited Dragon Ball manga.

Not really. If that were true Viz wouldn't have continuously tweaked the translation and editing between different printings.

The biggest problem with getting an uncut, Kanzenban release is over saturation of the market. I guess soccer moms might be problem too.

[JulieYBM]

Eh, I'd rather they not use the Kanzenbans for the one and only unedited release. They have edits, after all.

[Nex Carnifex]

I bet they'd make a shit ton more money releasing fully uncut, accurate translations than just another rehash of what they have. Maybe they read all the emails I sent them and are taking my advice.

[Super Sonic]

Maybe not. Remember a lot of folks like myself who bought them years ago might not know of newer releases that have changes. And probably won't care. Kind of like someone who bought some movies on dvd's original release, and not care to buy a newer 2-disc special editon.

[Nex Carnifex]

Well you would care if you cared about experiencing Dragon Ball how it was intended. If you didn't care about that then, I guess you're lucky? Well, myself and I'm quite positive many others do, and those people I shall call "tru" fans, and there are many.

[Gonstead]

There is no such thing as a true fan, only those who have different opinions and preferences.

[Bussani]

I want to read the story how it was originally intended, with accurate translations. Unfortunately fan translations are better than Viz's retarded one, trust me I've compared it to Herm's translations which somehow mimic fan translations, probably because they are accurate, oh yeah, of course that's what it means, which also means Viz's aren't.

What you mean is they're more literal. Keep in mind that Herms' translations in the Strength Checker are more literal than his translations normally would be because they're intended to be used in debates. Would that make them good translations for Viz to use? Maybe you think they would, but I'm not sure everyone would agree. Being so literal that they can be used in debates about strength isn't that important to everyone, and to a reader who just wants to enjoy the story and get the gist of everything, Viz's translations aren't that bad.

I guess different fans have different needs. I wouldn't mind if Viz produced a slightly better translation, because there's definitely room for improvement, but I'm sure I'd be happy with less than you're wishing for.

[Fizzer]

I think the kanzenban covers would look just fine in the teen section, they're already much sexier and more grown up than the tankobon covers.