Best English Release of the Manga?

[Rukura]

(...)and a perfect release is impossible... So, why should I even be bothered by it?

I fully agree with your logic, until about right there. And for a couple of reasons. We've seen, as shown by other companies to us, that a "perfect" release isn't impossible. Glenat and Planeta DeAgostini replicated the Japanese Kanzeban edition, 1:1. That's going out of your way to make it as good of a release as possible. I think it's fair to say that what most members here want is for it to be fully uncensored and/or a revised translation. And it's not like they haven't had plenty of chances, between the VizBigs, online apps, Full Color, 3-in-1s and the upcoming print versions of the Full Color format. As far as the "not being bothered by it", as someone outside of Viz's market, like you, I get what you mean. But, for a lot of things, we still have to go to Viz, we give them our money. (Although, I've personally turned to Shueisha for my Dragon Ball manga) So why NOT be bothered by having to get something that could be better?

Small side-note. I don't think anyone is demanding a trully perfect release and what most of us are asking of a great release is NOT unreasonable, either. It was much harder for a Dragon Box release to happen, and yet it did. It wasn't perfect. But it was good enough, it was great. It's much easier to do so with the manga, which is why it's kinda sad that they're missing every chance to do it.

[rereboy]

(...)and a perfect release is impossible... So, why should I even be bothered by it?

I fully agree with your logic, until about right there. And for a couple of reasons. We've seen, as shown by other companies to us, that a "perfect" release isn't impossible. Glenat and Planeta DeAgostini replicated the Japanese Kanzeban edition, 1:1. That's going out of your way to make it as good of a release as possible. I think it's fair to say that what most members here want is for it to be fully uncensored and/or a revised translation. And it's not like they haven't had plenty of chances, between the VizBigs, online apps, Full Color, 3-in-1s and the upcoming print versions of the Full Color format. As far as the "not being bothered by it", as someone outside of Viz's market, like you, I get what you mean. But, for a lot of things, we still have to go to Viz, we give them our money. (Although, I've personally turned to Shueisha for my Dragon Ball manga) So why NOT be bothered by having to get something that could be better?

Small side-note. I don't think anyone is demanding a trully perfect release and what most of us are asking of a great release is NOT unreasonable, either. It was much harder for a Dragon Box release to happen, and yet it did. It wasn't perfect. But it was good enough, it was great. It's much easier to do so with the manga, which is why it's kinda sad that they're missing every chance to do it.

There's a difference between bothering to get a release that we believe its better for us and being/feeling bothered by the fact that the release we have has minor problems and isn't perfect. I was arguing that there's no point in being bothered by it so much that we start to prefer a release in a language we don't understand over it.

And no, nothing is ever perfect. There's always something that could have been better. There's alway going to be some small error and, even if there wasn't, there could have been better extras, better paper, a better translated line, better ink, better size, etc, etc.

[IAmTheMilkMan]

As far as censorship goes, the earliest prints of the series are going to be less censored, as Viz pulled the reins in on censorship as time went on and Dragon Ball gained in popularity. I have a lot of the first printings of the comic books from Viz that were the first ever English releases of the series and there are some slight differences as far as censorship goes.

For example: on page 2 of the second chapter of "DBZ", when Bulma is greeted by Roshi and Kuririn, Roshi and Bulma's exchange in the first print comic book reads:

ROSHI: "Now why'd you go an' do a thing like that!? I'dve been perfectly happy just to fondle your bre--"
-Bulma hits Roshi on the head-
ROSHI: "Still no sense of humor, I see..."
BULMA: "Just as perverted as ever, I see..."

However, this was quickly changed in subsequent printings to the following:

ROSHI: "Now why'd you go an' do a thing like that!? I'dve been perfectly happy with a nice big ki--"
-Bulma hits Roshi on the head-
ROSHI: "Still no sense of humor, I see..."
BULMA: "Just as ornery as ever, I see..."

Swearing is also in tact in a lot of the earlier printings as well, including a lot of the earlier tankoubon. Another interesting dialog change from printing to printing that I noticed is Kuririn's line when he kicks Nappa in the head. In the first comic book printing he yells "YOU BASTARD!!!", but in the first tankoubon printing, that line has been changed to "DAMN YOU!!". In a way, I guess that could be considered censorship, given that "DAMN YOU" seems a little less harsh than the former.

Dragon Ball (the non-Z portion) lucked out much more in terms of censorship in those early days. If you can track down the first printings of the first ten volumes of the tankoubon put out by Viz, they are completely uncensored (to my knowledge), and that includes Bulma's breasts being left completely unaltered. These editions are slightly larger than the Shonen Jump reprints and they all include an "AGES 13 AND UP" symbol on the cover. Unfortunately, they only made it to the first ten volumes before the Shonen Jump editions took over.

So, basically, if you're looking for the most uncensored English version of the series, the earliest printings are almost always going to be your best bet. Sadly, they aren't very easy to track down.

[Tyestor]

The best English release of the manga is, sadly, illegal. Sorry Viz, but you've had your chance. Multiple chances.

[Mewzard]

Dragon Ball (the non-Z portion) lucked out much more in terms of censorship in those early days. If you can track down the first printings of the first ten volumes of the tankoubon put out by Viz, they are completely uncensored (to my knowledge), and that includes Bulma's breasts being left completely unaltered. These editions are slightly larger than the Shonen Jump reprints and they all include an "AGES 13 AND UP" symbol on the cover. Unfortunately, they only made it to the first ten volumes before the Shonen Jump editions took over.

So, basically, if you're looking for the most uncensored English version of the series, the earliest printings are almost always going to be your best bet. Sadly, they aren't very easy to track down.

Actually, the first prints of the SJ editions for Dragon Ball were also uncensored (boobs, swearing, etc). I never noticed much in the way of censorship until they changed from Viz to Viz Media.

The best English release of the manga is, sadly, illegal. Sorry Viz, but you've had your chance. Multiple chances.

Even with edits...no, the best English release of the manga is Viz's own (specifically the least edited versions). In my experiences, too many scanlation groups do overly literal translations with too many translator's notes instead of translations and insist on keeping in honorifics instead of fully translating the dialog and making them sound more natural.

With the Full Color release, the art will be uncensored, and while not perfect, Viz's translation of the manga is usually good. Even I'd prefer a new one for my own complaints, but I'll take it and enjoy reading DBZ while showing my support over pirating over relatively nitpicky complaints (the translation is not like the dubs for Ghost Story or Shin Chan >_>).

[Herms]

I'm as familiar with the various changes and shortcomings of the Viz translation as anyone, God knows, but I feel the backlash against it is extremely disproportionate. Yes, there's lots of stuff they could have done better, and accuracy-wise it doesn't measure up to some of the European manga translations. But most of the time it's perfectly accurate, and there's only a few things censored here and there. With all its flaws, it is still a better way to experience the series than any version of the anime.

[Aerosol]

Has Viz released any information about the full-color manga being printed completely, or do they stop after the Freeza arc as well?

And how about the first 16 volumes?

[B]

Has Viz released any information about the full-color manga being printed completely, or do they stop after the Freeza arc as well?

And how about the first 16 volumes?

No; it's assumed they'll at least get as far as that, but there's no promises they'll even get to the Freeza arc. There's also no promises that it will be unedited. It's so easy to not screw the Full Color release up that there's no way we'd be lucky enough for Viz to not screw something up. My expectations are very low.

Hearing people say "can't you just replace the wrong stuff with what it's supposed to be in your head?" reminds me a lot of when discussions of the Z anime's length come up and you get "can't you just fast-forward through the slow parts?"

In my experiences, too many scanlation groups do overly literal translations with too many translator's notes instead of translations and insist on keeping in honorifics instead of fully translating the dialog and making them sound more natural.

You're entitled to your opinion, but that's a gross overstatement.

[Aerosol]

Has Viz released any information about the full-color manga being printed completely, or do they stop after the Freeza arc as well?

And how about the first 16 volumes?

No; it's assumed they'll at least get as far as that, but there's no promises they'll even get to the Freeza arc. There's also no promises that it will be unedited. It's so easy to not screw the Full Color release up that there's no way we'd be lucky enough for Viz to not screw something up. My expectations are very low.

I'll buy the first one, and if I feel like it's a decent release I'll be buying the others as well. Would be great to see them at least finishing up the Freeza arc, I don't like reading digital versions.