Manga

[MajinGohanZ]

So recently I've been interested in buying Dragon Ball Z manga, but since there is a lot of different versions, does any one know the best version to buy?

[B]

Thing is, you don't actually know what you're buying, as censorship varies between releases. There is no uncensored version of the manga in English.

Go for VizBigs, as they retain a lot of color pages.
Or buy the Japanese releases. And if you aren't fluent, read scans online.

[rereboy]

The vizbigs are the best english release out there right now.

You can look at this review if you want: http://daizex.fanboyreview.net/viewtopi ... big+review

[MajinGohanZ]

You think they'll release newer versions of the DBZ manga later on in the future? Like for example uncensored and full colored pages.

[B]

No, that will never happen.

[rereboy]

You think they'll release newer versions of the DBZ manga later on in the future? Like for example uncensored and full colored pages.

Unlikely. But who knows?

Anyway, you can always buy the Japanese Kanzenban.

[Son_Gohan]

Anyway, you can always buy the Japanese Kanzenban.

If money is no object, that is.

[Goku100xKamehameha]

Anyway, you can always buy the Japanese Kanzenban.

If money is no object, that is.

And language, that is.

[B]

Anyway, you can always buy the Japanese Kanzenban.

If money is no object, that is.

Money is always an object. The Viz copies are actually twice that of the Japanese ones.

[Son_Gohan]

Money is always an object. The Viz copies are actually twice that of the Japanese ones.

I'd assume prices would vary depending on where you buy it from.

But you're saying that altogether Viz' would end up costing more than the Japanese Kanzenban, with all costs taken into consideration? Could you provide any approximate figures of what you think both would be worth? I know that usually in such a case as anime DVDs, they are far more pricey over there.

[Bussani]

I know that usually in such a case as anime DVDs, they are far more pricey over there.

That isn't the case with manga. Just gonna copy what Rachel said.

But it's worth noting that while DVDs and CDs in Japan are much more expensive than they are in (most?) Western countries, manga is really cheap. A typical ~200 page black and white volume is usually around 400 yen, which is about half what the English translation costs. And the price of American comics is even worse (though that's partly due to the fact that they're full color and usually larger print).

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Yeah, the VizBigs all the way. They aren't as portable as the single volumes and there is some censorship, but they are the best and cheapest English release out there.

[Son_Gohan]

I know that usually in such a case as anime DVDs, they are far more pricey over there.

That isn't the case with manga. Just gonna copy what Rachel said.

But it's worth noting that while DVDs and CDs in Japan are much more expensive than they are in (most?) Western countries, manga is really cheap. A typical ~200 page black and white volume is usually around 400 yen, which is about half what the English translation costs. And the price of American comics is even worse (though that's partly due to the fact that they're full color and usually larger print).

Thanks, you learn something new everyday.

It's about time I go buy some Japanese mangas.

[Perfect]

I think VIZ will eventually release an uncensored version after the VIZBigs.
Hopefully a kanzenban release, though I wouldn't expect that to ever happen (Unless one of us gets a job at VIZ and has some say in the matter).

[Kendamu]

I know that usually in such a case as anime DVDs, they are far more pricey over there.

That isn't the case with manga. Just gonna copy what Rachel said.

But it's worth noting that while DVDs and CDs in Japan are much more expensive than they are in (most?) Western countries, manga is really cheap. A typical ~200 page black and white volume is usually around 400 yen, which is about half what the English translation costs. And the price of American comics is even worse (though that's partly due to the fact that they're full color and usually larger print).

It's the shipping costs that get ya, though. I can buy a new copy of Dragonball Kanzenban #1 from Amazon Japan for a little under $11, but shipping costs a little over $35. I could try to buy 'em used but most people who sell used copies on Amazon don't sell to people outside of Japan. It'd cost me a little over $46 for that one single volume to ship it to the US.

To buy the first six Kanzenban would run me around $66 with shipping costing another $53. On top of that, there have been times where I've imported from Amazon Japan and have gotten further charges for importing (around $14).

If anyone knows where I can buy the Kanzenban without paying ridiculous prices for the books or for shipping let me know. I already have the Tankoubon complete because of an American who was selling them on eBay, but if I can get the Kanzenban without breaking the bank I might be willing to sell off the Tankoubon for an unreasonably cheap price.

[linkdude20002001]

You could always buy the Japanese comics locally. I go to Kinokuniya in the Seattle Uwajimaya.

[frozie]

You think they'll release newer versions of the DBZ manga later on in the future? Like for example uncensored and full colored pages.

I have all volumes both in French and Japanese, and even the Japanese manga that I have doesn't have colored pages
I think maybe it was only a special edition or something. The one I have is Jump Comics (blue Jc logo)

Does anyone know why there's no uncensored version in English? In the other languages censorship doesn't seem to be an issue, and Dragon Ball isn't what I'd consider to be a very graphic manga compared to some of the stuff that's out there

[VegettoEX]

Does anyone know why there's no uncensored version in English? In the other languages censorship doesn't seem to be an issue, and Dragon Ball isn't what I'd consider to be a very graphic manga compared to some of the stuff that's out there

Aww, that's such a cute and innocent question .

You're not from the US, right? It's difficult to describe, really. We have a ton of hypocritical societal norms, such as the acceptance of violence but not sexuality, which I'm sure contributes to it. A lot of it also has to do with how many companies have their hands on the franchise, along with how many hands within those companies have had their hands on the franchise.

We just have a history of making things as absolutely freakin' complicated as they can be. It should be so simple, right? I mean... just release it. Just do it. What's the problem...? I'm with ya'...!

[Herms]

I have all volumes both in French and Japanese, and even the Japanese manga that I have doesn't have colored pages
I think maybe it was only a special edition or something. The one I have is Jump Comics (blue Jc logo)

Yeah, there's a kanzenban (perfect edition) of the manga released in Japan, which has all the color pages in color. The kanzenban are being released in French too, from what I hear.

[frozie]

I'm from Quebec

I think acceptance of violence but not sexuality is pretty universal to varying degrees, maybe its just stronger in the US. Anyway the companies that publish the mangas in French (like Manga Kana, Ki-oon, Kurogawa, Glenat, etc.) never seem to have a need to censor anything, and I don't remember anyone complaining about anything or taking it seriously

Maybe its liked to the whole culture built around ratings for films, like studios that censor their own artists to avoid a particular age rating to be able to market their product to more people or something like that. AFAIK, copyright law in continental europe is more built around artists rights while in North America/UK its more about publishers rights, so maybe that contributes to the idea that the publisher/studio/whatever can do whatever they want with the artists work

Its quite a mystery!

I have all volumes both in French and Japanese, and even the Japanese manga that I have doesn't have colored pages
I think maybe it was only a special edition or something. The one I have is Jump Comics (blue Jc logo)

Yeah, there's a kanzenban (perfect edition) of the manga released in Japan, which has all the color pages in color. The kanzenban are being released in French too, from what I hear.

I've seen some color manga in French, but they seem to be just screencaps from the Anime integrated in a book than actual colored pages (for example, they have Yajirobe talking to the cops about the Saiyan space pods, and that's only in the Anime not in the manga). The impression I have is that some of the pages were drawn in black and white with screentones and about a dozen pages per volume were colored (but still scanned and printed in black and white)