VIZ DB/DBZ manga re-release coming: 3-in-1 volumes

Brad Redfield · Post by **Brad Redfield** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:45 pm

From Anime News Network:

Viz Adds Nana TV, Honey and Clover TV, More Death Note
Viz Media announced at its Comic-Con International 2007 panel on Thursday that it will release the NANA anime television series, the Honey and Clover anime television series, the Death Note 13: How to Read story and character profile book as well as the Death Note: Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Case novel, and a new Viz Big 3-in-1 omnibus manga volume format for Rurouni Kenshin, Dragon Ball, and Dragon Ball Z. The company also confirmed several manga and novel titles previously revealed on online retailers. A full event report is available.

Viz Media opened its panel with the announcement of "Viz Big," an omnibus line that collects long-running series into three-in-one volumes. This new US$17.99 format offers new illustrations on paperback covers with gatefold flaps, color page inserts, and a larger print size (5.75 by 8.625 inches, like Vagabond). The May 2008 launch titles under Viz Big include Rurouni Kenshin, Dragon Ball, and Dragon Ball Z.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... death-note

Pretty interesting. Not exactly holding my breath on them being uncensored or having original names though.

Post by **VegettoEX** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:58 pm

I'll do the requisite speculation.

All of DragonBall and Rurouni Kenshin received a "kanzenban" release in Japan. What are they? Larger books, more chapters per book, re-releases.

Of course, in what I've just read, there's *absolutely nothing* inferring that this is what they're doing (or along the lines of what they're doing, in terms of the new material in the kanzenban, unedited, etc... except that "new illustrations on paperback covers with gatefold flaps, color page inserts, and a larger print size" note

), but it would behoove them to do so if this is the style they're wishing to go with for finished series' re-releases.

Actually, I just measured the kanzeban. I'm getting 5.75 inches by 8.25 inches, which is pretty close to their stated 5.75 inches by 8.625 inches.

Thanks for the heads-up. I've gotta catch up on so much fucking news...

(AAAH!! NANA!! HONEY & CLOVER!!)

Ex-Dubbie369 · Post by **Ex-Dubbie369** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:05 pm

Well, this seems like good news for anyone who doesn't already own the manga. In the event it's actually unedited (which I doubt), well shit, I'm gonna have to buy the entire manga again. Since I don't own any of Rurouni Kenshin though, this'll at least be a good opportunity to pick that up.

SatoSky · Post by **SatoSky** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:11 pm

Awesome. I don't own any Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z manga, so I'm definitely picking this up. I've read up through the Freeza saga at the local library about a year ago but nothing after that. I don't own anything Kenshin related either so I guess the manga is the best place to start. Thanks for the info Brad.

bkev · Post by **bkev** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:25 pm

This will probably be similar to the release I bought in Spain, the "ultimate edition." It had the kanzenban cover and insert. It was also significantly larger than the current format made by VIZ.

DaemonCorps · Post by **DaemonCorps** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:39 pm

Nice. I've already bought all the Viz releases for DB/Z, but I might pick up at least one to see what's up with them. From it's description, it doesn't look like it'll be an exact equivalent of the kanzenban, since they're covering 3 volumes instead of the kanzenban's 1 and them some. But at least we'll be getting the color chapters (even though half the time, they're actually that strange red/gray-scale kind of thing). I wonder if they'll still keep Toriyama's little "journal entries"...

But what I'm really holding out for are the daizenshuu, or at the least that Neko Majin Z compilation volume. And this little bit of information seems like they might go in that direction (but most likely not).

(And good on Viz for releasing that Volume 13 and "Another Note" release for Death Note, too

.)

SonGokuGT · Post by **SonGokuGT** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:19 pm

I was there. I asked them in their Q&A if they would use the Japanese Kanzenban covers. They said that they didn't know, all they knew was that it was "all-new official art". I asked if they would eliminate or tone down the censorship in these editions. They said that there was no one there from the Dragonball projects but that they would forward that on to the Dragonball team.

bkev · Post by **bkev** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:46 pm

At least they're trying to sould like they care...

Slickmasterfunk · Post by **Slickmasterfunk** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:39 pm

If this is the kanzenban (or at least close enough to it) with the color pages, new ending and other little things, I will totally re-buy the whole series and place it on the shelf next to the initial release.

*Fingers crossed for kanzenban*

Adamant · Post by **Adamant** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:21 pm

bkev wrote:At least they're trying to sould like they care...

I don't see any mention of a retranslation of the latter material, so they don't try hard enough for me to hear them.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:35 pm

So, how big is 8 /12 x 5 3/4? Not actually having any manga (except for a few domestic SJs) I'm not sure. It seems rather small to me. I've seen some manga in 'Chapters' and a local game shop, but they're all rather small. I've seen some pictures of the Viz releases from the members here, but without a person or something to reference size, I always assumed they were regular comic-book size.

A bit off topic, but how big are these different editions of DragonBall?

Tatsunoboshi Horoko · Post by **Tatsunoboshi Horoko** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:47 pm

A normal Shueisha tankobon is roughly about 4 1/2 x 7 with a normal Viz graphic novel being 5 x 7 1/2 (I'm exaggerating a bit, but that seems right.) They are not as big as a Shonen Jump (which is like a phone book in comparison.)

But, assuming the recent Dragonball releases (and not the even bigger first edition ones) are the same size as my other Viz graphic novels, a decent comparison would be the size of a game instruction manual...plus/minus a few inches.

Ex-Dubbie369 · Post by **Ex-Dubbie369** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:48 pm

desirecampbell wrote:A bit off topic, but how big are these different editions of DragonBall?

Well, if you've seen the old Graphic Novel editions of DB and DBZ 1-10, it's that width (5 3/4) and a little shorter that these new releases (roughly 8 1/8).
This means that these are gonna be the biggest graphic novels Viz has ever released, I think. If I measured wrong or said something inaccurate, feel free to correct me.

Chuquita · Post by **Chuquita** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:07 am

As much as I love the manga, if its not the kanzenban, I can't see myself buying it.

If only because I've bought all of Viz's db/dbz manga already. >_<

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:40 am

If and when it is confirmed that they are releasing English Kanzenban, I will cream my pants on the spot.

I only have two volumes (DBZ 20 and 26), so this would be a GREAT way for me to collect more.

Duo · Post by **Duo** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:43 am

Death Note: I knew about How-to-read 13, and that was happiness, but the novel translation really rocks. Fans seemed so gloomy about it coming over here. Me = pumped!

Rurouni Kenshin: Earlier today I was actually contemplating buying this Manga top to bottom. This makes me very happy.

DB/Z: If it has color chapters, yes. Anything else is a bonus. I can easily distribute my old collection to other, less serious fans to get them into it. Some of the books are kinda getting old anyway...geez, it's been almost three years since I bought my first volumes. My spine art is messed up anyway cuz' I have the bad version of DB #16. I keep them all in a box right now...

But when I saw the thread title I almost wet myself. Could it be they are going to do two Kanzenban volumes per...one of these? I think that would even out. My gosh, only 17 volumes for the whole series?!

raz1337 · Post by **raz1337** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:09 am

I just recently discovered the viz mangas. They're great ways for americans to see the dbz manga legally, so I'll be looking forward to these releases

fps_anth · Post by **fps_anth** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:37 pm

Kanzenban releases would be awesome. However, the colour flaps are cool enough. But May 2008? Ouch.

I wonder when Death Note 13 will be released. And god damn it, can someone translate the Haruhi light novels?

ssgOverlord · Post by **ssgOverlord** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 5:38 pm

This is great news, I've been wanting the DB manga for some time.

I wonder how fast they will release them, though...

Kendamu · Post by **Kendamu** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 4:18 am

Sweet! A new reason to be a consumer sheep for Dragonball-related stuff!

DBZ Manga: My Anti-FUNimation.