I really intended to get this up over the weekend, but we weekend warriors live by our own timetable, I suppose. No use crying over spilled milk. Let's just discuss Book One for now. We can get to my full vision later.
BOOK ONE
As Mike once said, Dragon Ball is all about wacky comedy, friendship, and overcoming impossible obstacles. (This should remain at the core of the stories) Its narrative is highlighted by themes of redemption, self-improvement, and virtue. These themes come alive in three main story arcs: The PILAF story arc, the RED RIBBON ARMY story arc, and the PICCOLO DAIMAOU story arc.
However, in the novelization of Dragon Ball, it would be best to limit the story to the first two arcs; Piccolo Daimaou is an important character, and should be reserved for a future book detailing the early events of Dragon Ball Z.
Too, in incorporating DR. GERO into the storyline, it is best to make the organization known as the RED RIBBON ARMY the primary "villain" throughout the early books.
In the first act, the organization will be mainly hinted at, with the focus on Pilaf-sama, here re-invented as a subordinate of Commander Red, president of the Red Ribbon Army, with key officers making cameos. Pilaf is charged with the mission of collecting the Dragon Balls for the organization's shadowy purposes.
The second act will focus more on the organization itself, as characterized through Son Goku's confrontations with its various officers, and will introduce the character of DR. GERO, who will be gradually dehumanized into a cold, calculating shell of a man over the course of the story. It will end on a huge cliffhanger, and the final act will pick up from there, recounting Dr. Gero's fall from grace and Son Goku's final stand against the Red Ribbon Army (only here, the battle will be joined by all of our heroes).
Included within these main plotlines will be all the themes and atmosphere associated with the pivotal 21st and 22nd Tenka-ichi Budoukai, as well as the introduction of important characters such as Muten-Roshi and Tenshinhan. Piccolo Daimao will be hinted at towards the end.
PICCOLO's ROLE:
Piccolo Daimao, from inside the Denshi Jar, is pulling the strings, so to speak, of the RR Army. He 'speaks' to Commander Red and through him accomplishes his will. In his grand scheme to conquer heaven and earth, he must first establish an army to his side, to secure his earthly empire. That army is the Red Ribbon Army.
The Piccolo Daimaou storyline will be reserved for the opening chapter of a future book, in order to give the reader a wider appreciation for the character. The following storylines, which involve the SAIYA-JIN and FREEZA arcs, will in part follow Piccolo's redemption and evolution as a character, detailing his journey from a being of pure evil to the no-nonsense protector of the earth.
But let's focus back on Book One!
NOTES
1. I'd like to see Book One focus mainly on the PILAF ARC. But nothing's set in stone, and this can be expanded upon. The length of the book should be between 200-300 pages.
2. Book One will introduce the characters of Son Goku, Bulma, Oolong, Yamucha, Pu'er, and Kame Sennin. Any more will simply overwhelm the reader, although I am considering injecting Kuririn into the original storyline.
3. For sake of simplicity, the villains are limited to Pilaf and his henchmen (Mai and Soba/Shuu), with various sub-villains such as Oolong, Yamucha, Gyumaou and Toninjinka as their underlings, under Pilaf's rule.
4. Rather than being a decidedly independant monarch, Pilaf is a subordinate of the Red Ribbon Army, charged with the task of collecting the Dragon Balls. For his proven loyalty, he has been stationed to a lofty palace in a Middle Eastern land.
5. Once he learns the true nature of the Dragon Balls, Pilaf secretly decides to turn on his superiors and utilize the power of the Dragon Balls for himself -- in order to obtain undisputed rulership of the world, as well as to 'protect' it from the REAL bad guys.
6. For his assignment, the Red Ribbon Army sends Pilaf their best shot (Mai) and Soba/Shuu, who happens to be a novice ninja.
7. General White and Pilaf (General Pilaf?) are rivals; White is jealous of Pilaf since his career with the Red Ribbon Army is winding down, whereas Pilaf's is just taking off.
8. Commander Red is especially fond of Pilaf and enjoys having him in his presence, if not only because the demon-midget is the only member of the Red Ribbon Army shorter than the Commander himself. There are hints that Pilaf may even have become Red's heir, supposing he had not revolted. Consider this foreshadowing for the Vegeta-Freeza relationship (minus the daddy issues).
9. General White overhears Commander Red and his advisors discuss his dismissal from the Red Ribbon Army. After hearing about Pilaf's new assignment from a fellow officer, White sets out to find the Dragon Balls before Pilaf can.
10. Dr. Gero, his wife (possibly named "Arale" as homage to Toriyama-sensei's other popular manga, Dr. Slump), Jinzoningen Hachigou ("Android No. 8"), and various officers of the Red Ribbon Army all have cameos ranging from brief to pivotal; however, the focus remains on Pilaf and Son Goku's first outing into the world.
Your input will be IMMENSELY appreciated! Also, what I really need right now are candidates for a series title (or even an individual book title, at this point)
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Point.