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Manga Guide

Neko Majin

A few years after completing Dragon Ball, and sporadically over the next few years in between his other projects, Akira Toriyama released chapters of Neko Majin, a series that increasingly became a Dragon Ball parody and spin-off as it went on.

Chapters were published between Weekly Shōnen Jump and (the now-defunct) Monthly Shōnen Jump, sometimes entire years apart from each other. The series consists of two chapters of Neko Majin ga Iru (“Neko Majin is Here”), one chapter of Neko Majin Mike, and five chapters of Neko Majin Z. The final two chapters of Neko Majin Z bucked the trend and were published back-to-back in consecutive issues of Monthly Shōnen Jump.

All eight chapters were collected into a single volume in April 2005. The volume was printed at the same size and quality level as the Kanzenban release of the Dragon Ball manga. They were later released in a newly-colorized version on 04 April 2013 (with no monochrome version available) for ¥450 plus tax via Shueisha and their digital offerings.

So far, the only chapter ever to be officially published and released in English has been Neko Majin Z 5, which was printed (without a chapter number) in the October 2007 issue of Viz’s (now-defunct) print version of Shonen Jump.

Original Chapter Run

Neko Majin ga Iru: Chapter 1

ネコマジンがいる
Neko Majin ga Iru
Neko Majin is Here
Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) | 30 pages
Released: 27 April 1999 (Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1999 #22/23)
06 January 2004 (Monthly Shōnen Jump, February 2004 Issue)
04 June 2014 (Saikyō Jump, July 2014 issue)
Retail: ¥230 (including tax) | ¥390 (including tax) | ¥500 (including tax)
Publisher: Shueisha
Two bad guys have their motorcycle stolen by Neko Majin, who uses up all their gas driving around. He invites them to his house for a drink and some gasoline, and on the way warns them of a demon trapped in a stone. The two ignore his advice and touch the stone, releasing the demon. Neko Majin faces off in a fierce fight against the demon, eventually sealing him in the stone once again.

Neko Majin ga Iru: Chapter 2

ネコマジンがいる2
Neko Majin ga Iru Tsū
Neko Majin is Here 2
Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) | 30 pages
Released: 10 August 1999 (Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1999 #37/38)
01 May 2004 (Monthly Shōnen Jump, June 2004 Issue)
04 July 2014 (Saikyō Jump, August 2014 issue)
Retail: ¥230 (including tax) | ¥390 (including tax) | ¥500 (including tax)
Publisher: Shueisha
Neko Majin does battle with his rival Pete Kobayashi to stop two aliens from abducting a young girl on Earth while sharing funny stories and entering into money making schemes the whole time.

Neko Majin Z: Chapter 1

ネコマジンZ
Neko Majin Zetto
Neko Majin Z
Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) | 21 pages
Released: 02 May 2001 (Monthly Shōnen Jump, June 2001 Issue)
Retail: ¥350 (including tax)
Publisher: Shueisha
A Neko Majin named “Z” and his young friend are visited on Earth by a Saiyan named Onio and his wife, who plan to kill all humans and take the planet for a summer home. Z is far more interested in conning them into handing over money via photographs with a rare koala than much else. Z makes a wrong move, though, and Onio transforms into a Super Saiyan to do battle.

Neko Majin Z: Chapter 2

ネコマジンZ2
Neko Majin Zetto Ni
Neko Majin Z 2
Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) | 15 pages
Released: 06 August 2003 (Monthly Shōnen Jump, September 2003 Issue)
Retail: ¥380 (including tax)
Publisher: Shueisha
Neko Majin Z is excited to meet the superstar Thunderbolt (so he can fight and defeat him!), but Z’s plans are interrupted when Onio returns to Earth seeking revenge alongside a special friend: Freeza’s son, Kuriza!

Neko Majin Mike

ネコマジンみけ
Neko Majin Mike
Neko Majin Mike
Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) | 19 pages
Released: 11 August 2003 (Weekly Shōnen Jump, 2003 #37/38)
04 August 2014 (Saikyō Jump, September 2014 issue)
Retail: ¥230 (including tax) | ¥500 (including tax)
Publisher: Shueisha
Neko Majin wakes up after over 30 years to find his young friend Kojiro is all grown up into a (fat) teacher. His friend needs him to take over the last period class for him while he runs an errand; Neko Majin agrees, but also hatches some plans to instill some self-confidence in Kojiro.

Neko Majin Z: Chapter 3

ネコマジンZ3
Neko Majin Zetto San
Neko Majin Z 3
Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) | 16 pages
Premiered: 06 February 2004 (Monthly Shōnen Jump, March 2004 Issue)
Retail: ¥380 (including tax)
Publisher: Shueisha
Vegeta lands on Earth under Freeza’s orders to save Kuriza and the others. Vegeta attempts to do battle with Neko Majin Z, but he receives some kind of mysterious silent phone call…

Neko Majin Z: Chapter 4

ネコマジンZ4
Neko Majin Zetto Yon
Neko Majin Z 4
Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) | 16 pages
Premiered: 06 December 2004 (Monthly Shōnen Jump, January 2005 Issue)
Retail: ¥400 (including tax)
Publisher: Shueisha
When Neko Majin Z is forced go relinquish the source of his power to Usa Majin, a new acquaintance and powerful friend — Majin Boo — joins the battle!

Neko Majin Z: Chapter 5

ネコマジンZ5
Neko Majin Zetto Go
Neko Majin Z 5
Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) | 16 pages
Premiered: 06 January 2005 (Monthly Shōnen Jump, February 2005 Issue)
October 2007 (Shonen Jump [USA], Issue #100)
Retail: ¥390 (including tax) | $3.99
Publisher: Shueisha (Japanese)
Viz Media (English)
Son Goku seeks out his old pupil, Neko Majin Z, to test him and do battle as Super Saiyan versus Super Neko Majin. Goku needs Z to lend his power against an opponent back at the house that no-one can defeat!

Collected Volumes

All eight chapters of Neko Majin were collected into this single volume. The size, paper quality, and overall packaging directly mirrors that of the Kanzenban release of the Dragon Ball manga. It was later released digitally with the same contents as the print release, but with all pages that were originally black-and-white newly colorized by Shueisha.

Neko Majin

ネコマジン
Neko Majin
Neko Majin
Softcover | A5 (14.5 × 21 cm) | 196 pages
Premiered: 04 April 2005 (print edition)
04 April 2013 (colorized digital edition)
Retail: ¥880 (print edition)
¥450 + tax (colorized digital edition)
Publisher: Shueisha
Contains all eight Neko Majin chapters.