Episode #0522! Mike speaks with David Evelyn, translator on the new English language release of “Dr. Mashirito’s Ultimate Manga Techniques” from Viz. What are some of the fun stories and lessons from the book, and what other great stories does David have to share? Grab the book, tune in, and find out!
The new set covers the original, full, 42-volume tankōbon run of the Dragon Ball manga with two versions of its cover art: the dust jacket portrays the 40th Anniversary Tribute “Dragon Ball Super Gallery” submissions by various artists used for the back covers of Shueisha’s Saikyō Jump between 2021 and 2024, while the book itself is printed with the updated version of the original tankōbon cover art that Shueisha began printing in 2009.
The new books come in a four-part box that features both the original and 2009-updated spine art. The box also comes packed with eight dividers and a 42-card set of postcards with both the original and tribute artwork.
Though the original gallery pieces were not printed in any sort of chronological order, the list of artists that correspond to the actual run of 42 volumes in order includes:
Following up on the previously-announced “Summer 2025” timeframe, Bandai Namco has announced that the first pack of the two-part Dragon Ball Daima DLC expansion for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will hit 17 July 2025:
The release date applies to all major territories, including North America and Japan.
Unlike past DLC expansions, the title for this pack remains largely the same between its original Japanese (魔界の大冒険! or “Great Adventure in the Demon Realm!”) and its official English title (“Adventure Through The Demon Realm”). The new trailer also reiterates that a “Daima Edition” of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will be released, which itself includes access to the two-part expansion. Access to just the Daima pack (covering both parts) is priced at $34.99.
Developed by CyberConnect2 for Bandai Namco, the action role-playing game released16 January 2020 in Japan and 17 January 2020 internationally on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam). A Nintendo Switch edition came later in September 2021.
Two season passes worth of content — with six individual packs in total — have come out since the game’s release. In the first season pass, the Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ DLC entries were much shorter with a focus on boss fights and level increases, while the third entry — that of Trunks’ future timeline — told a comprehensive, multi-part story. The second season pass includes entries for the original 1990 Bardock television special, the 23rd Tenka’ichi Budōkai, and the 28th Tenka’ichi Budōkai.
Reviews of the base game, Trunks DLC, Bardock DLC, 23rd Tenka’ichi Budōkai DLC, and 28th Tenka’ichi Budōkai DLC can be found on episodes #0481, #0490, #0497, #0505, and #0509, respectively, of our podcast.
Dragon Ball Daima — whose broadcast concluded back in February with 20 total episodes — was first revealed at New York Comic Con in October 2023 by way of a trailer and comment from original franchise creator Akira Toriyama. The “Daima” in the series’ title is a made-up term, though the individual kanji that make up its spelling would be 大魔; in Toriyama’s own words, …”in English would be something like ‘Evil.'” The series debuted 11 October 2024on Fuji TV in Japan (with multiple worldwide streaming options), and features an original story by series creator Akira Toriyama, character designs by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, script/composition by Yūko Kakihara, and series co-direction by Yoshitaka Yashima and Aya Komaki.
Episode #0521! Mike speaks with Von from France about the Made in Asia convention from March 2025, which had Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru and Chikashi Kubota in attendance. We get the scoop on some behind-the-scenes production tidbits, pressing fan questions, and a whole lot of great chat about artwork over the years!
Roughly every month, Toyotarō provides a drawing of a Dragon Ball (or related…!) character — as well as an accompanying comment — on the official Japanese Dragon Ball website. Following up on the wealth of characters already drawn, for his April 2025 entry, Toyotarō has drawn the Turtle Hermit:
Kame-Sen’nin (Muten-Rōshi)
We all have in our heads this image of the Bankoku-Bikkuri-Shō being a Jackie Chun move, but in the animated series version of the Tournament of Power, the Turtle Hermit used it against The Priccio, so that’s who I’m drawing here!
During episode 101 of the Dragon Ball Super television series, the Turtle Hermit uses the Bankoku-Bikkuri-Shō against Universe 3’s The Priccio, who is then knocked out of the ring by Tenshinhan’s Shin Kikōhō.
In the Dragon Ball Super manga by Toyotarō, The Priccio is knocked out of the ring sometime after battling Cabba in chapter 37; Universe 3 is eliminated as a whole after a berserk Kale knocks Anilaza out of the ring in the following chapter.
Roughly every month, Toyotarō provides a drawing of a Dragon Ball (or related…!) character — as well as an accompanying comment — on the official Japanese Dragon Ball website. Following up on the wealth of characters already drawn, for his March 2025 entry, Toyotarō has drawn Great Saiyaman #2 (with Great Saiyaman No. 1 himself in the background!):
Great Saiyaman #2
In the animated series, Videl also previously worked as a Saiyaman! They may snark about it, but in the end, everyone loves super heroes!
Videl takes on the mantle of Great Saiyaman #2 following the defeat of Boo, with perhaps her most notable appearance coming in Dragon Ball Z Movie 13:
After an announcement misfire last week via the Humble Bundle retailer website, Bandai Namco has formally unveiled the second paid downloadable content pack for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO: the “DAIMA Character Pack 1” set with eight new playable characters from the respective (and recently-concluded) television series.
The new playable characters in this first Dragon Ball Daima pack include:
Son Goku (Mini) — Super Saiyan
Vegeta (Mini)
Vegeta (Mini) — Super Saiyan
Vegeta (Mini) — Super Saiyan 2
Vegeta (Mini) — Super Saiyan 3
Glorio
Panzy
Majin Koo
“Son Goku (Mini)” was previously a pre-order bonus character; as part of this new pack, Bandai Namco clarifies:
*This alternative version of Goku (Mini) can transform into Super Saiyan and use Aura Impact.
If you own Goku (Mini) from the Pre-Order Pack DLC you can use the alternative version by equipping an outfit. If you do not own it, it will appear as a new character in the character select screen.
The “Season Pass” for Sparking! ZERO is set to contain the previously-released “Hero of Justice Pack” (featuring characters and transformations from the 2022 theatrical film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero), and two Dragon Ball Daima character packs (with the final pack tentatively due Q3 2025). The full “Season Pass” retails for $34.99; the previous “Hero of Justice Pack” is separately available by itself for $17.99.
“DAIMA Character Pack 1” will release for separate public sale 24 April 2025, though anyone who has purchased the existing “Season Pass” can access its content starting today (21 April 2025), in line with their “three days early” scheme for ongoing content releases.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZEROreleased on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam) 10 October 2024 in Japan, and 11 October 2024 internationally. As opposed to the completely separateDragon Ball Z (“Budokai”) series developed by Dimps which came before it, the Sparking! series — developed instead by Spike — featured 3D arenas with an over-the-shoulder camera angle. The new game’s title of Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO falls more in line with the original trilogy’s naming scheme in Japanese. The three Sparking! games — the original, NEO!, and METEOR — hit the PlayStation 2 over the course of 2005 to 2007, with the Nintendo Wii also receiving ports of the second and third games. The game series was released numerically under the “Budokai Tenkaichi” moniker internationally. A fourth games — Tag Vs. in Japan; Tenkaichi Tag Team internationally — was released on the PlayStation Portable in 2010. Spike (as Spike Chunsoft) later went on to also develop the crossover fighting games J-Stars Victory VS in 2014 and Jump Force in 2019.
Episode #0520! Mike and Ajay revisit “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F'” for its 10th anniversary. Often looked back upon as the black sheep of the revival-era animated products, what does it have to offer audiences these days, particularly in light of its re-adaptation into the “Dragon Ball Super” television series?
Back in February, MANTANWEB shared a two-part interview series with Dragon Ball franchise executive producer (and Capsule Corporation Tokyo founder) Akio Iyoku. The first part of this interview, which we are sharing a complete translation of here today, looks toward the end of the then-forthcoming Dragon Ball Daima finale and discusses Akira Toriyama’s involvement in the overall series production.
Following what appear to be successful vinyl releases of the Dragon Ball Z Best Song Collection and Dragon Ball Super soundtracks, Columbia Japan themselves are set to re-issue the Dragon Ball Ongakushū (“Music Collection”), releasing 23 July 2025 for ¥4,000:
A total of 14 tunes will comprise the single record, which includes background music composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi — as well as the vocal opening and ending theme songs — for the launch of the original Dragon Ball television series in 1986. The tracklist includes:
Side A:
Mystical Adventure! [VOCALS: Hiroki Takahashi]
Setting Out
Mystical Adventure! (Instrumental)
The Sexy Girl Bulma
Mystery of the Dragon Balls
Funky Turtle Hermit
A Great Wilderness
Side B:
Phantom Apparition
Ambition
Danger is Everywhere
Shenlong Appears
Pilaf and His Henchmen
Wild Boy
I’ll Give You Romance! [VOCALS: Ushio Hashimoto]
The album was originally released on vinyl 21 April 1986 (catalogue number: CX-7272) alongside the launch of the television series, and was later re-issued on CD 25 September 2003 (catalogue number: CX-7272) under the budget-priced ANIMEX 1200 series (thus its ¥1,200 price tag).
International distributors for the set include Cartridge Thunder (US $49; expected to ship this August) and Black Screen Records (€40,00; expected to ship this August). Note that there is a limited pre-order window with many of these international distributors, and pre-order sales are often final / cannot be cancelled once made.
