98. Dragon Ball Full Color: Saiyan Arc, Vol. 1 by Akira Toriyama

Dragon Ball Full Color: Saiyan Arc, Vol. 1 by Akira Toriyama (buy)
Dragon Ball (17)
Dragon Ball Z (1)

Rating: (5/5)

Feb 4, 2014, VIZ Media, 244 pgs;

Ages: (8+) A

"Son Goku is the greatest hero on Earth. Five years after defeating the demon king Piccolo, he’s grown up and has a family. But what is the real reason for Goku’s incredible strength? A visitor from outer space arrives bearing terrible news—Goku is an alien, and the visitor, Raditz, is Goku’s brother! When Raditz turns out to be a ruthless killer, Goku must fight his incredibly strong brother to save his family and the entire human race. A surprising alliance may be Earth’s last hope: Goku will team up with his old enemy Piccolo to save the world!"

Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.

I haven't finished reading the original "Dragon Ball" series yet but just had to get in on these new editions of Dragon Ball Z (original US title).  This time around the second Dragon Ball series is being called the "Saiyan Arc" and it takes place five years after the final events of DB Vol. 16.  Many familiar characters return, some circumstances have been changed though within the five years and missing friends are accounted for.  The new characters are wild and the combination of old and new had me both feeling comfortably at home and eagerly exciting for the new plot.  Right away the action and conflict start, everything that endears DB to me is present hear including the humour, except DBZ is rated A for All Ages and thus way more tame (for ex. the Turtle Hermit is not a pervert).  By the end of the volume we have all the characters training in various places, Goku in Hell!, for the upcoming invasion by the Saiyans.  This new edition of the series is a trade paperback, almost magazine sized and thus I'm guessing the art is fairly close to it's original size which I just adored reading the large panels. It is also, of course, in full colour and simply a joy to behold and read compared to your standard paperback, thin-papered b/w manga.