Wolf Warriors (2015)

The most 'MERICA Chinese movie ever made.

Directed by Wu Jing and released in theaters in April 2015, Wolf Warriors is a war/martial-arts film that takes place in modern China. Seargant Leng Feng (Wu Jing) is a marksman with the Chinese special forces. During an operation to take down a drug lord, Leng Feng disobeys an order to cease fire. While he saved the day, he endangered the lives of his comrades and is facing a possible court-martial. Colonel Long Xiaoyun recognizes Leng Feng gets results even if he doesn't play by the rules, so she recruits him to join the Wolf Warriors - the elite of the elite in the PLA. During this time, kingpin Ming Deng learns that his brother has been killed by Leng Feng and so he hires Tomcat (Scott Adkins) - a brutal mercenary with an appetite for destruction and a 100% success rate to help him seek revenge. Hunted by Tomcat, Leng Feng's first mission with the Wolf Warriors may be his last. I enjoyed "Wolf Warriors" for a number of reasons. Although the film is Chinese, it's something of a love letter to American action movies of the 1980s right down to the plot, action scenes, and characters. There's some particularly bad CG in this film which is contrasted with superb practical effects, big explosions, and spectacular action sequences. Ten minutes in and the movie probably has a higher body-count than most of the films you've seen in 2015.

 

Wu Jing

Another point in the film's favor is that it stars two of the world's best action stars Wu Jing (Invisible Target, Fatal Contact, SPL-2) and Scott Adkins (Undisputed 2, Undisputed 3, Expendables 2). Not only are both really badass martial artists, but they have acting chops to boot. Leng Feng is your typical 80's action hero - a loose canon who knows how to get things done and feels that bureaucracy gets in the way of taking down the bad guys. His higher-ups tend to paint him as untrustworthy, but he has the guts to do what no one else is willing to do in order to save the day. He's loyal to his country and his fellow soldiers, and he won't hesitate to sacrifice his life for the greater good if the situation calls for it.

Scott Adkins

Opposite of Leng Feng is Tomcat - a mercenary who fights only for money and who feels patriotism is a joke. In typical 80s action movie fashion, the villain is the complete antithesis of the hero and unlike in today's movie industry where film tries to humanize an evil foe and get us to empathize with him, Wolf Warriors does a superb job of portraying Tomcat as unquestionably evil. It's not the fact that he's a mercenary that makes him inherently so, but Tomcat by his own admission is willing to kill innocent people, start a war, and throw China into chaos just as long as he's getting paid. Not only are Wu Jing and Scott Adkins incredible martial artists, but they're great actors and they do a fantastic job playing off each other's character traits during their fight scenes.

The film has a large cast and there are a lot of great characters. It has shades of Predator (1987) in that there are a number of characters you get attached to because of their personalities and dynamics and you really feel it when someone gets killed - especially if they die while sacrificing themselves for a comrade. The film's score really drives home the epic manliness of many of these scenes. Two of my favorite scenes are when Leng Feng carries a fallen comrade over his shoulders as he dodges a hail of gunfire and when Leng Feng faces down an entire guerrilla army and dares them to cross the Chinese border.

The film has its flaws. The first 30 minutes can be a bit confusing as there are a number of characters and plot points introduced back-to-back-to-back. The movie does a good job of ironing out those wrinkles, but I was scratching my head quite a bit early on. There is a CG fight that pits the Wolf Warriors against actual wolves and it's so bad it's good. If you're not into war movies the film might not be to your liking. For me the film had everything I was looking for: great 1980s-style action, two of the world's best throwing down in a fight to the death, and epic manliness that American movies have been missing for a long-time. Wolf Warriors is available now and makes an excellent gift for action movie fans.

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

"The time has come to cleanse this world."

Final Fantasy VII (1997) is one of those rare games that needs no introduction. Forgive the cliche, but unless you've been living under a rock or you're a Millennial there isn't a gamer out there who doesn't know Final Fantasy VII. Not only was Final Fantasy VII instrumental in creating one of gaming's most profitable periods, but even today a whopping 18 years after its release it's still one of the most popular titles in gaming and the most successful Final Fantasy that Square-Enix (Squaresoft at the time) ever released. So it came as no surprise that in 2002, Square-Enix launched the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII project which spawned a number of spin-offs from Final Fantasy VII. Think of this as FFVII's expanded universe which included a CG movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, an anime, two cell phone games, a PSP game, and a PS2 sequel.

They will fight one last time.

Taking place three years after the events of Final Fantasy VII and one year after the events of Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII centers on Vincent Valentine, AVALANCHE member and former Turk. The world has survived the meteor incident and the Second Coming of Sephiroth. The people have undertaken the hard work of rebuilding their lives and the even larger task of rebuilding a world brought to ruin. The citizens of Kalm are having a festival to celebrate the three anniversary of the meteor incident or more specifically the miracle that saved the world from destruction. Rather than join the celebration, Vincent broods in isolation. Tortured by the demons in his past and his own inability to move on, Vincent's psyche has become his personal hell. Suddenly, a wave of violence sweeps through Kalm as mysterious soldiers descend on the small town and massacre its people by the dozens. However, these soldiers also kidnap a select few townsfolk for purposes that can only be nefarious. Calling themselves Deepground, this army is lead by a group of elite superhumans called The Tsviets and the enigmatic Weiss The Immaculate. Vincent swoops into action, his questions punctuated by a hail of gunfire. Will Vincent's battle against Deepground save the world or will he drag it into an even darker hell?

A lengthy summary to be sure, but to be expected of any game based on an RPG. When dealing with any Final Fantasy it's not just a question of whether or not the story is good, but a question of how well it's presented in a genre of this kind. Final Fantasy is an RPG, but Dirge of Cerberus is a third-person shooter which are considerably shorter, so the game's length is a major factor in story-telling. To his credit, Hiroki Chiba does a good job in condensing Final Fantasy VII's complex narrative, and expanding on Vincent Valentine's past. Chiba has introduced some interesting new characters in the form of the Tsviets, and surprisingly enough he's given them adequate characterization as well, but as much as I appreciated the story and characters as a Final Fantasy fan, they are not without their flaws. We learn more about Vincent Valentine's past, but much of what was explored here was already summarized in Final Fantasy VII. In DOC we get a larger picture of Vincent's past with Shinra, the origins of his hatred towards professor Hojo, and the love he had for Lucretia, but we don't learn anything we didn't already know apart from the how and why of the Protomateria that is in Vincent's possession which is essentially the super macguffin that Deepground are trying to get their hands on.

 

Those Tron lines...

As a fan of the franchise I enjoyed learning more about Shinra Incorporated's dirty little secrets - particularly the Deepground soldiers and I liked the Tsviets as villains, but when you get down to it i.e. speaking objectively and not as a fan, they aren't entirely unique. The Tsviets have some very cool designs, but they're basically bad Metal Gear villains. The Tsviets are essentially the Beauty and Beast Corps. of Dirge of Cerberus. Each has their own character trait (bloodlust, apathy, pride, etcetera) you've seen before with a tragic past which you've seen before. Hiroki Chiba is a competent writer to be sure, but it's clear that the game's length hindered his ability to flesh out the Tsviets and differentiate them from the villainous stables you see in many other games. That's not to say it's all bad though. Shelke the Transparent is a member of the Tsviets who gets a lot of character development and while it seems rushed - given that the game takes place over a few days - Shelke was a round, dynamic character who changed considerably over the course of the game.

Composer Masashi Hamauzu who has 19 years of industry experience brings his A game to Dirge of Cerberus. There are some very good tracks in this game which bring a different feel to each of the game's scenes and bluntly speaking will probably be the thing you remember most from the game. Japanese music icon GACKT also provides two songs for the game "Longing" and "Redemption" the game's ending theme, and as a huge GACKT fan parts of this game were mark out moments for me.

 

The art style delivers though.

Dirge of Ceberus won't win any beauty contests. While the PS2 was never a huge graphical powerhouse it did run some impressive games - this isn't one of them. Some of the environments in this game scream PS era with the framerate to match. Although the art direction is quite good with the Tsviets sporting some cool costumes. The environments, while not very detailed do resemble Final Fantasy VII at least aesthetically and it felt as though I was in Midgar all over again which was a big plus. Pretty much the only area where Dirge of Cerberus stumbles is in the actual "game" aspect. Dirge of Cerberus is a third-person shooter, but not a very good one. While the type of genre does make sense given Vincent Valentines weapon of choice, the gameplay is bare-bones and what's here barely holds together. There's very little strategy involved in the combat as it boils down to dodge the enemies' attacks and shoot them. The A.I. is virtually non-existent as enemies will rarely flank you and will often run directly into your gunfire. While they will sometimes hide behind cover, most won't. Groups of enemies will also stand by explosive barrels which make them easy pickings. The game doesn't get particularly difficult as you advance in the story apart from the game sending larger hoards after you. Vincent has a melee attack which isn't very effective, and in the time it takes him to kill an enemy with said attack the player could have shot him and moved on. Vincent can upgrade his signature weapon Cerberus with a scope, materia (magic), and he can change the barrel to increase damage or firing rate. Vincent also acquires a rifle and a machine gun, but I got through most of the game using the default weapon - thus making the upgrades and additional guns completely unnecessary. The boss battles don't require much strategy apart from dodge and shoot, but if you have enough items you can remove dodging from the equation altogether.

Dirge of Cerberus isn't a bad game, but it's just so by-the-numbers it doesn't do anything to elevate the genre. If you're a hardcore Final Fantasy VII fan, a GACKT fan, or both like I am then you'll probably get a kick out of this game. However, if you've never had a really strong connection to the world of Final Fantasy VII, I can't imagine why you'd ever play this. There are even some Final Fantasy VII fans out there who loathe this game. Personally, I felt it was an enjoyable experience despite its many shortcomings.

Berserk (1989 - Ongoing)

 

Don't ever get on Guts' bad side.

Written and illustrated by mangaka Kentaro Miura, "Berserk" is a Japanese comic set in a dark fantasy word inspired by medieval Europe. The story revolves around a warrior named Guts with a tragic past: born from a dead woman and raised to be a mercenary by caretakers who were a little too into the kids kind of tragic past. Over the years, Guts grows up to be a brutal and terrifyingly strong warrior who people soon call the Black Swordsman. Guts later joins up with a group of mercenaries called the Band of the Hawk who are led by a charismatic figure named Griffith and his 2nd in command the warrior maiden Casca. Griffith feels that the three are connected to a strange destiny by a mysterious (see evil AF) object called the Behelit.

That ain't no ordinary MacGuffin son.

Over the years, Guts becomes close to his allies as they travel the continent, righting wrongs, and committing a few along the way until their exploits catch the attention of demonlords called the Godhand. These horrifying fiends wield powers just short of absolute, and they have taken an interest in the Behelit and Griffith. What follows is a tragedy unlike any you've ever seen before as Griffith sacrifices his comrades to the Godhand in exchange for the power to bring destiny itself under his thumb - irreparably scarring Casca and Guts in the process. Broken, beaten, but far from dead, Guts takes up his sword once more and nothing, not destiny or even god will stop him from making Griffith pay.

Not even Cthulhu will sate Guts' appetite for revenge.

There is a lot that I've glossed over due to possible spoilers. It may seem like I've already revealed quite a bit, but the first chapter of Berserk takes place years after the summary I've just shared. In addition, what is technically Berserk's prologue is an entire arc. While manga fans have a habit of calling everything under the sun "epic", Berserk truly is epic in every sense of the word. Not only is the story long (having been in serialization since 1989), but the world this story is set in is immense with a variety of kingdoms, each having their own cultures and meta-religions. The cast of characters play host to a variety of personalities, ideals, and even personal short-comings which the manga doesn't hesitate to show us. It's captivating to see how characters develop overtime especially when their beliefs clash with those around them. There are few if any flat characters to be found here as they are always growing, always changing sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Oh so much worse.

Unspeakable evil, thy name is Griffith.

Berserk is a manga of contrasts and we see this throughout. In the art department we see breathtaking scenery and landscapes right out of Tolkien, together with European inspired castles and towns, but we also see hellish creatures and nightmarescapes that you would swear were taken right out of Clive Barker. In terms of themes, the manga addresses camaraderie, but also isolation and the effect the two have on people. There is even dichotomy between objects of worship as spirits in nature which are typically good, strive to maintain peace and order in the natural/supernatural worlds while on the other hand, the absolute god of Berserk is an entity of evil.

The manga also explores whether or not humans are fundamentally good or evil and so we see characters who are capable of admirable acts of heroism, but we also see characters capable of some of the most horrific acts you've ever seen in a comic. I'm no social justice warrior, but I've seen characters do things so terrible that if I were to describe them to you, you would flee from this room in horror, disgust, or both. Even though seinen (adult comics) are known for having graphic content, Kentaro Miura could give Go Nagai a run for his money with some of these chapters. Make no mistake, Berserk wears its genre with pride. Whether or not it should is up to the reader.

That's not even the biggest one Guts has killed this week.

As mentioned before Berserk is home to a large, dark fantasy world and with that in mind it's no surprise that our heroes come across an assortment of fantasy creatures like trolls, fairies, elves, titanic sea monsters, phantoms, demons, and the like. Creature designs range from nauseatingly grotesque to awe-inspiring. There is an OCD-level of detail in these panels and some of the more questionable design choices aside, Miura's artwork is superb.

Guts always has time for the kids.

Let it be said that Berserk has its heartwarming moments which will sometimes come from the least likely person; Guts. If you've ever read Berserk you know that Guts is one of the most badass characters in fiction - period. Even if you've never read Berserk you know his name. Yet despite what Guts has been through, and despite how many people & monsters he's killed, he can be surprisingly tender towards children and understanding of adults, always taking the time to help people emotionally and psychologically - even if he doesn't want to. The characters in this manga left such a strong impression on me that it motivated me to keep reading even if I had to slog through some [really] graphic content.

Tis but a flesh wound.

Since 1989 Berserk has spawned more than 30 volumes, an anime series, three OVAs, and two video games: Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage for the Sega Dreamcast in 1999 and Berserk Millennium Falcon Arc: Chapter of the Record of the Holy Demon War for the Playstation 2 in 2004. It has a large following and it may be one of the extremely rare cases where the mainstream has yet (yet) to ruin a great title. It has its flaws, but overall its a fantastic title especially for those into dark fantasy stories. There's some great stuff in here, but be warned. It's a very "trigger happy" manga so just know what you're getting into.

Goemon (2009)

An unforgettable film.

Goemon is a 2009 Japanese historical fiction film written and directed by Casshern's Kazuaki Kiriya. The film follows Ishikawa Goemon, a Robin Hood-esque figure and his exploits during the end of the Sengoku period. The star-studded cast includes Yosuke Eguchi as the titular Ishikawa Goemon, Aragami and Sky High's Takao Osawa as Kirigakure Saizo, and Ryoko Hirosue as Goemon's love interest Chacha. Film legend Eiji Okuda plays the main villain Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and Kamen Rider Agito's Jun Kaname plays the scheming Ishida Mitsunari.

Oozing with stars!

When the film opens, we find our hero Goemon breaking into the royal vault where he helps himself to Hideyoshi's gold and other treasures. As guards storm the room, Goemon makes a daring escape across the rooftops, charming the people and showering them with gold along the way when he reveals a blue box which appears to be entirely ordinary. It's not gold so he simply throws it away. Unbeknownst to Goemon the box he discarded contains a map which points the way to a hidden scroll that contains highly classified information regarding Toyotomi's rise to power and the conspiracy surrounding the Honnoji Temple incident. Because Goemon is the last person who was in possession of the box, a number of powerful figures want his head including the current daimyo Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Other power-players include Toyotomi's rival Ieyasu Tokugawa, and Toyotomi's traitorous minister of finance Mitsunari Ishida - both of whom send shinobi after Goemon including Goemon's best friend Saizo and Goemon's master the legendary ninja killer Hanzo Hattori. The situation becomes even more complicated when Chacha, Goemon's childhood friend and Toyotomi's concubine gets caught in the middle. What transpires is a long, action-adventure thrill-ride filled with drama, moral dilemmas, and stunning fight sequences.

Saizo vs Goemon

As mentioned above, the film was written and directed by Casshern's Kazuaki Kiriya. He's refined his craft since 2004 and many of the earmarks of Casshern are present here such as a cast of rich characters, an inversion of tropes, and a different take not on the perception of good and evil, but which characters we are prone to seeing in that manner. "Goemon" uses its two hour run-time very effectively which is a must for a film juggling so many plot points. As a work of historical fiction, the film gives a different take on the final events of the Sengoku period i.e. the Battle of Sekigahara, the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and the Siege of Osaka. At the same-time it explores the relationships between all the main characters and develops their personalities through major events in the film, playing with the viewer's expectations along the way. For example, in most films of this nature the dichotomy between Goemon and his rival Saizo would be one of good versus evil. However, Saizo is a man who fights for his family while Goemon (at least initially) is a man who fights only for himself. It really changes how we see our characters when Saizo forces our protagonist to reevaluate his life choices and how they affect the people around him.

Oda Nobunaga

The film has a generous amount of character development for nearly everyone not just our lead Goemon. We see what motivates these characters, what drives them to be forces of good or evil, and the toll it takes on them. Hideyoshi Toyotomi was a peasant, but worked to get to the top. His efforts were noticed by Oda Nobunaga who took him under his wing. Whenever Toyotomi couldn't achieve his objective through hard work, murder became a more viable alternative. The poverty he endured manifested as greed and that insatiable appetite for more, or perhaps the fear of having to live without the necessities for survival drove him down a path of evil. What I especially enjoyed was "Goemon's" characterization of Oda Nobunaga. Hashinosuké Nakamura plays Oda Nobunaga, the most famous (or infamous depending on your perception) warlord in Japanese history. However, the film doesn't portray Nobunaga as a ruthless warlord like most other fiction are prone to do, rather we see Nobunaga as a man doing what he feels is best for the future of his people. He doesn't always make the best decisions, but every move he makes is motivated by the need to build a happy future for all. I was really captivated by this approach and Nakamura's performance. Doubly so because Nobunaga made a profound impact on Goemon which the film explores.

Taking a level in BADASS.

The world is gorgeous, wonderfully imaginative and the costume designs are superb, mixing eastern and western styles which adds to the film's swashbuckling feel. Goemon's default attire even has similarities to 1922's "Robin Hood". The film has a powerful orchestrated score which adds weight to every scene. While I'm not normally a fan of a lot of CG, I don't mind it so much here because similar to "Casshern", given the style of world in which this story takes place and the fight scenes it couldn't be filmed in any other way. The fight scenes themselves are a sight to behold with the second to the last battle defining the word epic. We see Goemon dodging bullets from several Gatling canons (yes canons and yes several), wall running, leaping over castles, and fighting hundreds of soldiers. Imagine the opening to Onimusha 3 or Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams but 10x more awesome.

"The sky is crying."

Sure the film isn't perfect. While anyone can enjoy it, it may be difficult for some viewers who aren't familiar with Japanese history or at least the Sengoku Period as there are a lot of historical figures in the movie. While the movie juggles a lot of plots, subplots, and relationships very competently, it may be hard to keep track of for some viewers. As you can see from the trailer there is a lot of CG in this film and if that's not your thing the film may be a turnoff. Those items aside I found "Goemon" to be a very enjoyable film and it really sold me on Kiriya's style of writing and directing.

Casshern (2004)

Mah feels!

Written and directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, Casshern is a 2004 tokusatsu based loosely on the 1973 anime Neo-Human Casshern by Takao Koyama. The film stars Yusuke Iseya as Tetsuya Azuma/Casshern, Kumiko Aso as Tetsuya's love interest Luna Kozuki, Toshiaki Karasawa as the antagonist Burai, Kamen Rider Agito's Jun Kaname as Barashin, singer/musician/actor Akira Terao as Dr. Azuma, and actress Kanako Higuchi as Midori Azuma.

Definitely earns those four stars.

Casshern (2004) takes place in a distant future in the aftermath of a fifty-year war between the Eastern Federation and Europa; a war which has devastated the environment and the human population. A brilliant (see mad) scientist named Dr. Azuma has discovered Neo Cells within the genes of a subspecies of humans. In theory, the Neo Cells would be able to regenerate limbs, organs, and even cure disease. During this time, Dr. Azuma's son Tetsuya enlists in the army and is soon called upon to help put down a resistance movement in Eurasia Zone 7 - where he is killed shortly after. One fateful evening when Dr. Azuma is researching Neo Cells, a lightning bolt strikes the pool of genetic material he keeps in his lab - reconstructing and reanimating the bodies therein -giving birth to the Neo Sapiens in the process. Lead by the powerful and intensely focused Burai, the Neo Sapiens set out to destroy humankind and take their place as the dominant life-form on this planet. Dr. Azuma uses the Neo-Cells to resurrect his son Tetsuya - reborn, rearmed, and rejuvenated Tetsuya now called Casshern is the only thing that stands between mankind and extinction. What follows is a long, complicated, epic that will stir the heart and make you question everything you know about these characters, their motives, and the nature of human existence.

Make It Right

The summary I've written is rather complex and even a bit disjointed because the film is two hours long (longer than that in the original version). Despite its Transformers-esque length the movie doesn't feel like a slog and much of the narrative does thread together more organically even if the plot is often more fantasy than science fiction. From a thematic standpoint Casshern is much, much different from its 1973 predecessor, but this is not a detriment to the film. At its core the film's primary themes deal with war, family, and how trauma affects how humans relate to each other. The film deals with these incredibly complex themes while drawing inspiration from classic literature. For example, the film has elements of Frankenstein given the nature of the Neo Sapiens, the circumstances of their creation, and Dr. Azuma's relationship with them. The Neo Sapiens seek Dr. Azuma's acknowledgement his love even, but it's not something he can give to them because they are abominations.

Film legend Toshiaki Karasawa delivers a powerful performance as Burai.

Our hero Tetsuya and our villain Burai are in some ways both victims of their circumstances, but paradoxically enough are reaping the karma for their own actions towards others. Tetsuya and Burai develop a Cain and Abel-esque relationship even though deep down Burai doesn't want Tetsuya's death he wants Tetsuya's understanding. The language of Kazuaki Kiriya is pain and these characters fight through a profound level of suffering and violence is their only outlet. During his battle with Tetsuya, Burai even admits that he hates mankind so much that he doesn't know how to stop even if he wants to. While Tetsuya himself has to fight for the survival of all mankind even though he's aware that people will never stop fighting wars and will one day destroy each other. Whether they are acting in the name of revenge, love, science, or the future every character is locked in a situation where lose-lose is the only real outcome. Even so they keep moving forward, doing all the good they know how to do until the end. There are some shocking revelations in the movie that may leave you as devastated as the characters themselves.

Casshern Solos

Don't think for a minute that this film doesn't have badass credentials. Casshern is tokusatsu and with that in mind it has some super cool fight scenes. We're talking cinematic speedlines, action poses, some brutal beatdowns, and one particular battle where Casshern single-handedly destroys an army of robots in a fight so over-the-top that it's worth watching the film for that battle alone. Aesthetically, the film is a mix of urbanpunk and Russian Avant-Garde and if like myself you aren't familiar with either of those the film is visually stunning.

Shiro Sagisu composes the film's score which can only be described as fantastic, and Japanese rock band The Black Horn drops a few tracks as well. Casshern may not appeal to everyone. It does take a long-time to get started which might turn off some viewers. Traditionalists may not be pleased with the liberties the film has taken with the source material. Also, the first English release had issues wherein the subtitles would not always display which is a localization issue. These flaws aside, I found Casshern to be a powerful film about war, sacrifice, and humanity that falls just short of a must-own, but is still a great movie.

Akito the Exiled - The Wyvern Arrives (2012)

Code Geass: Akito The Exiled

On August 10th, 2010 a.t.b., the Holy Britannian Empire attacked Japan without warning. The Japanese were no match for Britannia's superior tactics and never before seen Knightmares (mechs). Within a month, Japan fell to Britannia and was stripped of all political power and national identity. Renamed Area 11, Japan has been reduced to a colony and it will be one of many as Britannia's path of conquest threatens to overturn the world. The year is 2017 a.t.b. and the European Union (E.U.) and its allies are all that stands in the way of Britannia and global domination. In a desperate bid to shift the momentum of the war, the E.U. forms a special division called the "W-O" which consists of a small company of Japanese soldiers. Among them is Ensign Akito Hyuga, a Knightmare pilot with an appetite for destruction and a penchant for chaos. Akito is led by Commander Leila Malkal a former Britannian Aristocrat who leads the Wyvern Knightmare corps against her country. Will Leila's and Akito's combined efforts be enough to help the E.U. turn the tables on Britannia, or will they be casualties of war like so many who have come before them?

It couldn't be.

Directed by Kazuki Akane (Escaflowné), also written by Kazuki Akane and Miya Asakawa, "Akito The Exiled" is a side-story of the original Code Geass which was written by Ichirō Ōkouchi and directed by Gorō Taniguchi. To summarize a 50 episode anime series, the original Code Geass followed an exiled Brittanian prince named Lelouch vi Britannia who under the guise of an enigmatic persona named Zero, fought against the Britannian empire with the aid of the Black Knights and a mysterious power called Geass which allowed him to control others. Akito The Exiled is set during the events of Code Geass but takes place in different locations and follows a different cast of characters. Also worth noting is that Akito The Exiled is a four part series of movies rather than a two season anime, but keep in mind that this review will focus on the first movie which was very well done in a number of areas and was even better than the series in a few of them.

I'll be your knight.

The theatrical format comes with its positives and negatives. While the negatives are that the film isn't very long and doesn't give us much time to spend in this world with these characters, Akane makes each scene count and doesn't waste time on fluff or unnecessary details. As the first in a set of movies, Akito The Exiled: The Wyvern Arrives has a lot of work to do in both reinvigorating the franchise and drawing in newcomers which it does fairly well. While opening the film with a voice over is cliche the film goes from that scene right into the action where we see the E.U. forces engaged in battle with Britannia. The Wyvern Knightmare corps. are taking a pounding and command is falling apart. The movie doesn't take the route of telling us how bad the war has gotten, rather it shows us through a scene where one of the commanders is coming apart at the seams, the Wyverns are getting decimated, those who are alive have resorted to kamikaze attacks, and the Britannians seem to have control of the board. This first scene also shows us a lot about Akito's and Layla's respective personalities.

The Relena

Leila Malkal is the young military commander who has quickly risen through the ranks. While her status certainly played a hand in that it was also another hurdle for her to overcome. Despite her noble background she has devoted herself to the military as one can see through her composed nature, willingness and ability to take control of a given situation, and a strategic mindset that constantly probes the enemy for weaknesses regardless of size or strength. At the same time she's very compassionate and will never create or follow a strategy where the price of victory far outweighs the number of lives spent to achieve it. One character who doesn't share Leila's regard for human life happens to be her foil Akito.

The Heero

Hyuga Akito is a young Knightmare pilot whose combat skills are nothing short of extraordinary. Known and feared by his enemies as the "Ghost of Hannibal" Akito appears to be under the influence of a Geass command and whether the influence of that Geass is telling him to survive or to die, he rushes into battles with only a 5% survival rate and decimates any who stands in his way. He has a madness that seems barely held in check and while he's mostly apathetic outside of battle, he appears to be carrying the weight of his fallen comrades on his shoulders. His traits are sometimes at opposites with each other but despite this he knows how to control himself in social situations and he respects Leila even though he doesn't hesitate to speak his mind or express disagreement with her decisions. He's a good foil because his opposite traits compliment Leila's without him being a villain.

Against The World

Leila and Akito have an interesting dynamic that is just short of exceptional because rather than do away with traditional gender roles in a misguided attempt to be progressive like most anime (and media in general) they both share and embrace their gender roles and apply them to different situations, from different perspectives, but typically for similar reasons. For example, Leila uses her position and intellect to try and protect Akito as much as she can without abusing her power. As the commander of the W-O she knows Akito's chances of survival on the battlefield are almost zero and so she tries different battle tactics, she tries to convince her superiors to provide more resources, better resources, not just to win the war which obviously is most pressing, but because she also has Akito's safety in mind. She outranks Akito in virtually all areas of their world (military, society, politics) but she never lets that compromise her understanding of him and her respect for him as a human being.

Will they survive?

By that same token, Leila's safety is firmly in Akito's mind, during those times he's not out of his mind anyway. Akito is Leila's battle-hardened Lieutenant and bodyguard and it's a job he takes very seriously. Whether it's his devotion to duty or simply an "It's my job" mindset he doesn't hesitate to go on the offensive when Leila is in danger. Whether the threat is an attack on her life or status, Akito is sensitive to the atmosphere of a given situation and knows how to respond. When the threat in question is mortal there's no such thing as excessive force in Akito's mind. It's far too early to tell if the two characters love each other but they do see value in each other's lives and this says a lot about how much Leila influences Akito who is a character who doesn't recognize value in human life. Akito also recognizes Leila's individuality and even though she's a Britannian and a noble it's not a point of contention between the two. Both of them embrace their roles and are protective and nurturing without being possessive of each other or ashamed of who they are.

A familiar story?

The only real knock I have is that the dynamic between the two is only unique by today's standards but not overall. Seasoned anime viewers will notice I dubbed Leila "The Relena" and Akito "The Heero." This is because they bear striking similarities to Relena Peacecraft and Heero Yuy from Gundam Wing which came out in 1995. This I admit is a small gripe and doesn't detract that much from the enjoyment of watching Akito and Leila interact, but for an objective critique it does bear mentioning. A few traits aside they're nearly identical to Heero and Relena. Of course someone who hasn't seen Gundam Wing (or Gundam 00, Crest of the Stars, etc.) will not be aware of these similarities.

No place like home.

The environments in Akito The Exiled are beautifully drawn and most of the scenes future some truly impressive animation which is par for the course for Sunrise. While it won't drop any jaws the way something from ufotable would (Unlimited Blade Works), it's pretty to look at, even gorgeous at times. Computer animation in some of the scenes are very noticeable and feel out of place especially considering previous entries in Code Geass used it to only the most minimum degree. CLAMP's character designs always measure up and while they're not at the level of say Tsubasa Resevoir Chronicles or xxxHolic, the characters in Akito The Exiled do stand out. Akira Yasuda has designed some unique mechs, the Alexander being my personal favorite thus far. Like most mechs the Alexander is bipedal but it can also crawl on all fours and move like a spider. It also has these large tonfas and seems tailor-made for close quarters combat which Akito excels at.

Akito shares his feelings toward gaijin.

The film is not without its thematic flaws. Fans of Code Geass may be familiar with the franchise's xenophobia-influenced alternate history. While nothing is wrong with alternate history stories, Code Geass has a track record of using this device to transmit a message that all Japanese people are good and all Europeans are bad - sans the one or two token exceptions so that the anime (or manga) doesn't come off as being blatantly nationalistic. Whether it was Ichirō Ōkouchi's original writing or the influence of Gorō Taniguchi, some elements in Code Geass tread that fine line between anime and propaganda and I felt that its anti-European message had all the subtlety of driving a bus through someone's house. This has been toned down considerably under Kazuki Akane but it's still present to a degree.

Episode One

Despite its flaws I had a great time watching Akito The Exiled. I found the film to be a breath of fresh air at a time when I was burned out on Code Geass. I'm pleased to note that the movie had a lot of what I enjoyed and very little of what I didn't. It's different from the original series but not so different that it feels like another anime. Code Geass: R2 felt like it was just Death Note x Gundam and it lost much of its uniqueness. However, Akito The Exiled has a greater grasp on its identity thanks to Kazuki Akane. I highly recommend the movie for long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Dragon Ball Z (1989 - 2003)

Let's get it going.

Dragon Ball Z premiered in Japan in 1989 and aired its final episode in 1996. In 1995 Funimation licensed the English production which was released stateside in 1996 through Saban Entertainment and Pioneer Entertainment. Dragon Ball Z would be cancelled in 1998 due to a lack of interest from western networks and low ratings. Dragon Ball Z was picked up again in 1999 by the Cartoon Network where it became the flagship show of Toonami and it's from there DBZ exploded into popularity stateside, despite having been around for quite sometime already. The anime enjoyed a tremendous level of success on the Cartoon Network before airing its final episode in 2003.

The adventure continues.

Dragon Ball Z is the anime adaptation of the last 325 chapters of the original Dragon Ball manga and continues Goku's story by introducing new villains, new characters, and new arcs. It has been five years since the defeat of the evil King Piccolo and the human race is enjoying a period of peace. On this day however, a strange pod crashes in a field. Elsewhere, Goku who is now an adult with a wife and child is getting ready for his reunion with Roshi, Krillin, and Bulma who he has not seen in the last five years. The group is surprised by the appearance of Goku's son Gohan who, much like his father when he was younger, also has a tail. The surprises don't end there however as a strange alien shows up to crash the party.

Raditz

Goku and his friends have numerous questions and this terrifying invader has answers. His name is Raditz and he explains that he and Goku are part of a warrior race called the Saiyan who are the conquerors of some worlds, and destroyers of many others. Not only that but Goku is actually Raditz's kin, and big brother isn't too happy that Goku has become the protector of Earth rather than its destroyer. Raditz wants Goku to join forces with him and the other Saiyans so they can conquer a neighboring planet and sell it on the intergalactic market.

Guess we'll add kidnapping to murder and destruction of private property.

When Goku refuses, things turn violent as Raditz soundly thrashes him and kidnaps his son. Raditz gives Goku 24 hours to decide if he'll join with Raditz and the other Saiyans, or Gohan will face the consequences. Even if Goku joins his brother, Raditz makes it clear that their next order of business will be to destroy Earth. After Raditz departs, Goku is visited by his nemesis Piccolo who presents him with a most unusual offer. Piccolo realizes that Raditz can and will make good on his promise to destroy the planet and neither of them can stop him alone, but together they might stand a sliver of a chance.

Brother vs Brother

Dragon Ball Z does a lot right at the outset. Within the first two episodes we get an in-depth look into Goku's heritage, learn that there are people in the universe even stronger than he is, and we also learn that the Dragon Ball world will entail new adventures far beyond Earth. Dragon Ball Z does a great job introducing new characters as well as re-introducing old ones from the original series. This is done in a very believable manner which is justified by the narrative. The Saiyans are a threat to the entire planet and to have even a chance at beating them, Goku must team up with old friends, rivals, and even his nemesis Piccolo. The early episodes are very good at building tension as there's a very unsettling ambiguity about the Saiyans' power. Sure they talk the talk, but the terrifying depth of their power isn't revealed until they walk the walk all over our heroes' graves.

Final Justice!!

The early fight scenes in DBZ are also very well done because unlike in many contemporary shonen titles (Claymore, Bleach, Naruto) most, if not all the battles serve a thematic purpose. They're not just there to fill time between the next cliche. Despite the conflicts being physics defying clashes between titans, the causes of the conflicts and resolutions to them are realistic. Foes such as the Saiyans, Frieza, and Majin Buu are strong advocates of genocide and their ideologies whether driven by greed, fear, or madness, are not matters that can be resolved by just talking about them. Goku and his enemies don't just "talk it out" and then everyone changes their minds and are all friends. Dragon Ball Z is more mature than that, particularly in the earlier arcs. We see clashes between mega powers but also between the ideologies these combatants have.

A new legend is born.

As the adventure continues, stakes are raised higher and higher from the Saiyans who pose a threat to the planet, to Frieza who poses a threat to the galaxy, and villains such as Cell and Majin Buu that can destroy the universe. The viewer can really feel the urgency inherit in these new threats and I for one was consistently impressed every-time Goku reached a new level of power, but he wasn't the only one.

Super Vegeta

Goku's most bitter rival Prince Vegeta is also one of the most impressive figures in the entire series. In addition to being the first character in the current DBZ timeline to recall the legends of the ancient Saiyans, he's also the first Super Saiyan to reach a new level of power, actually ascended passed the level of Super Saiyan, overtaking Goku himself for a short-time. Despite turning face early on in the series, Vegeta retains his unique character and ideologies, but also changes as a person.

DBZ also introduces other beastmode characters like Trunks who became one of my favorites from the word go. Trunks also has one of the better character designs in the series and to see him grow from badass to uber-badass was most impressive.

Favorite DBZ villain.

Any anime worth its viewership needs to have an interesting cast of villains and while it's hit-or-miss in some cases, DBZ does have a good collection of rouges. While Frieza is the most recognizable villain in the series, I prefer the villains who show up later on as their modus operandi is a bit more complex than genocidal alien overlord. My personal favorite is Imperfect Cell - a techno-organic hybridization of heroes and villains throughout the series, Cell has the genes of several DBZ characters in his genetic make-up which grants him access to their skills and techniques. What's also striking about Cell is how different he is from DBZ villains before and after him. Unlike most of the villains who are tiers of strength above the heroes, Cell is actually much weaker than our cast. Because of this, Cell must rely on his cunning to stay ahead of the Z-fighters and he shows that he's a terrifyingly skilled tactician who knows his way around Xanatos speed chess. He's always one step ahead of the heroes and he's even able to turn around a disadvantageous situation to ensure he comes out on top.

Kid Buu

The series gets a lot of mileage out of Cell but the same is equally true of Majin Buu. Similar to Cell, this pink terror has several forms, each more powerful and more vicious than the last. What's interesting is that Buu's entry into the series also ties directly into some of the DBZ mythos and it's through Majin Buu we learn more about the Kais (gods that watch over certain parts of the universe). Buu serves as the final villain in the series but don't let his Kirby-esque vibes fool you. Among a roster of ridiculously over-powered villains, Majin Buu is pure nightmare fuel. A demon of destruction whose madness is matched only by his power, there is nothing he won't do.

In terms of production quality Dragon Ball Z is in a league of its own. The colors, animation, score, mixing, and voice acting are head and shoulders above most anime, and the original DBZ is much better than the updated Dragon Ball Z: Kai which is a baffling paradox if there ever were one. An epic score by Bruce Faulconer puts DBZ's music in a class that many anime today can't touch.

As ratchet as this anime's pacing.

It's not all perfect in DBZ though. When the anime is rolling on all cylinders it's like an MVP, but when it messes up and it does, it drops the ball and falls on its face. Dragon Ball Z's biggest stumbling blocks are pacing and predictability. No character in DBZ says anything another character won't repeat six or seven times. Heroes will often repeat something the villain has said and vice verse, often several times, which really drags the pacing. My favorite example of this comes during the Android Saga where Trunks questions Krillin on how Piccolo got so strong. After Krillin explains Piccolo must have fused with Kami and became a Super Namek, Trunks very nearly repeats the same explanation back to him. The same thing happens when Vegeta shows up and asks how Piccolo got so strong. This is not a rare occurrence either. If someone is charging a blast powerful enough to destroy the entire planet, get ready to hear four or five characters say "Oh no that blast is powerful enough to destroy the entire planet! Don't do it!" This is all artificial padding to drag out each individual scene and really proves to be a bane of the action which was detrimental for me personally.

Taking a bite out of entertainment.

The incessant talking during fight scenes and constant cuts to characters who aren't even involved in the battle made me wonder how I even made it through the series when I was a kid. Every fight scene will have two characters throwing punches which typically will not land, then cut to another character making a statement about what the viewer just saw, then a cut back to the fight where there's energy attack, energy attack, energy attack, none of which do anything to turn the tide and then a cut to a character saying something about what the viewer just saw. There is so much padding during fight scenes that battles which took place over a course of four or more episodes can typically be watched in 30 minutes or so on Youtube. Or a better example, the "action" portion of the Cell Games saga takes place over roughly 15 to 17 episodes. Edited down i.e. removing all the filler it's a little under two hours. That's how much artificial padding there is across this series. For an anime that prides itself as the number one action series it has more talking than anything else. And that is to say nothing of episodes that have two characters flying and talking, then a group of characters talking in another location, and then back to the two characters flying and talking.

Super Saiyan 3

Another issue I had is that Goku is really the only character that does anything. The anime has a large cast of heroes but ultimately no one succeeds in saving the day or taking down the bad guy but Goku. While there are two exceptions i.e. Piccolo defeating Raditz (with Goku's help) or Trunks thrashing Frieza, for the most part the supporting cast only gets a few small victories but it's Goku who ultimately saves the day. While it is true that this is a convention of shonen and Goku is expected to save the day because he's the main character, there are scenarios throughout the anime where it appears that Vegeta or Gohan might be the difference maker and save Earth. But whenever it so much as appears the torch is going to be passed Goku arrives with another power-up or technique to save the day. Goku is either there in person or in spirit to save the world and it feels like our cast can't do anything without him regardless of how much they train. It makes the show really predictable and renders most of the power-ups superfluous because no matter how big the baddie is, and no matter who fights him, you quickly learn the pattern that Goku will have to save the day.

Super Saiyan Swagger

The anime isn't perfect and it's not the GOAT like its rabid fanbase would have newcomers believe. Taken on its on Dragon Ball Z does some amazing things, but as an anime there are several issues in terms of pacing, narrative, and just overall entertainment given the amount of editing that has to be done just to put the battles into a watchable format. I feel that its numerous flaws aside Dragon Ball Z is a good anime and newcomers or even long-time fans of anime who have never seen DBZ should give it a watch, even if it isn't a must see.

Dragon Ball (1984 - 1995)

The start of the worldwide phenomenon.

Created in 1984 by famed mangaka Akira Toriyama (Dr. Slump, Hetappi Manga Kenkyūjo, Pola & Roid, etc.) and inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West, Dragon Ball follows the story of a young boy named Goku who travels the world in search of adventure and the legendary Dragon Balls; seven mysterious orbs which, when gathered together summon the dragon god Shenlong who can grant almost any wish. As the manga goes on, we follow Goku's story from childhood to adulthood, and even events after his death as he encounters new friends and powerful enemies as the tale expands on a universe defying scale. Due to the shear length of Dragon Ball (520 chapters) and the massive, MASSIVE amount of media surrounding this franchise, this review will only cover the first 16 volumes, while a review of Dragon Ball Z will follow in the coming weeks.

Social justice warriors be like "How dare you?" lol.

Our story opens with Goku starting his day. He begins his morning by uprooting a tree trunk and destroying it with a single kick which is good for training and firewood, before going for a walk and trying to decide if he wants to eat another bear or have a tiger today. He decides to eat a fish as it would be a nice change in his diet. Apart from Goku's immense strength and his tail he seems to be an ordinary kid having an ordinary day until a teenage girl named Bulma narrowly avoids running him over while he's crossing the road. Having never seen a car, Goku immediately assumes the metal monster is there to steal his breakfast. After nailing the car with a brainbustah and giving Bulma quite the scare, the pair becomes acquainted with each other and Bulma tells Goku the secret of the legendary Dragon Balls. With some convincing (see manipulation) Bulma convinces Goku to help her search for the Dragon Balls and so the adventure begins, and what an adventure it is.

Go West Young Goku

One of the reasons the earliest chapters of Dragon Ball resonates with me is that it's an adventure story at its core. This is before the later volumes that westerners know as Dragon Ball Z. In the early volumes the story centered on Goku travelling to different places, meeting new people, and growing as a person while helping others grow as well. Goku's adventure is one of personal growth and coming together with others, as opposed to fight scene fight scene fight scene repeat as we see much further into the manga. Akira Toriyama has created a fun and imaginative world that can't really be placed in a particular time period or connected to a certain era. The first volume alone really blew me away because Toriyama presents us with a world of hover cars, bears in samurai armor, a bunny crime lord, talking Pterodactyls, and more.

Jan Ken Pon!!

As Goku and Bulma travel the world they come across a colorful supporting cast such as the trickster pig Oolong, a bandit named Yamcha, his side-kick Puar who is a talking, shape-shifting cat and many others including Launch, a beautiful, demure, young woman who switches to a violent alter ego whenever she sneezes, and Master Roshi one of the most powerful martial artists on the planet and an overt pervert. The group also encounters a slew of villains such as the evil (and woefully incompetent) Emperor Pilaf, the tyrannical Red Ribbon Army, and the nightmarish King Piccolo. These encounters are very natural and the quests flow into one another. It doesn't feel like a boss rush brand of story telling we see in the later volumes.

The legend starts here!!!

Goku grows stronger and wiser over-time and his relationships with certain characters change as well. For example, while Bulma sees Goku as a means to an end i.e. a sentinel she can use in pursuit of the Dragon Balls she becomes his closest friend. While Yamcha and Goku initially meet as enemies they also become friends and there is a heartfelt reunion between the two when they meet at the world tournament. What makes this work is that it doesn't feel like the characters are always changing just because Goku's there, but in some ways Goku brings out the best in the people around him. Not only that, but other characters bring out the best in Goku as well. One of the finest examples of this is Goku's growing relationship with Master Roshi.

Goku and Master Roshi

Goku and Master Roshi form a deep student-teacher relationship which has long-running implications. While Roshi initially sees Goku as just another kid who wants to learn martial arts, he quickly changes his views once he learns Goku is the grandson of his most skilled student Gohan. Roshi teaches Goku the basics of martial arts but he also teaches him how to be a better person. When Goku says "Mornin" to a monk Roshi smacks him with his cane and admonishes him for being disrespectful. Goku then says "Good morning" to the monk and bows.

Fly

Later on in the manga, we see Goku respectfully greeting people older than him without needing Roshi's correction. Goku's training with Roshi consists mostly of Goku doing things for the community. For example, Roshi has Goku (and Krillin) delivering milk for everyone in the countryside, plowing fields with their bare hards, and helping construction workers move heavy materials. In some way, Goku is learning that his strength should always be used to help those weaker than himself. During the World Tournament, Roshi is actually willing to put his life on the line to help Goku get stronger, and to also show him to never get complacent in his training or arrogantly assume there aren't people in the world stronger than him. Overtime, Goku really sees Roshi as a grandfather-figure and an irreplaceable person.

It's about the adventure.

Any manga worth reading must have an interesting character and Goku, particularly Kid Goku is definitely one of the best. While Goku isn't any more of tabula rasa than an average child, he does have a natural innocence and curiosity about the world. These are two of his most defining traits and really comes across throughout the story. For example, after the shenanigans of Goku's and Bulma's first meeting he invites her to his home with the reasoning "Since you're a girl I'll give you food." Also, during an exchange with Oolong we learn that Goku is helping to search for the Dragon Balls so he can get stronger, see the world, and meet new people.

Rock The Dragon

His only interest in Shenlong is seeing what he looks like as he's never seen a dragon before. Goku doesn't actually have a wish he wants fulfilled. Goku's innocence is endearing and his naivety is understandable because contrary to other popular shonen characters such as say Naruto, Goku's naivety doesn't stem from a refusal to learn or even an inability to do so, rather because his only encounter with human beings apart from his grandfather didn't occur until he was 12, it takes him time to learn certain social norms and the proper approach in certain situations. For example, in the first volume Goku has a habit of feeling people up to determine if they're a boy or girl but over time he learns to stop doing this and also learns to tell people apart using more than just their gender. I appreciate Goku's character particularly because while he is new to the world he knows the difference between right and wrong and his determination to get stronger doesn't stem from a selfish goal or juvenile need for recognition (I want to be Hokage), but because Goku truly wants to better himself.

Roshi wants a puff puff girl.

Dragon Ball has a lot of comedy and many of the jokes are laugh out loud funny, particularly if you're familiar with Japanese humor, Japanese pop culture, or word play. Of note is that Roshi is the owner of a baby Gamera which looks and flies exactly like Gamera. There is a great deal of risque humor as well especially when Roshi or Oolong are on the scene. There's a part where Oolong disguises himself as Freddie Mercury and asks Bulma about her bust size. Without any hesitation, Bulma replies with 85 centimeters. Oolong approves because he can do "puff puffs." Other Oolong Favorites of mine include Oolong wearing a Red Army uniform and transforming into Mazinger. Goku's innocence also leads to some comical exchanges with other characters such as Chi Chi. There's a scene where Chi Chi asks Goku to marry her to which Goku replies "I'm not interested in marriage but if you have something I'll come take it."

Goku never met a girl he didn't feel up.

Volumes one and two have a fair amount of risque humor but there's not so much of it that it becomes distracting and Toriyama has enough comedy chops where he doesn't rely solely on that brand of comedy as there is some comical slapstick here as well. One of my favorite examples of slapstick comedy is when Goku and Chi Chi are riding Nimbus and after Goku, ahem, inspects Chi Chi she knocks him off. Not only does Goku plummet to the ground but because Goku isn't controlling Nimbus, Chi Chi slams into a nearby mountain. Hard. Another notably hilarious moment is when Goku introduces Chi Chi to Roshi but she refuses to believe such a perverted old man is the legendary Muten Roshi. She decides to test Roshi by throwing her chakram at him. After all, if he is the legendary Muten Roshi he'll have no issue dodging or catching it. Said chakram gets embedded into Roshi's skull much to the horror of all three characters.

Roshi Prepares

Another of Dragon Ball's many strengths is that Toriyama plays with your expectations. It's important to note that Dragon Ball was not Toriyama's first manga. He's had a long history of experience in the industry and so he was well-aware of convention and cliches. So throughout Dragon Ball we see Toriyama play with the reader. When Goku and Bulma are trying to rescue village girls kidnapped by Oolong, Bulma asks one of the villagers if she could borrow her clothes with the implications being she'll disguise herself as one of the villagers. What actually ends up happening is Bulma forcing Goku to cross-dress. Another example is when Roshi takes it upon himself to put out the fires on Frypan Mountain and not only does this frail old man reveal himself to be a beast when he powers up, but when he uses a Kamehameha he destroys the entire mountain and the ones behind it.

GxB vs Red Ribbon Army. Awww yeah!!

There's also a scene where Emperor Pilaf threatens to do something lewd to Bulma if she doesn't hand over the Dragon Balls. That is until Bulma starts naming off the things she thought Pilaf was going to do and he's shocked and appalled at the very idea. One would think Roshi would take it easy on his students during the World Tournament, but he beat Krillin so bad the kid had to be stretchered out. Toriyama has an idea of the readers' expectations and he tries to subvert those where he can.

Just One Wish

While the environments don't sport a One Piece level of detail, they are unique and very well-done. Toriyama's style is very distinctive and despite the myriad of fancomics out there, Toriyama's work is unmistakable and it has a feel and a life of its own. I was so taken in by the world of Dragon Ball I'm actually a little letdown by the environments in the later volumes, but I am interested in reading Dr. Slump. Toriyama has a type of art style that isn't really defined by rigid rules or convention.

Open mind, open heart.

Dragon Ball was a very fun read for me. Personally it puts me in the mind of
Ah! My Goddess which while being in a completely different genre, is a connection I draw because it actually made me feel good reading it. It's rare when I come across a manga which not only makes me want to read the next chapter, and the next, and the next, but also makes me feel good and brightens my mood from having read it. I laughed a lot while reading Dragon Ball and more importantly it made me smile. It's a manga that really connected with me and I think it speaks to something human in all of us.