Viz Comics will release the Dragon Ball manga in English beginning this month. The series will be split into Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z and will be released in 32-page volumes for $2.95 MSRP.
Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z Shipping to comic stores March 6
The most popular japanese comic in the world is coming to the U.S…and it’s only from Viz!San Francisco, CA (3/6/98)–Viz Comics proudly announces the March 1998 release of two simultaneous Dragon Ball comic titles: Dragon Ball, presenting the humorous adventures of young Son Goku; and Dragon Ball Z, which follows the considerably higher-stakes adventures of adult Goku who, together with family and friends, must fight to save the Earth from the most mighty villains in the universe. To the delight of Dragon Ball fans worldwide, Viz will be presenting both titles in English, available for the first time ever.
Creator Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball isn’t just the most popular Japanese animation program on American TV…it’s the most popular Japanese comic in the world. Beginning in 1985 as a manga series in Japan’s weekly Shonen Jump magazine, Dragon Ball quickly became Japan’s bestselling manga and boosted Jump circulation to over 6.5 million copies. Over a dozen movies and TV specials, hundreds of half-hour TV episodes, and over two dozen video games have been produced, easily making the animated Dragon Ball as popular with Japanese fans as was its original Japanese comic or manga version. The domestic version of Dragon Ball Z is now the highest-rated animated series on American TV, with a whole roster of related videos and merchandise. And now, the English version of the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z manga is poised to become just as big!
DRAGON BALL
The original Dragon Ball manga is the bestselling comic in Italy, France, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan! Meet a young monkey-tailed boy named Goku (Toriyama’s wry update of the classic Chinese “Monkey King” legend), whose quiet life changes when he meets a girl named Bulma who is on a quest to collect seven “Dragon Balls.” If she gathers them all, an incredibly powerful dragon will appear and grant her one wish. But the precious orbs are scattered all over the world, and Bulma could use the help of a certain super-strong boy…DRAGON BALL Z
Dragon Ball Z is the basis for the most popular animated series among U.S. teens! Young Goku has grown up, and years of training have made him into one of Earth’s ultimate warriors, if not the ultimate warrior. But the stakes are increasing as more and more deadly menaces begin to appear, including a super-powerful race from outer space that lives for the thrill of conquest. Now Goku and his friends must put their very lives on the line in the ultimate test of martial arts skill. More action-packed than the stories of Goku’s youth, Dragon Ball Z is pure adrenaline, with battles of literally earth-shaking proportions!Viz Comics supports the launch of the Dragon Ball manga with major advertising, crosspromotions, and no less than four promotions for distributors and retailers. In March, comic retailers will receive a free 8-page Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z sample comic; a full-color, 20″x27 1/2″ Dragon Ball poster showing other Dragon Ball products; a Dragon Ball Z sticker; and, courtesy of Bandai and Viz Comics, up to 100,000 free 1″ action figures to give to customers–one for every Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z copy they buy!
DRAGON BALL is a 12-issue monthly series (March 1998-February 1999) written and drawn by Akira Toriyama. DRAGON BALL Z is a 9-issue monthly series (March 1998-November 1998) also written and drawn by Toriyama. Each issue is 32 pages long and is printed from right to left in the original Japanese format, with English dialogue and sound effects. Each issue retails for $2.95 in the U.S. and $4.00 in Canada. Let the great fighting tournament begin!
Thanks to Jason Thompson on alt.fan.dragonball for the heads-up!