This might be one of the hardest things that I have ever had to write on here, but it needs to be done. I’m sure plenty of you have heard by now, but last night, news broke online that Akira Toriyama, the legendary creator of Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump, and countless other works, had died. And it feels like the entire world is mourning for him. 

I must confess something. I know that Dragon Ball Z was the gateway anime for many people. That it helped bring anime to the West and turn it into a big part of our culture today. But I wasn’t one of those people. Heck, I didn’t even get into Dragon Ball until I was in high school, well after it had finished airing on Toonami. But after I did start enjoying it, I never looked back. 

Almost everyone I follow on social media has been impacted by Toriyama in some way, big or small. His work has inspired so many amazing people around the world, many of whom have gone on to create their own, incredible works of storytelling and art. Words cannot properly express how hard it is to lose someone like Toriyama so soon. Though even if he had died forty years from now, it still would’ve felt too soon. 

I will be doing more content about this over on the D&A Anime Blog in the coming days, but for now, I shall join everyone who’s celebrating the life of one of the greatest storytellers of our time, and mourning his loss. He’s in Otherworld now with all the greats. 

RIP Akira Toriyama (1955-2024)

A Short Story Dedicated to the Memory of Reggie Groover, AKA Slick Goku

*In an undisclosed city in the 2GS Universe, at the bar Slick Shots, we see a sign on the front of the door that reads “Closed for a wake.” Inside the bar, a massive crowd of people from all over the Dragon Ball fan community has gathered for a wake in honor of the memory of Reggie “Slick Goku” Groover. 

Representing the DevilArtemis Universe, we have Perfect Cell, Kermit the Frog, Cell Jr., Frieza, Cooler, Shallot, Master Roshi, Pika Juan, Mecha-Ugandan Knuckles, Miss Piggy, and All for One.

From Daitomodachi’s Universe, we have Emo Gohan, Dai, Deki, Kakoyin, Gohan Black, Piccolo, Gohan Absalon, Grand Priest Gohan, and Chi-Chi. Android 21 and El Hermano are calling in on Skype and Discord.

SXR123’s represented by the trio of Rex, Haruhi, and Jeanne D’Arc.

In Prince Vegeta’s Universe, we have Vegeta, Bulma, and his harem of women.

Other guests include Kronk and Broly from KronkForce, Shrek (also played by KronkForce), TFS Nappa, KishinPain, BulmaBunny, Cermit with a C standing in for Kaggy, Uncle Al, and a whole other bunch of people that knew or worked with Slick Goku.

And from the Slickverse itself, we have Slick Gohan, Slick Goten, Slick Chi-Chi, Pan, Takashi, Issei, Natsu, Lucy, Kirito, Azula, Caulifla, Kale, Naruto, Hinata, and all the other characters that Slick met and worked with over the years. At the front of the bar is a podium with three photo’s: one of Slick Goku on the left, Otaku D. Furiku. At the podium itself is RJ “Jay” Writing Ink, wearing dress clothes and a black armband of mourning.*

Jay: Hello there, everyone, and thank you all for gathering here today. I’m RJ “Jay” Writing Ink, AKA Jungoguy, and I thought it best to organize this wake in honor of the memory of Slick Goku, who sadly passed away earlier this week.

I never met Slick Goku myself, but I have spoken to several of you people on Discord and I know how much he meant to all of you. I actually learned about Slick Goku when he appeared in a DevilArtemis video. Kermit the Frog was trying to get him to listen to his mixtape, then he and Cell both pulled their guns out on each other before deciding, “let’s team up for a job.” And I remember thinking, “This guy is one of the funniest guys I have ever seen on the Internet. Like, this version of Goku that he’s playing is the most gangster Goku I’ve ever seen in my life, and I love him.”

Whenever I saw him appear in a video, my face would light up because we all knew it would be good, right? I started subscribing to his channel, and I would watch and listen to him for hours. He was so funny, and I could listen to him for hours. Like, no cap, I would go to work, put in my headphones, and start listening to Slick’s videos on shuffle for hours at a time. It was just that much fun!

What I’m trying to say, everyone, and I think that we can all agree that we all feel the same way, is that Reggie Groover was a talented man who made the world a brighter place just by being here. Prince Vegeta said it himself on Twitter: Reggie was one of the best friends anyone could hope to have. They would spend hours upon hours talking and chatting and collabing together and just enjoying their lives to the fullest. 

Vegeta: I wouldn’t say this about any Kakarot, but Reggie was probably…sniff…he was probably the best friend I ever had. 

Jay: Facts. I never got to meet him or speak to him, but I was an absolute fan of his. He made tens ouf thousands of people happy every day, and on behalf of all his fans, we offer our condolences to his friends, his family, his loved ones. He will be missed.

*Jay then pulls out a bottle of tequila and encourages everyone else to take a glass and raise it up into the air*

Jay: On behalf of everyone who knew him and loved what he did, let’s make a toast to the memory of Reggie Groover, AKA Otaku D. Furiku, AKA Slick Goku. 

Daitomodachi: He was funny as hell.

Emo Gohan: He was the second Dad that I always wanted.

El Hermano: I wish I could’ve met him in person.

Rex: Rex wishes he could’ve fought him! 

TFS Nappa: He was hilarious and we will quote everything he said.

Perfect Cell: I normally don’t like Goku’s, but…he was an exception.

Kermit: Thanks for giving my mixtape a chance.

Shrek: He was a worthy opponent.

Slick Gohan, Slick Goten, Takashi and Issei: We’ll miss you, pops/grandad.

Pan: I’ll never forget you, grandpa.

Slick Chi-Chi: You better save some guns for me in the afterlife.

Kronk: You were worth making the sacrifice for, Slick. 

Vegeta: He was…he was my best friend. I know I call myself the coolest motherf**cker who ever lived, but…he was always the slickest.

Jay: To Slick Goku. The realest Saiyan who ever lived!

Everyone: FACTS!

In memory of Reggie Groover, 1997-2023. 

The realest Saiyan who ever lived.

If you guys want to help support his family, there is a GoFundMe currently going on at the time of this writing to help pay for his funeral.

Help his family and friends out in this difficult time and keep living your best life. Reggie would’ve wanted that. Link is right here.

Thank you all for reading this. I really liked Slick’s videos, and this was my way of processing my grief at his passing. 

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Review

It’s no secret among Dragon Ball fans that the character with the most wasted potential is none other than Goku’s son, Gohan. When first introduced, he was all but said to have the potential to get stronger than his father. For a brief time, during the Cell Saga, he did, slaying the titular villain in a legendary duel. Then, it all went downhill.

Toriyama tried to make Gohan the new main character but wound up backtracking and bringing Goku back into the spotlight. Worse, while Gohan did get stronger, it either became a moot point thanks to Goku, or he ended up slacking on his training. Fans of the character grew disappointed with him as he got relegated to a supporting role. Thankfully, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero aims to correct all of that, and for the large part, it succeeds. Even if the 3D animation can be hard to look at, sometimes.

The Return of the Revenge of the Red Ribbon Army

Next to Frieza, the most recurring villain’s in the Dragon Ball franchise are the Red Ribbon Army. Even though Goku took them down as a kid, they keep coming back like cockroaches. First, it was in the form of Dr. Gero and his numerous Androids (though some are actually Cyborgs), with Cell being the worst. Now, though, the actual Army makes it’s first onscreen appearance since the Dragon Ball days. Now going by Red Pharmaceuticals and led by their former leader’s son, their plan remains the same: world domination. The only ones that can stop them are the Z-Fighters, whose main fighters are pretty much gods. So, time to make some more Androids.

Enter, Dr. Hedo, the grandson of Dr. Gero and an even bigger genius than the mad scientist. As far as new characters goes, Hedo’s pretty out there. He’s willing to use dead bodies to create his own set of Androids (which got him time in prison), and he’s obssessed with superheroes. Despite this, he’s still naive enough to buy into the Red Ribbon Leader’s lies.

The Big Scheme

In the opening act, Commander Magenta wins Hedo over by making up some story about how Capsule Corporation’s a front for a group of evil aliens trying to take over the world, and that Gero created his Androids to stop them. In other words, Magenta plays on Hedo’s love of heroes to get him to make some Androids for them. 

This whole fabrication is so blatantly false that it’s almost laughable. Even those in-universe lacking the full context know that Cell was a villain who tried to destroy the Earth. Yet Hedo falls for it, at least partially. It’s arguably my biggest with the film, but it did give us two cool new Androids, Gamma’s 1 & 2.

Like the Great Saiyaman before them, the Gamma’s look ripped straight from a Sentai series. Gamma 2, voiced by Zeno Robinson (who seems to be everywhere these days) is loud, extroverted, and goofy, while Gamma 1, played by Aleks Le, is the introverted and stoic type. Together, they make a good duo, with some of the more interesting characters Dragon Ball introduced in recent years. They feel more like heroes than the Pride Troopers, which is a good thing. Fortunately, despite working for the bad guys, they believe in justice and eventually catch on to their employer’s true colors.

Piccolo is Best Dad in Dragon Ball

One of Super Hero’s main selling points is that the film’s centered around not Goku and Vegeta, but Gohan and Piccolo. It’s often been joked about that Piccolo’s more of a father to Gohan than Goku is, and the film itself lampshades that. Piccolo regularly babysits Gohan’s daughter, Pan, and trains her every morning. When they’re talking after a brief sparring session, Piccolo honestly forgets that when Pan’s says Grandfather, she’s referring to Goku. 

Piccolo may not act like it, but he’s clearly the best dad in Dragon Ball, and now the best grandfather. And like any good dad, he’s frustrated when he thinks his son isn’t living up to his full potential. In this case, Gohan’s more focused on his research than paying attention to his training…or picking up Pan from school.

So, when the Red Ribbon and the Gamma’s show up, Piccolo decides that this is the perfect chance to whip Gohan into shape. It’s reckless and unorthodox, but like any good Dad, Piccolo makes sure to keep Pan safe from any real danger, and steps in when Gohan can’t handle it on his own. 

In addition, Piccolo gets a long-overdue power boost, courtesy of Shenron. As a result, he becomes the latest to transform. In this case, he’s orange, bulkier, and buffer. And, judging by his power, he might be on par with Super Saiyan Blue.

That’s not the most impressive form, though. Not by a longshot.

El Blanco Gohan is Now Canon

During the Tournament of Power Arc, several memes came into existence. The legend of Ultra Instinct Shaggy. Jiren’s more powerful older brother, El Hermano. However, the one most relevant to this is El Blanco, a fan-made transformation for Gohan. People jokingly said that Gohan would gain a new transformation that would turn his hair white and let him surpass everyone in the franchise. Well, like Ultra Instinct Shaggy, El Blanco is now canon.

In the film’s epic climax at the Red Ribbon Army’s HQ, Gohan, Piccolo, and the others fight the worst thing they could hope to face: a mindless, Kaiju-sized clone of Cell called Cell Max. It’s suitably poetic that, when facing a clone of the enemy he’s most famous for beating, Gohan unlocks a new transformation. The Dragon Ball Wiki calls it Gohan Beast, but fans know the truth: it’s El Blanco. El Blanco is canon, and that’s the best thing that the franchise could do for Gohan.

A Funny (If Somewhat Flawed) Film Without Goku

Overall, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is a pretty good film. There are some problems with the pacing and story, though. Much of the humor from the first half hearkens back to the more comedic days of the early manga, which doesn’t exactly mesh well with the action that fans have come to expect from the manga. However, it does its best with what it’s got.

Once the movie drops the comedy, though, it cranks into high-gear, and it’s well worth slogging through everything. The 3D animation lets the movie do things with the characters that traditional animation doesn’t, making for more epic battles. The music is good, the fight’s are good, and it’s just an all-around good time.

Plus, the film does give a good reason why Goku and Vegeta don’t get involved since they’re training on Beerus’ planet with Broly. Broly is back, if only for a short time!

I personally liked seeing it in theaters, but you can wait for it to stream online if you don’t think you’re up for it. I must warn you, though: Pan is adorable!

I Give Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero a 3.5/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

A Fond Farewell to Dragon Ball Z Abridged

As I type this, I’m listening to Takahata101’s rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” as Cell and remembering the good times. For you see, Dragon Ball Z Abridged, the web-based parody that helped to revitalize the Dragon Ball Franchise, has come to its end. A few days ago, Team Four Star announced they had made the difficult decision to end their famous series. After hearing them promise to make a Season 4, this news came as a shock to many fans, myself included.

In a post on Patreon and a recently uploaded YouTube video, Lanipator and KaiserNeko explained their reasons for ending the series. First, they’re feeling the burn out after Season Three, and they refuse to Simpsons their beloved creation. Second, they felt they reached the ending they wanted with the Cell Saga. Finally, they still have to deal with those pesky copyright rules, and getting their channel taken down several times in the past interferes with their ability to make money off of it.

I, like many fans of the series, am so unbelievably bummed out by this news. However, I will respect their decision to end it on a high note. After all, this is the series that helped breathe new life into Dragon Ball.

The Impact of DBZ Abridged

In 2008, Dragon Ball had been off the air for several years. Kept alive only by the memories of the fans and video games, the franchise was in danger of being forgotten. Then a group of fans in Texas and Canada got together to join the abridged series craze that was going on. Thus, Dragon Ball Z Abridged was born.

From the outset, the series set itself apart from other abridged series. It didn’t just parody the show; it celebrated everything about the beloved anime, faults and all. In some ways, I think it improved on the base that the anime set up. As a result, the series became a hit in the fledgling YouTube community, and propelled Team Four Star to success.

The series success did not go unnoticed, either. Cast members from the original series admitted they loved DBZ Abridged. Some of the voice actors got to do lines in the Xenoverse games. Then we got this on Toonami:

Toei wouldn’t let it air again due to copyrights.

The point is, Dragon Ball Z Abridged helped rekindle interest in the popular franchise. As a result, the series got a second wind with Battle of Gods, Ressurection F, and Dragon Ball Super. As for DBZ Abridged, it kept getting better and better.

By the time the Season Three Finale aired in 2018, I think it’s safe to say that Dragon Ball Z Abridged was no longer a mere parody. It had risen above to become a dub in its own right. Which makes it all the more depressing to know that the series is now finished.

The Future

Do I think that Dragon Ball Z Abridged is gone for good? Maybe, maybe not. I wouldn’t be surprised if, a few years from now, Team Four Star decided to pick the series back up. I know many fans would be very happy to hear that. However, if they decide to end it here, then I’ll understand. Ironically, the Cell Saga was where Toriyama wanted to end Dragon Ball. Thus, in a way, Team Four Star is fulfilling Toriyama’s original intentions.

So, farewell for now, Dragon Ball Z Abridged. It’s been a long road, and I’m glad I got to get on the ride before the end. I’ll drink a Hetap in your honor. You did it your way.

Click here to read my FANDOM article on which characters DBZ Abridged did better.

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

Before Beerus, the greatest villain in the Dragon Ball films was Broly. Possessing a seemingly infinite amount of power and an insatiable bloodlust, the monstrous Saiyan became a cult favorite among fans of the franchise. So when an announcement came that a revamped Broly would be the villain in the Dragon Ball Super film, fans went nuts.

Boasting a new look and an altered personality, this new take on Broly is just as deadly as the original. And now that he’s made his big screen debut, we can safely say that he’s also pretty impressive. But does Super‘s new and improved Broly trump the original? To answer this question, we’ll have the two face off in several categories — backstory, personality, and power — to determine which version of Broly — OG Broly or Broly: BR — is the best, once and for all.

BACKSTORY

In both versions, Broly’s unnaturally high battle power as a baby made King Vegeta freak out and try to get rid of him. The only difference is how he goes about eliminating Broly. In Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan, King Vegeta’s men stab baby Broly, leaving him and his father, Paragus, for dead. In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, the Saiyan King sends Broly to a violent planet full of monsters in hopes that they’d kill him; both plans fail.

To their credit, both films do an excellent job of setting up who the two Broly’s would later become. In OG’s Broly’s case, it’s not hard to see what made Broly into the crazy monster we see in the films. He gets stabbed in the chest, watches his planet blow up, and, worst of all, has to endure baby Goku‘s crying for hours on end — all before he can even form words. No wonder he turns into such a mad beast.

When compared to OG Broly’s backstory, Broly: BR’s backstory feels like a cakewalk. Sure, he spends most of his life stuck on a grim planet with only his father for company, but this doesn’t break Broly, or make him lose his mind. But it does leave him with poor social skills and great loyalty to his father, who OG Broly was more than willing to kill.

When audiences first saw how violent OG Broly was, they couldn’t help but wonder what turned him into such a monster, and they got their answer. Broly: BR’s backstory does a lot of the same, but it doesn’t quite measure up to the original’s tragically epic backstory. OG Broly wins this round!

PERSONALITY

At his core, OG Broly’s defined by two traits: his sadistic madness, and his hatred of Goku. A self-proclaimed devil, he’s willing to kill everything in his path, simply because he can. When Paragus tried to flee the planet they were on, OG Broly crushed him inside his pod, laughing the whole time — brutal.

But it’s his hatred of Goku that defines him. He associates Goku’s crying with all that trauma he experienced as a baby and, in turn, blames him for everything. The mere sight of Goku was enough to send him into a rage in the first film.

In the second movie, Dragon Ball Z: Broly — Second Coming, Broly’s defeat at Goku’s hands washes away the little sanity he had left. In fact, aside from a single instance, the only word he can utter throughout the entire movie is “Kakarot,” Goku’s Saiyan name. He’s so obsessed, he can’t even tell Goku apart from his sons.

Thanks to only getting exiled, Broly: BR retained his sanity. Unlike the original, he’s a kind and gentle soul who hates fighting. And with his father as his sole companion most of his life, Broly: BR longs to make friends, as he did with the monster Ba.

Despite being loyal to his dad, Paragus treats his son no better than a tool; he’s always ordering him around. It’s Paragus who forces Broly: BR to fight, even going so far as to use a shock collar to force his son’s obedience.

When he does fight, though, Broly: BR has much in common in with his counterpart. He has yet to learn to control his power correctly, so it and his Saiyan instincts eat away at his sanity. It gets to the point where he can’t tell friend from foe, leading him to fight anything that moves.

So, in one corner, we have a Broly whose only defining traits are being a crazy bruiser and hating Goku. In the other, we have a Broly who hates fighting, likes making friends, and has an actual personality. Broly: BR has an actual character, and after seeing how Paragus treats him, it’s easy to sympathize with him. Broly: BR is the clear winner here.

POWER

As we’ve already said, OG Broly’s power is terrifying. In the very first scene of The Legendary Super Saiyan, we see him annihilate an entire galaxy. Not to mention, during the film’s big fight, Broly faces five Super Saiyans and a Super Namekian at once. He then, of course, proceeds to curb stomp them all.

To defeat him, everyone has to pour their energy into Goku — and even that doesn’t kill. It takes blasting him into the Sun to do that!

OG Broly was a terrifying monster, but he doesn’t hold a candle to the likes of Beerus, who can destroy entire universes at once. Broly: BR not only matches Beerus and the Destroyer Gods in power, he easily surpasses them.

Goku and Vegeta had to go Super Saiyan Blue (SSB) in Dragon Ball Super: Broly to fight base form Broly: BR, and once Broly went Super Saiyan, even that wasn’t enough to go toe to toe with him. It took them fusing their powers to become SSB Gogeta to beat him.

Both versions of Broly clearly have near unlimited power and strength. But Broly: BR’s power level surpasses that of actual gods. Broly: BR wins in a landslide!

AND THE WINNER IS…

By a wide margin, the new Broly is a welcome improvement over the original. While he may not have as dark a backstory as OG Broly, Broly: BR is better written and far more likable. With both Goku and Frieza having expressed interest in making him an ally, we will almost certainly see him again soon. Who knows, maybe he has a divine future ahead of him. No matter what, Broly is here to stay, and his fan power is maximum!

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

Summer’s in full swing, and do you know what means? Aside from going to the beach, it also means more time to catch up on our manga reading! Amazon Kindle covers all your manga needs with some of the best titles ever written. Whether you’re new to the medium or a hardcore fan, these six manga titles are some of the must-reads Kindle offers.

DRAGON BALL

Among Kindle’s manga library is Akira Toriyama ’s legendary masterpiece, Dragon Ball. The manga follows the life of Goku, a young boy who dedicates his life to becoming the best fighter he can be. As the manga progresses, Goku faces enemies that continue to increase in strength. By the manga’s end, he’s fighting opponents capable of threatening the entire universe; in short, he’s strong.

What makes Dragon Ball an essential read isn’t the media franchise it created, but its impact. Goku became the gold standard for the shōnen hero and an iconic character worldwide. Moreover, Dragon Ball has been an inspiration for some of the greatest manga in history. See where the legend began in the original Dragon Ball manga on Kindle!

RAVE MASTER

Better known for Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima got his start in manga with Rave Master. Rave Master tells the story of Haru Glory, a teenage boy who’s chosen to become the next Rave Master. Armed with a magic sword, Haru must find five mystic stones of light, called Raves, and use them to defend the world.

Rave Master is a very entertaining read, filled with memorable characters and fights. Plus, if you’re a fan of Fairy Tail, you’ll notice how he carried over characters and concepts from Rave Master. Unlike Fairy Tail, though, Rave Master never became as well-known in the West, partly due to heavy criticism of the English dub of the anime. Terrible anime aside, Rave Master is worth the time to read and something that you will love.

ROSARIO + VAMPIRE

Do you think it would be awesome to have a bunch of beautiful girls fight over your affection? Try feeling like that when the girls are actual monsters, like in Rosario+Vampire. Ordinary human boy Tsukune Aono gets enrolled in a school for monsters disguised as humans. As scary as that is, Tsukune decides to stay after befriending several girls who end up falling for him, and hilarity ensues as he tries to keep his human identity a secret.

Don’t get fooled by the premise, though: when it’s not about the comedy, Akihisa Ikeda’s work is about the fights. Tsukune and friends get into conflicts with various threatening supernatural foes. By the end of the series, the heroes even face off against a legendary vampire bent on wiping out humanity. This careful balance between the comedic moments and the high-stakes fights make Rosario+Vampire worth your time.

JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has been around since Dragon Ball’s run, and is still going strong. The manga tells the story of the Joestar family as they use supernatural powers to fight evil. What’s important to note is Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is split into several parts, each with its own main protagonist connected by their family and the shared nickname “Jojo.” Though preferable, prior knowledge is not necessary so you can start on any part you want.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure lives up to its name, featuring some of the most bizarre fights one can find in manga, with the protagonists fighting everything from zombies to a man who can stop time so that he can crush them with a steamroller. These pulse-pounding fights will leave readers on the edge of their seats, enjoying every bit up until the last “Ora!”

MY HERO ACADEMIA

My Hero Academia is a rising star in the anime/manga community, and with good reason. In a world where most of humanity has superpowers, Izuku Midoriya dreams of being a superhero, though he has no powers. All that changes, though, when he meets the world’s greatest hero, All Might, and impresses him with his selfless bravery. As a result, the legend taps Izuku as the one to inherit his powers and become the next Symbol of Peace.

At its heart, My Hero Academia is a coming-of-age story set in the popular superhero genre. While it offers all the fights you’d expect of a superhero story, the manga goes deeper to ask serious questions about heroes. Most notably, what does “hero” mean when it is now a paid profession? If you’re a fan of all things superhero, then My Hero Academia is the manga you need to read.

BATMAN

Yes, you read that right: Batman has a manga version! When the Batman TV series premiered in 1966, Batmania hit Japan. That year, Jiro Kuwata created a shōnen manga based on the show that ran for a little more than a year. Once the craze had faded, the manga stopped serialization and faded into obscurity.

Kuwata’s Batmanga remained unknown in the West until the release of Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan in 2008, with all three volumes of the series currently available on Kindle. Aside from the classic manga look, the manga’s biggest highlight is that it draws from enemies outside of Batman’s traditional rogue’s gallery, making it all the more interesting. Whether you are a hardcore Batfan or grew up with the show, this is Batman like you’ve never seen before.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly Review

I could write an entire essay about how much I loved this movie, but that would not do it justice. Dragon Ball Super: Broly was everything that the fans wanted and then some! By the time I’m writing this, I literally got out of a full house, so I am striking while the iron’s hot.

Plot

Let’s start off with the basic plot. The film shows how Broly’s exiled to a desolate planetoid by King Vegeta. All because he can’t handle the fact that Broly’s stronger than his son. Paragus goes to get him but gets stuck on the planet with him, which saves them from the Saiyans’ genocide. That takes up thirty minutes. Flashforward to the present day, Paragus and Broly get rescued by Frieza’s men. Frieza then takes Broly the two to Earth so he can fight Goku and Vegeta while he steals the Dragon Balls.

Broly

Unlike the psychopathic monster we grew up knowing, the new Broly is a kind soul who can’t control his power. He fights, but only to protect the people he cares about. His father Paragus forced him to become a warrior, even using a shock collar to keep him in line. I’ve seen that kind of thing used on animals, so I loathe it with all my heart.

After spending a little less than half the film building it up, we finally get to the fight we’ve been waiting for. And it is worth it! Goku and Vegeta don’t hold anything back in the fight, but Broly manages to keep pace with them. I won’t say what happens as that’s part of the fun, but it’s the best animation I’ve seen since Battle of Gods.

Before I get into the good stuff, I want to voice the one complaint I have about the film: the prologue.

Put. The Pitchforks. Down.

The Prologue

I loved the prologue. It helps build up the universe. Although, was adapting the Goku origin story from Jaco necessary? It may be me being mad that it erases Bardock: the Father of Goku from the canon, but it seemed like extra padding. It could have been an extra short released online or something, but it had no bearing on the plot.

Now that that’s done, let’s say what I loved about the film. First off, I love how they changed Broly’s backstory. He’s no longer motivated by what Team Four Star dubs “really dumb” and a “crying infant“. Yeah, they traded off his hatred of Goku, but now he has a personality and friends.

Speaking of whom, I like the new additions to the Frieza Force, Lemo and Cheelai.

I loved these two characters, and think that including them was the smartest thing the movie did. Usually they’re only cannon fodder I never considered that there might actually be decent people in them.

New Characters

First we have Lemo, the old veteran and grandfatherly figure. He’s been in the Frieza Force since the time of King Cold. Put that into perspective: more than fifty years! That’s impressive considering the Frieza Force was almost non-existent by the time the Tournament of Power ends.

On the opposite side, we have Cheelai, the young and impulsive delinquent. Right off the bat, it’s made clear that she’s meant to be the new “Ms. Fanservice” for Dragon Ball. We get several scenes of her that are supposed to be suggestive. Case in point:

I thought she was cute and plenty of others do, as well. People wouldn’t stop laughing at this stuff in theaters. She’s more than just eye-candy, though. She has an actual personality. She’s quirky, kind, impulsive and acts on her emotions without a second thought. She’s the opposite of Lemo, and that’s what makes their dynamic work and they become the friends Broly needs to stay grounded. I genuinely hope to see more of them in the future of the franchise.

Minor Spoilers

While I won’t say what happens, I have to spoil some of it for my next good point: Frieza and Broly both live. Frieza got brought back after the Tournament of Power, and even though I hate him, I freaked out over whether he’d die. He’s a good villain, and it would be a waste to kill him after bringing back again. We will see him again, one day soon. As for Broly, he’s safe and sound. Something tells me that we will be seeing him again soon. And I can’t wait to see where he goes from here!

All in all, this movie was the hype that it had built itself up to be, and signals the start of an amazing new chapter in Dragon Ball. It may have stumbled a little at the start, but it rockets to the finish line. If this is what they came up with to top the Tournament of Power, then I can’t wait for what’s next.

I give Dragon Ball Super: Broly 4.5/5 stars. Saiyans have no limits.

Some Stray Observations

• Anyone catch the remark about Vegeta being “Vegeta IV”? Who are the first two Vegetas?
• Kid Raditz is so adorable! But still worthless.

• Cheelai= new fanservice material. See?

• Who were those other two Saiyans that were with Nappa, Vegeta, and Raditz? We never heard anything about them. What happened to them!?!
• I will pay money to see Frieza get beaten up by Broly for an hour.
• This movie made $7 million opening day. That’s another sign that anime has become mainstream!

Click here to see my other animation stuff. Or click here to see my reviews for various films.