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鳥山明○作劇場 [Toriyama Akira Marusaku Gekijou] #1-3
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater
An extensive collection of imaginative and action-packed short stories from the creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama!
From Akira Toriyama, the legendary manga creator of Dragon Ball, comes this special collection of short stories spanning the first few decades of his career. Serving as both a collection of his early works and a history of his life as a manga writer and illustrator, this giant tome is packed with everything you could ever want as a fan of classic shonen manga!
From Akira Toriyama, the legendary manga creator of Dragon Ball, comes this special collection of short stories spanning the first few decades of his career. Serving as both a collection of his early works and a history of his life as a manga writer and illustrator, this giant tome is packed with everything you could ever want as a fan of classic shonen manga!
626 pages, Hardcover
Published December 7, 2021
About the author
Akira Toriyama
1,997 books1,505 followersAkira Toriyama is a widely known and acclaimed Japanese manga artist known mostly for his creation of Dragon Ball in 1984. It is difficult to pin point the source of Toriyama's artwork inspiration. He admires Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy and was impressed by Walt Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians, which he remembers for the great art. Jackie Chan's early movies had a noticeable influence on Toriyama's stories. (from Wikipedia)
Series:
* Dragon Ball
* Dragon Ball Z
* Dr. Slump
Series:
* Dragon Ball
* Dragon Ball Z
* Dr. Slump
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 19, 2022
Akira Toriyama’s short manga from the late ‘70s to mid ‘90s was previously collected in three omnibuses and this new hardcover edition collects all three omnibuses. I love Toriyama’s Dragon Ball books (except almost all of Super - what a misnomer!) so it’s weird how everything he did outside of that series wasn’t even half as good. I’ve tried Dr Slump, Cowa, Jaco, Sand Land, and now Manga Theater, and they’re all stinkers!
The biggest problem is that they’re basically all comedy shorts and Toriyama is not funny. The best manga here were the ones that weren’t going for out-and-out silly comedy all the time, like Karamaru and the Perfect Day, which is basically about a young Goku-like kid, as is Dragon Boy, which reads like the early Dragon Ball books I love (Z is fantastic but I think I prefer the young Goku stories better).
It is interesting, as a Dragon Ball fan, to see Toriyama working towards his most famous series, starting in the ‘70s, slowly inching towards the winning formula, working out his ideas in these shorts. Most of his male protagonists begin to resemble Goku until he basically gets there with Tangtong who takes a Chi Chi lookalike back to her home at the behest of Master Roshi (that’s actually the character’s name but he’s much younger here than Dragon Ball’s Master Roshi) who appears on a flying cloud (like the Nimbus!). Unlike Goku with his monkey tail though, Tangtong has wings.
The adventures of Tongpoo was also a short I liked that was similar to Dragon Ball where we see an early version of Bulma in the form of Plamo, and the capsule houses, vehicles, etc. that were a feature of the early Dragon Ball books. Also like Dragon Ball is the uncomfortable perviness, particularly given how sexualised Plamo is - even after we’re told she’s 14 years old! Ugh…
What’s amazing is how good Toriyama’s art is right from the start. His late ‘70s stuff is more cartoony (even back then he was naming his characters after food) but it’s still very accomplished for someone just beginning their manga career. It’s also fascinating to see it develop over the years, though he seems to have a very limited number of character designs. Cashman, Soldier of Savings, is basically Cell from DBZ, while Go Go Ackman is an Addams Family version of Trunks (both characters feature in multiple, increasingly tedious stories unfortunately).
There are a LOT of stories here so obviously I’m not going to go through each one but suffice it to say most aren’t worth bothering reading and are instantly forgettable, unfunny, just godawful trash. I love Dragon Ball but it’s literally the only good title Akira Toriyama seems to have created - which is still a helluva accomplishment, but also means everyone, even Dragon Ball fans, can skip anything else by this creator, including the bloated bore of a book that is Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater.
The biggest problem is that they’re basically all comedy shorts and Toriyama is not funny. The best manga here were the ones that weren’t going for out-and-out silly comedy all the time, like Karamaru and the Perfect Day, which is basically about a young Goku-like kid, as is Dragon Boy, which reads like the early Dragon Ball books I love (Z is fantastic but I think I prefer the young Goku stories better).
It is interesting, as a Dragon Ball fan, to see Toriyama working towards his most famous series, starting in the ‘70s, slowly inching towards the winning formula, working out his ideas in these shorts. Most of his male protagonists begin to resemble Goku until he basically gets there with Tangtong who takes a Chi Chi lookalike back to her home at the behest of Master Roshi (that’s actually the character’s name but he’s much younger here than Dragon Ball’s Master Roshi) who appears on a flying cloud (like the Nimbus!). Unlike Goku with his monkey tail though, Tangtong has wings.
The adventures of Tongpoo was also a short I liked that was similar to Dragon Ball where we see an early version of Bulma in the form of Plamo, and the capsule houses, vehicles, etc. that were a feature of the early Dragon Ball books. Also like Dragon Ball is the uncomfortable perviness, particularly given how sexualised Plamo is - even after we’re told she’s 14 years old! Ugh…
What’s amazing is how good Toriyama’s art is right from the start. His late ‘70s stuff is more cartoony (even back then he was naming his characters after food) but it’s still very accomplished for someone just beginning their manga career. It’s also fascinating to see it develop over the years, though he seems to have a very limited number of character designs. Cashman, Soldier of Savings, is basically Cell from DBZ, while Go Go Ackman is an Addams Family version of Trunks (both characters feature in multiple, increasingly tedious stories unfortunately).
There are a LOT of stories here so obviously I’m not going to go through each one but suffice it to say most aren’t worth bothering reading and are instantly forgettable, unfunny, just godawful trash. I love Dragon Ball but it’s literally the only good title Akira Toriyama seems to have created - which is still a helluva accomplishment, but also means everyone, even Dragon Ball fans, can skip anything else by this creator, including the bloated bore of a book that is Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater.
March 25, 2024
Having just turned the final page of "Akira Toriyama's Manga Theatre," I'm filled with a deep sense of nostalgia for Toriyama's work, particularly the "Dragon Ball" series, which holds a special place in my heart. As a kid, diving into the adventures of Goku and his friends wasn't just entertainment; it was a journey through myriad life lessons that have stayed with me over the years. The bravery, kindness, and perseverance demonstrated by the characters inspired me to embody those values in my own life.
Reflecting on Toriyama's legacy, it's clear how much of an impact his storytelling has had, not just on me, but on countless others. His unique blend of humor, adventure, and emotional depth made "Dragon Ball" more than just a manga or an anime; it was a guidebook for navigating the challenges of growing up. From learning the importance of friendship and teamwork to understanding the value of facing fears head-on, Toriyama's work offered both escape and education.
Finishing "Akira Toriyama's Manga Theatre" has been a bittersweet experience. It's a reminder of the end of an era, but also a celebration of the timeless lessons and joy that Toriyama's work has brought into our lives. I hope that by sharing my reflections, others will be encouraged to revisit these stories or discover them anew, finding in them the same courage, laughter, and wisdom that have enriched my life.
Reflecting on Toriyama's legacy, it's clear how much of an impact his storytelling has had, not just on me, but on countless others. His unique blend of humor, adventure, and emotional depth made "Dragon Ball" more than just a manga or an anime; it was a guidebook for navigating the challenges of growing up. From learning the importance of friendship and teamwork to understanding the value of facing fears head-on, Toriyama's work offered both escape and education.
Finishing "Akira Toriyama's Manga Theatre" has been a bittersweet experience. It's a reminder of the end of an era, but also a celebration of the timeless lessons and joy that Toriyama's work has brought into our lives. I hope that by sharing my reflections, others will be encouraged to revisit these stories or discover them anew, finding in them the same courage, laughter, and wisdom that have enriched my life.
November 23, 2021
While this is perfectly serviceable, it's really mostly for the Toriyama fans out there. At over 600 pages, the three-volume omnibus of Toriyama's short work (ranging from 1978-1994) begins to feel repetitive fairly quickly. All of the heroes are plucky in the exact same way, the humor stays firmly in the potty or fourth wall breaking zones, and the sexism is impressive, with girls' intelligence directly corresponding to how much clothing they wear. (Our smartest heroine has on a long skirt; the dumbest is constantly shown from upskirt angles.) No, the male demographic and time period these were written in isn't an excuse.
It is interesting as a survey of how Toriyama's art has evolved; he didn't really achieve his signature style until 1988. It's also neat to see the Dragonball prototype in 1983's "Dragon Boy" and the fact that Clamp's Chobits was likely inspired by Toriyama's "Chobit," which features a heroine who's a dead ringer for Sumomo. But this is really for the Toriyama fans, as I said. Otherwise it starts to feel like a slog about a hundred pages in.
It is interesting as a survey of how Toriyama's art has evolved; he didn't really achieve his signature style until 1988. It's also neat to see the Dragonball prototype in 1983's "Dragon Boy" and the fact that Clamp's Chobits was likely inspired by Toriyama's "Chobit," which features a heroine who's a dead ringer for Sumomo. But this is really for the Toriyama fans, as I said. Otherwise it starts to feel like a slog about a hundred pages in.
April 15, 2023
As a big DBZ and Chrono Trigger fan this was amazing to read through and see what inspired his most famous character designs. Really enjoyed the sections on how he broke into the industry as well. Such a great collection!
May 9, 2022
A peek into the past
Just as a warning the mangaka is not just known for his action scenes but also sometimes depicts characters in nude and/or lewd shots so be warned if such things as that and the occasional infantile humor really bothers you.
Containing all 3 volumes of Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater this hardcover monster is a great look back into various manga shorts created by the man later best known for the Dragon Ball manga and anime. Now as a warning for fans of his later works this does not mean you will necessarily enjoy his earlier works as all manga artists eventually evolve in style and it even turns out he was not particularly happy about how some of his old stuff came out so don't be surprised if you have your favorites and your least cared for stories as you make you way through this 600+ page archive of Akira Toriyama's shorter tales and we learn about his processes to becoming the man he is today (or at least up to the time of the original run of the books.)
One of the things I enjoyed doing as I read the stories is look at how certain aspects seem to influence what became Dragon Ball later on whether being a name, character design, or even a gadget as I think back to the classic series of original and DBZ. :)
Just as a warning the mangaka is not just known for his action scenes but also sometimes depicts characters in nude and/or lewd shots so be warned if such things as that and the occasional infantile humor really bothers you.
Containing all 3 volumes of Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater this hardcover monster is a great look back into various manga shorts created by the man later best known for the Dragon Ball manga and anime. Now as a warning for fans of his later works this does not mean you will necessarily enjoy his earlier works as all manga artists eventually evolve in style and it even turns out he was not particularly happy about how some of his old stuff came out so don't be surprised if you have your favorites and your least cared for stories as you make you way through this 600+ page archive of Akira Toriyama's shorter tales and we learn about his processes to becoming the man he is today (or at least up to the time of the original run of the books.)
One of the things I enjoyed doing as I read the stories is look at how certain aspects seem to influence what became Dragon Ball later on whether being a name, character design, or even a gadget as I think back to the classic series of original and DBZ. :)
February 6, 2022
My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
I like the concept of an anthology of a manga professional's work being chronologically shown, you can see how they grew as an artist and storyteller. The only negative is that I skipped about the first third of the book because it was just ... not to my tastes at all. As the book and chronology progressed, I was able to enjoy what was being presented.
3 solid stars. Recommended if you like this writer, it's always interesting to see how an artist and writer progresses in their career and work.
I like the concept of an anthology of a manga professional's work being chronologically shown, you can see how they grew as an artist and storyteller. The only negative is that I skipped about the first third of the book because it was just ... not to my tastes at all. As the book and chronology progressed, I was able to enjoy what was being presented.
3 solid stars. Recommended if you like this writer, it's always interesting to see how an artist and writer progresses in their career and work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2023
Toriyama is the goddamn GOAT
May 7, 2024
Pretty fun seeing some of his older stuff
August 5, 2022
Overall this was a fun read. It’s a fascinating look at the early and extraneous work of one of the most prominent Shonen manga creators of all time, Akira Toriyama. If you only know him from Dragon Ball Z and aren’t familiar with the rest of his work, this book might be a bit of a shock. It’s dense, it’s wacky, and it’s rough in places. If you know his other work, like Dr Slump and the original Dragon Ball, this will feel more familiar. In fact, you can easily see where he developed some of the concepts he’d develop into both series.
The first two stories are fun, but primitive. You can tell he’s finding his voice. The humor is here, the art is not quite there, and the plot is nowhere. The first story really worth discussing is Tomato the Cutsey Gumshoe. It’s the first one that really has that spark and shine he’s known for, and is very clearly the predecessor to Slump, even having a Superman parody that would develop into Suppaman, and there’s even a character (not a doctor) named Slump. There’s the story of the tiny alien lady, Chobit, and honestly I thought it was pretty interesting, but apparently it wasn’t very popular. Understandable, but that second entry especially was quite amusing.
This is followed by a mix of fun sci-fi fantasy stories that kind of blend together, but are very fun to read. Almost a more cutsey heavy metal. You get blondes, dinosaurs, and tough protagonists, and a giant fridge and a drought. Weird but amusing. And a space cabbie. I think Toriyama was working through some things here, but it’s a fun period.
Then comes three that are kinda standout. You’ve got Dragon Boy, which is a really solid story of what clearly becomes like, 1/2 of Dragon Ball. It’s got a boy with animal traits, a rich girl companion, and Chinese mythology. Even has a guy named Master Roshi. It’s fun stuff, but you can tell the mix isn’t quite ready yet.
The next story is where the other half comes in. It’s a sci fi story but with a similar formula. A really strong boy meeting a girl, both stranded, but he’s got some amenities…capsules! They’re a little different here, but this is clearly where he first played with the concept. And the bad guy is an alien that is both a Giger knockoff and like what he himself would later put in Dragon Ball.
Next up is the during and around Dragon Ball period. There’s a simple story about a veteran who saves a girl in distress, that’s fun but not really worth noting aside from him looking like Yamcha and it having a lot of animal people, like early Dragon Ball.
The final stuff you can kinda feel the air leaving the tires. The space cop who needs money is amusing but the gag gets tired quick, and you can tell he realized it by the end. The Elder is great though. Peak Toriyama, and a tight and darkly hilarious premise. The story about the dude with a super car trying to pick up women is superfluous. The final thing, with the demon kid, is actually fairly funny, but with a few questionable dated gags that probably won’t sit right with some.
Overall this book is a worthwhile endeavor for fans of Toriyama, but it’s definitely not a first Toriyama book. It’s not his finest, far from it, but it’s a fascinating look at how his finest came to be, and at some ideas understandably left at the wayside.
The first two stories are fun, but primitive. You can tell he’s finding his voice. The humor is here, the art is not quite there, and the plot is nowhere. The first story really worth discussing is Tomato the Cutsey Gumshoe. It’s the first one that really has that spark and shine he’s known for, and is very clearly the predecessor to Slump, even having a Superman parody that would develop into Suppaman, and there’s even a character (not a doctor) named Slump. There’s the story of the tiny alien lady, Chobit, and honestly I thought it was pretty interesting, but apparently it wasn’t very popular. Understandable, but that second entry especially was quite amusing.
This is followed by a mix of fun sci-fi fantasy stories that kind of blend together, but are very fun to read. Almost a more cutsey heavy metal. You get blondes, dinosaurs, and tough protagonists, and a giant fridge and a drought. Weird but amusing. And a space cabbie. I think Toriyama was working through some things here, but it’s a fun period.
Then comes three that are kinda standout. You’ve got Dragon Boy, which is a really solid story of what clearly becomes like, 1/2 of Dragon Ball. It’s got a boy with animal traits, a rich girl companion, and Chinese mythology. Even has a guy named Master Roshi. It’s fun stuff, but you can tell the mix isn’t quite ready yet.
The next story is where the other half comes in. It’s a sci fi story but with a similar formula. A really strong boy meeting a girl, both stranded, but he’s got some amenities…capsules! They’re a little different here, but this is clearly where he first played with the concept. And the bad guy is an alien that is both a Giger knockoff and like what he himself would later put in Dragon Ball.
Next up is the during and around Dragon Ball period. There’s a simple story about a veteran who saves a girl in distress, that’s fun but not really worth noting aside from him looking like Yamcha and it having a lot of animal people, like early Dragon Ball.
The final stuff you can kinda feel the air leaving the tires. The space cop who needs money is amusing but the gag gets tired quick, and you can tell he realized it by the end. The Elder is great though. Peak Toriyama, and a tight and darkly hilarious premise. The story about the dude with a super car trying to pick up women is superfluous. The final thing, with the demon kid, is actually fairly funny, but with a few questionable dated gags that probably won’t sit right with some.
Overall this book is a worthwhile endeavor for fans of Toriyama, but it’s definitely not a first Toriyama book. It’s not his finest, far from it, but it’s a fascinating look at how his finest came to be, and at some ideas understandably left at the wayside.
December 11, 2021
Loved it! I’m thrilled I finally got to read Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater 1-3 because it’s filled with adventurous one-shots, short stories, gags, and added insight into Akira Toriyama’s work and life.
I enjoyed reading Akira Toriyama’s early work because it’s a collection of an artist preserving through rejection, criticism, and the difficulties of being a novice striving to make it in the industry. His stories are action-packed and entertaining. The gags are funny and showcase Akira Toriyama’s trademark sense of humor. Along with that, Toriyama’s early art is fascinating to study since it develops throughout the collection until it eventually starts to mature into his signature style.
The only criticism I have is that some of the stories, characters, and gags are somewhat repetitive. Other than that, his early art takes some time to improve, so don’t go into this collection thinking all of the art will be on par with his popular works. In fact, Akira Toriyama even mentions that he’s embarrassed by his super early work in the author’s comment section. I personally had an opposite reaction and ended up staring in awe at his old work because it seemed more like a testament to his talent, dedication to his craft, and an excellent example of an artist overcoming career struggles in order to become a professional in the industry.
Overall, it was a delight to read Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater because it intensified my admiration for Toriyama’s work. This was an incredible read and I’m very thankful it finally got translated. It’s an awesome collection and I highly recommend it to fellow Toriyama fans.
I enjoyed reading Akira Toriyama’s early work because it’s a collection of an artist preserving through rejection, criticism, and the difficulties of being a novice striving to make it in the industry. His stories are action-packed and entertaining. The gags are funny and showcase Akira Toriyama’s trademark sense of humor. Along with that, Toriyama’s early art is fascinating to study since it develops throughout the collection until it eventually starts to mature into his signature style.
The only criticism I have is that some of the stories, characters, and gags are somewhat repetitive. Other than that, his early art takes some time to improve, so don’t go into this collection thinking all of the art will be on par with his popular works. In fact, Akira Toriyama even mentions that he’s embarrassed by his super early work in the author’s comment section. I personally had an opposite reaction and ended up staring in awe at his old work because it seemed more like a testament to his talent, dedication to his craft, and an excellent example of an artist overcoming career struggles in order to become a professional in the industry.
Overall, it was a delight to read Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater because it intensified my admiration for Toriyama’s work. This was an incredible read and I’m very thankful it finally got translated. It’s an awesome collection and I highly recommend it to fellow Toriyama fans.
August 1, 2023
Este livro é uma coletânea dos vários one-shot e pequenas séries de Akira Toriyama, mais conhecido no ocidente como o criador de Dragon Ball - o Japão já o conhecia da sua manga de grande sucesso chamada Dr. Slump. As estórias começam em 1978 e terminam em 1994 e é visível a mudança de traço, como se passou com o universo DragonBall original (leia-se "até ao fim do DBZ") e a arte nos videojogos Dragon Quest. Toriyama é um mangaka de comédia que a pouco e pouco foi dando mais ênfase à acção. O formato one-shot não dá muito espaço de manobra para desenvolver grandes narrativas, mas mesmo assim Toriyama acaba por repetir muito a sua fórmula, com conteúdo erótico em contextos de humor (nem sempre engraçados) e o formato herói/anti-herói que é um rapaz pequeno e que vence tipos grandes e fanfarrões. Mas temos de dar mérito onde ele é merecido: o design peculiar das personagens, a multitude de veículos desenhados com mestria, a mistura de elementos tão díspares como dinossauros e extraterrestres numa mesma história, a inclusão de dispositivos engenhosos (uma variante das famosas cápsulas de DB têm a sua origem numa das estórias) e a composição e dinamismo dos painéis. Nota para os pequenos textos escritos pelo próprio autor sobre a sua carreira, onde Toriyama refere que tinha mais interesse em ver filmes do que propriamente ler mangas. Isto ajuda a explicar a multiplicidade de referências a figuras da cultura pop e design de alguns personagens.
Dito isto, é um livro que apenas recomendo aos fãs de Toriyama ou a quem tenha curiosidade de ver a evolução de um mangaka consagrado para lá dos seus trabalhos de maior sucesso.
Dito isto, é um livro que apenas recomendo aos fãs de Toriyama ou a quem tenha curiosidade de ver a evolução de um mangaka consagrado para lá dos seus trabalhos de maior sucesso.
March 6, 2023
KAME....HAME...HAAAAAAAAA!
Sorry! I'm just a huge Dragon Ball fan. I was halfway through watching a Dragon Ball Z episode on Cheez TV on channel 10 till my mum got me off the telly to go to school which is so annoying but it doesn't stop me from being a huge Dragon Ball fan. I still got a couple of DBZ vhs tapes got seasons 1-7 DBZ dvds as I'm yet to add seasons 8 & 9 dvds soon played some DBZ tazo discs from chips played some games while Dragon Ball FighterZ is THE BEST Dragon Ball game I played I'm a little ok with DBGT and I read all 519 chapters of the manga - volumes 1-16 of Dragon Ball that has 194 chapters while 26 volumes Dragon Ball Z are actually Dragon Ball volumes 17-42 containing chapters 195-519 and I read DB Super up to chapter 72 in volume 16. Akira Toriyama is a legend!
And hopefully I get a chance to find Dr Slump volume 1 in good condition soon
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater is just a collection of short stories of his earlier works as a manga artist just before Dr Slump & Dragon Ball became popular containing 3 volumes that originally released in the late 1970's to mid 1990's as part of the Weekly Shonen Jump anthology manga books. Most of the characters reminds me of various Dragon Ball characters. Here are a couple of my favs
The Elder (1988)
Dragon Boy (1983)
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater will definitely make you smile and laugh and it's definitely a must read not just for Dragon Ball fans but for older manga fans. Loved it
Sorry! I'm just a huge Dragon Ball fan. I was halfway through watching a Dragon Ball Z episode on Cheez TV on channel 10 till my mum got me off the telly to go to school which is so annoying but it doesn't stop me from being a huge Dragon Ball fan. I still got a couple of DBZ vhs tapes got seasons 1-7 DBZ dvds as I'm yet to add seasons 8 & 9 dvds soon played some DBZ tazo discs from chips played some games while Dragon Ball FighterZ is THE BEST Dragon Ball game I played I'm a little ok with DBGT and I read all 519 chapters of the manga - volumes 1-16 of Dragon Ball that has 194 chapters while 26 volumes Dragon Ball Z are actually Dragon Ball volumes 17-42 containing chapters 195-519 and I read DB Super up to chapter 72 in volume 16. Akira Toriyama is a legend!
And hopefully I get a chance to find Dr Slump volume 1 in good condition soon
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater is just a collection of short stories of his earlier works as a manga artist just before Dr Slump & Dragon Ball became popular containing 3 volumes that originally released in the late 1970's to mid 1990's as part of the Weekly Shonen Jump anthology manga books. Most of the characters reminds me of various Dragon Ball characters. Here are a couple of my favs
The Elder (1988)
Dragon Boy (1983)
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater will definitely make you smile and laugh and it's definitely a must read not just for Dragon Ball fans but for older manga fans. Loved it
September 25, 2022
One of the most striking hardcovers on the manga shelf, Toriyama’s Manga Theater appears exciting and full of mystery, giving readers a greater insight into the master creator of the Dragon Ball series. While exciting to open and jump in, there’s a repetitive dance with formulaic tropes, seeming as if Toriyama was throwing ideas at a wall until they stuck like DB. Despite this, it was endearing to see design aspects and styles that would make it onto DB later on.
This collection of mangas earns its two-star review with the increasing use of lewd ideas. It was already suspect with Bulma in DB, but this collection really bent the limits of what Toryiama is capable of: it’s uncomfortable.
One silver lining is found in the last story, Go! Go! Ackman, which really pumps Toriyama’s classic DBZ art to eleven. It’s funny, satirical, and embraces wonderful inking and backgrounds.
All in all, it’s worth a read for the die-hard Toriyama fans. Just a warning: it really shows his… enthusiastic side.
PL
This collection of mangas earns its two-star review with the increasing use of lewd ideas. It was already suspect with Bulma in DB, but this collection really bent the limits of what Toryiama is capable of: it’s uncomfortable.
One silver lining is found in the last story, Go! Go! Ackman, which really pumps Toriyama’s classic DBZ art to eleven. It’s funny, satirical, and embraces wonderful inking and backgrounds.
All in all, it’s worth a read for the die-hard Toriyama fans. Just a warning: it really shows his… enthusiastic side.
PL
March 12, 2024
I can't think of any time when the death of an icon stirred much personal emotion. But a few days ago, I found myself a little surprised by the somber reaction I felt upon learning of Akira Toriyama's death. Maybe it was because he actually influenced me and played a developmental role throughout my adolescence. Not sure, but it was a melancholy few days.
I decided to revisit this collection of his lesser-known works from the 1970s-90s. As a big time fan of Dr. Slump and the OG Dragon Ball series, I am absolutely captivated with the charm, humor, innocence and crass of these short stories. Brimming with whimsical art and inventively goofy stories, each page is a delight as you read about some quirky character caught in an absurd situation. The stories are unique and versatile, showcasing Toriyama's impressive range as one of the most influential mangakas ever. And to me, the most important.
I decided to revisit this collection of his lesser-known works from the 1970s-90s. As a big time fan of Dr. Slump and the OG Dragon Ball series, I am absolutely captivated with the charm, humor, innocence and crass of these short stories. Brimming with whimsical art and inventively goofy stories, each page is a delight as you read about some quirky character caught in an absurd situation. The stories are unique and versatile, showcasing Toriyama's impressive range as one of the most influential mangakas ever. And to me, the most important.
May 1, 2023
Akira Toriyama é um gênio, mas nem por isso tudo que ele tocou é dourado.
Essa coleção de one shots revelou o processo de um dos maiores mangakas até o estrelato. Como fã, foi prazeroso identificar diversos elementos que viriam a se tornar peças centrais de futuros sucessos. Ainda assim, algumas histórias eram simplesmente ruins, ou inadequadas, mesmo se pensarmos em outra era. No entanto, a arte extremamente estilizada e os detalhes de tirar o fôlego estão lá.
"Mad Matic" tem alguns dos visuais mais impressionantes do Toriyama (que é uma máquina em desenhar maquinario), e olha que eu li Dr. Slump e DragonBall de cabo a rabo.
Outras estórias, no entanto, pecam muito!
Em resumo: só sugiro a leitura para fãs, pois esses realmente serão agraciados por um mestre em constante movimento.
Essa coleção de one shots revelou o processo de um dos maiores mangakas até o estrelato. Como fã, foi prazeroso identificar diversos elementos que viriam a se tornar peças centrais de futuros sucessos. Ainda assim, algumas histórias eram simplesmente ruins, ou inadequadas, mesmo se pensarmos em outra era. No entanto, a arte extremamente estilizada e os detalhes de tirar o fôlego estão lá.
"Mad Matic" tem alguns dos visuais mais impressionantes do Toriyama (que é uma máquina em desenhar maquinario), e olha que eu li Dr. Slump e DragonBall de cabo a rabo.
Outras estórias, no entanto, pecam muito!
Em resumo: só sugiro a leitura para fãs, pois esses realmente serão agraciados por um mestre em constante movimento.
August 12, 2023
I will admit, from the start, that I am a massive fan of Akira Toriyama's work. I love Dragon Ball, both the manga and the anime, as well as Dragon Quest, Dr. Slump, and Chrono Trigger. Toriyama-san is one of my all-time favorite artists, so this is the primary reason why I bought this book.
All that being said, I think that for the average person a rating of 3 stars at best would make sense. The stories are not all great, the humor is crass, and the sexism kinda sucks. Still, I can recognize all of these things while also admiring the beautiful art, and the importance to pop culture of Toriyama's growth as an artist.
I loved it, and don't regret buying it one bit, but unless you're a super-fan, I'm not sure I would bother with it.
All that being said, I think that for the average person a rating of 3 stars at best would make sense. The stories are not all great, the humor is crass, and the sexism kinda sucks. Still, I can recognize all of these things while also admiring the beautiful art, and the importance to pop culture of Toriyama's growth as an artist.
I loved it, and don't regret buying it one bit, but unless you're a super-fan, I'm not sure I would bother with it.
December 6, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Viz for a free advanced copy in exchange for an advanced copy.
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater is a fun collection of 600+ pages showcasing several of Toriyama's shorter manga works. This is definitely a must-have for any Toriyama fan, and I'd also recommend it to teenagers who are looking for a solid collection of comedy and action stories.
Greg Werner's translation had great comedic timing, and Ace Christman's lettering was dynamic while skillfully complementing the original art.
Story and Art: Akira Toriyama
Translation: Greg Werner
Touch-up Art and Lettering: Ace Christman
Design: Shawn Carrico
Editor: Alexis Kirsch
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater is a fun collection of 600+ pages showcasing several of Toriyama's shorter manga works. This is definitely a must-have for any Toriyama fan, and I'd also recommend it to teenagers who are looking for a solid collection of comedy and action stories.
Greg Werner's translation had great comedic timing, and Ace Christman's lettering was dynamic while skillfully complementing the original art.
Story and Art: Akira Toriyama
Translation: Greg Werner
Touch-up Art and Lettering: Ace Christman
Design: Shawn Carrico
Editor: Alexis Kirsch
Read
January 1, 2022A time capsule omnibus of Akira Toriyama’s one-shot stories from the 80s and 90s which were collected in three separate volumes in Japan. The collection as a whole showcases his evolution as an artist and storyteller over the decades, but it’s all contained to mostly inconsequential stories. I really enjoyed the first two thirds of the book—whimsical, cute, and action packed. Think Dr. Slump and original Dragon Ball. It’s good stuff. Then once it gets into the 90s era, it loses the charm I very much enjoy with Toriyama’s work. Oh well! For fans/completionists only.
April 17, 2022
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. It's a collection of short stories from one of the masters of Manga. I enjoyed being able to read these and see this side of Toriyama. None of these stories are anything to write home about but his impact and influence on the medium makes reading this feel important and worth the time. It reads more like a history lesson if that makes sense. If you are not a fan of Toriyama this will probably not do much for you and it certainly won't convert you to a fan.
April 2, 2024
This was a fun little compilation of short stories from Akira Toriyama’s earlier days! Yeah, there were a few duds but most of the stories were hilarious! I could do without characters walking in on a naked girl (really how many times can that be funny? It’s not LOL).
My favs had to be Chobits, Dragon Boy, Tangpoo, and Cashman!
You can really see which ideas Toriyama decided to add to Dragon Ball when reading these stories. Dragon Ball is truly his best work. RIP to an amazing artist and story writer.
My favs had to be Chobits, Dragon Boy, Tangpoo, and Cashman!
You can really see which ideas Toriyama decided to add to Dragon Ball when reading these stories. Dragon Ball is truly his best work. RIP to an amazing artist and story writer.
March 21, 2022
4.4 stars
While the stories arn’t the greatest Toriyama’s got to offer, seeing his art and stories improve is more than enough reason for dragon ball and Toriyama fans to read this! You can really tell where he got certain designs for some dragon ball characters, there’s even the spitting image of android 18 in one of them. This is a fun blast to the past, and a great look back at one of manga’s most influential creators!
While the stories arn’t the greatest Toriyama’s got to offer, seeing his art and stories improve is more than enough reason for dragon ball and Toriyama fans to read this! You can really tell where he got certain designs for some dragon ball characters, there’s even the spitting image of android 18 in one of them. This is a fun blast to the past, and a great look back at one of manga’s most influential creators!
January 18, 2022
It's hard to rate such an eclectic volume of short works, so I settled for 3 stars. Some of the themes are very much products of their time and might not fly today, but you can't deny Toriyama's talent as a mangaka.
Oddly, I think it's his earlier stuff (in volume 1 of this omnibus) that I liked the best, even though they were flops. I liked how Toriyama broke the fourth wall in some of them!
Oddly, I think it's his earlier stuff (in volume 1 of this omnibus) that I liked the best, even though they were flops. I liked how Toriyama broke the fourth wall in some of them!
January 22, 2022
This has little bits that are great, but overall the stories are subpower, And it really doesn't hold up as a piece. The art is as good as most of his work, and the period covers gives it a little bit of interest. I think it would have been a really good gallery exhibit, but there's so much better Toriyama out there.
February 10, 2022
Classic Funny Akira Toriyama
A collection of One-shot Mangas by Akira Toriyama. It is filled with classic toriyama comedy and silliness. The artworks will catch anyone's eye and though the contents are not as par with Dragon Ball or Doctor Slump, you will still get a good laugh out of it. I hope another volume with Toriyama's all the latest work will be soon released.
A collection of One-shot Mangas by Akira Toriyama. It is filled with classic toriyama comedy and silliness. The artworks will catch anyone's eye and though the contents are not as par with Dragon Ball or Doctor Slump, you will still get a good laugh out of it. I hope another volume with Toriyama's all the latest work will be soon released.
September 16, 2023
For whatever reason this took forever for me to finish. The anthology is entertaining and fairly juvenile. There are some witty or clever stories and exchanges and the art is great. A lot of the prototypes for dragon ball characters are obviously tested in these early stories. It’s good fun, some shorts much better than others.
March 12, 2022
Pretty meh. Most of the stories were basically the same: fish out of water/odd character fight bad guy and wins. Go Go Ackman was the only one to break that mold and it was by far the most entertaining one. Also, the sexism/objectification of basically all female characters was kinda ick
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January 25, 2023Pretty fascinating to see how much of Akira Toriyama’s older comics inspired Dragon Ball! Or how many concepts/ideas he took from his previous works and incorporated into some of his other ones. Even putting that aside it was just fun getting more material from Akira Toriyama!
August 1, 2023
entertaining short stories but some tend to have the same recycled premise. it was interesting to see the evolution of his art style over a decade and a half. my favourites were cashman and go go ackman
February 26, 2024
It's pretty ridiculous but I still like it a lot. It is a lot of fun to see the fondations of certain stories and character designs that would become famous in the Dragon Ball and Dragon Quest series.
December 26, 2021
It shows a more lewd and humorous side of Akira Toriyama. But, this just wasn't for me. I rather read something like Ayakashi Triangle or Captain Underpants.
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