Movies News Talk

Super Hero Manga Fails to Live Up to the Success of the Film: Dragon Ball Super

Goten & Trunks Foiling Hedo Felt Like a Spin-Off Instead of Real Plot Development

Although Dr. Gero, the villainous scientist in Dragon Ball Z developed several lethal androids endangering the planet, he also started a family. Though the Dragon Ball Super Manga does not change the horrible sequence of the young doctor apparently killing a jail full of people, his grandson, Dr. Hedo, has a different introduction than the movie trying to make him more likeable. The brief prelude adventure also allows readers to see the teenage life of Goten and Trunks, who thwart Hedo's intentions and motivate the doctor to design the Gammas. Although the franchise is not unfamiliar with lighthearted slice-of-life events, the prequel segment seems to veer too sharply from the serious DBS Granola narrative.

Sadly, the monthly publication schedule of the manga did not treat the Super Hero arc any kindly. It became clear once the prequel segment ended that the narrative of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero performs better on film than that of a monthly manga story arc. With its awkward cliffhangers and dubious paneling that actively reduces some of the most impactful moments in the film, like Pan's first flight and Gohan's terrifying Beast Transformation, the manga struggled to keep the excitement and tension while the film was able to balance humor, action, and intense character moments with its brisk pace.

Super Manga Adaptation by Super Hero Was Not The Senzu Bean The Movie was

The Super Hero film debuted some one year ago. Therefore, the Dragon Ball Super Manga has the chance to highlight the newly debuted characters of the movie. Extra conversation for characters like the Gamma adds some much-needed characterizing. A few more welcome events in the manga also give each Z fighter cause to show up before Cell Max's attack. Still, by the end of chapter #100 the manga does not really support its take on the plot of the movie. This is unfortunate since events like Broly visiting Beerus's planet and the Gamma's formation could have been both interesting and instructive.

Apart from the lost chances to feature more character moments the movie needed more time to investigate, the manga also battled to depict the most dramatic events of the arc. Although Vegeta showed that he was stronger than Goku in the past, movie theater viewers were applauding in their seats from several of Gohan's moments in the Super Hero movie. Comparatively to the scope of action in the film's adaption, the dynamic action scenes seemed more empty and lacking. The manga missed the suspense, thrill, fear, and triumph the movie was able to portray; those problems could have been less noticeable if the animated picture had come out following the comic.

Super Hero Manga Review Dragon Ball Super

Though it did not significantly build on the story significance of the Gohan and Piccolo-centered Super Hero film, the current arc in the Dragon Ball Super manga adapted the film. Was this an inevitable adaption to pass time until the next expected manga arc? With Dragon Ball Super's last battle against Jiren ending the epic Tournament of Power arc of the Anime, the manga has carried on with three gripping arcs. The most recent, though, was defeated the Red Ribbon Army and a rampaging Cell Max by Gohan, Piccolo, and even Pan fighting together.

Released in theaters in 2022, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was a global smash presenting the series like never before. Mostly animated with CGI, the most recent Dragon Ball movie produced a smorgasbation of vivid battles and an emotionally compelling narrative that would have something for fans of Gohan and Piccolo to celebrate. But the way the manga tells the same tale misses the same effect.

Last thoughts on a manga arc that might have been more fantastic

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was made to be a movie, regardless of the erratic monthly release pace of the manga or the action scenes that lacked the fun or dynamic quality of the film's adaptation. The arc of the manga is ill-founded in its existence, and its narrative could have been condensed much as the five pages of chapter #93 in the Broly film. Author Akira Toriyama and illustrator Toyotarou most likely wanted more time to plan what's next for the Dragon Ball Super storyline and what part Dr. Hedo's androids will play in the future. Among the few advantages the newest manga arc offers is allowing more time.

Read the Dragon Ball Super Manga on Viz Media and Manga Plus.

Issues in the Super Hero Manga Adaptation

Chapters 91–100 of the Dragon Ball Super Manga reinterpret the events of the Super Hero film. Unlike the movie, the manga offers a brief prelude narrative beginning with chapter #88 that presents Dr. Gero's grandson, Dr. Hedo, in a somewhat different manner than in the movie. Furthermore, there are other variations in the Dragon Ball plot whereby Gohan unlocks his Beast Form and discovers who is stronger: Goku or Vegeta?

Against fan criticism for this movie's adaptation, Dragon Ball Super shockingly reveals in Chapter #100 that the Super Hero storyline is not yet over.

Dragon Ball Super Manga: An Adventureful World

Along with the popular favorite Dragon Ball Z Anime, Dragon Ball Super is a follow-up to the original Dragon Ball series. Ten years after Majin Buu is defeated, Dragon Ball Super follows Goku and his allies on fresh exploits. Like its forebears, Dragon Ball Super received accolades across its 131 episodes.

Anybody who likes this genre will find considerable entertainment value in this presentation. With so many fun activities in this program, fans will undoubtedly like it. This show features also delightful and intriguing people.

Related Articles