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Dragon Ball #8
Dragon Ball Z, Vol. 3
Change your get BIG
After years of training and adventure, Goku has become Earth's ultimate warrior. And his son, Gohan, shows even greater promise. But the stakes are increasing as even deadlier enemies threaten the planet. DRAGON BALL Z is the ultimate science fiction/martial arts manga.
A Collection of Volumes 7 - 9!
After an epic battle with the heartless Saiyan warrior Vegeta, Son Goku and his friends saved Earth from destruction. But the cost was high--four heroes died. While Goku recovers in the hospital, Kuririn, Bulma and Son Gohan cross the universe to the planet Namek to hunt down Dragon Balls and revive their friends. But they learn quickly that they aren't alone.
Namek is under attack by Freeza, the most powerful being in the universe. Freeza and his goons will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Dragon Balls. As if that wasn't bad enough, Vegeta has landed on Namek too. When Goku hears that his friends face incredible danger, he races to their rescue. But will he make it in time? And how could he possibly stand up to the terrible power of Freeza?
After years of training and adventure, Goku has become Earth's ultimate warrior. And his son, Gohan, shows even greater promise. But the stakes are increasing as even deadlier enemies threaten the planet. DRAGON BALL Z is the ultimate science fiction/martial arts manga.
A Collection of Volumes 7 - 9!
After an epic battle with the heartless Saiyan warrior Vegeta, Son Goku and his friends saved Earth from destruction. But the cost was high--four heroes died. While Goku recovers in the hospital, Kuririn, Bulma and Son Gohan cross the universe to the planet Namek to hunt down Dragon Balls and revive their friends. But they learn quickly that they aren't alone.
Namek is under attack by Freeza, the most powerful being in the universe. Freeza and his goons will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Dragon Balls. As if that wasn't bad enough, Vegeta has landed on Namek too. When Goku hears that his friends face incredible danger, he races to their rescue. But will he make it in time? And how could he possibly stand up to the terrible power of Freeza?
560 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2003
13 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Akira Toriyama
1,910 books1,742 followersAkira Toriyama (鳥山明) was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He first achieved mainstream recognition for creating the popular manga series Dr. Slump, before going on to create Dragon Ball (his most famous work) and acting as a character designer for several popular video games such as the Dragon Quest series, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon. Toriyama came to be regarded as one of the most important authors in the history of manga with his works highly influential and popular, particularly Dragon Ball, which many manga artists cite as a source of inspiration.
He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen/shōjo manga with Dr. Slump, and it went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into a successful anime series, with a second anime created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended.
His next series, Dragon Ball, would become one of the most popular and successful manga in the world. Having sold 260 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga series of all time and is considered a key work in increasing manga circulation to its peak in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been more successful than the manga and are credited with boosting anime's popularity in the Western world. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
In October 2024, Toriyama was inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen/shōjo manga with Dr. Slump, and it went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into a successful anime series, with a second anime created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended.
His next series, Dragon Ball, would become one of the most popular and successful manga in the world. Having sold 260 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga series of all time and is considered a key work in increasing manga circulation to its peak in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been more successful than the manga and are credited with boosting anime's popularity in the Western world. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
In October 2024, Toriyama was inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 4, 2024
An extremely memorable omnibus that is probably what comes to mind when most people think about Dragon Ball Z. Frieza's introduction as the big bad of the saga is gloriously gory and action-packed, and knowing it gets even better than this is exciting, to say the least.
August 3, 2023
The number of times I've read this manga, you'd think I'd know just how long the Namek Arc is...! Pretty sure Freeza isn't going to be killed until late in the next omnibus.
Anyway, this is still peak Dragon Ball, and everything here is cool as fuck. Much of the content collected here still follows Son Gohan and Kuririn, with Vegeta looming a bit as well. There's some cleanup regarding the lesser squad of Freeza's men; Vegeta rematches Zarbon after a successful Zenkai, having easily destroyed Appule as well. It doesn't take long for Vegeta to ally himself with the Earthlings, which leads into one of the best moments here: Vegeta decapitating Gurd. And it's not long before Son Goku finally drops in like "I'm him." I've already written about a lot of the stuff here in reviews for the Full Color editions, so I'll probably not get too deep into discussing the Ginyu Tokusentai fights or anything....
I guess a major change between now and the last time I read these chapters is the release of the Super Hero movie. A couple plot points in that film involve reference to the Namek Grand Elder's ability to awaken latent power and the continuing idea of Son Gohan's rage boosts. The Grand Elder unlocks Kuririn and Gohan's power in this omnibus, but it's hard to say exactly how effective the boosts are, considering both manlets are outclassed by Rikumu, following the narrative philosophy of the Saiyan Arc where every battle is an uphill struggle. Gohan is able to do some slight damage to Form 2 Freeza, but the power boost he experienced doesn't mean too much when he could have just as easily damaged Freeza without an explicit power boost from the Grand Elder. But I guess the main thing here is that the Unlocked Potential doesn't unlock all his potential, since the Old Kaioshin is still able to do basically the exact same thing much later, to a more "permanent" effect... until Gohan is able to power up further in his new Beast form. But the reference to the Grand Elder in Super Hero is actually Piccolo asking Dende if he can unlock his (i.e. Piccolo's) potential the same way the Grand Elder did for Kuririn and Son Gohan. I guess it does make sense, as Piccolo's "potential" in the Namek Arc would have been limited from still being separated from God's spirit, and the reunited "Super Namek" never had much opportunity to train harder while he was continually outclassed by the various Saiyajin during the Majin Arc, only remaining relevant in both of Super's tournaments because... well, Gohan lapsed in his training, the younger kids were inefficient at anything other than Fusion, and the humans were... humans. But, here, the wild power-scaling continues getting zany since the assimilation of Nail will prove not-very-effective against Form 3 Freeza next omnibus.
Anyway, this is still peak Dragon Ball, and everything here is cool as fuck. Much of the content collected here still follows Son Gohan and Kuririn, with Vegeta looming a bit as well. There's some cleanup regarding the lesser squad of Freeza's men; Vegeta rematches Zarbon after a successful Zenkai, having easily destroyed Appule as well. It doesn't take long for Vegeta to ally himself with the Earthlings, which leads into one of the best moments here: Vegeta decapitating Gurd. And it's not long before Son Goku finally drops in like "I'm him." I've already written about a lot of the stuff here in reviews for the Full Color editions, so I'll probably not get too deep into discussing the Ginyu Tokusentai fights or anything....
I guess a major change between now and the last time I read these chapters is the release of the Super Hero movie. A couple plot points in that film involve reference to the Namek Grand Elder's ability to awaken latent power and the continuing idea of Son Gohan's rage boosts. The Grand Elder unlocks Kuririn and Gohan's power in this omnibus, but it's hard to say exactly how effective the boosts are, considering both manlets are outclassed by Rikumu, following the narrative philosophy of the Saiyan Arc where every battle is an uphill struggle. Gohan is able to do some slight damage to Form 2 Freeza, but the power boost he experienced doesn't mean too much when he could have just as easily damaged Freeza without an explicit power boost from the Grand Elder. But I guess the main thing here is that the Unlocked Potential doesn't unlock all his potential, since the Old Kaioshin is still able to do basically the exact same thing much later, to a more "permanent" effect... until Gohan is able to power up further in his new Beast form. But the reference to the Grand Elder in Super Hero is actually Piccolo asking Dende if he can unlock his (i.e. Piccolo's) potential the same way the Grand Elder did for Kuririn and Son Gohan. I guess it does make sense, as Piccolo's "potential" in the Namek Arc would have been limited from still being separated from God's spirit, and the reunited "Super Namek" never had much opportunity to train harder while he was continually outclassed by the various Saiyajin during the Majin Arc, only remaining relevant in both of Super's tournaments because... well, Gohan lapsed in his training, the younger kids were inefficient at anything other than Fusion, and the humans were... humans. But, here, the wild power-scaling continues getting zany since the assimilation of Nail will prove not-very-effective against Form 3 Freeza next omnibus.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
freeza is so ugly
March 5, 2024
Reading Dragon Ball Z after so many years of watching it’s surreal . Multiple dubs with the slightest changes and the biggest effects. Jumping media is like GOING TO THE NEXT DIMENSION. Sorry, had to. The Namek saga stands tallest in my mind. I’ve watched these episodes multiple times back when rewatching had you start from Raditz and climb. Day to day, week by week. I’m not complaining just reminiscing on a different time.
I drank these VizBig editions like chocolate milk. They’re that good! I’ve mentioned this somewhere for sure, on the back of these mangas it says “THE GREATEST FIGHTING MANGA EVER” similar to the back case of Final Fantasy VII’s “Possibly the greatest game ever made” and I believe they’re both spot on.
Reading DBZ makes it feel so much faster. Interesting to me is how the translations affected my perception of the entire series. A lot of the drama and build up is gone, but that’s replaced with swift action. I’ve gotta wonder how the manga would shape up if I’d never tasted the anime at so young an age. And even now would I have fallen so deeply in love with this series if I watched it at 28 (Oh God!) years old? How significant a role did the music have on me?
Why these questions? At times I rode a time machine (narf narf). It’s funny how you see something from ages ago, that pops up and you remark, “OH, that’s where I got that from….lol” I remember Vegeta’s rage so clearly. I can replay that scene in my mind as if it’s living inside. The Ginyu force freaked me out as a kid. Recoome in particular. The little things make me so happy. Once I finish I could turn right back around and read theses volumes again if I were so inclined.
I drank these VizBig editions like chocolate milk. They’re that good! I’ve mentioned this somewhere for sure, on the back of these mangas it says “THE GREATEST FIGHTING MANGA EVER” similar to the back case of Final Fantasy VII’s “Possibly the greatest game ever made” and I believe they’re both spot on.
Reading DBZ makes it feel so much faster. Interesting to me is how the translations affected my perception of the entire series. A lot of the drama and build up is gone, but that’s replaced with swift action. I’ve gotta wonder how the manga would shape up if I’d never tasted the anime at so young an age. And even now would I have fallen so deeply in love with this series if I watched it at 28 (Oh God!) years old? How significant a role did the music have on me?
Why these questions? At times I rode a time machine (narf narf). It’s funny how you see something from ages ago, that pops up and you remark, “OH, that’s where I got that from….lol” I remember Vegeta’s rage so clearly. I can replay that scene in my mind as if it’s living inside. The Ginyu force freaked me out as a kid. Recoome in particular. The little things make me so happy. Once I finish I could turn right back around and read theses volumes again if I were so inclined.
January 5, 2021
This is the bulk of the freeza series that takes place on Namek. This is what I remember most from being a kid and watching the series. Super fun!
April 1, 2023
It’s over 180 000?!?
December 18, 2024
I need more dbz!!!
November 5, 2015
The bulk of the Namek Saga is in this Vizbig collected edition.
The saga progresses, various factions claiming Dragon Balls, stealing them from one another. Power levels escalate quickly, almost absurdly. Kuririn and Gohan have their potential unlocked by the Great Elder, Vegeta is beaten nearly to death repeatedly, and Goku trains at an extreme level. Piccolo merges with Nail.
Vegeta is now powerful enough to beat Zarbon, but then the Ginyu force arrives. Fortunately, so does Goku. The series of body switches by Captain Ginyu is certainly an interesting diversion, but the Ginyu force is defeated. Frieza defeats Nail, and the Earthlings are able to wish Piccolo back to life and to Namek.
The battle with Frieza begins. Frieza transforms, Piccolo arrives, and Vegeta, Kuririn, Gohan, and Piccolo do the best they can.
This is probably the end of the golden era ofDragon Ball. Later sagas felt a bit forced and phoned in, but the battle on Namek feels like what the series has been building up to since the first fight with the Great Demon King Piccolo.
The saga progresses, various factions claiming Dragon Balls, stealing them from one another. Power levels escalate quickly, almost absurdly. Kuririn and Gohan have their potential unlocked by the Great Elder, Vegeta is beaten nearly to death repeatedly, and Goku trains at an extreme level. Piccolo merges with Nail.
Vegeta is now powerful enough to beat Zarbon, but then the Ginyu force arrives. Fortunately, so does Goku. The series of body switches by Captain Ginyu is certainly an interesting diversion, but the Ginyu force is defeated. Frieza defeats Nail, and the Earthlings are able to wish Piccolo back to life and to Namek.
The battle with Frieza begins. Frieza transforms, Piccolo arrives, and Vegeta, Kuririn, Gohan, and Piccolo do the best they can.
This is probably the end of the golden era ofDragon Ball. Later sagas felt a bit forced and phoned in, but the battle on Namek feels like what the series has been building up to since the first fight with the Great Demon King Piccolo.
June 29, 2023
Its blurb purports it to be the "greatest fighting manga ever", and its probably true, given the contents of this volume. If you are looking for fights, you won't be disappointed. However, these fights are all undercards for what is coming.
I'm reading the twelfth edition of this volume, and I've noticed several changes. One of the more obvious ones is the paper stock, the first editions of my first and second volume had a thicker enough stock that I could tell the difference.
Another change is the disappearance in the credits of a certain child pornographer who once did the translation and localization of the original Dragon Ball comic book serialization. There is a different translator credited, so perhaps this is an entirely new English version. Honestly, I'm not sure there if there is a perceptible difference in the text.
Volume 7: The Ginyu Force, an elite squad at Freeza's bidding, wipes the floor of Son Gohan, Kuririn, and Vegeta.
Volume 8: The anticipated arrival of Son Goku has him wiping floor of the Ginyu force.
Volume 9: Goku is sidelined, but the timely arrival of Piccolo (Gohan's real dad) could help stem the tide against Freeza.
I'm reading the twelfth edition of this volume, and I've noticed several changes. One of the more obvious ones is the paper stock, the first editions of my first and second volume had a thicker enough stock that I could tell the difference.
Another change is the disappearance in the credits of a certain child pornographer who once did the translation and localization of the original Dragon Ball comic book serialization. There is a different translator credited, so perhaps this is an entirely new English version. Honestly, I'm not sure there if there is a perceptible difference in the text.
Volume 7: The Ginyu Force, an elite squad at Freeza's bidding, wipes the floor of Son Gohan, Kuririn, and Vegeta.
Volume 8: The anticipated arrival of Son Goku has him wiping floor of the Ginyu force.
Volume 9: Goku is sidelined, but the timely arrival of Piccolo (Gohan's real dad) could help stem the tide against Freeza.
September 6, 2020
Having grown up with the anime, I've found reading the source material an enlightening new look at the acclaimed action series. The two are very similar -- this volume covers the Namek saga from the introduction of the Elder Namek to the start of Piccolo's fight with Freeza -- though the manga makes the soliloquies much more natural. And while the fast-paced and high-energy fight scenes of the show doesn't have the same kind of run-through-the-wall intensity on the page, the heavy blows still land and the heart of the characters' struggles remains.
December 17, 2018
The ginyu force is my favorite team villan
July 21, 2019
It kinda gets repetitive.
Read
September 5, 2019not as good as 4
July 27, 2021
All the awesomeness minus the all the yelling and extended scenes of people charging up
April 9, 2022
Gohan's strength growth and character development makes Goku and Piccolo proud and me go brr
March 3, 2024
Ginyu force rules
October 14, 2024
Not super big on the Ginyu Force, but so excited for the Freeza fight to get started! More solid DBZ action. Can't go wrong with it
April 6, 2025
The Ginyu Force saga was never my favorite period on Namek, so I can’t quite call it peak Dragon Ball. But man, am I excited for the fight with Freeza to kick into high gear next volume!
April 15, 2009
This was my favorite comic but i ever read. the superhero goku finally came back from the dead to save man kind. the moral of this story to me was everything happens for a reason because the reason goku died was to save his son gohan and the reason he was brought back to life was to save man kind i recommend anyone to read this book but to understand it yu have to read volume one to understand the entire plot of the story.
August 25, 2014
I know this is a franchise that has a bit of a reputation attached to it, but when you get to the basic, original book source material you can understand why it inspired so many other comic authors for over twenty years.
February 19, 2022
Classic. Classic. This is my youth right here. Seen the anime during my teens, and this manga rocks. This VizBig edition is taller by an inch and wider by a half inch than the usual manga which uses whiter and heavier paper stock, also has thicker carton stock cover.
August 22, 2011
It was awesome.
June 3, 2013
Strangely, I'm getting used to each character just having a number which indicates how powerful they are.
The battles aren't even that exciting, but I just want to know how it all ends up.
The battles aren't even that exciting, but I just want to know how it all ends up.
June 6, 2014
Oh man! This is so much more exciting than the anime. I cannot stop reading.
Read
April 7, 2015good had so action but still had a lot of talk but still great book loved would read again
March 8, 2017
Good book.
Read
March 6, 2019good
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews