Dragon Ball ep 136 - Revenge of Tao Pai Pai the Assassin

Tao Pai Pai and Tenshinhan stare each other down, standing as still as statues. Mr. Announcerman shouts again for them to start the match, but the two don't move. "It's not that they aren't moving- they can't move!" Yamcha says, watching from stage side with Kuririn and Goku. "Especially for Tao Pai Pai." Goku says.

Dragon Ball ep 135 - The Chosen Eight

The 23rd Tenka-ichi Budokai is shaping up to be more brutal than any before it. A line of unconscious contestants are leaving for the hospital on stretchers, Chaozu among them. Bulma and Lunch go with Chaozu to make sure he's all right...

Dragon Ball ep 134 - The Turbulent Tenka-ichi Budokai

"Goku! Don't tell me he's one of Piccolo Daimao's henchmen who survived?!"

Dragon Ball ep 133 - The Reunion Before the Storm

It has been three years since the last Tenka-ichi Budokai. Three years since Piccolo Daimao reigned supreme over the world. Three years since Son Goku left to train with Kami-sama himself. Now Lunch and Muten Roshi wait for their friends and pupils to arrive, the first ones to make it to Papaya Island this year. A taxi pulls up beside them, and out of it steps Oolong and Puar.

Happy Birthday, Masako Nozawa!

The wonderful and crazy talented Masako Nozawa turned 75 yesterday! Without you, there is no Dragon Ball. Here's to 75 more healthy years!!

Sarabada, 'chibi' Goku!

Despite 21 episodes remaining in "Dragon Ball" (plus a handful of movies), we find ourselves at the end of an era. The child protagonist of Dragon Ball is about to become a man. To us DB fans, this may seem like no big deal - after all, most fans in the english speaking world were first exposed to Son Goku as a grown man. But part of the reason I wanted to do this blog was to give the franchise some proper context; for myself and for its readers. Growing up Goku was most certainly a big deal.

The B-Team

In the year 1988, a group of martial artists were sent into the wilderness to train for a Tenka-ichi Budokai they couldn't win. These men promptly found themselves on a journey to the Land of Karin. Today, still unable to win a tournament, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire...

Dragon Ball ep 132 - Hotter Than Magma

To put their strength to the test, Tenshinhan, Yamcha, and Kuririn race up an erupting volcano - worshiped as a mountain god by the (largely stupid) locals from the last episode. Chaozu comes as well, but not so much to help stop the magma, but to shout "Ten-san!" as many times as possible. (Seriously, if you played a Chaozu "Ten-san!" drinking game, this episode would destroy your liver.)

Dragon Ball ep 131 - Each On His Own Path

Yamcha, Kuririn, Chaozu, and Tenshinhan take well deserved break from their journey toward Karin Tower, as night settles in around them. As they lay down to sleep the gloom away, Ten is kept awake by the sounds of drums. Chaozu can hear them as well. In a trance, he has a startling premonition.

"It's terrible... Something terrible is going to happen!"

Dragon Ball ep 130 - Goku's Opponent is... Goku?!

It is dawn. Goku makes his way out of Kami's Temple to begin his daily training and contemplation. This is dull work for our unfocused hero, who begs Mr. Popo to be his sparring partner. As Popo waters the plants around the temple with his Water of Life - water which will give life to anything - an idea strikes him. He tells Goku that he will bring him a partner to fight later, and he will match Goku's skills perfectly.

But first he needs a bit of Goku's hair.

Dragon Ball ep 129 - Time Traveling Goku

Though Goku has improved significantly since coming to the Upper World, Mr. Popo has a new training assignment for him. Together they enter The Room of Time (not to be confused with my own name for their other room, THE TIME ROOM, or the completely canon Room of Spirit and Time), where Mr. Popo sends our hero to meet a great martial arts master... back in time!!

Dragon Ball ep 128 - As Quietly as the Sky

Goku awakens three days later back in Kami's Temple, with Mr. Popo watching over him. (Talk about Coyote Ugly.) The Holy Crown of Mt. Thunder was, according to Popo's assessment, too advanced for Goku. So back into THE TIME ROOM they go, this time (hah!) he sends Goku into a forest. Goku assumes there must be a strong guy for him to fight, but Mr. Popo tells him he'll need to figure that out on his own.

Dragon Ball ep 127 - Faster Than Lightning!!

In order to stand quietly like the sky, and move faster than lightning, Son Goku must first learn to empty his mind. He has quite a lot of trouble with this. Mr. Popo suggests he become a stone - then he smacks him over the head. "Eeeh!" "Stones do not speak. Stones feel no pain." Some time later, it seems Goku's meditation is improving. But upon further inspection, Mr. Popo realizes he's just fallen asleep.

Dragon Ball ep 126 - Shen Long - Revived!!

 A couple fishermen (one optimistic, the other pessimistic) see a strange sight at sea.

 Standing on water, like the image of Christ himself,

 is Piccolo.

Dragon Ball ep 125 - Enter Kami-sama!!

"Assisting Kami-sama keeps Mr. Popo incredibly busy. Leave at once."

Unable to heed Mr. Popo's advice, Goku tries again to defeat Kami-sama's assistant.

Dragon Ball ep 124 - The Temple Above the Clouds

For the first time, Karin has permitted someone to meet with Kami-sama. He hands Son Goku the special bell that signifies Karin's permission, and with Nyoibo once again attached to the top of Karin Tower, he sends Goku on his way to Kami's Temple. Yajirobe watches him leave as Nyoibo extends, "Is he afraid of anything?" "I have no idea. Not even I can make heads or tails of him." Says Karin.

Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (Movie 3)

Review: Piccolo Daimao Saga (DB episodes 102 - 123)

Another story arc has come and gone in front of our very eyes, True Believers. If you never saw my last couple reviews, "Dragon Ball, the Goku era (episodes 1 - 81)" and "Tenshinhan Saga/22nd Tenka-ichi Budokai (episodes 82 - 101)". If you're curious how my rating system works, see the beginning of the first review. All right, enough intro, let's cut this bird open.

Bonus Content! 3: Return of the Son of Bonus Content

You'll remember our last two editions, here and there. Sometimes I take more screencaps than I need for my review. The Piccolo Daimao saga was definitely one of those times.

 "I will return without fail." -Mutaito to Roshi

Originally from episode 102.

Dragon Ball ep 123 - Nyoibo's Secret

Dragon Ball ep 122 - The Final Gamble!!

"I was right! You have lost a lot of power!" Goku smirks. "That last attack was no where near as powerful as the one before it!" Goku is referring to Piccolo Daimao's Bakurikimaha, which the Demon Lord used to wipe King Castle off the map. But now both fighters are severely weakened, and the fight is drawing to its inevitable conclusion. Piccolo is utterly shocked! "There is no possible way that a human could ever contend with me!" He bellows. "I've got a tail, so maybe I'm not human, who knows?" Goku snickers. "This is going to get settled real soon, it looks like!" Goku begins to limp toward Piccolo. "Will I die?! Or will you?!"

Dragon Ball ep 121 - Son Goku- Final Crisis!!

But not this Final Crisis...

 "Ka... me... ha... me..."

"THAT TECHNIQUE WON'T WORK ON ME!"

"HAAAAAA!"

Dragon Ball ep 120 - Goku... Anger at Full Power!!

Yamcha, Bulma, and Lunch head toward King Castle at full speed. Unable to simply sit by as Piccolo Daimao threatens to destroy Metro West, the trio head out to back up Tenshinhan. But as they follow the news coverage, Metro West still stands - which must mean that Tenshinhan is successfully holding off the Demon Lord. Lunch shouts that if anything has happened to Ten, she'll personally make whoever's responsible pay. Yamcha smiles, saying it's good to have someone like Lunch around in these situations. (Meaning someone completely unstable with killer's eyes.)

Hold onto your dragon balls, folks.

(via Hark, A Vagrant)

Sums up the rest of the Piccolo Daimao Saga perfectly.

Dragon Ball ep 119 - Will the Legendary Mafuba Work?!

 Metro West is in complete chaos since Piccolo Daimao's announcement of intention to annihilate the city for the first annual Piccolo Day.

Dragon Ball ep 118 - Tenshinhan's Resolve!!

Piccolo Daimao transmits another message to the people of the world. May 9th, the day he became King, shall henceforth be known as Piccolo Day. And to celebrate Piccolo Day, he will hold an annual lottery. The Dragon World is divided into 43 districts. Every year, he will draw out a number, from 1 through 43. And every year, the number that is drawn, the corresponding district will be annihilated personally by King Piccolo.

Dragon Ball ep 117 - Son Goku Finally Takes Off!!

Goku is awake. The effects of the Super Sacred Water have seemed to come to an end, and Goku feels as if he's brimming with power. Yajirobe remarks that he doesn't look any different. Goku thanks the Darkness, who returns to his black home. Now Goku can see the path out of this place and back to Karin Tower.

Dragon Ball ep 116 - Kame Sen'nin's Alive?!

Deep under the ice labyrinth, in a massive dark cave, Goku and Yajirobe decide to go their separate ways. Yajirobe hopes to find the way out and back to Karin Tower, whereas Goku is bound and determined to drink the Super Sacred Water. A presence of some sort has been following Goku for some time, and he knows it. Quickly, our hero dashes behind a rock wall (once Yajirobe is safely on his own path), and prepares to strike out at what only could be The Darkness Karin warned him about.

Dragon Ball ep 115 - Get The Mysterious Super Sacred Water!

At King Castle, Piano is preparing for his master's after nap snack by abusing their new waiting staff. After commanding them to cook a fabulous feast, Piano takes a single sip of soup, then knocks it all to the ground. He then shouts that they make Piccolo Daimao 100 plates of the following, in one hour: Newt meuniere, fried intestines, weasel mousse, dinosaur tongue, and brain pudding.

(But the joke's on them because Namekians can't digest anything but water.)

Dragon Ball ep 114 - Goku's Wish - Even Karin-sama is Worried!!

"...As of this moment, I will be taking your place as ruler of this kingdom." Piccolo Daimao sneers. "And you will make this fact clear to the people of the world."

Dragon Ball ep 113 - King Castle on the Offensive and Defensive!!

The world is gathered today at King Castle to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of their kindly ruler. During his reign, the King of the World (King Dogmenn as I often call him) has enacted many policies that have ensured global peace. At his castle, sometimes known as The Symbol of Peace, a ceremony is being held in his honor - and the honor of all his subjects.