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Dragon Ball [ドラゴンボール] #33
Dragon Ball, Band 33: Cell-Spiele
Cell langweilt sich fürchterlich, da keiner seiner Gegner ihm gewachsen ist. Deshalb beschließt er, wieder ein Kampfturnier auszurufen. Gewinnt er, vernichtet er die Menschheit. Kann Son-Goku diesen Plan vereiteln? Außerdem das super Special: Was Trunks in der Zukunft erlebte!
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 26, 1992
133 people are currently reading
1239 people want to read
About the author
Akira Toriyama
1,917 books1,726 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
August 21, 2025
EN The battle against Cell rages on, but our heroes soon realize they are no match for him.
Unexpectedly, Cell announces the holding of a new Tournament of the Strongest Under the Heavens, challenging all of Earth’s warriors to face him.
--
PT O combate contra Cell prossegue, mas os nossos heróis percebem rapidamente que não estão à sua altura.
De forma inesperada, Cell anuncia a realização de um novo Torneio do Mais Forte sob os Céus, desafiando todos os guerreiros da Terra a enfrentá-lo.
Unexpectedly, Cell announces the holding of a new Tournament of the Strongest Under the Heavens, challenging all of Earth’s warriors to face him.
--
PT O combate contra Cell prossegue, mas os nossos heróis percebem rapidamente que não estão à sua altura.
De forma inesperada, Cell anuncia a realização de um novo Torneio do Mais Forte sob os Céus, desafiando todos os guerreiros da Terra a enfrentá-lo.
September 12, 2022
With Cell developing a Saiyan-like curiosity for power, his overwhelming strength brings him to give everyone a chance by planning the Cell Games, similar to the Tenkai Budokai. The volume doesn't go deep into all the different training sequences that everyone's going through but gives us a glimpse at Goku and Gohan's new demeanor and way of life. The volume ends with the beginning of the Cell game a bit of comedy before things get serious.
May 15, 2023
Oh no! Another Strongest Under the Heavens martial arts tournament! I thought we left those behind in Dragon Ball. This time Cell has decided to give our characters the chance to beat him one on one. Can't wait! We get an origin of Trunks here too.
September 28, 2014
So it’s pretty clear what Akira Toriyama’s doing at this point: recycling the hits. And, to be fair, it actually works! And, of course, it’s his series, his characters, he can do whatever the hell he wants.
Cell is essentially Freeza, what with his many transformations unlocking higher levels of power, not to mention his lizard-like appearance. And then Toriyama goes back even deeper into the well (is that a thing?), by reviving the classic Strongest Under the Heavens tournament from the original Dragon Ball series!
Trunks goes Super Super Saiyan (Toriyama is imaginative in all but names!) and fights Cell before realising that he’s sacrificed speed for strength and Cell is still undefeatable. Like Vegeta in the last volume, Cell bizarrely decides to back down and let everyone power-up to their full strength to take him on in a one-on-one Royal Rumble-type match: everyone vs Cell! If they lose, everyone on Earth dies!
Even though readers of the series at this point shouldn’t need to know that the only saviours in this world are the Dragon Ball characters, Toriyama acknowledges the wider world by sending the army (there’s only one, just as there’s only one King of the World!) against Cell. Predictably, it doesn’t work, but it spurs Son Goku on to reinstating a new Kami-Sama of Earth.
When Piccolo merged with Kami-Sama, the world lost its god and all of the Dragon Balls, so Son Goku decides to remedy that by bringing a new Namekian to Earth. The kid from earlier in the series, Dende, reappears to become the new Kami-Sama and once more there are Dragon Balls on Earth!
There’s a funny new character introduced called Hercule who’s the martial arts champion of Earth, and who becomes the self-appointed hero who’ll beat Cell and save the world. He’s there for yuks but also to show how beyond human ability the Dragon Ball cast have gone. Kuririn’s expression when Hercule brings out some tiles to smash as a show of his strength says it all - “I don’t believe this…”
It’s a little detail but I really liked that Gohan chose Piccolo’s outfit as his battle dress. Piccolo was Gohan’s mentor when he was even younger and it’s a nice show of respect from Gohan to honour Piccolo’s role in the person he has become. Piccolo seems to like it too, grinning slightly at the gesture (he’s the Demon King, he can never smile or show emotion!).
For the first time this volume has a backup story focusing on Trunks’ life in the future. We see an adult Gohan training Trunks to become Super Saiyan as well as the destruction wrought by the androids. It doesn’t really add anything to what we already know about Trunks so it feels superfluous and dull - filler, basically. All we’re seeing is what he told us before in earlier volumes. Maybe if we’d seen this when he first appeared it’d be more interesting but not at this point in the story. Especially when we know that nothing they do in the past affects this future anyway, so they’re all doomed no matter what!
So, at Volume 17 (or Volume 33, counting the original 16 volumes), we’ve come full circle to once more have another martial arts tournament. And, actually, I’m kinda looking forward to it! These were always the best parts of the Dragon Ball series and, now everyone’s been training and has new powers, the fights look like they’re going to be a lot of fun.
Volume 17 is a lot of prepping for the next couple volumes but it’s still a really entertaining read. We get to see a lot more of Goku than we have in previous volumes, and there’s more focus on the world outside of the fights. Excellent stuff from Toriyama - Dragon Ball Z is back on track!
Cell is essentially Freeza, what with his many transformations unlocking higher levels of power, not to mention his lizard-like appearance. And then Toriyama goes back even deeper into the well (is that a thing?), by reviving the classic Strongest Under the Heavens tournament from the original Dragon Ball series!
Trunks goes Super Super Saiyan (Toriyama is imaginative in all but names!) and fights Cell before realising that he’s sacrificed speed for strength and Cell is still undefeatable. Like Vegeta in the last volume, Cell bizarrely decides to back down and let everyone power-up to their full strength to take him on in a one-on-one Royal Rumble-type match: everyone vs Cell! If they lose, everyone on Earth dies!
Even though readers of the series at this point shouldn’t need to know that the only saviours in this world are the Dragon Ball characters, Toriyama acknowledges the wider world by sending the army (there’s only one, just as there’s only one King of the World!) against Cell. Predictably, it doesn’t work, but it spurs Son Goku on to reinstating a new Kami-Sama of Earth.
When Piccolo merged with Kami-Sama, the world lost its god and all of the Dragon Balls, so Son Goku decides to remedy that by bringing a new Namekian to Earth. The kid from earlier in the series, Dende, reappears to become the new Kami-Sama and once more there are Dragon Balls on Earth!
There’s a funny new character introduced called Hercule who’s the martial arts champion of Earth, and who becomes the self-appointed hero who’ll beat Cell and save the world. He’s there for yuks but also to show how beyond human ability the Dragon Ball cast have gone. Kuririn’s expression when Hercule brings out some tiles to smash as a show of his strength says it all - “I don’t believe this…”
It’s a little detail but I really liked that Gohan chose Piccolo’s outfit as his battle dress. Piccolo was Gohan’s mentor when he was even younger and it’s a nice show of respect from Gohan to honour Piccolo’s role in the person he has become. Piccolo seems to like it too, grinning slightly at the gesture (he’s the Demon King, he can never smile or show emotion!).
For the first time this volume has a backup story focusing on Trunks’ life in the future. We see an adult Gohan training Trunks to become Super Saiyan as well as the destruction wrought by the androids. It doesn’t really add anything to what we already know about Trunks so it feels superfluous and dull - filler, basically. All we’re seeing is what he told us before in earlier volumes. Maybe if we’d seen this when he first appeared it’d be more interesting but not at this point in the story. Especially when we know that nothing they do in the past affects this future anyway, so they’re all doomed no matter what!
So, at Volume 17 (or Volume 33, counting the original 16 volumes), we’ve come full circle to once more have another martial arts tournament. And, actually, I’m kinda looking forward to it! These were always the best parts of the Dragon Ball series and, now everyone’s been training and has new powers, the fights look like they’re going to be a lot of fun.
Volume 17 is a lot of prepping for the next couple volumes but it’s still a really entertaining read. We get to see a lot more of Goku than we have in previous volumes, and there’s more focus on the world outside of the fights. Excellent stuff from Toriyama - Dragon Ball Z is back on track!
May 24, 2021
8/10 stars
I like this one a lot, for totally not usual reasons. No fights, slow pace, lots of seemingly arbitrary, inconsequential decisions - but they all make sense. It's again a setup volume, but with a lot of breadth and depth.
Okay then, Cell has enough Saiyan blood in him that he also becomes entirely mad and spares his enemies left and right just to organize great games. Tenka'ichi Budokai, anyone? Only this time with Cell. And the grand prize is Earth not being destroyed by a mad bio-construct ;).
Confession time: whenever I see Mr Satan, or Hercule, I get irrationally angry. This guy! I know this is exactly what Toriyama envisioned, his readers foaming at the mouth at the loud, dumb, egotic cluelessness of this clearly satirical character, and yet I still do that. Gaah!
Seeing Dende becoming Kami-sama was very rewarding indeed. I love how Toriyama deftly weaves the narrative from the separate strands, bringing back unforgettable characters from the past. I also adore Gohan's decision to wear Namekian clothes in deference to Piccolo - such a simple gesture with so much meaning!
Goku's happy-go-lucky attitude never gets tiring! And at the same time it's now a conscious decision on his part - he knows what he can do and what he cannot do, and decides accordingly, never losing sight from the most important things for him. His decision to just relax and have fun before the showdown with Cell is not made lightly, nor is it thoughtless - on the contrary. This state of awareness, of being in-the-world, in the present, is one of Zen tenets, and it's striking how Toriyama can naturally channel it through Goku.
I like this one a lot, for totally not usual reasons. No fights, slow pace, lots of seemingly arbitrary, inconsequential decisions - but they all make sense. It's again a setup volume, but with a lot of breadth and depth.
Okay then, Cell has enough Saiyan blood in him that he also becomes entirely mad and spares his enemies left and right just to organize great games. Tenka'ichi Budokai, anyone? Only this time with Cell. And the grand prize is Earth not being destroyed by a mad bio-construct ;).
Confession time: whenever I see Mr Satan, or Hercule, I get irrationally angry. This guy! I know this is exactly what Toriyama envisioned, his readers foaming at the mouth at the loud, dumb, egotic cluelessness of this clearly satirical character, and yet I still do that. Gaah!
Seeing Dende becoming Kami-sama was very rewarding indeed. I love how Toriyama deftly weaves the narrative from the separate strands, bringing back unforgettable characters from the past. I also adore Gohan's decision to wear Namekian clothes in deference to Piccolo - such a simple gesture with so much meaning!
Goku's happy-go-lucky attitude never gets tiring! And at the same time it's now a conscious decision on his part - he knows what he can do and what he cannot do, and decides accordingly, never losing sight from the most important things for him. His decision to just relax and have fun before the showdown with Cell is not made lightly, nor is it thoughtless - on the contrary. This state of awareness, of being in-the-world, in the present, is one of Zen tenets, and it's striking how Toriyama can naturally channel it through Goku.
December 28, 2021
The future world doesn't make too much sense to me. You've got two killer androids going on, you'd think people would take it seriously, it'd be like The Terminator or something... but they're still living above ground, driving around, in the History of Trunks special they even had an amusement park still running! I also notice some Saiyan genes in Trunks, with how overconfident he is, up until it almost gets him killed.
Also, Hercule's pretty great. We've been lacking on these gag characters for a while now.
Also, Hercule's pretty great. We've been lacking on these gag characters for a while now.
November 19, 2007
I learned that power is not only about transformation, but smart thinking as well.
October 13, 2017
Nothing happens in this volume. Just a bunch of setting up for the finale of the Cell Arc.
April 20, 2016
To find all my reviews: http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com
Previously on Dragon Ball Z
(I) During a battle with Vegeta, Cell finally found Android #18 and was able to absorb her meaning he finally achieved his final form.
(II) Goku & Gohan are now in training inside the Room of Spirit and Time hoping they can successfully be able to achieve Super Saiyan 1 & 2 in order to beat Cell.
(III) Trunks has come to the past in order to save the gang and Goku and now he will have to fight Cell as Vegeta was utterly defeated.
That is what you missed on Dragon Ball Z!
This manga leaves right where Trunks is transforming to Super Saiyan 2 and I can remember this vividly because I believe that is the episode that I caught up with in the anime show and its identical to the mangas. That is one of the major reasons why I love mangas is because when they adapted to anime you get to see the characters in color and be able to see these epic scenes animated.
Even though Trunks is a Super Saiyan 2, his powers means nothing because he is only thinking about brute force and not any martial arts training. While his ass is getting beaten, we get to see Gohan transform into a Saiyan and for Goku to achieve Super Saiyan 2. Since Goku is always two steps forward, he made the connection with Super Saiyan 2 that while it makes you stronger, it diminishes your speed making it purpose to be used as a last resort. With that idea, Goku decides that Gohan and him are going to train extra hard in order to be able to make Super Saiyan the normal form of battle.
As Cell is about to kill Trunks, he wants to figure out how they get stronger which clearly Trunks is not going to reveal and since he is an intelligent evil being, he realizes that if you give these Saiyans some time they are able to get stronger and he wants to be the best fighter in the planet so he gives mercy to Trunks and tells him that in 10 days there will be the Cell Games which is exactly like tournaments we have witness in Dragon Ball except that every player will fight with Cell until they either A.) Give up B.) Die or C.) They step out of bounds.
Trunks spreads the news to the gang and they immediately begin to train for this tournament. Goku on the other hand is taking a break and doing some investigating about something that he is not telling the audience. He wants the Dragon Balls to be created again after Cell destroys an entire army that went and tried to kill him. Piccolo cannot separate with Kami-Sama again so Goku needs to find another Namekian which turns out to be Dende who becomes Kami-Sama. He tells them that he is able to create the same Dragon Balls but unfortunately if you have already died then you cannot be resurrected again.
After all this jumping around, the Cell Games has arrived and everyone heads off to the Tournament including this human named Hercules who is martial arts champion but a total idiot since he hasn't realized that Cell and everyone is not human. He loses within 2 minutes and everyone is grateful for Cell. I reacted exactly like the gang with rolling their eyes and wanted Hercules to finally disappeared because he kept dragging on and on about destroying Cell and everyone knows about the outcome of this battle.
I got really absorbed into this storyline and I felt like throwing my book at the wall because I wanted to know what was going to happen next especially after Hercules. Unfortunately the battle between Goku and Cell will begin in the next volume. The reasoning behind it was they featured a mini-story about Trunks in the future and how he got into the time machine to go into the past. You meet Gohan as a young adult missing a hand which I have never seen before and sadly how he died because of the androids.
It was an interesting story which could have been a little bit longer and it was creative to show how crazy these androids wreak havoc on planet Earth without Goku. Will Goku be able to defeat Cell? Find out until next time on Dragon Ball Z...
Previously on Dragon Ball Z
(I) During a battle with Vegeta, Cell finally found Android #18 and was able to absorb her meaning he finally achieved his final form.
(II) Goku & Gohan are now in training inside the Room of Spirit and Time hoping they can successfully be able to achieve Super Saiyan 1 & 2 in order to beat Cell.
(III) Trunks has come to the past in order to save the gang and Goku and now he will have to fight Cell as Vegeta was utterly defeated.
That is what you missed on Dragon Ball Z!
This manga leaves right where Trunks is transforming to Super Saiyan 2 and I can remember this vividly because I believe that is the episode that I caught up with in the anime show and its identical to the mangas. That is one of the major reasons why I love mangas is because when they adapted to anime you get to see the characters in color and be able to see these epic scenes animated.
Even though Trunks is a Super Saiyan 2, his powers means nothing because he is only thinking about brute force and not any martial arts training. While his ass is getting beaten, we get to see Gohan transform into a Saiyan and for Goku to achieve Super Saiyan 2. Since Goku is always two steps forward, he made the connection with Super Saiyan 2 that while it makes you stronger, it diminishes your speed making it purpose to be used as a last resort. With that idea, Goku decides that Gohan and him are going to train extra hard in order to be able to make Super Saiyan the normal form of battle.
As Cell is about to kill Trunks, he wants to figure out how they get stronger which clearly Trunks is not going to reveal and since he is an intelligent evil being, he realizes that if you give these Saiyans some time they are able to get stronger and he wants to be the best fighter in the planet so he gives mercy to Trunks and tells him that in 10 days there will be the Cell Games which is exactly like tournaments we have witness in Dragon Ball except that every player will fight with Cell until they either A.) Give up B.) Die or C.) They step out of bounds.
Trunks spreads the news to the gang and they immediately begin to train for this tournament. Goku on the other hand is taking a break and doing some investigating about something that he is not telling the audience. He wants the Dragon Balls to be created again after Cell destroys an entire army that went and tried to kill him. Piccolo cannot separate with Kami-Sama again so Goku needs to find another Namekian which turns out to be Dende who becomes Kami-Sama. He tells them that he is able to create the same Dragon Balls but unfortunately if you have already died then you cannot be resurrected again.
After all this jumping around, the Cell Games has arrived and everyone heads off to the Tournament including this human named Hercules who is martial arts champion but a total idiot since he hasn't realized that Cell and everyone is not human. He loses within 2 minutes and everyone is grateful for Cell. I reacted exactly like the gang with rolling their eyes and wanted Hercules to finally disappeared because he kept dragging on and on about destroying Cell and everyone knows about the outcome of this battle.
I got really absorbed into this storyline and I felt like throwing my book at the wall because I wanted to know what was going to happen next especially after Hercules. Unfortunately the battle between Goku and Cell will begin in the next volume. The reasoning behind it was they featured a mini-story about Trunks in the future and how he got into the time machine to go into the past. You meet Gohan as a young adult missing a hand which I have never seen before and sadly how he died because of the androids.
It was an interesting story which could have been a little bit longer and it was creative to show how crazy these androids wreak havoc on planet Earth without Goku. Will Goku be able to defeat Cell? Find out until next time on Dragon Ball Z...
May 7, 2018
I couldn´t stop reading this part, gohan fight with his new transformation.
September 30, 2017
Este tomo vuelve a tener un poco de la variedad que tiende a entretenerme de Dragon Ball, Cell se siente un poco defraudado del poder de los Saiyajines (compartiendo genes con Vegeta y Goku no es una sorpresa), entonces decide darles un tiempo más para que terminen de entrenar e intentar vencerlos en un torneo al estilo Tenkaichi Budokai.
Entre otras cosas, Goku sale del entrenamiento y en vez de irse corriendo a pegarle a Cell decide tomarse unos días y descansar con Chichi y Gohan, el rey del mundo decide mandar al ejército a encargarse de Cell, y busca a un nuevo Kami-sama para la tierra. Me gustó mucho como Toriyama hace que Gokú sea diferente en estado Super Saiyajin, aunque no esté haciendo nada fuera de lo común se lo siente poderoso y confiado.
Con la presentación de Mr. Satán, este volumen tiene definitivamente un toque más de Toriyama que los anteriores, y me hizo disfrutarlo mucho más.
Entre otras cosas, Goku sale del entrenamiento y en vez de irse corriendo a pegarle a Cell decide tomarse unos días y descansar con Chichi y Gohan, el rey del mundo decide mandar al ejército a encargarse de Cell, y busca a un nuevo Kami-sama para la tierra. Me gustó mucho como Toriyama hace que Gokú sea diferente en estado Super Saiyajin, aunque no esté haciendo nada fuera de lo común se lo siente poderoso y confiado.
Con la presentación de Mr. Satán, este volumen tiene definitivamente un toque más de Toriyama que los anteriores, y me hizo disfrutarlo mucho más.
January 1, 2025
My 100th and final book of 2024.
This volume is great. The stakes are so high and the tension is really building. It's been a while since I watched the anime so I may be wrong, but I feel like this arc is a little more filled out in the manga? I'm really enjoying it.
Other things: We finally get to meet the one and only Mr. Satan 😤✌️I also really enjoyed the Trunks side story at the end of this volume. This was a great book to finish out the year.
This volume is great. The stakes are so high and the tension is really building. It's been a while since I watched the anime so I may be wrong, but I feel like this arc is a little more filled out in the manga? I'm really enjoying it.
Other things: We finally get to meet the one and only Mr. Satan 😤✌️I also really enjoyed the Trunks side story at the end of this volume. This was a great book to finish out the year.
May 29, 2022
Much better entry here! Little character development for Cell. Little humor thrown in with Hercule. Some more information about Trunks. While we still have to "level up" and beat the big bad, this volume felt way more character driven. Helps for getting excited about the next volume.
August 18, 2022
This volume was kind of just set up for the Cell Game. Not a whole lot happens aside from Goku hopping from planet to planet looking for a new Kami and then Hercule getting ready to fight Cell for like 6 whole chapters. But now Goku's getting into the ring. Time for real Shonen.
May 21, 2022
Another tournament! As dumb as it is to shift into a tournament mode, I kind of love it. Tournaments really bring back that OG Dragon Ball vibe but now the stakes are sky high!
manga
August 6, 2024I give no star rating since the online version doesn't have the Trunks backstory that makes up most of this volume. Why would they hurt me in this way?
November 23, 2024
The Cell story is quite entertaining even though cell himself is rather a boring villain.
September 24, 2016
This volume had our heroes basically just training for the real fight with Cell. He's much stronger than they anticipated even when they've reached beyond super Saiyen. Goku is oddly calm about where he stands even though be admitted Cell is still stronger than him. This confidence is what I usually see in him before he gets really excited about fighting a strong person and defeating them. The Cell Game so far has been a bit dumb but funny because there is a hero that the Earth has cast who is anything but. I'm excited to see how everything plays out and who ends up defeating Cell.
December 17, 2016
Actual Rating: 4.55
This was a fantastic read. The story just gets better and better. Also, the characters are amazing and I love reading about the heroes that are in the Dragon Ball franchise. In the volume, Cell announces that he will be holding the Cell Games, which people try to defeat Cell. Goku and Gohan are in Full-Power Super Saiyan mode. Also, I enjoy seeing Goku and Gohan spend time woth Chi Chi. I missed her character, so it was nice to see her again. I loved her reaction when she saw Gohan's blond hair. It still cracks me up. I did not like Mister Satan. I do not really care for his character. However, I can't wait to see his daughter, Videl, aka Gohan's high school girlfriend. Can't wait to see Cell get defeated. This was another amazing installment to the series. I can't wait for Volume 18. Overall, an incredible read.
This was a fantastic read. The story just gets better and better. Also, the characters are amazing and I love reading about the heroes that are in the Dragon Ball franchise. In the volume, Cell announces that he will be holding the Cell Games, which people try to defeat Cell. Goku and Gohan are in Full-Power Super Saiyan mode. Also, I enjoy seeing Goku and Gohan spend time woth Chi Chi. I missed her character, so it was nice to see her again. I loved her reaction when she saw Gohan's blond hair. It still cracks me up. I did not like Mister Satan. I do not really care for his character. However, I can't wait to see his daughter, Videl, aka Gohan's high school girlfriend. Can't wait to see Cell get defeated. This was another amazing installment to the series. I can't wait for Volume 18. Overall, an incredible read.
August 13, 2015
This book is about how this green man whose name is cell is terrorising the earth and its up to the z fighters to stop Goku, Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin, TN, yamcha and the prince of all saiyans Vegeta. Cell is not to be underestimated he is a powerful being. Will the Z fighters when the battle find out in The cell games begin.
November 8, 2025
ITS FINALLY HERE !!
And no I’m not talking about the Cell Games, I’m talking about MR SATAN !! I have been awaiting his appearance after hearing peoples love for him and knowing nothing about him beforehand he is hysterical! With how tense everything in the series has been lately, he feels the perfect level of comedic relief and he is easily the funniest inclusion in the entire story. In a world of superhuman warriors, aliens, robots, and time travel, here is this regular guy who is a famed wrestler that assumes all fantastical powers are just tricks. He is hyped up by the entire world to defeat the fearsome Cell. And he gets knocked out with a single flick-
And to add salt on the wound, we have the heroes actually admit they were secretly rooting for Cell here and are disappointed that Satan survived. Oh how I pray he remains in the story.
Anyway, onto the actual stuff. Trunks and Vegeta return from training and face Cell but are not able to beat him. However, Trunks had found a way to far surpass both his father and Cell in strength, but at the cost of his speed, and as a result he is unable to land a single hit, proving that raw strength isn’t everything in a fight, and to be honest I’m glad they made a point of this otherwise things could get stale really quick.
But after this, Trunks actually gives up, in a moment that mirrors Vegeta losing the will to fight against Freeza, he prepares for death. But instead Cell proposes a tournament based on the “Strongest Under The Heavens” tournaments of the OG run! Except this time every participant will face off against Cell for a chance to beat him. Honestly, I had been worried that things were starting to get a bit repetitive, but this gimmick actually adds a lot of variety and I feel like this could be an excellent section of the story if done right.
When Goku and Gohan emerge, they do so with the new ability to be in the Super Saiyan state at all times, which is actually a really interesting idea gained from their training! On the other hand, I don’t love how Trunks and Vegeta were able to surpass the Super Saiyan state so easily. Yeah Goku and Gohan could as well but that doesn’t make it a whole lot better. The Super Saiyan state was one so incredibly rare and mythologised that many didn’t even believe its existence! But finally after intense circumstances, Goku is able to achieve it and it’s this really huge moment. I’ll admit, it already feels a bit convenient how many characters can now achieve this so shortly after, but I guess it’s easier for someone to do so when someone else already has. And I also assume it’s probably easier to reach the next stage after that easier than achieving stage one from nothing. HOWEVER, 2 months feels ridiculous and it does somewhat undermine the previous moment in the context of the story.
In a similar problem, there is just no real difference on paper to this and Base Super Saiyan which makes the improvement come off as somewhat redundant? Again it’s very much just the unfortunate result of “the new big bad needs to be the scariest one yet ! But also now we are obligated to level up the heroes just so they have a chance so the story can continue.” I don’t know, I don’t love it but I also feel like it’s an inescapable problem for a story like Dragon Ball where the power system is so limited and effectively comes down to “I am stronger than you”.
Ik this sound pretty negative but honestly my only problems with this book lie in its power scaling which is moreso a problem I have with the overall series, it’s just more at the forefront here. Everything else is really GREAT ! The Cell Game Begins !!
VERDICT: 9/10
And no I’m not talking about the Cell Games, I’m talking about MR SATAN !! I have been awaiting his appearance after hearing peoples love for him and knowing nothing about him beforehand he is hysterical! With how tense everything in the series has been lately, he feels the perfect level of comedic relief and he is easily the funniest inclusion in the entire story. In a world of superhuman warriors, aliens, robots, and time travel, here is this regular guy who is a famed wrestler that assumes all fantastical powers are just tricks. He is hyped up by the entire world to defeat the fearsome Cell. And he gets knocked out with a single flick-
And to add salt on the wound, we have the heroes actually admit they were secretly rooting for Cell here and are disappointed that Satan survived. Oh how I pray he remains in the story.
Anyway, onto the actual stuff. Trunks and Vegeta return from training and face Cell but are not able to beat him. However, Trunks had found a way to far surpass both his father and Cell in strength, but at the cost of his speed, and as a result he is unable to land a single hit, proving that raw strength isn’t everything in a fight, and to be honest I’m glad they made a point of this otherwise things could get stale really quick.
But after this, Trunks actually gives up, in a moment that mirrors Vegeta losing the will to fight against Freeza, he prepares for death. But instead Cell proposes a tournament based on the “Strongest Under The Heavens” tournaments of the OG run! Except this time every participant will face off against Cell for a chance to beat him. Honestly, I had been worried that things were starting to get a bit repetitive, but this gimmick actually adds a lot of variety and I feel like this could be an excellent section of the story if done right.
When Goku and Gohan emerge, they do so with the new ability to be in the Super Saiyan state at all times, which is actually a really interesting idea gained from their training! On the other hand, I don’t love how Trunks and Vegeta were able to surpass the Super Saiyan state so easily. Yeah Goku and Gohan could as well but that doesn’t make it a whole lot better. The Super Saiyan state was one so incredibly rare and mythologised that many didn’t even believe its existence! But finally after intense circumstances, Goku is able to achieve it and it’s this really huge moment. I’ll admit, it already feels a bit convenient how many characters can now achieve this so shortly after, but I guess it’s easier for someone to do so when someone else already has. And I also assume it’s probably easier to reach the next stage after that easier than achieving stage one from nothing. HOWEVER, 2 months feels ridiculous and it does somewhat undermine the previous moment in the context of the story.
In a similar problem, there is just no real difference on paper to this and Base Super Saiyan which makes the improvement come off as somewhat redundant? Again it’s very much just the unfortunate result of “the new big bad needs to be the scariest one yet ! But also now we are obligated to level up the heroes just so they have a chance so the story can continue.” I don’t know, I don’t love it but I also feel like it’s an inescapable problem for a story like Dragon Ball where the power system is so limited and effectively comes down to “I am stronger than you”.
Ik this sound pretty negative but honestly my only problems with this book lie in its power scaling which is moreso a problem I have with the overall series, it’s just more at the forefront here. Everything else is really GREAT ! The Cell Game Begins !!
VERDICT: 9/10
January 22, 2021
um Inhalt:
Cell langweilt sich fürchterlich, da keiner seiner Gegner ihm gewachsen ist. Deshalb beschließt er, wieder ein Kampfturnier auszurufen. Gewinnt er, vernichtet er die Menschheit. Kann Son-Goku diesen Plan vereiteln? Außerdem das super Special: Was Trunks in der Zukunft erlebte!
Nachdem Cell den Cyborg C18 in sich aufgenommen hat und nun vervollständigt ist, scheint er unbesiegbar. Selbst der Kriegerprinz Vegeta scheint sich an ihm die Zähne auszubeißen und muss eine Niederlage kassieren. Während Trunks gegen ihn kämpft, kommt Cell die Idee, dass er ein Turnier veranstalten möchte. Der Einsatz ist hoch, denn wenn er gewinnt, will er die Welt zerstören und zu der machen, die Future Trunks aus der Zukunft kennt. Er gibt der Gruppe noch einmal ein paar Tage Zeit, um zu trainieren. Genug Zeit für die Gruppe Z, um einen neuen Gott auf Namek zu finden und die Dragon Balls wieder auf die Erde zu holen.
Im nun schon 33ten Band von Dragon Ball kehrt Toriyama in gewissen Zügen zu den Wurzeln der Geschichte zurück. Wieder kommt es zu einem Kampftunier, wenn auch diesmal mit übernatürlich starken Kämpfern. Doch im Großen und Ganzen verspricht die Geschichte wieder nach dem alten Prinzip zu laufen, jeder gegen jeden und der Gewinner kommt eine Runde weiter. Außerdem reist Goku auf das neue Namek und nimmt von dort einen alten Bekannten mit, der von nun an der Gott der Erde sein soll, damit es dort auch wieder die Dragon Balls gibt. Mit der Rückkehr von Shenlong ermöglicht der Zeichner wieder ganz neue Möglichkeiten - man könnte Cell ja einfach weg wünschen, aber hier wird es wohl wieder einmal nur darum gehen, dass, sollte jemand in dem Turnier sterben, derjenige wieder belebt werden kann. Während der Vorbereitungszeit versuchen die Freunde einem ganz normalen Leben nachzugehen, was ich schon fast ein bisschen suspekt finde. Es bleibt also abzuwarten, wie die Geschichte nun weiter geht, aber ich denke die nächsten Bände werden sich wohl um das Turnier drehen. Das verspricht wieder interessante Kämpfe und energiegeladene Zeichnungen. Ich bin begeistert und gespannt.
Von mir gibt es weiterhin eine absolute Leseempfehlung. Freunde des Material Arts werden ab hier wieder voll und ganz auf ihre Kosten kommen.
5 von 5 Sterne
Taschenbuch: 192 Seiten
Verlag: Carlsen (15. Februar 2001)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3551736235
ISBN-13: 978-3551736239
Vom Hersteller empfohlenes Alter: 10 - 12 Jahre
Größe und/oder Gewicht: 11,6 x 2 x 17,7 cm
Cell langweilt sich fürchterlich, da keiner seiner Gegner ihm gewachsen ist. Deshalb beschließt er, wieder ein Kampfturnier auszurufen. Gewinnt er, vernichtet er die Menschheit. Kann Son-Goku diesen Plan vereiteln? Außerdem das super Special: Was Trunks in der Zukunft erlebte!
Nachdem Cell den Cyborg C18 in sich aufgenommen hat und nun vervollständigt ist, scheint er unbesiegbar. Selbst der Kriegerprinz Vegeta scheint sich an ihm die Zähne auszubeißen und muss eine Niederlage kassieren. Während Trunks gegen ihn kämpft, kommt Cell die Idee, dass er ein Turnier veranstalten möchte. Der Einsatz ist hoch, denn wenn er gewinnt, will er die Welt zerstören und zu der machen, die Future Trunks aus der Zukunft kennt. Er gibt der Gruppe noch einmal ein paar Tage Zeit, um zu trainieren. Genug Zeit für die Gruppe Z, um einen neuen Gott auf Namek zu finden und die Dragon Balls wieder auf die Erde zu holen.
Im nun schon 33ten Band von Dragon Ball kehrt Toriyama in gewissen Zügen zu den Wurzeln der Geschichte zurück. Wieder kommt es zu einem Kampftunier, wenn auch diesmal mit übernatürlich starken Kämpfern. Doch im Großen und Ganzen verspricht die Geschichte wieder nach dem alten Prinzip zu laufen, jeder gegen jeden und der Gewinner kommt eine Runde weiter. Außerdem reist Goku auf das neue Namek und nimmt von dort einen alten Bekannten mit, der von nun an der Gott der Erde sein soll, damit es dort auch wieder die Dragon Balls gibt. Mit der Rückkehr von Shenlong ermöglicht der Zeichner wieder ganz neue Möglichkeiten - man könnte Cell ja einfach weg wünschen, aber hier wird es wohl wieder einmal nur darum gehen, dass, sollte jemand in dem Turnier sterben, derjenige wieder belebt werden kann. Während der Vorbereitungszeit versuchen die Freunde einem ganz normalen Leben nachzugehen, was ich schon fast ein bisschen suspekt finde. Es bleibt also abzuwarten, wie die Geschichte nun weiter geht, aber ich denke die nächsten Bände werden sich wohl um das Turnier drehen. Das verspricht wieder interessante Kämpfe und energiegeladene Zeichnungen. Ich bin begeistert und gespannt.
Von mir gibt es weiterhin eine absolute Leseempfehlung. Freunde des Material Arts werden ab hier wieder voll und ganz auf ihre Kosten kommen.
5 von 5 Sterne
Taschenbuch: 192 Seiten
Verlag: Carlsen (15. Februar 2001)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3551736235
ISBN-13: 978-3551736239
Vom Hersteller empfohlenes Alter: 10 - 12 Jahre
Größe und/oder Gewicht: 11,6 x 2 x 17,7 cm
February 10, 2025
I love to see Chi-Chi getting some attention. The 10 days of calm steal this volume for me. Goku is the only one with a level head throughout the dreadful waiting period, and it’s as if he’s the only one who remembers the turtle school way: you must eat well, play well, and rest well if you want to be a true champion. The family picnic is so serene, it’s just a nice feeling.
16 is finally a character, and I still wish that he got more attention in the series. He respects Kuririn for saving his life, but can’t bring himself to shake Goku’s hand. After his death, I like that we see his beliefs influence #17 years later in Super. A nice nod to such a mysterious gentle giant.
Hercule has gotta be the funniest character in the series. He gets so many more panels than you would think he deserves, and each one is filled with personality. I love how the reporter narrates, just two egomaniacs in a war zone. It’s crazy that everyone wants this guy dead.
Trunks’s side story has always stuck out to me. We get such a good sense of Future Gohan’s character just from a few lines of dialogue. He really steps into his father’s shoes. In the movie adaptation, I love that Trunks is pushed into Super Saiyan territory once he finds Gohan and I wish that were the case here, but otherwise, I think this is a really compelling tiny chapter that lets us really emphasize for him.
16 is finally a character, and I still wish that he got more attention in the series. He respects Kuririn for saving his life, but can’t bring himself to shake Goku’s hand. After his death, I like that we see his beliefs influence #17 years later in Super. A nice nod to such a mysterious gentle giant.
Hercule has gotta be the funniest character in the series. He gets so many more panels than you would think he deserves, and each one is filled with personality. I love how the reporter narrates, just two egomaniacs in a war zone. It’s crazy that everyone wants this guy dead.
Trunks’s side story has always stuck out to me. We get such a good sense of Future Gohan’s character just from a few lines of dialogue. He really steps into his father’s shoes. In the movie adaptation, I love that Trunks is pushed into Super Saiyan territory once he finds Gohan and I wish that were the case here, but otherwise, I think this is a really compelling tiny chapter that lets us really emphasize for him.
not-gonna-read
August 6, 2025Despite myself not interested in Dragon Ball Z I do have a large amount of respect for the franchise.
As I said before in my review of Dragon Ball, this kickstarted the trends for later Shonen manga and that's something to admire about the entire Dragon Ball series. Shonen manga series have taken elements from the Dragon Ball series and use it for inspiration for their own work like battles, art, character design, and plot. I feel like I was a bit too old when I was first introduced to the starters of Shounen and Shojo. Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon were introduced to me a bit too late after I had started reading & watching series like InuYasha, Ouran High School Host Club, Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Code Geass.
Again, I still think it's an admirable franchise despite my personal feelings towards it. (I don't hate it but I didn't love it either) It's extremely popular worldwide and for the anime to still be watched and loved to this very day I think that says a lot about it. There are many things to like and admire about it because of the legacy that it brought with its creation.
While I don't love Dragon Ball Z, it has done a lot for a very popular art form and will continue to be great and loved for years to come.
As I said before in my review of Dragon Ball, this kickstarted the trends for later Shonen manga and that's something to admire about the entire Dragon Ball series. Shonen manga series have taken elements from the Dragon Ball series and use it for inspiration for their own work like battles, art, character design, and plot. I feel like I was a bit too old when I was first introduced to the starters of Shounen and Shojo. Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon were introduced to me a bit too late after I had started reading & watching series like InuYasha, Ouran High School Host Club, Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Code Geass.
Again, I still think it's an admirable franchise despite my personal feelings towards it. (I don't hate it but I didn't love it either) It's extremely popular worldwide and for the anime to still be watched and loved to this very day I think that says a lot about it. There are many things to like and admire about it because of the legacy that it brought with its creation.
While I don't love Dragon Ball Z, it has done a lot for a very popular art form and will continue to be great and loved for years to come.
March 13, 2019
And we are now in season 6! The Cell Game is upon us as Trunks' super power up isn't enough. Now in his Perfect form, Cell is obsessed with proving how amazing he is. Trunks goes beyond a level anyone deemed possible and he's still no match for the science experiment. Cell thinks it'd be fun to host a tournament much like the old World's Strongest tournaments from the early Dragon Ball days. Goku and Gohan emerge from the Room of Spirit and Time and Goku is convinced he's still not strong enough...but is strangely chill about it. He and Gohan can maintain super saiyan form as if it is their natural state. At the start of the games, we are introduced to former wrestler, current world champion Hercule. He's not quite a meme just yet but is still useless. It's not his fault. He's a human, Cell is a weird powered-up concoction of alien dna. We also get a bonus side story about Trunks in his own timeline which was developed into the movie The History of Trunks.
This volume was a fun set up for what's to come. It's very much transitional into the next arc within the Cell Saga, but it's full of great character work and does an excellent job in building the tension of what's to come.
This volume was a fun set up for what's to come. It's very much transitional into the next arc within the Cell Saga, but it's full of great character work and does an excellent job in building the tension of what's to come.
September 4, 2021
Kemunculan Mr. Satan, manusia terkuat di muka bumi ... dan para pendukungnya: penduduk Bumi. Tokoh unik ini lagi-lagi menunjukkan kepintaran pengarang komik ini dalam menciptakan tokoh dalam komiknya. Walaupun sejak awal cerita serial Dragon Ball ini terfokus pada Son Goku, Akira Toriyama tidak saja berhasil membuat musuh-musuh yang kuat untuk melawannya namun ia juga cerdas membuat tokoh-tokoh pendamping cerita yang unik. Lawan-lawan yang kemudian jadi "teman" seperti Yamcha, Ten Shin Han dan Chaoz, Piccolo, dan tentu saja Vegeta. Tokoh-tokoh semacam Bulma, Oolong, Pu'ar, Kuririn, Mutenroshi dll., yang masing-masing mempunyai peranan unik dalam kisah Dragon Ball ini. Mr. Satan ini adalah salah satu tokoh yang unik. Ia tidak jahat dan juga tidak kuat (dibandingkan dengan Goku dkk., tentu saja), namun ia adalah sosok idola penduduk Bumi yang selalu tidak menyadari bahwa ada orang-orang yang jauh lebih kuat dari yang mereka ketahui.
May 3, 2024
The countdown is on before the Cell Games Begin! Training is occurring for the Z Soldiers and Goku is trying to locate the Namekians who left planet earth after the destruction of their home world. There is a lot to be excited about in this volume. Pages 146 and 147 have a lasting impact after all the lead up within this book and I feel it is well worth savoring prior to anything that comes after that in this book. Mr. Satan is in rare form and I totally see why he becomes such a fan favorite of readers of the manga. I feel him as a character really allows Mr. Toriyama to add in his flavorful antics from the original Dragon Ball as well as Dr. Slump. Page #154 is an AMAZING throwback to the Dragon Ball manga that came before Dragon Ball Z and is a fun acknowledgment to a pivotal moment in the series. This volume also includes "Trunks Story" which is a side story that further enriches the series and I think is a great edition to this excellent book.
January 7, 2025
Volume 33: Chapter 386-396
Arc 19: Perfect Cell Saga
Arc 20: Cell Games Saga
Vegeta was defeated. Trunks fights Cell. He have a greater power than Vegeta but still cannot defeat Cell. In 10 days, Cell will make a tournament same like Tenkaichi Budokai, called Cell Game, where all fighters will fight him alone. Android #16 will join them. There were a massive panicked among the humans where Cell will kill very human on Earth if he win the tournament.
Goku and Gohan completed their training in the chamber. They stay in Super Saiyan state as it was their base form. The royal defense force attack Cell but it is useless. Since Piccolo merged with Kami, the Dragon Balls ceased to exist. Goku wants a Namekian to replace Kami's place and the person is Dende. Dende will make a new Dragon Ball.
In the meantime, new contender appears, Mr. Satan, who said to be the strongest. The Cell Games started and the first one to show up is Mr. Satan.
Arc 19: Perfect Cell Saga
Arc 20: Cell Games Saga
Vegeta was defeated. Trunks fights Cell. He have a greater power than Vegeta but still cannot defeat Cell. In 10 days, Cell will make a tournament same like Tenkaichi Budokai, called Cell Game, where all fighters will fight him alone. Android #16 will join them. There were a massive panicked among the humans where Cell will kill very human on Earth if he win the tournament.
Goku and Gohan completed their training in the chamber. They stay in Super Saiyan state as it was their base form. The royal defense force attack Cell but it is useless. Since Piccolo merged with Kami, the Dragon Balls ceased to exist. Goku wants a Namekian to replace Kami's place and the person is Dende. Dende will make a new Dragon Ball.
In the meantime, new contender appears, Mr. Satan, who said to be the strongest. The Cell Games started and the first one to show up is Mr. Satan.
September 27, 2023
Cell yang merasa penduduk Bumi tidak bisa menyaingi kekuatannya, memberikan mereka waktu untuk berlatih untuk mengikuti duel. Duel tersebut diadakan oleh Cell sendiri dengan aturan bahwa penduduk Bumi boleh berama-ramai menyerangnya. Dari tantangan itu, Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Trunks, dan Piccolo pun berlatih untuk meningkatkan kekuatannya. Lalu, setelah selesai berlatih ternyata Goku dan Gohan berhasil mengendalikan kekuatan Super Saiya-nya.
Di samping itu, akan ada tokoh bernama Hercule yang tiba-tiba saja ingin berpartisipasi dalam duel tersebut. Ia adalah juara dunia Tenkaichi Budokai dan penduduk Bumi sangat berharap kepadanya untuk mengalahkan Cell. Hercule pun menunjukkan arogansinya kepada Cell serta Goku dkk. Lantas, ketika duel dimulai, bisa ditebak, ia dikalahkan oleh Cell dengan satu pukulan.
Di samping itu, akan ada tokoh bernama Hercule yang tiba-tiba saja ingin berpartisipasi dalam duel tersebut. Ia adalah juara dunia Tenkaichi Budokai dan penduduk Bumi sangat berharap kepadanya untuk mengalahkan Cell. Hercule pun menunjukkan arogansinya kepada Cell serta Goku dkk. Lantas, ketika duel dimulai, bisa ditebak, ia dikalahkan oleh Cell dengan satu pukulan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2017
Excellent volume. In the wake of Vegeta and Trunks' failure to become powerful enough to defeat Perfect Cell (even after their training in the Chamber of Spirit and Time), Cell decides to recreate the Tenka'ichi Budokai, the Strongest Under the Heavens tournament. One of the most iconic events in the series, and a favorite of mine when watching the anime years ago. This volume includes the return of Dende, the introduction of Hercule (perhaps the funniest part of the series), and Goku and Gohan's revelation in maintaining the Super Saiyan state full-time.
This volume also contained a small short story at the end that takes place during Future Trunks' original timeline where he is trained by Gohan to defeat the Androids. Very cool, and something I did not expect to see.
This volume also contained a small short story at the end that takes place during Future Trunks' original timeline where he is trained by Gohan to defeat the Androids. Very cool, and something I did not expect to see.
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