Dragon Ball Z, Vol. 4

Dragon Ball #9

by Akira Toriyama

R to L (Japanese Style)

The second half of Toriyama's touchstone saga, Dragon Ball Z is the ultimate science fiction martial arts manga. After years of training and adventure, Son Goku has become Earth's ultimate warrior, and his son, Gohan, shows even greater promise. But the strikes are increasing as even deadlier enemies threaten the planet. And that means non-stop action as Goku, Gohan, time travelers, aliens, deities and the mighty Super Saiyans clash over the fate of the universe!

The Many Faces of Freeza After a razor-close call, Son Goku and company triumphed in rescuing the Dragon Balls from Freeza's evil claws. Now they must go head to head with one seriously ticked-off alien overlord! What's worse, Freeza's got a trick up his sleeve. He has the power to transform--not once, not twice, but three times--and with each new hideous face comes a massive power increase! With Goku recovering from his fight with Captain Ginyu, the gang must band together and hold Freeza off as long as they can. But even with all their power combined, the odds are in Freeza's favor. As the battle rages on, defeating Freeza seems more and more impossible. The only hope lies in the one thing Freeza fears--the legend of the Super Saiyan!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics Manga, Fiction, Adventure, Science Fiction

568 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2009

About the author

Akira 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.

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it! If you know, you know. Possibly the most iconic power up that exists in fiction makes its first appearance, and for re-readers, the simpliciity of it is much appreciated. This collection is what you read Dragon Ball for: crazy transformations, high stakes and relentless action.

[Morbid Quill · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.8 stars

Let me first start by saying that Dragon Ball Z is one of my favorite storylines, but it's not because of Goku. Or Gohan, for that matter. It's because of Vegeta.

I'm an aspiring author who places emphasis on psychologically deep characters. I'm a rabid lover of the classics, and I devour books of all kinds at an obsessive rate. I've come across many, many wonderful characters in my time. Despite all of this, none of those characters have managed to surpass Vegeta. None of them.

I first discovered the Saiyan Prince when my brother had me watch an episode of Dragon Ball Z. I was such a skeptic. But then I noticed an exotic, somewhat aloof character with an eloquent tongue and a haughty, intimidating demeanor. I knew I'd found a gem: a truly profound, fascinating character who far outshone the rest. Still outshines them. I loathed Goku from the start. I found Gohan irksome. Piccolo was decently developed, but not nearly enough to make him interesting. Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chaotzu . . . their backstories and character profiles are dreadfully dull in comparison to Vegeta's.

His father gave him to a sadistic space tyrant when he was "just a little boy." His planet was destroyed - and his father was murdered - when he was five years old. He was forced to become a child soldier in Frieza's ranks. Forced to exterminate entire civilizations for the sake of his own survival in the Planet Trade Organization. The only shred of hope he had left was the legend of the Super Saiyan. Of course he'd strive obsessively to prove himself as the proud Prince of an ancient race. Of course he'd develop a fragile, horribly inflated ego. Given the amount of psychological damage he's endured, it's a miracle he didn't go completely insane.

I don't intend to give spoilers here, but this particular volume of the manga is so heart-wrenching for Vegeta fans like myself that I own it - as well as all nine seasons of the anime on DVD. I'm planning to collect the rest of the manga soon enough, but this volume will remain one of my favorites. I love something that can move me emotionally. Volume 4 does that for me. It reveals insight about Vegeta that helps to explain why he is who he is. It's beautiful in that way.

There are a few downers. I don't really care about Goku's fight with Frieza. I don't care much about Gohan, either. The huge chunk that Goku's fight robbed from the manga is what cuts down on my rating, and I'm not going to lie: I only skimmed through that entire part. I've seen the anime; heck, I own the entire anime on DVD. I know what happens. Honestly, that whole battle can be summed up in a few (albeit sarcastic) words: GOKU IS GREAT AND LEGENDARY. Never mind the fact that Vegeta clung to the Super Saiyan legend as his only grounding while under Frieza's thumb. Never mind the fact that Vegeta trained so much harder than Goku ever did. Never mind the fact that Vegeta's victory over his old tormentor would have been a thrilling and justified one, had Akira Toriyama decided to stop playing favorites.

Thank you, Toriyama, for creating Vegeta. Now if only you'd let him have some well-deserved time in the spotlight.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The arc with Freeza is one of my favourites!!

[Tyler Sizemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must buy for dbz peeps. 10/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kendra Mikols · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Freeza stuff is more fun to watch than read. Trunks shows up though :)

[Chuy Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll keep saying it haha these are so good! This was the ending of the Freeza/Namek arc + Trunks! Pretty epic stuff.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continues to be "peak Dragon Ball," though I guess it tapers off a bit when Trunks is introduced.

I'll be brief to avoid repeating myself. Basically, the first Super Saiyajin transformation perfectly encapsulates Son Goku's character up to this point, more or less from the previous twenty-six(?) volumes' worth of material. That is, he's the Saiyajin Raised on Earth; bumping his head, resetting his race's bloodlust programming, and growing up in a structured martial arts focus from Grandpa Gohan, Muten Roshi, Karin, Mr. Popo, God, and Kaiō-sama has shaped him into an ideal candidate for the Super Saiyajin form. A pure heart awakened by rage at the (seemingly permanent) loss of a dear friend. Indeed, it's a neat coincidence I am simultaneously watching the Piccolo Daimaō arc in the Dragon Ball anime, having just last night watched the episode where Son Goku kills Tambourine - there, Goku is angry at Kuririn's death, but he knows the Dragon Balls can bring him back anyway, so it's not as severe as Freeza's attack.

Anyway, we also see a brief continuation of the trend Goku started with Ma Junior, where Goku spares strong enemies in hopes of a rematch; he did the same in stopping Kuririn from cutting a weakened Vegeta, and now he grants Freeza some ki to help him survive in space after Namek explodes. I know I've said this before, but I love the face of disappointment Goku makes when Freeza squanders his mercy, shortly before sending a final blast to (not quite) finish off the galactic emperor. Goku will end up regretting his decision, but it works out when Trunks appears. Things will be rockier when Goku pulls the same shit against Cell in a few years, bordering on child abuse, but... that's a story for another time.

I said above that the "peak" tapered off with the arrival of Trunks. What I mean here is Toriyama has already undone some of the significance of the arc we just finished a couple chapters ago. Vegeta will joke like ten years into the future about how Goten and Kid Trunks's transformations are a "Super Saiyajin bargain sale," but that's already started just now. The Saiyajin are basically extinct, so the only way to make more Super Saiyajin would be to give Goku more kids, and to get Vegeta laid as well. So Trunks comes in, conveniently from the future, so we don't have to see him struggle to reach the requisite power-level for the transformation. Things will get zanier when Vegeta unlocks the transformation next omnibus, seemingly from a mixture of a) jealousy toward Kakarotto and b) the calming powers of Bulma's pussy...? But the future arcs are still really fun, so I'm not upset. And Future Trunks is just the coolest dude in all of fiction. (Actually, Piccolo is my favorite character now, as of Super Hero, but still...!)

[Jullian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragon Ball Z Vol 10-12

In this book, Goku’s friends are waiting for him to recover and while they are doing this they’re also fighting Frieza, the current most powerful being they ever fought. Time flies then Goku finally heals and flies to their location and he's pumped to fight a being who has the power to destroy a planet. A tragedy happens and this triggers him to unlock a brand new transformation. Goku uses his smarts to try and wipe out Frieza to save the universe.

I enjoyed the art in this book and the characters in it. Goku is the main character of the book and enjoys fighting strong opponents; even if they're strong enough to kill him he will challenge anyone. Gohan is a character who doesn't like to see his friends or family get hurt by evil people because if he does he gets super angry and he unlocks amazing power.Akira Toriyama finds it refreshing to keep it nice and short so the reader can understand the story better but at the same time, it's enough that it’s a good amount of reading because there is a ton of pages.

I don't think there was a single thing I hated about the book besides one thing and that's the way it was made. So instead of reading from left to right like most normal books in this type of book, you read from left to right. I think it's unique and the more I read these type of books the more I get used to it. Other than that I think this book was made just right and I like how he didn't rush the book or slow it down. This book is at a fast pace and I think most people would like this.

People who would like this book are most likely people who like graphic novels. Other people who may like this book are people who enjoy the action. This type of novel may also appeal to middle schoolers or high schoolers. I knew I would like this book because I read previous volumes from this author.

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Freeza saga concludes with his collection, and it is one of the best fights in the series. There will always be someone stronger to fight in the future, but none come close to Freeza in sheer malevolence, and cockroach-like will to live.

Volume 10 - A ragtag squad of Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Kuririn try to buy enough time for Goku to complete his healing cycle. They succeed, as Goku and Freeza begin their epic fight.

Volume 11 - Goku turns into Super Saiyan mode for the first time, and it is more than enough power to bring Freeza down, even in its final form.

Volume 12 - The author channels some of James Cameron's The Terminator, bringing in a mysterious Super Saiyan from the future. There is some resemblance to Rob Liefeld's Cable as well, in its backstory and connections to the main characters.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I failed to mention how crazy the art shines. Characters, backgrounds, special attacks, physical motions, transformations, you name it! Whether it’s in black and white or color these pages are sure to rock your world! DBZ rocks our worlds on multiple levels.

Vegeta’s death is sad, but people tend to forget this guy is one bad dude. Since the manga reads at an extremely fast pace, particularly with these 3-in-1 editions, Vegeta comes out looking more evil than Freeza…

Freeza comes across as an extremely powerful, spoiled child. He has manners, offers people employment, and is efficient. Reading the manga it just doesn’t seem so bad. The return of Freeza is a little quick when you have all the volumes scrunched up XD

However, enter the hero of time! Trunks baby! With Hope written on the time machine our boy is here!!!

[Tyler Fridley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid ending as well! The Freeza fight did drag out a bit, but I knew that was coming. I did absolutely hate bringing back robot Freeza and his dad immediately after the Goku fight ends, just to have them both get squashed super quickly by some character we had never seen before. It felt like it retroactively cheapened Freeza's character. Don't think I'll keep reading, but I very much enjoyed reading up to this point!

[David Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

So epic. The first 400 page or so of this volume are dedicated almost entirely to 1v1 combat between Goku and Freeza. Completely over the top, and the whole thing is exquisitely illustrated. Worth mentioning, the end of this book marks what I'm familiar with from watching the anime as a kid. Trunks shows up in the last couple chapters, which was new to me.

[Trey S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of freeza and the beginning of the android saga. I think this is largely where I stopped watching as intently as a kid, at least after freeze and during the android saga, so a lot of things are kinda new. It was cool to reread and start the parts I didn’t remember as much either. I still watched the cell saga and everything just not as regularly.

5/5

[Gus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The super sayin is my favorite dragon ball z transformation this is my favorite dragon ball z
book

[Aiden Rempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best DBZ book by far

[Alain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the artwork and the sci-fi/martial arts story. I'm going to continue reading this series. I really like the large format of the VIZBIG editions.

[Adnan]

Good

[Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUTURE TRUNKS MAKES MY HEART GO BRR

[Curtis Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes

[thi · Rating 4 out of 5]

there’s this YouTube video where these guys pick their fav himbos, goku was someone’s number one on the basis that this man will do anything, ANYTHING, for a fight and that held very true here

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP Toriyama-sensei. I've thought about you everyday.

[Joey Amorim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goku vs. Freeza is peak. Nuff said.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the end of the Frieza saga, which takes up the majority of the three included volumes.

Piccolo, Kurinin, Gohan, and Vegeta face Frieza, and they are no match. Dende and Vegeta are killed, and Goku shows up to his greatest fight ever. He tries, with the Kaio-Ken x20, and a larger Genki-Dama, but he's still not strong enough. Frieza kills Kuririn, finally sparking Goku's transformation into a Super Saiyan, finally strong enough to defeat Frieza. But even as the legendary Super Saiyan, he's not bloodthirsty enough to kill Frieza outright. He tries to let Frieza live, but Frieza will do nothing more than attack Goku at every opportunity.

Kami-Sama and Kaio-Sama hatch a genius plan to combine the powers of Earth and Namek's dragon balls to resurrect all of our heroes, while Frieza destroys Namek and Goku fights to the finish. He is forced to destroy Frieza, or so it appears.

Bulma takes in the Namekians, as well as Vegeta, and makes a rather lewd remark to him, which is quite hilarious. In the aftermath, the Namekians use their Dragon Balls to bring the rest of Earth's heroes back to life.

That's probably where things should have ended. But they don't. Instead, the power escalation goes from ridiculous to absurd, as Frieza and his father King Cold come to Earth seeking revenge, but are stopped by a new Super Saiyan named Trunks, who completely punks out the ultimate villains without breaking a sweat, to introduce an entirely new power level to the series. Trunks explains to Goku when he arrives that he came from the future, and warns of a threat of androids that will occur three years in the future. So once again, our heroes train and prepare for a new threat, but honestly at that point it's just disappointing.

[Lord · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a fight between Son Goku and Freeza a bit boring and all in all, I'm loosing an interest in this series. Probably won't continue for a while.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still like it.
Goku transcends becoming the Super Sayan. Gets all badass.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

The series is getting pretty stupid, but just entertaining enough to keep me reading.

[Owen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought that there was a good twist to it but could have been better

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good i could not stop reading. I've read it like 20 times now and does not get old.

[Sammy Sigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book