Here are my impressions from "Dragon Ball" volume 1, a Manga by Akira Toriyama.

I know I really like a book when I catch myself unconsciously smiling while reading, and this book certainly made me grin.

Dragon Ball is a little hard to describe. To explain every detail would be reading too deeply the madcap humor of this first volume. It's closest American counterparts would probably be Sergio Aragones' Groo, where the heroes travel across a fantasy world encountering colorful characters and hijinks, and the indy book Liberty Meadows with its satirical sexual humor. Dragon Ball is definitely not for kids ; the target audience of this first book is probably for adolescents. But even as a thirtysomething I find this book really fun and charming. I want to read more about the naive yet powerful Goku, the flirtatious and manipulative Bulma, the lecherous talking pig Oolong.

Thanks to Victor for a great suggestion !  I certainly will pick up subsequent volumes as my budget allows (and large stacks of Dragon Ball is readily available in almost all bookshops where I am.)

I deviated slightly and picked up the set of DP 1-3 (my store was selling all three for $4, couldnt pass it up).  I'll post after I read them to see if I get hooked.  Hopefully someone out there gives Invinclible a try.  

Cool !

Hey Byrne board regulars, any of you not reading Doom Patrol currently? Why not jump in now and gain a reader for your favorite current book as well? You know, the book that goes on the top of your "to read" pile, but the fanboys love to hate.

As agreed I picked up and read Doom Patrol 1-3. Let me preface by saying JB’s run on Fantastic Four was my favorite book as a teenager. When I when to college and started working I stopped reading comics regularly for about 8 years until I saw a copy of Generations I at my brothers house and I got completely sucked back in. I have always enjoyed JB’s art and style of storytelling where the characters make sense out of what happend at the end of the story. Also, I have no agenda, I am just a fan and these are my thoughts on Doom Patrol.

I was excited when JB was going to do a run on JLA, but felt mislead when it turned out to be a pilot for Doom Patrol. I was casually familiar with Doom Patrol growing up, but had never read their comics. Issue 1&2 basically finished off the story from the JLA arc. I think the Negative Man has a solid origin and I like the mystery surrounding his powers. What I find disturbing is the origins of Robotman. The thought of a brain floating around and then being placed into a robot was disturbing. I would like to understand Steeles motivation, what keeps him going if he can only be a robot. For that matter I would like to understand the motivation for the Doom Patrol and Niles Caulder in the first place. I think what had made Spiderman so successfull is that you understood why he became Spiderman (power...responsibilty...) and why he therefore keeps on going through all the adversity thrown his way. I looks like issue 5&6 focus on the Robot so maybe some of my questions will be answered.

I thought Issue 3 was intriguing, although it reminded me of when Namor fought a raw sewage monster in the early 90's. I plan to keep on going for the time being.

Hi Ron! Yep, I will pick up Invincible. I looked for the latest issue at my LCS, but couldn't find it (sold out). I pledge to pick up the next issue that comes out. If I buy the first TPB, does that make us even? I know support of a regular issue is probably better...

I would encourage you to start with the first trade of Invincible.  The series will read much better if you start from the begining.  I bought the trade at the Chicago Wizard Con last year and to my suprise was instantly hooked.

Hey folks, we have a fellow fan on the Geoff Johns board who would like to do a swap. He has some problems trying to register on this forum, so I'll "sub" for him, for the time being. Mr "SilverAgeHawkman" would like us to consider the following:

She-Hulk

Spider-Girl

Wonder Woman

Hawkman

Oops! Mistook you for someone else, Brian M. !