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(VIDEO) Dragon Ball Z: The Best Arc in Shonen History
- Thread starter Sami+
- Start date
It's not so bad in the Manga and there's some cute artwork, I'm think Takeuchi did that chapter
NoctisVsStar
Member
NA would always rewind plenty of times and never have Goku vs Freeza.
- Bleach Soul Society arc
I finally made time to binge watch Rurouni Kenshin the other day. Shishio Arc was cool, but the other arcs you mention are a lot better imo
Honestly I'm always surprised by the love HxH gets, especially the Chimera Ant arc. I mean, it's a great manga and that's a great arc, but holy shit does it fucking drag. There were many points where I just wanted the thing to be done. I don't know if it's an anime thing since I experienced it there and not the manga, but jesus I had to force myself to finish the damn thing.
HxH is just so odd to me, it's so interesting and it's been around for so long yet basically nothing has fucking happened in it. Leorio is still basically garbage, Gon barely has like three attacks and has not come anywhere near actually mastering his nen. Killua is just there now dealing with his sibling. Kurapika has killed one guy from the spiders. It's amazing how important as a manga it is but how slow it moves, regardless of all of the hiatuses.
HxH is just so odd to me, it's so interesting and it's been around for so long yet basically nothing has fucking happened in it. Leorio is still basically garbage, Gon barely has like three attacks and has not come anywhere near actually mastering his nen. Killua is just there now dealing with his sibling. Kurapika has killed one guy from the spiders. It's amazing how important as a manga it is but how slow it moves, regardless of all of the hiatuses.
Everything in Rurouni Kenshin worked a lot better in the manga for me. RK is a really great shonen. I honestly need to reread my volumes.
Bleach was never good, but Soul Society stuff was decent. Same with the first 50 episodes of Inuyasha.
The slowness doesn't matter that much to me due to how strong the writing is, as well as how it loves to subvert stuff, like the Chimera Ant arc for example. It's kind of amusing knowing that there is no way in hell Gon and Killua are gonna outclass everyone by the time the manga ends.
I have no clue what the endpoint is, (Now that I think about it, only One Piece really made its goal clear from Day 1, while its contemporaries just end whenever they feel like it) but I'm enjoying the ride all the same I suppose.
Ah, can't say I'm surprised. But it's on Netflix and I prefer to watch stuff if possible, so yea.
NoctisVsStar
Member
The goat closing themes
https://youtu.be/KHcHWz4iEk0
https://youtu.be/Z7kXG5vKNRU
Bleach is like a 80's action van damme movie, great action that's all I need ��
Alex_Mexico
Member
Oh we also had plenty of "back to square one" moments as the series was being brought here by chunks and dubbed as they went. They weren't willing to dub 300 episodes without first making sure it was going to work!
All in all DBZ started broadcasting in Mexico around September of 1997 and finished with DBGT around mid-2000. That's counting reruns in between new episodes and what not.
OG DB I can't pinpoint when exactly because I was too young but it must've started around 1995 with reruns getting a lot of attention once DBZ started since many discovered the franchise within Z and then went back to DB1 afterwards.
I look back at Bleach so poorly that I almost forgot how hype that arc was. My god the moment Ichigo swags through with his bankai at Rukia's execution is PURE HYPE
Here in Brazil we got DB first, but it wasn't all that popular at first. Saint Seiya kinda stole its thunder early on, I guess. It wasn't until they skipped straight to Z that the series really exploded in popularity. Classic DB was later broadcasted in its entirety, but Z was definitely the one that made it possible. From most accounts, it seems like a lot of countries followed this same pattern. Cool to know Mexico actually got everything right from beginning to end, though.
A Pretty Panda
fuckin' called it, man
Doesn't say Cell so it's all good to me
NoctisVsStar
Member
Of course, it's still hype to this day. I think bleach should've ended when Ichigo kills Aizen.
No, if anything it proved that just having cool looking action was absolutely not enough.
Oh yea, he was weird.
Bankai he achieved in 3 days because why not, lol looking back that was so dumb
I still would consider it pretty average, but uh, people would definitely look back on the manga more fondly if it just stopped there. Instead, it just. kept. going. Also it managed to have a worse, more rushed ending than Naruto.
I'm not that old school. Water 7 is my favorite One Piece arc.
NoctisVsStar
Member
It's better to end on the high note, it would've been the perfect cut-off point. Yet, there's something about the series that I enjoy it's just dumb dbz-esque sword action.
Real talk, Soul Society was cool at the time and definitely cemented Bleach as a promising manga before Kubo immediately shit the bed, but if we're talking about best shonen arcs it doesn't even beat the Chuunin Exam. Naruto was always the better manga despite it also going to shit after its early peak. Come at me Bleach stans.
Bleach made fighting boring in a battle shonen. Pretty much the biggest crime you could commit. I don't know how I lasted through Hueco Mundo week to week . . . I didn't think a series could have too many fights till I read Bleach lol.
NoctisVsStar
Member
Supreme Kai, isn't weird, he's just the worst in a hillirious way. He ruins everything:
He kept Piccollo from playing in the tournament.
HE froze Gohan in place so he could get suckered, and held back everyone else from helping.
His asinine plan of "Hey, lets give Babidi way more energy than he actually needs because I haven't done my research and didn't realize these fight happy Saiyans can power up Buu to full in about 20 seconds and that freezing Gohan in place provides them like, half the energy they need."
It was HIS idea to say "go ahead and figt Vegerta while he's evil."
Also if you have a problem with Gohan getting removed from the plot with the dumb as fun but funny "training" with Old kai, you can balme him too since hus idea to use a legendary sword that he had no idea the real use of was due to HIM!
Really, he could have told Goku or went to Goku ahead of time or really anyone for that matter and went "yes, there's an a powerful fighter on this planet that I am searching for" and then Goku could have done a Ki scan, located Babidi or Dabura or any of the other guys on the ship, (Since Dabura was at LEAST above Frieza level power, he should have been easy to find)
instantaneously moved there, and 1HKOed the lot of them before they had any idea what was going on and before giving Buu any energy at all, then been back to the tournament in time to fight Vegeta.
If Supreme Kai had any idea what those guys were capable of from the start. Remmebr he had no clue the Saiyans were anywhere near as powerful as they actually were (Super 1 surprised them and Super 2 outright dumbfounded them)
NONE of the Buu arc would have went down the way it did.
Supreme Kai is the worst most useless character ever is hillrious, Yamacha has a drinking buddy.
He kept Piccollo from playing in the tournament.
HE froze Gohan in place so he could get suckered, and held back everyone else from helping.
His asinine plan of "Hey, lets give Babidi way more energy than he actually needs because I haven't done my research and didn't realize these fight happy Saiyans can power up Buu to full in about 20 seconds and that freezing Gohan in place provides them like, half the energy they need."
It was HIS idea to say "go ahead and figt Vegerta while he's evil."
Also if you have a problem with Gohan getting removed from the plot with the dumb as fun but funny "training" with Old kai, you can balme him too since hus idea to use a legendary sword that he had no idea the real use of was due to HIM!
Really, he could have told Goku or went to Goku ahead of time or really anyone for that matter and went "yes, there's an a powerful fighter on this planet that I am searching for" and then Goku could have done a Ki scan, located Babidi or Dabura or any of the other guys on the ship, (Since Dabura was at LEAST above Frieza level power, he should have been easy to find)
instantaneously moved there, and 1HKOed the lot of them before they had any idea what was going on and before giving Buu any energy at all, then been back to the tournament in time to fight Vegeta.
If Supreme Kai had any idea what those guys were capable of from the start. Remmebr he had no clue the Saiyans were anywhere near as powerful as they actually were (Super 1 surprised them and Super 2 outright dumbfounded them)
NONE of the Buu arc would have went down the way it did.
Supreme Kai is the worst most useless character ever is hillrious, Yamacha has a drinking buddy.
PixelatedBookake
Junior Member
Oh God I'll never see this fucking story get resolved. I love HxH and I hate to say it, but your completely right.
Tell me you don't see this picture & remember the HYPE tho:
Yo, the best tournament arc ever. You just couldn't wait for Yusuke and co. to finally kick their asses.
I watched all 300 episodes. Binged through it all. My friend said is it something I'd recommend, and I couldn't say yes. I didn't even hate Bleach at the time, but I just felt nothing after watching it all. Also Ichigo really needed some new attacks.
You knew it was boring when you start to nitpick the ridiculous powers that they had going on there. In a world where Nen, Devil Fruits, and Stands are things, but I can't help but nitpick the abilities from Bleach.
Subpar Spatula
Banned
Oh no exposition every where.
I forgot about that. So badass.
Does not compute
NoctisVsStar
Member
Currently watching inuyasha it's highly regarded from what i can tell so far I give it a 7.5. Idk how to put it.. it's enjoyable but I get ranma 1/2 vibes from it.
1 Great arc doesn't make it a great or even good series bro. And I just said it's an incredible that, that one arc is so above the rest of the series. It's quite the feat.
SenjutsuSage
Banned
That's indeed one of the best arcs in all of shonen. Just incredible.
I still haven't managed to finish it. I stopped a little after
Ichigo vs Grimmjow's rematch
Also, as far as Rurouni Kenshin is concerned, Tsuioku-hen is legit.
Thatonemoor
Member
But this is the best arc in shonen history
My brotha
m_shortpants
Member
Frieza and the whole Super Saiyan build up is definitely up there for the best of DBZ, if not the best. For me Cell saga takes the cake, just because I thought it had some interesting concepts and was a nice ribbon to close out the story of Goku.
Of course, we all know how that went.
Of course, we all know how that went.
A Pretty Panda
fuckin' called it, man
I would like to see this, do you have a link?
The DBZ manga pacing is fantastic. Night and day difference from the original anime adaptation.
That's a really great way to put it lol.
Before entering this thread i was afraid it was about the Android / Cell saga.
Sayan / Namek saga is top tier. We have the best technique / power up ( Kaio Ken and SSJ ) , the best fights ( Goku vs Vegeta and Goku vs Freezer ) , amazing characters like Zarbon , Dodoria and Ginew Squad. And , of course , one of the best villain of all time Lord Frieza.
Sayan / Namek saga is top tier. We have the best technique / power up ( Kaio Ken and SSJ ) , the best fights ( Goku vs Vegeta and Goku vs Freezer ) , amazing characters like Zarbon , Dodoria and Ginew Squad. And , of course , one of the best villain of all time Lord Frieza.
I finished Rurouni Kenshin, but I'll never bother to finish Inuyasha. Just don't care anymore.
Well really I bolded it more because you said it was better than anything in OP or Naruto. I mean hell, Enies Lobby basically did the whole "Rescue a friend" mission better imo. That said, the Aizen reveal was neat at the time before it got increasingly nonsensical. It was an arc that showed clear potential for the series, but I dunno, feel like I went back and re-read it, I'd even harsher towards it.
Better than any single arc yes, but as a whole no. Let's say Water 7 is an 8, I'd personally give SS a 9 but as a whole it's closer to a 4.
Yup, I sware Vegito, Kid Buu, his defeat and ending of the series all happens in the final volume...if I remebering correctly.
Subpar Spatula
Banned
Fyi, any arc with a bunch of time padding (static images with music in the background / panning of static images), repitition of dialogue, extensive repetitive fights that last 40+ minutes or 40% of a feature length movie, and a shitload of exposition are not good. DBZ falls for these traps so I'm actually confused where the quality really is other than it being part of nostalgia.
Heck, animation allows you to display information faster but all these arcs are so slow with little moving information that it's a slog.
Heck, animation allows you to display information faster but all these arcs are so slow with little moving information that it's a slog.
Its a Top tier arc, but not in the Top 3.
Water 7/Ennies Lobby (One Piece)
Chimera Ant arc (Hunter x Hunter
My Hero Academia also has a top tier arc, but I think it needs more time to settle and see if the anime also does it justice to actually name it one of the best.
My Hero? Which arc is that, spoiler if neccessary. I ask because goddamn it, I have no idea what to call the arcs in that series, it all feels so blended together in a way that past shounen series aren't.
What makes SS edge it for you?
Luffy vs Usopp might be my single favorite moment in the whole series. So much emotion.