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Neko Majin Z Review
-May 29th, 2001-
Every now and then I've been occasionally asked "is Akira Toriyama dead?". It would make sense, considering just about every good writer these days has bit the big one right when it seems the fanbase for the person's work has reached it's peek(not in every case, but it's happened). But fortunately, Mr.Toriyama is not. He's very much alive, continuing his work to this day. Currently working on another continuing manga(which I can never remember the name of), he recently created a well-advertised, one-shot manga called Neko Majin Z, a spoof of Dragonball. Yes, a spoof. Here's the complete lowdown on the story.
We begin with an explaination of the "Neko" race, feline people with the ability to use magic(although pitiful), and martial arts, which they excel at. We are then told that the story revolves around one of these, one in particular named Z(wouldn't know why...). A scene then begins with a boy sitting on a hill with a spear, playing something that resembles a gameboy. Then our hero, Z, comes chugging in(litterally). He and the boy exchange greetings, and Z explains that he is pretending to be a train. By himself. He then offers for them both to drink some cola, then orders the boy to go buy some since he doesn't have any. Suddenly, an "odd looking plane"(which says "just marriage", on the back) flies in nearby and lands.
 Two newleweds in Saiyajin armor and clothing, an obese man and a young lady, step out and begin talking to each other about how they're going to use earth as a vacation home, and how they'll enslave & kill everyone on the planet without damaging the earth itself. The boy and Z think the two are tourists, and since the two have no money to buy cola, think it's time to cash in on them. Z quickly puts on a suit that is supposed to resemble a Koala and the two run up to the couple. They begin trying to convince the two that they should get their pictures taken with the "koola", because Koalas are rare in the area and pictures work great for showing off(aliens have no concept of taking photos, y'know). The couple finally agree that they probably should, then our told by the boy that it'll be $16. Since they don't have money, the fat man(named Lord Onio, as we come to find out) offers the two a ruby paperweight. The two reluctantly accept, not knowing that ruby has some very significant value. The boy then begins setting up the photo, telling the lady("Don't call me a woman! I'm still young, call me a lady!") to stand a certain way with the "Koala" in her arms. The Koala/Z then gropes one of the lady's breasts as the boy snaps the picture. Lord Onio sees this, and obviously doesn't like it. He yells at Z, explaining that he's the strongest fighter in the universe. Z then assumes the two will have to fight, so he changes back into his gi(which is almost idenical to Goku's regular gi, except the symbols on the front and back are different) and gets ready to battle. He explains that for the strongest fighter in the universe, he sure doesn't look it. Exchanging insults about how one another aren't listening, Onio finds out that Z tried to trick them with the Koala scam and gets ticked. Lord Onio then fires a large ki blast at Z, causing a huge explosion. Onio then hugs his wife and apologizing for the groping of her breast. Then Lord Onio notices the boy has shown no sign of remorse for his apparently dead friend. He questions him, and finds out that the boy doesn't think Z would die that easily. Suddenly, Z flies out of nowhere and punches Onio out of nowhere, sending him flying. Z then boasts that he'll become a super-something as well, as Onio tries to explain that he's a "Super Saiyajin", and only a select few Saiyajins can reach that level, not Z. Z then begins powering up as a small ki ring forms around him. Onio eyes Z, wondering if he really is a Super Saiyajin or not, as Z acclaims himself to be the "Super Majin Z"! The two begin battling, and in the end Z wins it with a patended "Neko Hame Ha". Lord Onio falls to the ground, buttocks exposed through his burnt uniform, and the couple take off as fast as possible in their space ship. So our hero, Z, saves the planet without knowing it. The end.
I thought it was ok. The length seemed to be NMZ's major problem, but everything else seemed pretty good. For a spoof, it's not exactly "laugh out loud" funny... but the jokes are good. And anyway, who better to make a spoof of Dragonball than Akira himself? If I could spoof myself that good, I would. Out of a possible 10, NMZ gets a 9. As for the one-shot manga comment I made.... I don't know for sure. It sure seems like it, but you never know. Mr.Toriyama is a wacky guy. It might continue. One can only hope.
You can download Neko Majin Z at Toriyama World.
-Grand Master Dragon
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