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Dragon Ball [ドラゴンボール] #20

Dragon Ball Z, Vol. 4: Goku vs. Vegeta

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With the mighty Kaiô-ken amplifying his strength, Goku fights Vegeta in a desperate battle to save the world--only to find that the elite Saiyan warrior is even stronger than his new techniques! In desperation, Goku calls upon the Genki-dama, the "spirit ball," drawing power from the Earth, its people, plants, and animals. But alone, even Goku is not enough. The last worn-out survivors, Gohan, Kuririn, and Yajirobe, must rush back into the fray to beat the unbeatable Vegeta...as their enraged foe vows to not only wipe out the human race, but destroy the planet Earth itself!

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 1990

About the author

Akira Toriyama

2,027 books1,563 followers
Akira Toriyama is a widely known and acclaimed Japanese manga artist known mostly for his creation of Dragon Ball in 1984. It is difficult to pin point the source of Toriyama's artwork inspiration. He admires Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy and was impressed by Walt Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians, which he remembers for the great art. Jackie Chan's early movies had a noticeable influence on Toriyama's stories. (from Wikipedia)

Series:
* Dragon Ball
* Dragon Ball Z
* Dr. Slump

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5 stars
1,819 (61%)
4 stars
771 (25%)
3 stars
321 (10%)
2 stars
48 (1%)
1 star
14 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
Profile Image for Juho Pohjalainen.
Author 5 books344 followers
August 15, 2021
THE. Best. Dragon Ball fight.



In fact when I think about it, this, and the earlier battle against Raditz, stand completely unique in the entirety of the manga canon - in that they both involve a desperate struggle against a superior foe, where weaker characters team up and break bones and shed blood but ultimately triumph... without anyone getting an enormous power-up in between to help them win instantly. You'd think there were more like this, but I can't think of any other.

Back in Dragon Ball, either the fight was completely one-sided from start to finish and the outcome never in question (usually with Goku as the winner or Yamcha as the loser), or the combatants are mostly equal in strength and need to get clever and tenacious and you'll never know who might win; in Z, meanwhile, you get these super-powerful demigods against whom the heroes have not a prayer of winning, until someone goes Super Saiyan or reveals another power-up and completely trounces them. Raditz and Vegeta are the only ones fitting in the golden middle-ground: the grit, the tenacity, the desperation, getting back up one final time, and ultimately bringing in the win.

And all of a sudden every other fight in the series just feels a little bit more hollow. I've made myself sad.

I'm serious. If you can think of any others like this, anything I've missed, comment on it. Let me know. These can't be the only ones, yet it really feels like they are.
Profile Image for Ray.
Author 18 books407 followers
July 9, 2024
A great epic fight, as DBZ continues to up the ante.

What's interesting about this earlier story is Vegeta clearly outpowers Goku. He needed to be clever to outmaneuver him, and teamed up with others to win (even Gohan).

Weird how Vegeta gets redeemed after this, still for the time being what a villain he was...

It was also a good denouement to the alien Saiyan ape transformation thing, finally explaining it in what felt like a good conclusion planned since early Dragon Ball. Next, of course, comes the Super Saiyan era.

I do live the Frieza arc that comes next, but from then on its more about who has the higher power level in one-on-one fights of willpower. It's a different kind of story compared to when heroes found smart ways to defeat stronger bad guys.

Lastly, have to say that the manga reads so much faster compared to the famously slow anime. That can be good for impatient readers or a little disappointing for fans who watched it on TV first. Still, this was such an important volume for the history not only of Dragon Ball Z but for all Shonen genre!
Profile Image for Sam Quixote.
4,669 reviews13.2k followers
September 11, 2014
This entire book is Vegeta vs Son Goku, Son Gohan, Kuririn, and Yajirobe. It’s an incredible, epic, massive, completely over the top fight - and I loved it! It sounds like the worst kind of excess but it’s really not - it’s so much fun, really.

Goku unleashes wave after wave of kaio-ken before Vegeta transforms into the giant ape form we saw child Goku change into in the original Dragon Ball series. The entire book is them one-upping the other in each chapter. Goku does this super-amazing move and Vegeta will survive it with a wry grin on his face. Then Vegeta will try some deadly endgame move and Goku will survive it with a wry grin on his face. And so on.

To an outsider it must sound like the most tedious, repetitive drivel you’ll ever read and all I can say is, you have to read it to understand what I’m prattling on about. Somehow - in a book consumed with fighting and nothing else - the story holds your attention so you’re totally involved with it the whole time. You’re never thinking, oh, another world-ending move, eh? Let’s see how this’ll go down... You’re thinking HOLY CRAP ANOTHER WORLD-ENDING MOVE!? I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS WILL GO DOWN!! before wiping the froth from your mouth.

Gohan, Kuririn and Yajirobe all put in some great hits against Vegeta despite being massively outclassed while Goku barely makes it through the fight with his life. There’s added tension in the fact that once you’ve been resurrected by the Dragon Balls once, you can’t be resurrected again. Oh and also the Dragon Balls are gone! And those special beans Master Karin hands out to restore to health are gone too - thanks to Yajirobe!

The fourth book in the series is a completely first class martial arts comic. Dragon Ball Z - it’s something else, really. I can’t believe there are 22 more - and I can’t wait to read them!
Profile Image for Drew Canole.
2,521 reviews13 followers
April 9, 2023
An awesome show down between Goku and Vegeta. Epic stuff. Gohan, Kuririn, and Yajirobe step up to help as well against Goku's wishes.

A pretty simple beat-em-up volume. Really epic.
Profile Image for Lashaan Balasingam.
1,456 reviews4,619 followers
August 8, 2022
One of the most iconic moments in all manga/anime as Goku and Vegeta go up against each other in a raging battle filled with destruction and chaos. There's not a dull moment in this battle where both sides exceed their limits and rejoice in their opponent's persistence and power.

From Goku becoming one with his Saiyan blood and using his kaio-ken in more ways than one to Gohan, Kuririn, and Yajirobe trying to do their best to help despite their lives being at stake, this riveting volume is simply unforgiving and epic from cover to cover!
Profile Image for Ola G.
472 reviews44 followers
April 21, 2021
All stars!!!

Let me catch my breath... I never imagined I'd be glued to pages of a shonen manga. Just fights, right? But having read all Dragon Ball volumes and seen Goku and co. grow and change, I learned to see the fights as a manifestation of who they are and what they represent. Somehow, all the potential cheesiness is disarmed with humor. Plus, the fights are simply amazing! I still don't seem to get any kind of battle fatigue, even with all those surprise world-ending moves - it's a testament to Toriyama's skill as a manga-ka that he can keep the tension so consistently high through a fight that basically lasts for a whole volume.
16 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2018
gohan love of learning he wants to be a great schoolar
Profile Image for Adriana.
978 reviews85 followers
September 3, 2016
The battle between Goku and Vegeta rages on! I didn't realize how much stronger Vegeta is to everyone else. It's like he's invincible! The action has always been great in this series. It's one thing after another. I just want to see what happens next and how Vegeta will finally be defeated.
Profile Image for Caleb M..
559 reviews30 followers
August 30, 2019
Phew, I hardly had a chance to breathe going through that. There isn't a moment where you feel like you can stop and even at the end of this volume I probably wouldn't have stopped if I had the next volume lying right next to me.

Goku and friends move at like a million miles an hour through the book and reading it feels about the same. There's guy punches and moments where you catch yourself holding your breath and the whole thing is really just brilliant. I'm so glad I finally, FINALLY, decided to get into this. It's been a blast and I'm excited to read more.
Profile Image for Travis.
808 reviews6 followers
October 7, 2017
Goku and Vegeta's battle is a heated one. Both are Saiyan's and both have incredible power but Vegeta is nothing but fearsome. Goku pushes his body way past it's breaking point and it still isn't enought to take down Vegeta. Thankfully Gohan and Krillin arrive to give him some much needed assistance to bring Vegeta down. Even after all the fighting their still isn't a clear winner but with that we have reached the end of the Saiyan Arc.
Profile Image for Andrew.
743 reviews19 followers
April 27, 2021
Hell yeah, the main event. Yes, it's just a single 150 page fight scene, and yes, Toriyama sneaks in a few too many reversals to stretch things out longer than they need to be, but c'mon. This thing looks fantastic and the characters of Goku and Vegeta are such perfect archetypes. I probably would have been happy to read another 150 pages of these two punchin' and blastin' each other while shouting about who's the strongest.
Profile Image for Angie.
1,374 reviews20 followers
February 7, 2023
Vegeta is even more prideful and vain than Goku. A true Saiyen at heart. Must sting to have your ass kicked by a 5yo of all people. And Goku really has a knack for making decisions based on his hubris.
Profile Image for Marynes.
15 reviews1 follower
October 27, 2016
Goku is fighting Vegeta because he wants to wipe the human race and destroy earth. Goku has reach hi limit. Vegeta is powering and the earth start shaking and it feel like a hurricane. Vegeta is beating Goku. Goku is doing the kaio-ken times 3.Goku surpass Vegeta's power. Vegeta get mad for Goku hitting him and making him bleed and trows a energy blast that is going to destroy earth. Then Goku does a KAMEHAMEHA with is his energy blast. Goku body its really damage because he put to much pressure. Vegetal is going to transform into a giant ape, but Piccolo destroyed the moon because the saiyan transformed into a giant ape when the full moon is out and can't control it. Then vegetal creates a energy ball to replace a moon so he can transform into a giant ape and destroy the earth.
Gohan feels that his father is in trouble and goes to the fight scene. Vegeta transform into the giant ape. Goku can't beat him so he blinds him for some minutes so he can do the henki-dama which is energy from all living things oceans and trees. Goku was able to gather enough energy and throw it to the giant ape, but it did not damage him because he was to close. Vegeta broke every bone in Goku's body and then Gohan and Krillin came and made a plan that they were going to distract Vegeta and Yajirobe was going to cut vegetates tail so he becomes human again.Then Gohan transform into a giant ape and lands on top of Vegeta as human and beats him, but Vegeta did not died and was about to get to his capsule when Krillin was going to kill him, but Goku stop him and let him go.
The person that changed the most was Gohan because in the begging he was really scare. He was scare of fighting. In the middle of the book he feels that his father is in danger and decides to go to the fighting place and help his father. Even though he knows that he can't defeat Vegeta. In the end of the book he transforms into a giant ape and defeats Vegeta.
I like this book because Gohan defeats Vegeta. one thing I don't like this book is that Vegeta breaks every bone in Goku's body. I also don't like is that they cut Vegeta's tail. Something I also like about this book is that Goku is becoming more powerful and that he does not give up.
Profile Image for Index Purga.
715 reviews27 followers
April 2, 2020
Primera edición argentina, tomo 20 de 42: La súper batalla decisiva!!, con índice en pelotas pateadas por Gohan:
Capítulo 229 - La súper batalla decisiva!!
Capítulo 230 - El peligroso triple Kaioh Ken!
Capítulo 231 - Una batalla al borde del límite!
Capítulo 232 - "Luna"
Capítulo 233 - Podrá crear la genkidama?!
Capítulo 234 - Qué va a apsar?! La genkidama!!
Capítulo 235 - Son Goku al borde de la muerte!!
Capítulo 236 - Una leve resistencia
Capítulo 237 - Una vez más, la genkidama!!
Capítulo 238 - El destino de la genkidama!!
Capítulo 239 - Los guerreros moribundos
Capítulo 240 - La última apuesta!!
Gran colección de portadas XIX

Además, también se incluyen dos páginas de Presentación de personajes y Resumen y siete páginas de publicidades con lanzamientos de la época (abril 2011). Fue el primer tomo de varios que se imprimirían en España por motivos nunca aclarados del todo.
Profile Image for Subham.
2,955 reviews83 followers
February 21, 2021
This was actually a pretty fun read, focusing on Vegeta vs Goku and all that goes on there, their fight is just epic, starting with Kaio-Ken and Vegeta's flash attacks and then the battle takes another form when they amp their strengths, Oozaru forms and Genki-dama and still Vegeta hanging on and when it feels like he will lose, his friends come to the rescue and then the whole stuff with Krillin attacking and Gohan assisting him and then the way they take him down or attempt to because he won't go down easily is the best parts. Great moments for Yajirobe also! I loved this chapter and its the best thing about this manga tbh! The art and coloring was just flawless and flows so transiently and the stakes have never been higher!
Profile Image for Sharon Mariampillai.
2,216 reviews93 followers
December 2, 2016
Actual Rating: 4.25

This was a great read. This series is a fast-paced adventure. I am really enjoying it. In this volume, Goku and Vegeta's battle continues. Goku is starting to get weaken because Vegeta has more strength. I really like how the pace and action never ceases. When one thing ends, another thing occurs. I wamt Vegeta defeated because he becomes a better version later on. I just want to know how he is defeated and I hope he is defeated soon. Overall, a great fourth volume.
Profile Image for Joeymoreno.
1 review
January 31, 2018
This book is about fighting Goku vs vegeta.My family would And freids would read this book age 8-30 years old .I would recommend this book because is about fighting bad people that try to destroy the world. 🌎
Profile Image for Yoyomaus Die Büchereule.
2,154 reviews32 followers
November 30, 2020
Son-Goku und der Sayajin Vegeta befinden sich abseits der Zivilisation in einem erbitterten Kampf. Während Son-Goku seine Kräfte immer mehr mobilisieren muss, scheint der Prinz des fremden Planeten keine Mühe damit zu haben, seine Angriffe abzuwehren. Als Vegeta schließlich wegen Son-Goku in die Bredouille gerät, erschafft er einen künstlichen Mond und endlich begreift Son-Goku, warum man ihm seinen Affenschwanz einst abnahm und warum er sich nie an Vollmondnächte erinnern kann. Denn Vegeta verwandelt sich in einen Weraffen und ist somit zehnmal stärker als Son-Goku selbst. Wieder einmal scheinen die Chancen auf einen Sieg für die gute Seite rapide gesunken zu sein. Doch dann eilen Kuririn, Son Gohan und Yajirobi ihm zu Hilfe.

Was für ein bildgewaltiger und vor allem kampflastiger Teil des Mangaklassikers. Akira Toriyama hat sich wieder einmal selbst übertroffen und man fragt sich, wo die ganze Kämpferei und vor allem die Stärke der Krieger wohl noch hinführen soll. Es scheint bald wirklich keine Steigerung mehr zu geben, doch wer Toriyama kennt, der kann sich sicher sein, dass er wohl immer und immer wieder einen Trumpf nachlegen wird. Son-Goku scheint in dem Band stärker als je zuvor, doch immer wieder muss unser Held begreifen, dass Vegeta scheinbar stärker als er ist und vor nichts zurück schreckt. Dass seine Freunde Angst haben in den Kampf einzugreifen, ist verständlich. Trotzdem versuchen sie Son-Goku zu unterstützen und Vegeta hinters Licht zu führen. Und was soll man zu diesem Gegner sagen, als dass er ein elender Kotzbrocken ist. Trotzdem ist er in seinem Stolz und seinem Ideenreichtum wirklich ein sehr interessanter Charakter. Es bleibt abzuwarten, in wie fern der Charakter auch im nächsten Band auftauchen wird. Doch ich denke, dass die Geschichte mit ihm als Gegner noch lange nicht abgeschlossen ist. Was mich an diesem Band sehr begeistert hat, ist die Erkenntnis von Son-Goku, warum der Mond so gefährlich ist und warum er sich nie an einen der Vollmonde erinnern kann. Hierbei greift Toriyama auch wieder auf seinen Großvater als Charakter zu, was ich persönlich sehr schön finde.

Für diesen Band spreche ich wieder meine absolute Leseempfehlung aus, wenn ihr sowieso Fans der Reihe seid. Solltet ihr nicht sehr viel Spaß an ausgiebigen Kampfszenen und eher wenigen Dialogen haben, so solltet ihr in diesem Falle die Finger davon lassen


Taschenbuch: 192 Seiten
Verlag: Carlsen (15. Februar 2001)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3551735603
ISBN-13: 978-3551735607
Vom Hersteller empfohlenes Alter: 10 - 12 Jahre
Größe und/oder Gewicht: 11,6 x 1,5 x 17,9 cm
Profile Image for Chelsea.
1,918 reviews58 followers
November 27, 2018
Volume 4 concludes the Saiyan arc! What took the anime 40 episodes to complete was wrapped in just 4 books! This cover makes me sad as Piccolo is dead by this volume...but beside the point. The meat of this volume is the Vegeta/Goku showdown...round 1, of course as we know these two remain rivals the course of the series. Despite Goku's training, Vegeta lived a life as a warrior and the soft-hearted Goku isn't a match for him. Vegeta creates a false moon and reveals the secret power of Saiyans and their tails and giving some exposition on how their transformation works. The giant ape breaks Goku's entire body leaving our main character a crumpled heap in the desert. That is until Gohan shows up and also transforms in the stupidest twist (his tail pops back last minute in order to save the day...). It was neat to see Vegeta crushed by a giant ape although the random Yajirobi still was irritating. Vegeta only refers to himself as an Elite Saiyan and not yet a prince, but Gohan gave him a bit of a fight while Goku tried out the Kaio-Ken move. It was an exciting wrap-up to the opening of the series.
36 reviews
September 14, 2022
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry guys, I- I just wasn’t feeling this one. I don’t know what to say, I don’t why, but this fight did not do it for me as much as it should’ve. It was good. It was good. But I just- Eh, I dunno. The tactics weren’t crazy enough. Whatever happened to “I went behind you going behind me going behind your back”? This felt more like characters pulling out signature moves for like twelve chapters and then Vegeta loses. Personally, I think there’s an over reliance on “whoa, that was his most powerfullest move!” stuff compared to, like, tactics and trading blows.
Goku goes from Kaioken to Kaioken times three in like one book. I dunno, it just isn’t as interesting.
I know that’s all just rambling, but it’s how I feel. Still, though, this is a fight in Dragon Ball- It’s basically a given that it slaps. Just not as hard as Teinshinhan or the Piccolo fights.
Good volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Agung Wicaksono.
941 reviews16 followers
August 28, 2023
Goku dan Vegeta mulai menyerang satu sama lain. Goku sudah mengerahkan semua tenaganya tetapi Vegeta masih kuat menahan. Bahkan. ketika Vegeta ingin berubah menjadi kera raksasa, ia bingung karena di Bumi tidak ada Bulan--sebab sudah dimusnahkan oleh Piccolo. Lantas, Vegeta pun mengeluarkan jurus rahasianya, yaitu mengeluarkan Bulan sendiri sehingga ia bisa segera berubah.

Krilin dan Gohan yang sedang menjauh dari pertarungan, tiba-tiba heran karena ada cahaya terang muncul. Perasaan Gohan jadi tidak enak sehingga ia kembali menghampiri Goku yang sedang kelelahan dan tenaganya hampir habis. Di sisi lain, Vegeta berhasil berubah menjadi kera besar. Dari kejadian itu, Gohan mencoba membantu Goku untuk mengalahkan Vegeta.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Stephen.
667 reviews3 followers
March 23, 2024
Goku's amazing battle with Vegeta comes to an amazing conclusion! Along the way so much happens to end this battle....in what will go down as a start to finish book of fighting to the 10th degree! One of the coolest moments happens on page 104 and I think it is worth watching it animated as well as reading it...to me, it's just such a moment that one who has read and watched all of Dragon Ball can simply smile from ear to ear enjoying! The art and story are awesome, and the pages are flying by. This reminds me of Cerebus the comic book series....each issue might not be as enjoyable but get a bunch of the pages together and you got yourself a real party! Great stuff by the master Akira Toriyama!
Profile Image for G-E.
1,102 reviews12 followers
October 22, 2018
Sangoku a trouvé un adversaire de taille en Végéta. Il doit pousser son corps au maximum, afin de faire opposition. Végéta doit créer une lune et se transformer en énorme singe afin de battre Goku. Krilin et Gohan arrive alors que Goku est sur le point de mourir. Yajirobé, qui était caché depuis le début du combat, profite d’un instant d’inattention pour couper la queue de Végéta et lui rendre son apparence. Gohan et Krilin unisse leur force pour pousser Végéta au maximum, alors que Goku ne peut plus bouger. Gohan regarde à son tour la lune et se transforme en singe géant. Sous son poids, il écrase leur ennemi qui doit fuir en appelant sa capsule.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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