Dragon Ball volume 1 summary.
New Characters: -- These are in the first character guide listing.
Bulma -- I prefer the katakana spelling, Buruma. She claims to be 16
in this volume. However, Gokuu says that he's 14, and later
we find out that Gokuu can't count. Ie, this may not be a
dependable age for her.
Fighting styles:
Other notes:
Story:
A long time ago, some distance a way, in the mountains, this story
begins...
A little boy is breaking up wood for a fire. He prays in front of a
ball, and tells his grandfather that he's going out. He wants something
to eat. Elsewhere, a girl stands beside her car, and uses a watch to
determine that she has to go west. There's no bear to eat, and it's
been a long time since the boy had fish. He uses his tail as bait, and
catches a huge fish. He's happy, and gets out on the road. The girl
almost hits him with her car, and she yells at him. The boy thinks it's
a monster, and tosses the car aside. They fight, she shoots him with a
pistol, but he doesn't die. She says that she's human, and he stops
attacking. But, she doesn't look like him (therefore, can't be human.)
She answers that he's a boy, and she's a woman. He doesn't know what
that means, not having seen anyone else in a long time. He looks for
her tail, and she laughs at this child who's wearing a tail accessory.
She explains that the thing is not a monster, it's a car. They both
travel west (he still has his fish.) She thinks he's strong, but
strange. He gets home, and tells the ball (grandfather) that he's
brought a woman here. She rushes forward to grab the "Dragon Ball," and
the boy insists that it's his grandfather. So, she pulls out another
one -- which makes it two grandfathers. The girl (she has her name --
Bulma -- on her shirt,) explains that there are 7 Dragon Balls. When
they are brought together, a giant dragon named "Shenlon" will appear
and grant one wish. But, you can only do this once a year. (Also, it
wasn't a watch, it was a Dragon Radar she was using to track down the
Balls.) The boy's is the #4 Ball, and it had taken her 10 days to find
the #5 Ball. The boy is impressed.
Buruma also knows what she's going to wish for -- a great boyfriend.
She tries to take the #4 Ball, but the boy refuses. So, she shows him
her panties as a bribe, but it doesn't work. Instead, she offers to let
him come with her to find the other Balls. They argue over this, and
she secretly plans on using the boy as her bodyguard, then sneaking in
her wish first. They set out, and Buruma shows that the Radar can tell
them where to go to find the next Ball. It's west, 1200 km away. She
complains about having her car destroyed, and asks the boy's name. He
answers "I'm called Gokuu, Son Gokuu. You are?" She says "Buruma."
He laughs at the funny name. She fumes, and pulls the #9 capsule from
her case. She tosses it, pushing the boy backwards. There's an
explosion, and the capsule becomes a motorcycle. He thinks she's a
witch, and Buruma explains that it's just the product inside her "hoipoi
capsule." (Hoi is the sound you make when you throw something, and poi
is the sound things make when you throw them.) He makes sure that it's
not a monster, and she tells him to get on in back. He likes the ride.
20 minutes later, Buruma takes a hill a little fast, and then
realizes that she needs to relieve herself. Gokuu asks where she's
going, and doesn't understand her answer. There's a scream, and he
expects to see a snake. Instead, there's a violent flying dinosaur that
ties him up and flies off to have Buruma for supper (long time since
it's had human meat.) Buruma yells at the boy to save her. He frees
himself using his tail, and tries to figure out how to follow the flying
thing -- and gets an idea. By turning the one handle, the motorcycle
makes noises. So, he's ready to go. He takes one hill too fast, but
doesn't quite get the height he needed to catch the dinosaur. Swearing,
he tells his bo to expand. He kills the dinosaur, and saves Buruma.
This is how the two of them met.
Gokuu and Buruma have set out to find the 7 Dragon Balls which will
grant them one wish...
The two banter a bit about having to travel around to find the other
Balls. But it's getting late, so they pick a spot to camp. Buruma
doesn't want to sleep under the stars, so she picks out a capsule.
Gokuu can't believe that it has a house inside, but he knows better now,
and runs away to avoid the noise that capsule makes when it explodes.
[Note: At this time, it's apparently called the Hoipoi Capsule
Corporation. Later, it's shortened down to just Capsule Corp.]
Gokuu accuses Buruma of being a witch, which she just shrugs off.
The house is big inside, too. Gokuu thinks that there's a man inside
the TV. Buruma gets a whiff of the boy, and decides that he needs a
bath. (A "bath"? What's that?) He gets a towel, but doesn't know that
he's supposed to hold in front of himself. They banter some more, and
then Buruma discovers that Gokuu's tail is not an accessory after all.
Gokuu figures that only men get to have tails, since Buruma is a woman,
and she doesn't have one. Buruma thought that men only had those in
front of them. But then, Gokuu's dead grandfather was male, and he
didn't have a tail either.
Buruma takes her bath, and then panics when she sees Gokuu watching
her. He asks what the things are on her chest, and she replies that
women have breasts. It's only ok for kids under 10 to see them. She
asks Gokuu for his age, and he replies 14. Which now makes him a
pervert. She threatens him with the police, but he's hungry and wants
to eat. However, he doesn't like her choice of food (bread and coffee,)
and goes out to eat. A while later, he brings back a caterpillar and a
dead coyote. Buruma doesn't want to share the food, so he has to eat
alone, outside. Then it's time to sleep, but she wants him to brush his
teeth first. He likes the bouncy bed, and wants to sleep with her on
it, but she doesn't like that idea (he's 14, after all.) His
grandfather slept with him, but she still doesn't go for that idea.
They talk a bit about growing up in the mountains, and in the city, and
Gokuu falls asleep in the middle of it.
In the morning, Gokuu wakes up first, and decides that it's been a
long time since he's slept on "grandfather's golden pillow" (ie --
between the old man's legs.) But, her crotch feels funny, so he removes
her panties, and shouts out in shock -- "No balls!!" Buruma wakes up,
but the Dragon Balls are still there. She yells at him for surprising
her like that.
Gokuu is complaining about how long Buruma is taking to get ready,
and she tells him to shut up. She's having coffee for breakfast, but he
turns that down in favor of going out and breaking up rocks as a
pick-me-up. However, one of the rocks turns out to be a big turtle.
It's surprised. Buruma wants to know what the fuss is about, and the
turtle asks for some water. Then, they discover that it's been trying
to find the sea for the last year. Looking at a map, the sea turns out
to be 120 km away. Gokuu offers to take the turtle there, and Buruma
objects. It'd take too long (30 days on foot,) she has to put on her
face first, etc. Gokuu steps off alone, until Buruma panics at being
left by herself with all of the creatures in the area.
Soon, they run into a large punk bear that demands to be given the
turtle. Buruma is willing, but Gokuu isn't. The bear threatens them,
wanting to eat the turtle, and then it's fighting time. Gokuu uses
Janken (scissors/paper) to drop the bear with "stone." The boy adds
"peace" to his victory sign, and says that he wants to keep going.
However, he also asks the turtle if it really is delicious, and the
turtle denies it emphatically.
They get to the ocean, and Toriyama has drawn himself as a robot,
hanging on a tree. The turtle and Gokuu are both astonished at seeing
the ocean, and Buruma isn't impressed. The turtle thanks them, and
swims off. Gokuu decides that he doesn't like drinking sea water.
Then, the turtle returns, with something on its back. The old man says
"good afternoon," in English, and comments on them saving his friend.
He then introduces himself as Kamesennin (turtle master.) Buruma
repeats this name, the turtle points out the one that had saved him, and
the old man gives the boy a present. He calls out for the Phoenix
(written as "undying bird") but it doesn't show up. The turtle tells
him that the phoenix has died, so the guy tries again with Kintoen. A
flying cloud shows up and the boy asks if it's something to eat.
Instead, it's something to ride. Buruma wants to know how a turtle
master would have a cloud to give away, and he brushes it off. He can't
ride the cloud, but the boy can. (Kamesennin didn't think that that was
really possible.)
Gokuu likes his present, and Buruma asks for something too. But, the
turtle states that she hadn't helped him out at all. So, the old man
will only give away something if she'll show him her panties. There's
some arguing over this, but Buruma goes for it. The old man finally
gets to see some muff, and then has to think of something to give her
(some briefs, perhaps.) Buruma sees something that she wants to look at
closer, and he says "my briefs?" No, it's the Dragon Ball he's wearing
on his neck. He'd found it in the sea about 100 years ago. She shows
the #3 Ball to Gokuu, and the old man wants to know what a Dragon Ball
is. This is the one that the radar had said was out west. The old
pervert wants another look at her panties, since they like the Ball so
much, and Buruma happily agrees. The old man wishes he had a camera,
then he wishes them well and rides off with the turtle.
They return to the house, planning on getting the fifth Ball. Then
Buruma discovers that she's not WEARING any panties. She realizes what
the old man had been seeing, and Gokuu explains what had happened.
Buruma inflicts some pain on him with a machine gun. She also wants to
ride Kintoen, but the boy says that it's HIS present. She tries anyway,
and fails. She wants to know why, whether it's punishment for being
pretty. As they ride off, she complains about the cloud being faster
than her bike.
Three days later, they come to a village that should have the fifth
Ball, but the place is deserted. They look around, trying to figure out
what's happening, and the radar shows that the Ball is indeed here. An
old man tries to protect his home, angering Gokuu by hitting him in the
head with an axe. The man apologizes to "Oolong-sama," and offers money
and food to keep Oolong from taking his only daughter. Buruma repeats
"Oolong?"
People realize that the boy is not Oolong, and there's more
apologizing. Gokuu gets punished for checking if the daughter is a woman
(by patting her crotch.) The villagers tell them about this frightening
demon, Oolong, who'd shown up yesterday demanding some women. The big
pervert would eat everyone if his demand was not met. Gokuu asks for a
description, and is told that the monster is huge and powerful. Buruma
asks if anyone has seen something like this Ball, and one old woman says
that she found one like it. Her own ancestor had found it long ago --
it's the #6 Ball. Buruma offers to have Gokuu fight Oolong in trade for
the Ball (Gokuu pleases the old woman by patting to check if she's
female -- he decides that she is.)
The next problem is getting Gokuu to Oolong, which Buruma handles by
dressing the boy up in the daughter's clothes. (He's not happy about
this.) Then, Oolong shows up for his date. Buruma tells everyone to
hide, and Gokuu to pretend to do his job. The demon is confused by the
girl's behavior (Gokuu keeps talking like a boy,) and it assumes that
she doen't like his form. It shouts out "change," and becomes a
handsome man. (Gokuu doesn't like being propositioned. Then Buruma
steps out, greeting the hunk, saying that she's 16. Oolong asks for her
bust size -- 85 cm. The demon fantasizes about putting his face between
the 85 cm breasts of a 16-year-old girl. Then, Oolong freaks at seeing
Gokuu relieve "herself" beside a tree. The demon hates seeing men's
"things" and accuses the "girl" of not being the girl he'd seen the day
before. (Gokuu doesn't want to be patted for proof that he's a boy.)
Oolong changes to a bull, which Buruma isn't as taken by, and she runs
to hide. People panic (the old man thinks about giving the girl away to
appease the demon,) and Buruma expects Gokuu to sort things out to save
all the girls here. Oolong looks forward to a quick battle. They
square off, and the bull keeps blithering on about how the only way out
is death. However, with one look at the clock, the bull panics and runs
away. Behind a fence, it changes into a pig (which is Oolong's real
form) wearing a communist Chinese outfit. Gokuu asks the pig where the
bull went, and runs off to follow the pig's directions.
[NOTE: The box describes Oolong's power: He can only remain in
changed form for 5 minutes. After that, he has to return to his normal
shape and rest for 1 minute before changing again.]
People wonder what happened, Gokuu returns, having failed to find the
bull. One minute has passed, and the pig desperately wants his woman.
So, he becomes a "strong" war robot and threatens the hero. However,
the hot water in the bowl burns his thumb, and things get out of hand.
There's more bantering, and Gokuu has to prove his strength by breaking
3 bricks with just one finger. Oolong panics, and turns into a vampire
bat to fly away. Buruma yells at the hero to capture Oolong to make the
girls safe. He calls for Kintoen, and the villagers wonder if things
will be alright. Oolong is pissed at having to leave the village, then
alarmed at seeing that he's being pursued. He becomes a bomb, and
almost gets away before the 5 minutes runs out. Gokuu asks if the pig
is really Oolong, and pig asks who the hell this boy is. Back in town,
people are amazed to see Oolong's real form, and they insult him for their
troubles. He apologizes, and secretly curses to himself. The old woman
gives Buruma the Ball. He takes them to his estate, where he had taken
all of his other victims. The parents run inside, only to find that
their daughters aren't interested in leaving. Oolong complains that he
needed to get more girls to cover for the expenses of their luxurious
lifestyle (apparently, for the ransoms.)
The group is after the last two Balls, and Gokuu asks why Oolong was
brought along. Buruma answers that the pig may be useful, to which
Oolong says that he doesn't want to travel with them. However, the
possibility that Buruma may strip down because today is so warm, causes
the pig to consider taking a short vacation after all. Gokuu checks to
see if Oolong is male. (Which should be obvious, because he likes girls
so much.)
They go upstream for 3 days, and the two guys get bored. Buruma
tells them that the next Ball is probably on Mount Frypan. This
panics Oolong, who tells them that this is the place of the great Gyuu
Maou (Cow Wizard.) Oolong changes into a fish to escape, and Gokuu is
going to give chase, but Buruma knows of a better way of catching the
little pervert. She uses her still-warm panties. Oolong curses. Gokuu
states that if Oolong tries to escape again, he'll eat the guy. Buruma
gives the pig a plum-drop in place of the panties, and Gokuu wants one
too. However, she doesn't think Gokuu deserves one, and the pig claims
that it's just because he's more of the type that women like. They run
out of gas, and Oolong has to change into an oar.
Eventually, they land, and Oolong wants a pair of panties for his
own. Buruma protests, then discovers that she doesn't have her capsule
case. It must have happened when Oolong turned into a fish. Gokuu
doesn't understand her crying -- she lost her house, car, and bike. He
thinks that things are ok, but Buruma says that's because he has
Kintoen. Gokuu suggests that Oolong change into a bike, and she likes
that idea. However, Oolong has escaped. There's no way he's going to
the mountain without getting a pair of panties in return. Gokuu can't
find him, but Buruma knows of another dirty trick -- she calls out 'pee
pee pee." This is a way of making pigs go to the toilet; turns out that
the plum-drop was a prune-drop, hence the effect of the "pee pee" call.
(The effect works for one month.) If he doesn't return, she'll use the
trick again. He comes back, apologizing for trying to escape.
Oolong bitches about this, and Gokuu thinks it's great fun calling
out "pee pee." Buruma tells the pig to change into a bike, but gets a
scooter. Which can't hold her weight. He tells her about the 5 minute
time limit, and since she wants him to turn into something to ride, he
becomes a pair of panties. Instead, they walk.
Gokuu is disgusted with Oolong and Buruma (she's about to die.) It's
a long way to Frypan, and the two give up where they stand. Buruma
wants to find a hotel or ryoukan. Since neither place exists here, she
throws a tantrum, and falls asleep. Oolong's also going to nap, and Gokuu
is hungry. Some distance away, a cat spots them, and tells his friend
that there's a duck out there. Yamcha chuckles -- it's been a while
since they've had wild game. He checks their prey -- just the boy and
the pig. They probably don't have money, but might have capules.
Yamcha tells Pool to get the jet scooter. Oolong is getting hungry, and
Gokuu is about to search for food, pausing to ask if roast pork is ok.
Then, the bad guys, Yamcha and Pool arrive to fight.
The human introduces himself as the hyena Yamcha, and the cat calls
himself Pool. They'll let the boy and pig live in exchange for money or
capsules. Oolong says, "Hey, you're the crybaby Pool!?" They'd studied
together at the shapechanging school, where Oolong had stolen the
teacher's panties. They insult each other, and Yamcha demands the
money, quickly. The pig makes sure that Gokuu really is strong, then
says that Yamcha will have to fight for the money. The man promises to
send them to heaven. Gokuu doesn't understand why he has to fight (he
hasn't learned about the value of money, yet.)
Gokuu tells his bo to expand, getting in a good hit. The two
animals root for their humans, and Yamcha asks where the boy got the bo
from, (my grandfather) and asks for the guy's name (Son Gohan.) Turns
out that Yamcha and Oolong both heard about this famous old dead guy who
was really good at hand-to-hand fighting. It's been a long time since
Yamcha has had a good fight, and he attacks with Rougafuufuu-ken.
Oolong is impressed, Pool calls out his friend's name, and Gokuu is
pounded around (he's weak from hunger.) Oolong is about to get beaten
up, when he decides to change into a fly to escape. Pool is told to
stop the fly. Now, Yamcha demands payment, and gets an M-size capsule,
which is apparently worth lots of money.
Complaining of hunger, Gokuu gets up and prepares for revenge.
Yamcha is surprised that the boy is still alive, and plans on using
Ryoufuufuu again. Gokuu does well with janken, but succumbs to his lack
of food, as Buruma wakes up, complaining about the noise. Yamcha
freezes at the sight of a woman, and has Pool help him escape for the
moment (they lost the capsule, too.) Buruma wants to know who the
hunk was. Back at the hideout, Yamcha is brooding over the hateful
presence of a woman.
The group is inside the camper that Oolong had in capsule form.
Buruma is bitching about it not having been used before. She asks for
the bathroom, Oolong points it out, then complains about how much Gokuu
is eating. Buruma notices the shower and western-style toilet, and
tells the pig to not spy on her. He has his own plans, then has to get
pajamas for her.
At the hideout, Yamcha is plotting to get the capsule back. But,
there's the woman to contend with -- Yamcha has a plan for that. If
Pool turns into the pig and lures the woman out, Yamcha can sneak in and
get the capsule. Inside the camper, Oolong asks what this trip is all
about, and gets told about the Dragon Balls. Outside, Yamcha realizes
that the capsule was a "house wagon." They get closer, and he hears the
woman's voice. Pool assumes that the other two are asleep. When Yamcha
sees Buruma naked, taking a shower, his brain freezes, and Pool asks
what's wrong. Buruma heard something, and Yamcha says that this is a
bad dream. Then, they overhear the brat and the pig talking about
having 5 of the Balls, (the 6th is at Frypan) and when all seven are
together, you get any one wish you like. Yamcha takes Pool off to the
side where they can rant about what they heard. If he can make a wish,
he'll ask for a woman. Pool asks about the piles of money and stuff,
and Yamcha thinks those are great too, but he'd rather get married.
Pool doesn't understand.
Oolong is getting bored, and Gokuu starts describing the dragon
that's supposed to appear with the Balls. But, Oolong would rather see
a woman. The boy states that if you see the dragon, you can wish for a
woman. The pig likes that idea, but Gokuu doesn't understand WHY you'd
want a woman. He's describing Buruma when she shows up (no balls or
penis.) She's upset because Oolong gave her his pajamas, and just has
to settle for sleeping in her clothes. Then, Oolong gives them
after-shower juice to relax. He makes sure that Gokuu drinks too (the
boy doesn't like the stuff.) Buruma gets directions to the bed, and
makes sure that both guys know that they're supposed to sleep
downstairs. The drugged juice takes effect, and the pig gets ready to
go after the woman. Outside, Pool tells Yamcha where the others are,
and then turns into a key to open the cab door. The guy rushes in,
ready to attack Gokuu, but the boy is out cold. Pool states that the pig
is also upstairs. So, the cat is to turn into the boy, and lure the woman
outside. Yamcha tells Pool that he looks perfect.
Upstairs, Oolong hears something as he's about to get under the
sheets. He panics at seeing Gokuu (obviously, the drug didn't work) and
he hides Buruma before changing into a very ugly copy of her (Pool
can't tell the difference.) "Gokuu" asks about Oolong, who's apparently
gone out for a stroll. "Gokuu" asks "Buruma" to go outside, and they do
that, with "Gokuu" commenting on Oolong having gone for his stroll.
This gives Yamcha time to search for the Dragon Balls, which are
probably on the second floor with the woman's stuff. Outside, "Buruma"
is wondering where they're going, and is cursing at this distraction.
The bed looks lumpy, so the Balls must be there. Yamcha rips off the
covers. Oolong gets impatient and demands to know what's going on.
Pool changes and apologizes, and Oolong recognizes him and changes as
well. But, if this is Oolong, that means... Pool rushes to save his
friend. The man is busy counting breasts in his mind.
In the morning, Oolong is testy, not having gotten any sleep while he
was standing guard against Yamcha. Buruma's head is pounding, and she
wants her clothes back. Gokuu points out that pig had been watching for
the bad guy from yesterday, which cheers the girl up. Gokuu is hungry
and eats the rest of one month's worth of food. Oolong told Buruma
where to look for clean clothes, and she's upset at having to wear a
playboy bunny outfit. She complains about perverts, and declares that
the pig is coming with them to Mount Frypan. They drive off while
Buruma is busy making up her face, just in case.
Yamcha and Pool follow in the Mighty Mouse (an old bugatti) to get
the Balls. Oolong sees the villians, and Yamcha's about to fire the
bazooka (he calls it the Puncher Fist) when Buruma runs to get a look at
the guy. The camper is hit and falls on its side. (Somehow) Pool knows
that Buruma has been knocked out. Gokuu is mad, and Yamcha demands the
Balls. Oolong wants to know how they learned about that, and Gokuu acts
defiant (scaring Oolong.) Yamcha and Gokuu rush forward, taunting each
other. Then they fight. Yamcha loses a tooth, which screws up his
face, and he runs away. Gokuu is confused, but Oolong praises him a
lot. However, they don't have transportation anymore. Some distance
away, Yamcha curses the brat, and decides that he'll let the others find
the Balls, and then take them away at the last moment.
Oolong offers to carry the still-unconscious Buruma. Then, Yamcha
pulls up in his car, apologizes for the mistake, and gives them a
capsule in return. It's a car. Yamcha leaves, and Oolong checks the
car for bombs and traps. Then, the heros head for Frypan, with Yamcha
following them on radar.
Two days later, the group is still trying to find the mountain. It's
hot, and tempers are short. They find it, but the entire mountain is on
fire. Oolong won't go any further, because Gyuu-maou lives there. He
has to explain that Gyuu-maou is a terrible creature that kills everyone
that gets to close to his home. On top of the mountain is the
Gyuu-maou's castle, and the Dragon Ball. They argue a bit, and Oolong
tries to escape in the car. Buruma calls out "Pee pee pee" again,
forcing the pig to take a dump in the bushes. Oolong decides to stick
around, after all.
Yamcha halts a ways back, and realizes that the 6th Ball must be in
Gyuu-maou's castle. Pool tries to warn him of the danger. Yamcha is
trying to figure out what to do (he knows about some connection between
Gyuu-maou and Kamesennin,) when a girl runs up, chased by a dinosaur.
She keeps screaming as she reduces the monster to charred flesh with her
helmet-mounted beam weapon. She's still scared, and Yamcha is
dumbfounded, as she sees Pool and Yamcha. She attacks again, narrowly
missing the villian. Yamcha gets angry, and drops her like a brick.
They continue to Frypan, and Pool comments on Yamcha's ability to cope
with little girls (Yamcha replies that he doesn't suffer from a Lolita
Complex.)
Buruma confirms that the Ball is in the castle, and tells Gokuu to
get it. The boy stops looking for people (while checking out all the
skulls) and calls for Kintoen. The terrified Oolong tells the boy to
not shout so loud. Gokuu flies off (with the other two hoping he'll
find the Ball and return fast,) and is impressed with the flames. But,
it's too hot for him to land. Oolong comments on this, and Buruma
insults the boy, while a shadow with an axe looms behind them.
Gyuu-maou wants to know what they want, and Gokuu returns to say that he
can't sneak into the castle. Gokuu asks who the old man is, and Buruma
tells him. The guy recognizes Kintoen, and asks if they know
Kamesennin. Gokuu thinks so, and Gyuu-maou pleads for them to find a
way to get to Kamesennin's house.
End of volume 1.
-- Curtis H. Hoffmann
Nov. 7, 1993
(
geocities.com/timessquare/realm) (
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