Manga Review 09 – Rabbit Ears

Sorry that this goes up a little late but I wanted to time it for the 1st of December. Besides, I was working on the new layout which, if you haven’t noticed yet, is awesome.

Okay, we’re now on Chapter 16 of the manga and although it’s still a bit quiet as far as Yamucha is regarded things are beginning to heat up and will make for something, I hope, next chapter.

Of course, that will be then and this is now. The Japanese chapter title translates itself as Rabbit Ears while VIZ have decided to dispense with their bad puns, the only reason to localise anyway, and call it “One Goal, One Enemy.” This has little to do with this chapter and would seem to fit better for the next chapter but they do have a terrible pun lined up for that, which is probably why they switched these around.

As things kick off, the terrible trio of Bulma, Goku and Oolong continue west as Yamucha tails them in the Silver Star Mark 4.

Actually, I tell a lie. Yamucha has taken the opportunity to laze in the passenger’s seat as Pu’reh tries to pilot the hovercraft car thing! Pu’reh obviously cannot see over the dashboard but damn if he’s not doing his level best to keep this thing on the road as Yamucha chuckles evilly.

The trio pull into a village and go to get some petrol. I say petrol, damnit, because I am European. It is a abbreviation of petroleum spirit. Get over it. Anyway, everyone freaks out at Bulma and runs screaming because STD’s radiate from every pore of her being. I’m just kidding, I like Bulma. I’m sure she takes regular penicillin injections.

As she wanders about town in her Playboy Bunny outfit, she chalks up this reaction to her being just too damn hot for everyone. Right. Meanwhile, Oolong tries to tell the petrol, PETROL, stand attendant he’ll have to wait to be paid until Bulma returns (because that would work). And it does work, because the attendant freaks out and insists their PETROLEUM SPIRIT is on the house.

Meanwhile, Bulma bags herself some free capsules as the shopkeeper is also too scared to refuse her. She chalks this up to being really hot and decides to score herself some free clothes while she’s at it. More Meanwhile, Yamucha pokes his head around a corner, keeping tabs on the PETROL station, noting that “the girl” must be shopping. Boy, women, am I right? With the shopping and the gossip and the lots of pairs of shoes!

As all the excitement of watching and waiting and shopping enthralls us, two goons in rabbit ears (see where this is going?) turn up and start acting like dicks. When Bulma changes into her new outfit, she gets yelled at for not being part of the Rabbit Mob and is presumably forced to pay for her clothes. Now no-one stares at Sarah, Plain and Tall as she returns to the car, Yamucha noting her return (Yes, he really doesn’t do much this chapter at all).

The goons who, spoiler, are part of the Rabbit Mob continue to act like jerks. They steal fruit, ask people who didn’t say anything what they said and kick children for crossing the street. They act a lot like me, actually. They then try and harass Bulma but she only puts out for vaguely attractive men so she declines.

Of course, being jerks, they think “No” is “Just a yes that needs a little convincing. With a gun.” Bulma isn’t too worried though. She just tells Goku to beat up the bad guys and he promptly does. He finishes by shoving Nyoibo up one of the goon’s ass. Because he can, I guess.

In the shadows, Yamucha remarks that he wishes more idiots would attack Goku, not realising that his stupid ‘plan’ would make him the latest idiot to do so. The chapter ends with the goons radioing their boss and all the townspeople freak the fuck out. It’s all “Run for your lives!! You doomed us all!! You fools, you don’t realise what you’ve dooooone!!” type stuff.

Okay, so Yamucha got six panels this chapter which is just one less than last time, but a lot less dialogue. Still, this isn’t a bad chapter all in all. It certainly doesn’t have the same “get on with it” feel as some of them do. Remember, Dragon Ball was a weekly serialisation. It’s easy to breeze through a volume now but imagine waiting a week for the next chapter and then seeing Bulma dig around in some rocks or some shit, then having to wait ANOTHER week for something to happen.

Anyway, next chapter the boss of the Rabbit Mob arrives and Yamucha actually gets to do something. It also begins the push of making Yamucha part of the main group which will grab him more screen time by default. So, look forward to that.