‘Dragon Ball Z’ Returns to Print In Japan In Fully-Colored Reprint Editions

Almost 20 years after the original run wrapped, Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball is returning to print in Japan this year with both a newly colored reprint series and accompanying reference book debuting next month.Three volumes of Toriyama's "Saiyan Saga" will be reissued in color on February 4, with each book containing 248 pages of material, including commentary from Toriyama himself that will reveal previously unknown information about both the series and the world within the series. The series will be continued by the five volume "Frieza Saga," scheduled for April 4, with multiple volumes covering the "Cell Saga" and "Majin Buu Saga" to follow later this year.

According to reports, the entirety of the Dragon Ball Z chapters -- the North American title for the second chunk of Toriyama's series, picking up five years into the original Japanese run -- will eventually be reprinted in full color in print; the earlier episodes of the original series. The "Saiyan Saga" begins with the 195th chapter of the original serialization - will also be colored, but released in a digital-only format.

In addition to the new color editions, February 4 will also see the launch of Dragon Ball Chozenshu, a four-volume reference book to the Dragon Ball universe to be released monthly between February and May. Neither series has been announced for release outside of Japan, although given the international success of Dragon Ball, it's probably only a matter of time.