Looks like the ALL POWERFUL YAMCHA is finally recognized…
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero has been released in Mexico and Latin America with unprecedented success. According to the AnimeTrendsLA Twitter account, specialized in anime metrics in Mexico and Latin America, however, something that not many people know (even those who they read the manga in a religious way) is of the existence of a forgotten spin-off that moved the famous shonen franchise to the isekai genre, and stars the series’ most beloved punching bag, Yamcha.
Released in 2016, Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha was written by Dragon Garow Lee, a popular manga creator who became famous for his fan art of the franchise (and his fondness for Yamcha). Its story follows a Anonymous high school student who is a super fan of Dragon Ball, when one day he dies by falling down the stairs, the boy ends up being reincarnated in Akira Toriyama’s universe. However, he soon realizes that he is not just a random person; has been reincarnated in the body of the franchise’s punching bag, Yamcha.
In this spin-off, Toriyama’s manga also exists, so the boy knows what ultimately happens to Yamcha. Armed with some additional knowledge, the boy goes to train with Master Roshi, hoping to develop his power and thus prevent his death. This plan actually ends up working; the boy changes Yamcha’s destinyturning this entire manga into a plot that differs greatly from the original Dragon Ball manga, as Yamcha experiences arcs he doesn’t normally survive to see.
Dragon Garow Lee’s love for Yamcha and the Dragon Ball franchise as a whole really shines through. Reincarnated as Yamcha is full of tributes to the original story, as well as clever uses of time travel. as the new Z warrior shapes events using his foreknowledge. For example, while the man wants to try to date Bulma, he realizes that this would write Trunks out of history and therefore decides against it. The manga also references details outside of the original story, including elements from various Dragon Ball video games.
An interesting Dragon Ball Isekai that gives Yamcha his place in history
This love that its author has for the “punching bag” of Dragon Ball Super is transferred to the art of the manga, which is incredibly well done. Lee subtly modifies his art style throughout the series. to match the art style Akira Toriyama used during the corresponding arc. At the same time, Lee brings his own style to the series so that the manga doesn’t seem like a cheap copy of Toriyama’s work. These details combine to make the manga feel like a version of Dragon Ball that has stepped out of an alternate universe.
Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha sounds like a strange idea at first, perhaps an attempt to quickly cash in on the popular isekai genre that started making waves in the middle of the last decade. The rise of isekai in the mid-2010s was huge. Not only were loads of new manga series launched within the genre, but many long-established titles quickly launched isekai spin-offs, with people falling into the worlds of these already popular franchises. Even the legendary Dragon Ball franchise got into the action with its own short isekai manga. Despite having a fantastic premise, this series is often forgotten, even by Dragon Ball fans.
Regardless of how well the franchise fits into the isekai format, when you read it, you’ll find yourself an excellent story that presents a fascinating look at an alternate chronology of Dragon Ball. It’s also packed with witty references and details that will delight longtime fans, especially Yamcha fans who can’t get enough of their favorite character.