“JACO: The Galactic Patrolman” is a manga that meets the quality of other Akira Toriyama manga releases. Enjoyable and so much fun, but also connecting the special to the popular “Dragon Ball” series. Fans of Akira Toriyama’s work or “Dragon Ball” will no doubt want to check out “JACO: The Galactic Patrolman”!
Image courtesy of © 2013 Bird Studio. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: JACO: The Galactic Patrolman
STORY AND ART BY: Akira Toriyama (鳥山 明)
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: Shueisha, Inc.
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC
RATED: A for All Ages
Available on January 6, 2015
Retired scientist Omori lives alone on a deserted island while continuing his research into time-travel. His quiet life is interrupted when galactic patrolman Jaco crash-lands and decided to move in with him. Can Jaco get along with the old man long enough to save the Earth from a dangerous threat?
This volume also includes a special bonus chapter introducing Dragon Ball Z hero Goku’s parents!
Akira Toriyama will always be best known as the creator of “Dragon Ball” and “Dr. Slump”, and while the famous manga artist has written many one-shot or short series, rarely do you see Toriyama write a special story that relates to his hit series.
But in 2013, Toriyama created the manga series “JACO: The Galactic Patrolman” which takes place in the “Dragon Ball” world and will surprise but also entertain fans because it features an origin and connects to the “Dragon Ball” world.
But while that is exciting to DB fans, for those wanting something different and new will also find something to enjoy about “JACO: The Galactic Patrolman”.
The story is told by a scientist named Tokunoshin Omori who has built a time machine. Ten years ago, he talks about an alien named JACO, a Galactic Patrolman who crash landed on a building on an island which Omori lives.
During that time, humankind is about to send a pop star named Azuki who will be boarding a rocket which will orbit around the Earth twice.
Stuck on the island that Omori lives, JACO needs Omori’s help to get his spacecraft to work. Unfortunately, to power up his spacecraft, he needs a blue metal known as Sky Gold. Problem is that it would cost 76 million yen for two pounds worth of Sky Gold.
But as Omori needs to head to town to pick up food and supplies, he and a disguised JACO travel to the East Capital, but will they be able to keep a low profile or will JACO’s temper get the best of him?
Meanwhile, what happens when the two meet a girl named Tights and she tells them that she wants to live with them?
When it comes to Akira Toriyama manga titles, there hasn’t really been one that I have disliked.
From one shots like “Sand Land: or “Cowa!”, I have enjoyed Toriyama’s work for the adventures the characters take part in but most of all, he is great at developing his characters in a story.
And the same can be said about “JACO: The Galactic Patrolman” as you read about a grumpy scientist and a cocky galactic patrolman working together in hopes to get JACO back home by fixing his spacecraft.
The problem is that when JACO is brought to an area of civilians, his sense of duty easily bypasses his need to stay low key and he ends up being a wanted person.
Meanwhile, the two end up saving a girl named Tights and she ends up moving in with them.
While in writing, the storyline sounds quite simplistic but the biggest surprise towards the end is when you find out the motivation by Toriyama of creating this series and how it’s tied into the “Dragon Ball” universe.
Suffice to say, it made me excited that we get a new “Dragon Ball” related storyline especially when we see the characters who show up towards the end of this special story. And I thank Toriyama for creating this special and connecting it with an important DB family that is known for capsules.
Overall, “JACO: The Galactic Patrolman” is a manga that meets the quality of other Akira Toriyama manga releases. Enjoyable and so much fun, but also connecting the special to the popular “Dragon Ball” series. Fans of Akira Toriyama’s work or “Dragon Ball” will no doubt want to check out “JACO: The Galactic Patrolman”!