Sand Land: Dustup In the Desert!

Akira Toriyama is a mangaka well-known for creating best-selling manga series “Dr. Slump” and the “Dragon Ball”/”Dragon Ball Z” series. And also for his artwork on video games such as the “Dragon Quest” and “Tobal” series. But while his longer series is well-know in the United States, for many people, they are unaware of his shorter manga series. Having created one-shots and shorter stories since the late ’70s, one of Toriyama’s “SandLand” is now being released in the U.S. courtesy of Viz Media. In 2000, Toriyama’s “SandLand” was serialized on “Weekly Shonen Jump” during the summer of 2000 and serialized in North America on Shonen Jump for issues 1-11. And now, “SandLand” will be collected into a single graphic novel. “SandLand” is a manga series that is set during a time where natural disaster and war has made water one of the most treasured items in the land. With the river providing water to many villages dried up long ago and humankind (along with demonds) have been living in misery. The King of the land has fattened his bank account by marking the price of water for one half liter bottle for 900 yen. So, the young demon prince Beezelbub and his thief followers have robbed the military of its water supplies (as demons need water as humans do). Meanwhile Beezelbub receives a visitor named Sheriff Rao from a neighboring town. He explains to Beezelbub that he wants Beezelbub’s help in searching for a phantom lake that is supposed to exist in the south. He has monitored the water finch birds which feed on Killlifish (small freshwater fish) and seeing the birds migrating north. And Rao believes the water must exist but the problem is that there are many dangers in the south and needs the help of demons to take on the dangers that normal humans are unable to take on. With an offering of the last video game machine to Beezelbub for his assistance, Beezelbub and the elder demon named Thief agree to help Rao find the phantom lake. But in the south are monsters, violent gangs and the King’s military. Will Rao along with Beezelbub and Thief be powerful enough to take on their adversaries as they travel south to look for a rumored lake of water? JUDGMENT CALL: As a fan of Akira Toriyama’s work, I have not been disappointed in any of his manga series. The characters have been fun and the storyline have been exciting and featured a lot of humor or action. But I’m used to Toriyama’s manga where characters are built up overtime and have benefited in a longer series. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about a shorter story but after reading “SandLand”, I can easily say that I’m quite happy with reading this short story. The storyline primarily focuses on this partnership between Sheriff Rao, Beezelbub and Thief and the three taking on all types of adversaries. But there are some twists and a good amount of action featured throughout the manga, as one would expect from an Akira Toriyama manga. The storyline is simple. A corrupt king with holding water from the people in order to have them buy water at exorbitant prices, while Sheriff Rao, wants to help the villagers who have gone on too long living under the corrupt king, who may be holding out on the water in order to make more money. While Sheriff Rao is an older man, he does have combat skills and fortunately, he is aided by the powerful Beezelbub and Thief, who can literally steal anything. And together, the three make their way south, taking on various dangers in order to find proof that water exists, that a phantom lake must exist somewhere in the south. There are some fascinating revelations that come up mid-way in the graphic novel but for the most part, “SandLand” is a delightful, action packed manga series from Akira Toriyama. The artwork and storyline is fun to read and for any Akira Toriyama fan, “SandLand” is a film worth recommending!

Sandland is a captivating and unique manga that showcases Akira Toriyama's signature style and storytelling in a fresh, post-apocalyptic setting. From the moment you dive in, you're hooked by the intriguing world, filled with barren deserts, mysterious creatures, and compelling characters. The art is stunning, with Toriyama's trademark sharp lines and expressive designs bringing the wasteland and its inhabitants to life in a way that feels both familiar and entirely new. The story follows Beelzebub, a demon prince, and his unlikely companions on a quest to find water in a drought-ridden world. Their journey is full of action, humor, and heart, making for an engaging and fast-paced read. The character interactions, particularly between Beelzebub and Thief, are fun and dynamic, and there's a nice balance between light-hearted moments and serious stakes. What sets Sandland apart is its blend of classic adventure tropes with Toriyama's distinct humor and charm. The world-building is rich despite the manga's shorter length, and the plot moves at a brisk pace, offering enough twists and surprises to keep you turning the pages. Overall, Sandland is an exciting, visually striking, and thoroughly entertaining manga that proves Toriyama’s talents extend far beyond Dragon Ball. It's a quick but highly enjoyable read, perfect for fans of his work or anyone looking for a fun and action-packed adventure. Highly recommended!

Amazing short story by legendary Manga artist and writer Akira Toriyama. Even made into a short TV show, really good cute and cool read inspired by the world of Dragon Ball.

This book is good because it really explains how the story of the video game works in the story. I. this, th at kids a nd adults of all ages will like this book.

Great art work from the late, great Akira Toriyama. A quick, fun and thoughtful adventure about government corruption and helping out mankind. If you like manga, I highly recommend.

This is a really great series from Akira Toriyama. The story is engaging and enjoyable. I just wish it was a bit longer. I’ve read through this a few times and enjoy it every time.

I don't have an interest in manga or anime whatsoever, never watched Dragon Ball or anything by this creator but a good mostly all ages story, with lots of action and some humor--this was a perfect fit for me. Love the art style and writing. Fun!

First and foremost, Sand Land looks great on the Kindle Paperwhite. I believe that Amazon digitized many comics specifically for Kindle Fire owners. But seeing as this manga is mostly in black and white, I decided to see if it would look okay on my Kindle Paperwhite. I'm glad I tried it out, it looks pretty good. Secondly, this is a great, brief manga. Akira Toriyama (of Dragon Ball fame) prefaces it by saying it was a chore to draw and write. I'm glad he did it, though. Sand Land follows an old sheriff named Rao and the demon Beelzebub as they search for water in a devastated wasteland. Sand Land is a thoughtful tale on greed, environmentalism, and racism (or species-ism, I suppose). The art is gorgeous, the dialogue is witty and entertaining, and the plot is very well executed. There are plenty of twists to keep the manga interesting. I will be rereading this many times. Dabura from Dragon Ball makes a very brief appearance as Lucifer, Beelzebub's father. Otherwise, I don't think this manga has any connection to Dragon Ball.

This is a story about selfishness, greed and the self destructive nature of humans. It also touches on themes around prejudice and privilege. A very short but powerful story that I would recommend to all.

Best comic of Akira Toriyama after Dragon Ball. A short story about two demons and one human and how they make justice

Totally worth it...Do buy

In the old dragon ball aesthetic and with some nods to characters from that world. This was very enjoyable for someone who has followed Toriyama's work. On its own, the story isn't the most innovative, but the art, heart and writing style are all there and make it so enjoyable to read.

Akira Toriyama nos entrega una historia bastante entretenida, además, podemos gozar bastante con sus trazos ya clásicos