Staff Picks (November): Jaco The Galactic Patrolman

Publisher: Viz Media, LLC

Have you felt emptiness in your heart with the absence of Dragon Ball? Have you been anxiously awaiting acclaimed creator Akira Toriyama’s new work? Are you a fan of quirky buddy comedies? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is what you have been waiting for!

Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, the manga miniseries written and illustrated by famed Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, is collected in English for the first time. Omori, a scientist researching and developing the early stages of time travel, lives a quiet life as the only resident on an island devoted to his studies. The peacefulness ends abruptly with the arrival of Jaco, a righteous intergalactic police officer, whose presence on Earth is needed to prevent an impending alien threat.

Striking a deal with one another, Omori must assist Jaco in restoring his ship. As they venture onto the mainland for spare parts, things take a wild turn, and hilarity ensues. The main story contains plenty of Easter eggs to be found by the Dragon Ball faithful, yet Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is a complete story that is easily accessible to any new reader. In addition to a wonderful, heartwarming story of friendship, this collection also includes Dragon Ball Minus, the story that finally answers, “Who was Goku’s mother?”

Tying in quite nicely with the overall Dragon Ball epic, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is an absolute must have for any fan of the manga or television show.

~ Jonathan McKinney