Watch Out, Goku: Dragon Ball Super Gives Vegeta A Major Power Boost

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 55, by Akira Toriyama and Toyotarou, available now in English from Viz Media.

After getting handily defeated by the energy-absorbing Moro and his army of freed Galactic Patrol prisoners earlier in Dragon Ball Super's current arc, Vegeta went to Planet Yardrat, where Goku went to learn Instant Teleportation following his confrontation with Frieza in Dragon Ball Z. Much of that plotline, which has involved Elder Pybara training Vegeta, has been glossed over in Dragon Ball Super's more recent issues. However, that changes in Chapter 55, which shows just how powerful Vegeta has become during his time on Yardrat.

The Vegeta segment of the manga's latest installment opens with Galactic Patrolman Irico unable to contact headquarters, meaning that neither he nor Vegeta have any clue Moro is planning to attack Earth. Pybara heals Vegeta after a difficult training session, though it's then explained that ability is beyond what the Saiyan will be able to master at this point. This means Instant Teleportation, which has remained a stable of Goku's moves for over a decade, is only among the fundamentals of what those on Yardrat can do.

However, this training session is interrupted by Irico, who brings word Moro's forces are attacking the planet. Vegeta flies out to confront them and meets Yuzun, a minion of Moro's right-hand man Saganbo. Yuzun attempts to radio Moro, but Vegeta hits him with a blast that's so unexpectedly powerful the Saiyan recoils in shock at his own strength. Yuzun's radio is destroyed, and Pybara appears to tell Vegeta that, when he arrived on Yardrat, his "body and spirit were so off-balance that [he] couldn't project [his] own power very well." Pybara adds that Vegeta's powers have increased "by leaps and bounds."

Without even going Super Saiyan, Vegeta dispatches Yuzun and the rest of Moro's forces effortlessly. Vegeta shows mercy to Yuzun, allowing him to surrender rather than be killed. This is when Yuzun reveals that Moro is planning to attack Earth, a revelation that throws Vegeta just off balance enough that Yuzun manages to escape on a spaceship, but he's quickly brought down and killed by an object he'd thrown up into the air during his fight with Vegeta.

Although Irico suggests they go to Earth, Vegeta accurately reads the situation, realizing the planet has not yet been attacked. The Saiyan knows this because the improvement in his abilities means he can now "sense other spirits" as far away as Earth. Vegeta then demands Pybara teach him a technique that will help him bring Moro down, explaining "Instant Teleportation won't cut it." Pybara agrees.

The issue then briefly moves on to Moro acknowledging Vegeta's presence on Yardrat and his new increase in power. However, ever the confident villain, Moro instead opts to consume more planets in order to increase his power for the coming fight on Earth. Two months then pass off-panel, meaning the confrontation with Moro is now nigh.

Vegeta's increase in abilities is particularly astounding and may provide some insight into why, following the fight with Frieza, the Saiyan Prince was never quite able to keep up with Goku, who may have had his body and spirit aligned on the planet. This powerup might just put him on par with his old rival, though that hero has been training with Merus -- revealed in this issue as an Angel -- so he will have certainly improved a lot, too. The upcoming confrontation with Moro is going to be a big one, so the Z-Fighters are definitely going to need their heaviest hitters at maximum power.

Dragon Ball Super Chapter 56 releases Jan. 20.

Superman #18 Expertly Handles Its Promised Moment

STORY BY

Brian Michael Bendis

ART BY

Ivan Reis, Joe Prado

COLORS BY

Alex Sinclair

LETTERS BY

Dave Sharpe

COVER BY

Alex Sinclair, Joe Prado, Ivan Reis, Bryan Hitch

PUBLISHER

DC Comics

For months, DC Comics and writer Brian Michael Bendis have promised that the publisher's flagship character Superman would publicly reveal his secret identity to the world in Superman #18, setting a bold, new future for the iconic superhero in a story arc aptly titled "The Truth." With the pivotal moment in the Man of Steel's mainstream continuity now upon us, the issue itself turns out to be no mere publicity stunt. It's a surprisingly poignant and emotionally resonant story, and the best single issue this creative team has crafted for DC since they relaunched the title last year.

As the issue begins, Superman is still dealing with the immediate fallout from a recent confrontation with his biological father Jor-El and his suddenly teenage son Jon founding the United Planets before traveling to the far-future with the Legion of Super-Heroes. With so many major life events occurring in such a relatively short amount of time, Clark Kent is concerned with the openness of his own life, and whether Jor-El's legacy of keeping a secret identity from the public is a good, honest move. This results in a series of heart-to-heart confessions leading up to an earth-shattering revelation that spins the DC Universe on its axis.

Ever since Bendis started his tenure on the two main Superman comic book series, he has demonstrated a naturally strong grasp of the character and extensive supporting cast's voices. Without compromising the high-flying, bombastic possibilities of the mythos, Bendis has injected a concentrated amount of emotion into his take on the Last Son of Krypton, keeping one foot grounded in genuine heart as Clark continues to do what he does best.

Here, with Superman on the cusp of the biggest announcement of his entire life, Bendis has him at his most vulnerable and introspective. And with such a personal moment for the character and his supporting cast, Bendis wisely knows when to pull back and let the art do the talking.

Ivan Reis -- joined by longtime collaborators Joe Prado on inks and Alex Sinclair on colors -- delivers some of the quietest, most sentimental work of his acclaimed career here. A sequence of Clark talking to one prominent co-worker, in particular, is masterfully done and perhaps the biggest standout page in this creative team's entire run on the title.

And while the issue amounts to a series of quiet conversations, the visuals and story the team is telling is consistently riveting and accessible, both for readers that have followed along since the run's launch and new readers curious about the issue's big moment.

The promised reveal itself is all but a foregone conclusion as Bendis opts to use it as the issue's framing device. As such, the issue isn't necessarily packed with big surprises or action beats, but it was never really intended to. Superman #18 is about bringing its eponymous superhero to his most vulnerable place and juxtaposing him against the closest members of his supporting cast as he makes the biggest decision of his entire life, with the ramifications already teased taking shape.

Ever since he took the reins on the title, Brian Michael Bendis has understood the importance of keeping sight of the man in Superman; the human side to the Man of Steel. The start of "The Truth" brings these elements to the forefront in full, with Clark being publicly open and honest about both sides of himself. Longtime fans have seen Superman's secret identity go public before -- as recently as the New 52 -- but the creative team handles it so effectively and reverently here that this is one of the more memorable moments for Superman in the DC Rebirth era yet.

Superman #18 goes on sale Dec. 11.

Venom #21 Takes the Antihero Back to the Bloody Basics

STORY BY

Donny Cates

ART BY

Mark Bagley, Andy Owens

COLORS BY

Frank Martin, Erick Arciniega

LETTERS BY

VC's Clayton Cowles

COVER BY

Jason Keith, Mark Bagley, Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez, Clayton Crain, Paolo Rivera, John Dell, Andy Owens

PUBLISHER

Marvel Comics

Marvel's Venom has largely been about confronting one's inner darkness and violent impulses, and an exploration of unhealthy co-dependency. With the crossover event Absolute Carnage concluded, writer Donny Cates' run on the antihero's title brings those themes back to the forefront, with a sinister twist, given Eddie Brock's new status quo, while setting up a different take on one of the character's oldest grudges.

Following the defeat of Carnage and Cletus Kasady, Eddie now has much more than the Venom symbiote residing within him. As Eddie comes to terms with the true cost of his victory over Cletus, and what it means for the Marvel Universe, he must deal with the immediate fallout, including a surprise meeting with several characters who figured prominently in the crossover. However, as Eddie faces the terrifying implications of his new status quo, he decides to take matters into his own hands the only way he knows how: in fire and blood.

Cates' take on Eddie Brock has been a particularly tortured, with his incarnation on Eddie unable to enjoy a happy ending, as he is always aware of greater consequences and the darkness within himself. It's a twisted inversion of the "with great power" trope of his longtime frenemy. And throughout his entire run to date, Cates has embraced the more horrific possibilities of the character as he endures his own Jekyll-and-Hyde dynamic: Venom and Absolute Carnage have leaned into horror more than other mainstream superhero comics in recent memory.

With Absolute Carnage complete, this is one of the more meditative issues in the series. Only Eddie is aware of the true cost of his victory, and so it makes perfect sense thatany feeling of relief wouldn't fit here. An encounter with the Avengers in the aftermath could seem like fan service in lesser hands, but Cates knows how to play the moment for laughs, even in the face of Eddie's inner turmoil.

This trip down memory lane is largely aided by Carnage co-creator Mark Bagley assuming art duties for the storyline. Joined by inker Andy Owens and colorists Frank Martin and Erick Arciniega, Bagley's pencils immediately evoke a classic feel without seeming dated. He has a history illustrating both Venom and the Avengers, and he returns to both like no time has passed at all. The visuals are a more psychological, slow-burning horror than Cates' original Venom and Absolute Carnage collaborator Ryan Stegman's more visceral approach, but the presence of Martin (who also worked with Stegman on the title) helps the transition feel more natural.

It was apparent in the final issue of Absolute Carnage there would be no rest for Eddie, and Cates and Bagley's latest Venom storyline makes good on that. The antihero remains as tortured as ever, even as he copes with redemption in the eyes of his son and the superhero community. But for all of Eddie's recent derring-do, the character is about to get back to doing what he does best as the series returns its focus to psychological horror.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Hunter x Hunter's Ging Freecss

For anime-only Hunter x Hunter fans, Ging Freecss is a mysterious deadbeat father that encourages his son to put his life on the line. While that description is 100% accurate, manga readers have been gifted with a more extensive understanding of Gon's dad.

Manga and their anime counterparts have a "book vs. movie adaptation" relationship where viewers that didn't explore the source material are left in the dark about countless details. Since the 2011 version of HxH ended before the Dark Continent Expedition arc, let's take a look at 10 things that fans probably don't know about Ging Freecss.

10HE DIDN'T DITCH GON AFTER THE FINAL EPISODE

Ging's parenting skills are... controversial, to say the least. Therefore, we can't blame you for assuming he would ditch his son again after the events of the Election arc. In a shocking twist of fate, the two actually stayed in touch well after the 2011 version of the anime ended.

During the Dark Continent Expedition arc, it is revealed that Gon and Ging successfully maintained their relationship. The two are seen talking on the phone in the manga.

9THE DON FREECSS LINK

With a last name as uncommon as "Freecss," it's rather obvious that the legendary Don is related to Gon and Ging in some form, though their exact affiliation is unknown. 300 years prior to the current HxH storyline, Don traveled to the Dark Continent and authored a traveler's journal composed of two volumes: "East" and "West."

While the "East" half of the journal has been discovered, the "West" portion has yet to be located. Ging explained that the missing portion either wasn't written, hasn't been found, or that Don is alive and still working on it. Either way, Don clearly shares Ging's thirst for adventure and must be ridiculously powerful to be able to survive the Dark Continent while writing about it.

8HE SPEAKS MULTIPLE LANGUAGES

The Hunter x Hunter manga makes it known that Ging Freecss can speak several languages. He even surpasses the linguistic talents of Curly, a brilliant individual with a broad knowledge of ancient languages who was introduced during the Dark Continent arc.

Ging's physical proficiencies were discussed throughout the anime, but learning that he's also a scholar is undeniably appealing. Then again, Freecss is a seasoned traveler, so it makes sense that he's picked up an ancient language or two.

7HE COPIED LEORIO'S REMOTE PUNCH

Leorio might not be the most accomplished fighter in the series, but his burst of passion during the 13th Hunter Chairman Election arc inspired one of Ging's abilities. After getting punched in the face by the medical student, Freecss recreated the move for his own use.

In the manga, Remote Punch functions similar to what was depicted in the 2011 anime adaptation. Ging punches a nearby surface and a wormhole of sorts will open up near the target from which the fist materializes. The strength and speed may vary, though Freecss has been seen unleashing rapid-fire punches with the technique.

6HE'S NOT TOGASHI'S FIRST VIDEO GAME ENTHUSIAST

Yoshihiro Togashi tends to revisit his original concepts and character models, albeit providing unique aspects for each incarnation. Ging Freecss may have been the lead creator of the Greed Island game, but Tsukihito Amanuma from Yu Yu Hakusho beat him to the punch. Amanuma, also known as "Gamemaster," could bring video games to life and dwell within them as his "Territory."

One of Togashi's earlier works, Tonda Birthday Present, revolved around a different character with similar abilities. It's a recurring theme in his projects and Ging is the most recent of the bunch.

5THE PERKS OF HIS ULTRASOUND MOVE

By touching an object and tapping on his hand, Ging can release his aura in pulsating waves to detect other organisms. As the name implies, the ability functions like an ultrasound machine, which sends out high-frequency sound waves that reflect off body structures and produce images of the inner body.

Oddly enough, Leorio also played a part in the creation of this technique. Freecss actually came up with if after further analyzing his Remote Punch.

4HOW HIS PHASING BULLETS WORK

By placing his hands on a surface, Freecss can fire bullets of aura that travel through the object he's touching without destroying it. They simply pass through and hit anything that's on the other side.

The full potential of Phasing Bullets has yet to be uncovered, but Ging insinuated that he hasn't used it at full power. Nonetheless, it's a nifty skill that could come in handy for catching opponents off guard.

3HE CONTINUES TO CLASH WITH PARISTON HILL LONG AFTER THE EVENTS OF THE ANIME

Pariston Hill was always an unnerving character. The poised facade that he exudes makes him incredibly unlikable; behind that breezy smile lies a sly, unpredictable, and calculated personality. Ging was noticeably his most prominent rival in the 2011 anime adaptation, but the conflict didn't end there.

Freecss and Hill cross paths in the Dark Continent arc and the animosity is still very much present. The two continue their bizarre tug of war throughout the arc and we can only hope that Togashi expands on their dynamic in the near future.

2HE SOMEHOW UNDERSTOOD HIS SON DESPITE NOT RAISING HIM

Some of the best Hunter x Hunter conversations (and jokes) stem from Ging's terrible parenting skills. He quite literally abandoned his only son and then made the young boy jump through deadly hurdles in order to reunite. In the midst of the discourse, fans fail to notice that Ging actually knew Gon really well for someone who never spent time with him.

Ging foresaw almost every decision Gon would make on his journey, including taking the Hunter Exam in the first place. He also predicted how the Greed Island arc would develop and knew that Gon would find Kite.

1HIS ZODIAC CODE NAME IS MORE TELLING THAN YOU'D IMAGINE

Ging was one of the Hunters that Netero hand-picked to execute the election for a new chairman after his death. This group was referred to as the Zodiacs and they all had code names that correlated with the signs of the Chinese zodiac. Ging was known as the "Boar" and it's more symbolic than you'd think.

According to various myths and legends, the Pig would show up late for meetings or come in last during a race because he would get hungry, stop to eat, and subsequently fall asleep. During the Election arc, it's mentioned that Ging never actually shows up for meetings. He's stubborn, dismissive, and moves at his own pace, much like Zodiac he's associated with.