Artist dragongarow LEE shines the spotlight onto one of one of the most overlooked characters from Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series in Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated As Yamcha.

One of the greatest dreams a Dragon Ball fan could have is getting to live and fight alongside with all the most powerful characters in the universe. The story begins when a fan gets just that, and wakes up in the world of Dragon Ball. However, this huge fan unfortunately finds that he has been reborn as the one Dragon Ball character that is usually just a punching bag, Yamcha. However, he gets a brilliant idea: using his vast knowledge of the Dragon Ball series, he plans to work hard as Yamcha to become powerful alongside Goku and win Bulma’s heart. 

When fans think of Dragon Ball, they hardly think of Yamcha (unless he’s dying at the hands of Cultivars). However, with the rise of the “isekai” genre, where the protagonist goes to another world, it seems fitting that Dragon Ball would get a similar story. The unnamed protagonist uses his knowledge to his advantage, taking a path that would make the original Yamcha jealous. The author, dragongarow LEE, is an obvious fan of the Dragon Ball series and it shows in his work. The manga breaks into four parts, which stretches from the original Dragon Ball series to the Cell Games in Dragon Ball Z. While it is a fun read for dedicated Dragon Ball fans, some might be put off by the short length and the fast pacing. However, after reading this oneshot, some readers might start to see Yamcha in brand new light

Jump+ originally published Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated As Yamcha in parts before being published in a single volume. The English translation has been published by Viz Media and can be found with the rest of the Dragon Ball manga at your local store and online.