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Japanese graphic novel pulled from elementary

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Wicomico County schools have removed Akira Toriyama’s “Dragon Ball” series of graphic novels from their elementary schools after a city councilman received a complaint from a mother of a nine-year-old. Upon review of the book, they discovered the book contained several depictions of nudity and sexual innuendo.

Mark Thompson, president of the county school board, said it appears grant funding — not county dollars — bought the books in question. He said county schools did not select the books individually because they came as part of a “bulk purchase.”

“The pictures I saw, if it was meant for adults, it crosses the line for child pornography. If it’s for a child, why show these scenes for children?” Thompson said.

The “Dragon Ball” books focus on Son Goku, a monkey-tailed boy on a quest to obtain mythical objects called Dragon Balls. The series was later adapted into a popular animated TV show called “Dragon Ball Z.”

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Comments 8

  1. Don’t mock the great Vegita!

  2. that’s funny. Little Goku definitely shows his heiney in a lot of the old ones.

  3. Hmm I think I mocked Vegeta by not spelling his name correctly. Jesse, if we’re going to start throwing out every japanese comic that shows someone’s heiney we’re going to be here for a while!

  4. haha I know, and I like how they were fine with the violence, just not the heinies.

  5. And to think I used to read these comics in original Japanese when I was freaking FIVE.

    But then, the standards for children’s entertainment is different in Japan than in US (I can vouch that alot of kids cartoons in Japan do contain nudity)

  6. I haven’t read these, but I’ve read enough comics at the library to know the librarians don’t screen them. Sure, the Abraham Lincoln graphic novel seems perfectly educational. But guess how a graphic novel portrays Lincoln getting shot in the head? And that’s not limited to books about Lincoln.

    I have a sneaking suspicion Dragonball isn’t that bad. Parents & board members who get their issues in the news usually have a care of righteous indignation.

  8. I say make the school board and parents. watch continuos Viagra comerical’s, and tell the children what that is all about.

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