The eighth and penultimate season of Dragon Ball Z
pits the Z Fighters, the Supreme Kai, and his attendant Kibito
against the evil wizard Babidi, who hopes to release the monster Buu,
which his father Bibidi created. (The names are apparently a
back-handed salute to Walt Disney's Cinderella.) Goku, who's
technically dead but still visting from the Other World, joins
Vegeta and Gohan in the initial fights against Babidi's minions. As
the battles escalate, Babidi use Vegeta's overweening pride to
entrap the Saiyan Prince and turn him against his allies. It's all
Goku can do to win Vegeta back, and the energy loosed in their
stand-off enables Babidi to free Buu. Instead of one of the
over-muscled behemoths the Z Fighters usually tackle, Buu is an
obnoxious, infantile creature who looks like a sumo wrestler molded
out of pink marshmallows. But he's incredibly powerful and
resilient: even the Saiyans can't defeat him. Goku realizes only one
warrior can destroy Buu: Goten and Trunks in their Super-Saiyan
forms must fuse to form an über-hero. The boys initially balk, as
the Dance of Fusion looks and feels silly. But Gohan and Picollo
whip them into shape and the formidable Gotenks appears. Season 8
offers much more action and excitement than the World Tournament
story that takes up most of Season 7. But unlike the earlier
DBZ adventures, the Babidi & Majin Buu Sagas end on a
cliffhanger, with the fate of the Earth and its inhabitants hanging
in the balance. (Rated TV PG. suitable for ages 8 and older:
violence, violence against women, tobacco and alcohol use, ethnic
stereotypes) --Charles Solomon
(220. The Wizard's Curse, 221. King of the Demons, 222. Vegeta
Attacks, 223. Next Up, Goku, 224. Battle Supreme, 225. Eighteen
Unmasks, 226. Pay to Win, 227. Heart of a Villan, 228. The Dark
Prince Returns, 229. Vegeta's Pride, 230. The Long Awaited Fight,
231. Magic Ball of Buu, 232. Buu is Hatched, 233. The Losses Begin,
234. The Terror of Mr. Buu, 235. Meal Time, 236. The Warrior's
Decision, 237. Final Atonement, 238. Evil Lives On, 239. Find the
Dragon Balls, 240. Revival, 241. Global Announcement, 242. Learn to
Fuse, 243. The Z- Sword, 244. Race To Capsule Corp, 245. Super
Saiyan 3?! 246. Buu's Mutiny, 247. The Fusion Dance, 248. Goku's
Time is Up, 249. Return to Other World, 250. Out From the Broken
Sword, 251. Gotenks is Born, 252. Unlikely Friendship, 253. I Kill
No More)
