Oh you’re right, I interpreted that dash in the leftmost bubble as a pause dash rather than a continuation dash (though does Japanese use either of those? I understand it as “repeat the previous vowel”, but I am a novice).

Chat GPT also suggests that it might just be meant as a cute sound rather than having any literal meaning.

Also, do Japanese make puns based on sounds that can be interpreted in different ways depending on where one word is assumed to end and another begin, or mixing the end of one word into the start of another (eg using the n as both the end of “goman” and the start of “nyan”)?

It was while reading this comic that I finally understood that “nya” is the Japanese equivalent to “meow”.

Goman means 50,000, in case anyone else was curious.

I’ve never seen it myself either. DBZ abridged is pretty good, though I think I appreciate it more having known the original version first (otherwise I would have suggested that one).

All I know is that I’m glad I watched DBZ as episodes taped on VHS instead of the weekly format I think they were on TV (I didn’t have cable growing up). There were literally entire episodes that were mainly Goku and opponent powering up, opponent telling Goku how fucked he was and Goku getting excited because fighting his way out of being entirely fucked is his favorite pastime. It was bad enough spending 23 minutes watching that without having to then wait a week to see what happens next (usually massive energy attack, whoever threw it acting smug until the dust clears to show their opponent still standing).

I’m not selling it great, but the real fun of the show was in the character interactions. The fights were fairly predictable but the characters were great.

Edit: forgot to say what Goku and opponent were doing for entire episode lol

I’ll just suggest some shows in the order I watched them (or some order, I don’t remember exactly):

• Dragon Ball Z (though the pacing is frustrating… You could try playing Kakarot instead though)

• Dragon Ball Super (much better pacing)

• One Punch Man

• Naruto (it’s long but worth it)

• Hunter x Hunter

• Sword Art Online

• Deathnote

• Seven Deadly Sins (though be aware that there’s some consent issues here, though they do craft an interesting scenario for it that I can’t give away without spoiling)