Released
in: Japan, America (The Dead Zone) Japanese Release Date: 7/15/1989 Producer: Toei
Synopsis: The story begins with Piccolo training in the
wilderness, muttering about defeating Goku in the next Budoukai.
He is ambushed by three mysterious warriors, members of the
Makyo race. The three of them gang up on Piccolo, and in typical
DBZ movie fashion, beat the crap out of him. They smash him into
a mountain, and you see one lone shadowy figure, talking about
how Piccolo's death means that Kami is gone as well, and soon
the world will be his! The next scene switches to Gohan,
studying some books, and setting a standard that would haunt him
for the rest of his life. His studying is interrupted by a visit
from Gyuu Maou, laden with presents (All books O_o). While
delivering the packaged textbooks, Gyuu Maou falls victim to one
of the three demons (he survives). The short, irritating
creature demands the Dragon ball on Gohan's hat, and he and his
two comerades proceed to beat up Chichi and kidnap Gohan. Goku,
sensing that something is wrong, rushes back to his injured wife
and father-in-law, and then begins his mission to find whoever
did this. Meanwhile our villain, Garlic Jr, succeeds where all
other DB/DBZ villains had failed: he is granted immortality.
Reveling in his newfound eternal life, Garlic Jr. decides not to
kill Gohan outright but instead to train him. From there comes
one of the funniest scenes in DBZ, involving a demon, Gohan,
some alcoholic apples, and millions of dancing purple dinosaurs
and multicoloured fuzz-balls. After the majority of the joke is
over, Goku arrives to challenge Garlic Jr. and his henchmen. He
begins a fight with the three demons; Ginger, Nikki, and Sansho
by name. During the fight, Kami comes in to face Garlic Jr.
himself, showing that neither he nor Piccolo had actually died.
It is revealed that 300 years ago, Kami had a rival to the
throne: a demon named Garlic. Kami made it, garlic didn't. So,
being the well-to-do demon that he was, Garlic called up the
demon hordes and was then consequently locked up for eternity.
Now seeking revenge, Garlic Jr. wants the throne that his father
coveted. Garlic Jr. and Kami fight, while Goku fights the demons
inside the castle. He is assisted by Kuririn and Piccolo;
Kuririn gets Gohan out to safety (or at least tries to), while
Piccolo and Goku make short work of the henchmen. Kami loses his
fight against the now-immortal Garlic Jr., and the Namek/Saiya-jin
team pick up the battle. At this point, one of the most dramatic
transformations takes place: 3-foot Garlic Jr. becomes 12-foot
Garlic Jr. The fight resumes in pure late DB-style, ending with
Garlic Jr. creating a portal to a "Dead Zone," and
accidentally sucking himself in when Gohan gets angry and starts
blasting things.
