Editing Dragon Ball (manga) (section)

====Controversy in the United States====
The manga's content has been controversial in the United States. In November 1999, [[Toys "R" Us]] removed Viz's ''Dragon Ball'' from their stores nationwide when a [[Dallas]] parent complained that the series had "borderline soft porn" after he bought them for his four-year-old son.<ref name="Maryland">{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-10-07/maryland-school-library-to-remove-dragon-ball-manga|title=Maryland School Library to Remove Dragon Ball Manga|date=October 7, 2009|work=[[Anime News Network]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201161348/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-10-07/maryland-school-library-to-remove-dragon-ball-manga|archive-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref> Commenting on the issue, manga critic [[Susan J. Napier]] determined the ban as a difference in culture due to Japan having tolerance for sexuality in manga while other countries do not.<ref name="Maryland" /> After the ban, Viz reluctantly began to censor the series in 2000 to maintain its wide distribution.<ref name="censorship" /><ref name="censorship2">{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-08-21/viz-explains-censorship-in-dragonball-manga|title=Viz explains censorship in Dragonball Manga|date=August 22, 2000|work=[[Anime News Network]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925092934/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-08-21/viz-explains-censorship-in-dragonball-manga|archive-date=September 25, 2016}}</ref> Viz made some "concessions" as well,<ref name="censorship2" /> and assured readers that all changes were approved by Toriyama and Shueisha. Toriyama made suggestions himself such as obscuring Goku's genitals with objects, rather than "neuter him."<ref name="censorship2" /> A fan petition was created, garnering over 10,000 signatures, and a year later, Viz announced they would stop censoring ''Dragon Ball'' and increased its "age rating" to 13 and up instead, reprinting the first three graphic novels.<ref name="censorship" /><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-03-09/dragonball-manga-to-remain-unedited|title=Dragonball Manga to remain Unedited|date=March 9, 2001|work=[[Anime News Network]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916190303/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-03-09/dragonball-manga-to-remain-unedited|archive-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> However, they continued to censor several characters' lips by shading them in completely. This avoided racist stereotypes, such as that of [[Mr. Popo]]'s image.<ref name="IGNPopo">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/11/whats-wrong-with-dragon-ball-z-part-two|title=What's Wrong With Dragon Ball Z Part Two|date=April 11, 2008|author=Isler, Ramsey|work=[[IGN]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620100538/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/11/whats-wrong-with-dragon-ball-z-part-two|archive-date=June 20, 2016}}</ref> In October 2009, [[Wicomico County Public Schools]] in Maryland banned the ''Dragon Ball'' manga from their school district because it "depicts nudity, sexual contact between children and sexual innuendo among adults and children."<ref name="Maryland" /> Esther Keller, Robin Brenner and Eva Volin of ''[[School Library Journal]]'' had no opinion on whether or not removing the manga from all schools in that district was right. However, Brenner and Volin criticized the parents who had a problem with the manga for going to a county council member who is involved with politics instead of to the librarian of the school that carried the manga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/2009/10/12/roundtable-dragon-ball-and-school-libraries/|title=Roundtable: Dragon Ball and school libraries — Good Comics for Kids|last=Alverson|first=Brigid|date=October 12, 2009|work=[[School Library Journal]]|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802175206/http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/2009/10/12/roundtable-dragon-ball-and-school-libraries/|archive-date=August 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>