Taopaipai & Master Karin

is the eighth volume of the original Dragon Ball manga series by Akira Toriyama. It was released on July 10, 1987 in Japan and in May 2003 for the English version. It concludes the Red Ribbon Army arc by finishing the Commander Red Saga.
==Blurb==
Taopaipai & Master Karin
Tired of losing their best operatives to Son Goku, the commanders of the Red Ribbon Army hire Taopaipai, the world's greatest assassin, to "take care" of him permanently! To have a chance of defeating this new opponent, Goku must climb the miles-high Karin Tower, where a mysterious hermit guards a jug of magic water which will grant the one who drinks it super strength. And while Goku struggles to get the magic water, time is running out…because Commander Red only needs two more Dragon Balls to make his deepest, darkest wishes come true!
===Story===
 Now, frustrated by Goku's continued interference, Commander Red has hired an assassin to get rid of him once and for all…
==Volume introduction by Akira Toriyama==
"On days when I have to inking Dragon Ball, I get up around noon, eat breakfast, and then from 1 p.m., I begin working together with my assistant Matsuyama. I take a break from 7 to 8 p.m. to eat dinner, walk my dog, and feed my bird. Matsuyama goes home at 9 p.m., and I continue to work while watching television. I usually take a bath at 11 p.m. and then after that I relax and I continue to do a bit more working. I will then go to sleep around 4 a.m. And that is what my inking days are like."
==Characters==
===Main===
Info below is retrieved from Viz Media.
*Son Goku - Monkey-tailed young Goku has always been stronger than normal. His grandfather Gohan gave him the nyoibō, a magic staff and Kame-Sen'nin gave him the kinto'un, a magic flying cloud.
*Yamcha - Yamcha used to be a desert bandit, but he went to the city to be Bulma's boyfriend. He uses "Fist of the Wolf-Fang" kung-fu. Pu'ar is his shapeshifting friend.
*Bulma - A genius inventor, Bulma met Goku on her quest for the seven magical Dragon Balls.
*Lunch - A strange woman whose personality changes whenever she sneezes.
*Kuririn - Goku's former martial arts schoolmate under Kame-Sen'nin.
*Bora & Upa - A father and son who live in the Karin Sanctuary. When Bora defended his land from the Red Ribbon Army, they kidnapped his son. But Goku rescued Upa and brought him back to safety.
*Commander Red - The ultimate authority of the Red Ribbon Army, he wants to gather all the Dragon Balls so that his wish can be granted.
*Taopaipai - The world's deadliest assassin.
*Kame-Sen'nin (The "Turtle Hermit") - A lecherous but powerful old man martial artist master (also known as the muten-rôshi, or "Invincible Old Master") who trained Goku's grandfather, Son Gohan, as well as Goku himself. He taught Goku the kamehameha attack.
*Adjutant Black - Commander Red's advisor and second-in-command.
*General Blue - A cruel, vain sub-commander of the Red Ribbon Army. Goku defeated him but General Blue managed to hang onto Bulma's Dragon Radar that detects the Dragon Balls!
===Supporting===
*Korin
*Colonel Violet
==Chapters==
==Battles==
*General Blue vs. Mercenary Tao
*Goku vs. Mercenary Tao
*Goku vs. Red Ribbon Army Solders
*Goku vs. Staff Officer Black
==Differences from the anime==
*In the manga, Tao is defeated quickly in his second fight against Goku. In the anime, Tao climbs up Korin Tower himself while Goku waits at the bottom.
==References==
==Site Navigation==
Category:Manga Volumes
Category:Commander Red Saga