Back in the day, a mid tier guy like Nappa could level an entire city with two fingers just to flex. By the time Goku went Super Saiyan on Namek, the whole planet was literally falling apart because the power levels were too high to contain. You felt the weight of every move.
Fast forward to the DBS Manga, and we have characters with Universe shattering power fighting in a slightly dusty wasteland. Again.
The Granolah arc panels are the perfect example. He’s supposed to be the strongest in the universe, yet his massive attacks just leave a clean little crater in the dirt. It feels so safe and contained. In DBZ, a missed shot meant a continent was gone, in the manga, it feels like they’re fighting in a backyard trying not to break the neighbor's fence.
The weirdest part? The DBS Anime actually got this right. Even with its flaws, the anime kept that Z vibe. When Goku and Beerus clashed, the shockwaves were literally threatening to delete the universe. In the TOP, the entire Void was getting shaking. The anime understands that Dragon Ball needs to be loud and chaotic.
But the manga? It’s too polite. I get the Ki control argument, but it’s just a boring excuse for stagnant art.
Without the collateral damage, the stakes feel non existent. It’s hard to hype up god level power when the environmental impact is lower than what Nappa was doing 30 years ago.