Dragon Ball Manga & Anime Guide: Akira Toriyama's Original Adventure
Dragon Ball Manga & Anime Guide: Akira Toriyama's Original Adventure
A monkey-tailed boy, seven magic orbs and a martial arts tournament. Where the most influential shōnen manga began.
Before the Super Saiyans and planet-destroying fights, Dragon Ball was a goofy, inventive adventure comedy. A girl named Bulma, hunting for seven magic Dragon Balls, meets a strange boy in the mountains with a monkey tail and incredible strength. That boy is Goku, and their road trip kicks off the most influential shōnen manga ever made.
We keep a good run of Viz's original Dragon Ball volumes in stock, including several from the 2nd edition. This guide covers the original series, its roots, the anime and our favourite volumes. Browse our Dragon Ball manga as you read.
Dragon Ball at a glance
- Created by: Akira Toriyama (story and art)
- Original magazine: Weekly Shōnen Jump (Shueisha), 1984 to 1995
- Volumes: 42 in Japan (519 chapters)
- English publisher: Viz Media, which publishes chapters 1–194 as Dragon Ball in 16 volumes
- Anime: Toei Animation's Dragon Ball (1986–1989), followed by Dragon Ball Z
- Inspiration: The Chinese novel Journey to the West
- Circulation: Over 260 million volumes sold worldwide by 2022
Where Dragon Ball came from
Akira Toriyama was already famous for the gag manga Dr. Slump when he started Dragon Ball in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1984, and Dr. Slump's playful humour is all over the early chapters. The story was loosely inspired by the Chinese classic Journey to the West: Goku is named after its monkey king, Sun Wukong, and even rides a flying cloud.
The story: Dragon Balls and tournaments
The first arc is a treasure hunt across a strange world of talking animals, bandits and capsule technology. Then Goku trains under the old hermit Master Roshi and enters the World Martial Arts Tournament, and the series discovers the format that made it famous. The Red Ribbon Army, the evil King Piccolo and Goku's final fight with Piccolo Jr. fill the rest of Viz's 16-volume Dragon Ball edition.
From page to screen: the Dragon Ball anime
Toei Animation's Dragon Ball anime ran from 1986 to 1989 and adapted this early part of the story, before continuing as Dragon Ball Z. The franchise has since grown to include three anime series based on the manga, dozens of films, video games and Dragon Ball Super, which continues the story beyond the manga's ending.
Akira Toriyama's legacy
Toriyama's design sense and storytelling clarity shaped almost everything that came after. Critic Jason Thompson described Dragon Ball as by far the most influential shōnen manga of the last 30 years, and Eiichiro Oda has called Toriyama his biggest influence. See our One Piece guide for how that legacy continues.
Where to start reading Dragon Ball
Start at Vol. 1 and read straight through to Vol. 16 before moving to our Dragon Ball Z guide. We currently stock several classics, including Vol. 6, Bulma Returns! and Vol. 12, The Demon King Piccolo.
Dragon Ball manga & anime timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Dragon Ball begins in Weekly Shōnen Jump. |
| 1986 | Toei Animation's Dragon Ball anime begins. |
| 1989 | The anime continues as Dragon Ball Z, covering Goku's adult adventures. |
| 1995 | The manga ends after 519 chapters in 42 volumes. |
| 2000s | Viz publishes the manga in English, splitting it into Dragon Ball (chapters 1–194) and Dragon Ball Z (from chapter 195). |
| 2022 | Dragon Ball volumes pass 260 million copies sold worldwide. |
Key characters in Dragon Ball
Goku
A super-strong, innocent boy with a monkey tail who loves food and fighting.
Bulma
A genius inventor and the Dragon Ball hunter who sets the story in motion.
Master Roshi
The pervy old hermit and martial arts master who trains Goku and Krillin.
Krillin
Goku's bald, loyal best friend and training partner.
Yamcha & Oolong
A desert bandit with a fear of girls and a shapeshifting pig.
King Piccolo
The demon king whose return turns the series darker.
Curiosities collectors should know
- Goku is based on Sun Wukong, the monkey king of Journey to the West.
- Toriyama's previous manga was the hit comedy Dr. Slump.
- The Dragon Balls grant one wish when all seven are gathered.
- Viz split the series into Dragon Ball (16 volumes) and Dragon Ball Z to match the anime.
Dragon Ball volumes worth knowing
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Vol. 1
Dragon Ball Vol. 1: The Monkey King
Goku meets Bulma and the hunt for the Dragon Balls begins.
View our copy -
Vol. 4
Dragon Ball Vol. 4: Strongest Under The Heavens
Strongest Under the Heavens: the first World Martial Arts Tournament.
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Vol. 6
Dragon Ball Vol. 6: Bulma Returns!
Bulma Returns! The Red Ribbon Army saga heats up.
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Vol. 12
Dragon Ball Vol. 12: The Demon King Piccolo
The Demon King Piccolo arrives and the tone darkens.
Browse our Dragon Ball manga -
Vol. 16
Dragon Ball Vol. 16: Goku vs. Piccolo
Goku's final battle with Piccolo Jr., closing the original Dragon Ball.
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Dragon Ball covers through the years
A look at the covers across the English-language run. Tap a cover to find it in our shop.
Vol. 1
Vol. 2
Vol. 3
Vol. 4
Vol. 5
Vol. 6
Vol. 7
Vol. 8
Vol. 9
Vol. 10
Vol. 11
Vol. 12
Vol. 13
Vol. 14
Vol. 15
Vol. 16
Dragon Ball on our shelves right now
Here are some of the volumes we currently have in stock. Every copy is checked and graded before it is listed.
You can also browse every Dragon Ball book we stock.
Frequently asked questions about Dragon Ball
Who created Dragon Ball?
Dragon Ball was written and drawn by Akira Toriyama and serialised in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995.
What is the difference between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z?
In Japan it is one manga of 42 volumes. Viz Media publishes chapters 1–194 as Dragon Ball and the rest as Dragon Ball Z, matching the names of the two Toei anime series.
How many volumes is Viz's Dragon Ball?
Viz Media publishes the first 194 chapters as Dragon Ball in 16 volumes, then continues the story as Dragon Ball Z.
What inspired Dragon Ball?
Dragon Ball was inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West. Goku is based on its monkey king, Sun Wukong.
When did the Dragon Ball anime air?
Toei Animation's Dragon Ball anime aired from 1986 to 1989, then continued as Dragon Ball Z.
Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Dragon Ball books of your own you would like to sell? Email us at contact@siomiccomics.com. Dragon Ball and all related characters are trademarks of Bird Studio / Shueisha. Cover images are shown for reference.