For a huge number of people outside Japan, Dragon Ball Z was the first anime they ever loved. After-school broadcasts of Goku powering up, screaming for what felt like entire episodes, introduced a generation to Japanese animation. The manga behind it is tighter, funnier and every bit as exciting.

Dragon Ball Z is one of our most stocked series, with a strong run of Viz's DBZ graphic novels. This guide covers where it came from, how it fits with Dragon Ball, the anime and the volumes we would point you to. Browse our Dragon Ball Z manga as you read.

What exactly is Dragon Ball Z?

In Japan, Dragon Ball is a single manga. "Dragon Ball Z" was the name Toei Animation gave to the second anime series, covering Goku's adult adventures from the arrival of his brother Raditz onwards. When Viz brought the manga to English, it followed the anime: the first 194 chapters became Dragon Ball, and everything from chapter 195 became Dragon Ball Z. For more on the early adventures, read our Dragon Ball guide.

The story: from Raditz to Buu

Goku is now an adult and a father when a stranger lands on Earth and reveals the truth: Goku is a Saiyan, a member of a warrior race from another planet. From there the scale explodes. The Saiyan saga brings Vegeta and Nappa to Earth, the Namek saga sends the heroes into space to face the tyrant Freeza, and Goku's transformation into a Super Saiyan became one of the most iconic moments in manga.

After Namek come the Androids and the terrifying Cell, introduced by a time-travelling Trunks, and finally the Buu saga, which closes the story. Toriyama's fights are a masterclass in clarity: you always know where everyone is and how hard they hit.

From page to screen: Dragon Ball Z on TV

Toei Animation's Dragon Ball Z ran from 1989 to 1996 and became a global phenomenon. Its long build-ups, filler and power-up screams became running jokes, but its music, voice acting and epic battles made it an enormous hit across Europe, Latin America and North America. The franchise later continued with Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super and many films.

Akira Toriyama's legacy

Toriyama's clean, rounded art style and his talent for design, from the Capsule Corp logo to Freeza's transformations, made Dragon Ball instantly readable. He also designed the characters for the Dragon Quest video games. Critic Jason Thompson called Dragon Ball by far the most influential shōnen manga of the last 30 years, and Eiichiro Oda of One Piece has named it his biggest influence.

Where to start reading Dragon Ball Z

If you are coming from the anime, Dragon Ball Z Vol. 1 is a perfect starting point, as Raditz arrives in the opening chapters. But if you can, read Viz's 16 Dragon Ball volumes first. The humour and characters of the early story make the drama of Z hit much harder. We currently stock several classics, including Vol. 10, Goku vs. Freeza and Vol. 12, Enter Trunks.

Dragon Ball Z manga & anime timeline

Key characters in Dragon Ball Z

Curiosities collectors should know

Dragon Ball Z volumes worth knowing

• Vol. 1

  Dragon Ball Z Vol. 1: The World's Greatest Team

  2003 · Viz Media

  Raditz arrives and Goku learns he is a Saiyan.

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• Vol. 4

  Dragon Ball Z Vol. 4: Goku Vs. Vegeta

  2003 · Viz Media

  Goku vs. Vegeta, one of the most famous duels in manga.

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• Vol. 10

  Dragon Ball Z Vol. 10: Goku Vs. Freeza

  2026 · Viz Media

  Goku vs. Freeza on a dying Namek.

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• Vol. 11

  Dragon Ball Z Vol. 11: The Super Saiyan

  2003 · Viz Media

  The Super Saiyan. The transformation that defined a generation.

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• Vol. 12

  Dragon Ball Z Vol. 12: Enter Trunks

  2003 · Viz Media

  Enter Trunks, the time traveller who sets up the Android and Cell sagas.

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Dragon Ball Z 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. 19

Dragon Ball Z 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.

Vol. 6 Vol. 10 Vol. 11 Vol. 12 Vol. 20 Vol. 24

You can also browse every Dragon Ball Z book we stock.

Frequently asked questions about Dragon Ball Z

Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Dragon Ball Z books of your own you would like to sell? Email us at contact@siomiccomics.com. Dragon Ball Z and all related characters are trademarks of Bird Studio / Shueisha. Cover images are shown for reference.