Dragon Ball

Start here. Dragon Ball follows Son Goku, a monkey-tailed boy living alone in the mountains, whose life changes when he meets Bulma, a teenage girl searching for seven mystical Dragon Balls that can grant any wish. What begins as a lighthearted adventure comedy loosely inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West gradually transforms into one of the most influential action stories ever told.

Why Start Here

Dragon Ball is the foundation of everything Toriyama built. Starting from the beginning lets you experience the full arc of his creative evolution: the slapstick humor and inventive world-building of the early chapters, the tightening focus on martial arts tournaments in the middle stretch, and the explosive power escalation of the later sagas. Each phase reveals a different side of his genius.

The early volumes are pure fun. Toriyama’s comedic timing is impeccable, his character designs are instantly iconic, and he draws action sequences with a clarity that makes complex fights easy to follow. You do not need any background in manga to enjoy this. The art does the heavy lifting.

What to Expect

A sprawling adventure that covers Goku’s journey from childhood to fatherhood across 42 volumes (published in the West as Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z). The tone shifts significantly over time. The first third is a comedy adventure with martial arts tournaments. The second third introduces higher stakes and interplanetary threats. The final stretch is pure high-powered battle manga. Toriyama never loses his sense of humor, though. Even in the most intense fights, there are moments of absurd comedy that only he could pull off.

The page count is substantial, but the reading pace is fast. Toriyama’s layouts are clean and dynamic, designed to keep you turning pages without effort.