The Ultimate Dragon Ball Manga Reading Guide

Tags: Anime Guide, dragon ball

This article present you the ultimate Dragon Ball Manga Reading Guide

If you’re a fan of Dragon Ball, then chances are you’ve probably watched the anime or read the manga. However, with over 500 chapters and several spin-offs, it can be overwhelming to know where to start or what to read next.

That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate Dragon Ball manga reading guide to help you navigate through the series, this guide could also help to continue from where you stop or easily jump from one section to another in chronological order. In future articles, you will get a complete guide of the list of chapters of other sequels of the series like Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super.

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular and beloved anime and manga series of all time. The series has been running for over 30 years and has spawned countless sequels, spin-offs, and video games. If you’re a fan of Dragon Ball, or if you’re just looking for a new manga series to read, then this guide is for you.

Let’s get started with a brief plot about the Dragon Ball manga series before heading to the main section which is why you are reading this article “The Ultimate Dragon Ball Manga Reading Guide”

About Dragon Ball

The Dragon Ball manga series is written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It follows the adventures of Goku, a young boy who trains to become the strongest warrior in the world. The series is divided into two main parts: Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z.

It tells the story of Goku from his childhood to his marriage. It is a more lighthearted series that focuses on Goku’s adventures as he searches for the Dragon Balls, seven magical orbs that can grant any wish. Along the way, he meets a variety of friends and allies, including Bulma, Yamcha, Krillin, and Tien

Dragon Ball franchise has a total of 42 Volumes and the first 16 volumes make up the first part of the franchise aka Dragon Ball with 194 chapters.

List of Volumes and Chapters of the Dragon Ball Manga Series

1. Volume 1 – The Monkey King

The Ultimate Dragon Ball Manga Reading Guide

Japanese Release Date: September 10, 1985
English Release Date: March 12, 2003

Meet Goku, an innocent young monkey-tailed boy whose calm life is transformed when he meets Bulma, a female who is on a mission to gather seven “Dragon Balls.” A tremendously potent dragon will materialize and grant her one wish if she collects them all.

However, the priceless orbs are dispersed over the globe, and Bulma needs Goku’s assistance (as well as his tremendous strength)! Goku embarks on the journey of a lifetime with a flying cloud for a vehicle and a mystical staff for a weapon.

1. “Bloomers and the Monkey King”
2. “No Balls!”
3. “Sea Monkeys”
4. “They Call Him…the Turtle Hermit!”
5. “Oo! Oo! Oolong!”
6. “So Long, Oolong!”
7. “Yamcha and Pu’ar”
8. “One, Two, Yamcha-Cha!”
9. “Dragon Balls in Danger!!”
10. “Onward to Fry-Pan…”
11. “…And into the Fire!”

2. Volume 2 – Wish Upon a Dragon

Japanese Release Date: January 10, 1986
English Release Date: March 12, 2003

Goku and Bulma have almost all the Dragon Balls they need to fulfill their wishes thanks to the (reluctant) assistance of the shape-shifting pig Oolong!

The terrifying Ox-King sends Goku on a journey to find Kame-Sen’nin, the Turtle Hermit, whose powerful abilities can quell the raging fires of Fry-Pan Mountain, in order to obtain the sixth Dragon Ball.

It might end up being more hassle than it’s worth because of the sleazy old martial artist, though! The heroes then carry on their search for the seventh and final Dragon Ball while being pursued by the thieves Yamcha and Puar. However, will they be able to obtain it from the young Emperor Pilaf, who desires to exploit his yearning to dominate the world?

12. “In Search of Kame-Sen’nin”
13. “Fanning the Flame”
14. “Kame Kame Kame Kame Kame Chameleon”
15. “At Sixes and Sevens”
16. “One Goal, One Enemy”
17. “Carrot Top”
18. “Who’s Got My Balls?!”
19. “At Last… the Dragon!”
20. “Just One Wish!!”
21. “Full Moon”
22. “The End of the Tale”
23. “Separate Ways”
24. “The High Price of Education”

3. Volume 3 – The Training of Kame-Sen’nin

Japanese Release Date: June 10, 1986
English Release Date: March 12, 2003

After Bulma’s summer vacation is finished and the Dragon Balls are lost, Goku travels to the isolated home of the Turtle Hermit, Kame-Sen’nin, to receive martial arts instruction.

There, the girl-swooning old master makes a pledge to teach Goku everything he knows and to get him ready for the Tenka’ichi Budôkai, the important competition to find the world’s strongest fighter.

Kuririn, a Shaolin monk and Goku’s classmate isn’t above lying or cheating to get ahead. Can they get along while undergoing the most bizarre martial arts instruction ever?

25. “A Rival Arrives!!”
26. “Who’s That Girl?”
27. “Nothing to Sneeze At”
28. “Let the Training Begin!”
29. “Bad Day at Turtle Rock”
30. “Milk Run”
31. “It Only Gets Harder”
32. “Let the Contest Begin!!”
33. “Hard Work Pays!!”
34. “Strongest Under the Heavens!”
35. “The Battle is Set!!”
36. “Match No. 1”

4. Volume 4 – Strongest Under The Heavens

Japanese Release Date: October 9, 1986
English Release Date: March 12, 2003

Even Kame-Sen’nin’s martial arts training couldn’t have prepared Goku for the Tenka’ichi Budôkai, the top martial arts competition in the world. There are now just seven finalists. Will Goku be the winner? Kuririn, a fellow student? Yamcha, the “Fist of the Wolf Fang” master?

Ran Fuan, a combative woman? Giran: a dinosaur-part rubber monster? An Indian mystic named Namu? Or Jackie Chun, the enigmatic elderly man who is reputed to be the toughest fighter ever? In the craziest, wildest combat of all time, there can only be one victor!

37. “Match No. 2”
38. “Water and Cheesecake”
39. “Monster Smash”
40. “The Tail of Goku”
41. “Kuririn vs. Jackie Chun”
42. “The Big Fight”
43. “The Mysterious Jackie Chun”
44. “The Name of the Game is Namu”
45. “Taking the Air”
46. “The Final Match”
47. “The Kamehameha”
48. “One Lucky Monkey”

5. Volume 5 – The Red Ribbon Army

Japanese Release Date: January 9, 1987
English Release Date: March 12, 2003

Goku will face Jackie Chun, the enigmatic old man who is as strong as Kame-Sen’nin himself, in the “Strongest under the Heavens” championship match. Will the audience make it through the conflict?

When the smoke clears, Goku leaps into his flying cloud and resumes his search for the seven Dragon Balls, but this time he’s not alone.

Goku must go around the world and make it through Colonel White’s Muscle Tower’s six lethal floors in order to foil the villainous Red Ribbon Army’s ambitions to take the Dragon Balls for themselves.

49. “The Big Sleep”
50. “Jackie’s Shocking Secret”
51. “And the Crowd Goes Wild!!!”
52. “The Climax Approaches!”
53. “The Final Blow”
54. “On the Road Again”
55. “The Red Ribbon”
56. “The Dragon Ball Scramble”
57. “The Storming of Muscle Tower”
58. “The Flexing of Muscle Tower”
59. “Devil on the Third Floor”
60. “Purple People Beater”

6. Volume 6 – Bulma Returns

Japanese Release Date: March 10, 1987
English Release Date: March 12, 2003

Goku resumes his lone battle with the Red Ribbon Army in the frozen north as he storms the dangerous Muscle Tower! Can he battle General White’s army of ninjas, cyborgs, and worse to free the oppressed citizens of Jingle Village?

Then, after seeing Bulma in the City of the West, Goku sets out on his mission with the assistance of Bulma’s most recent innovations. They travel across the globe to a rainforest island in the South Pacific on their search for the next Dragon Ball, but in order to obtain THIS Dragon Ball, they must first deal with General Blue.

61. “The 4½ Tatami Mat Flip”
62. “The Ninja Split!”
63. “Mechanical Man No. 8”
64. “The Horrible…Jiggler!”
65. “How to Unjiggle a Jiggler”
66. “Muscle Tower’s Final Hour”
67. “Go West, Young Goku”
68. “Monkey in the City”
69. “Bulma and Goku”
70. “Bulma’s Big Mistake!”
71. “The Turtle is Spotted!”
72. “The Blue Meanies”

7. Volume 7 – General Blue And The Pirate Treasure

Japanese Release Date: May 8, 1987
English Release Date: March 12, 2003

The Red Ribbon Army and the seven Dragon Balls, which have the power to grant every wish in the world, are separated only by Goku, Bulma, and Kuririn! The brave three search a pirate’s underwater lair for the next Dragon Ball using a submarine that Kame-Sen’nin has lent them, but gun-toting bad men are hot on their trail!

They now have to contend with the evil General Blue, a martial artist with abilities that Goku does not possess, in addition to dangerous pirate traps.

Can they survive the cave’s entrance? Goku and General Blue visit Penguin Village, one of the oddest places on Earth and the residence of the eccentric scientist Dr. Slump, as the conflict rages on.

73. “The Wrong Turtle to Mess With”
74. “The Pirates’ Trap”
75. “Robot in Waiting!”
76. “The Treasure!”
77. “Bright Blue Eyes”
78. “The Great Escape!”
79. “Run, Run, Run!”
80. “The Three Stolen Dragon Balls”
81. “Chased to Penguin Village!”
82. “The Broken Dragon Radar”
83. “The Stolen Dragon Radar”
84. “The Karin Sanctuary”

8. Volume 8 – Taopaipai & Master Karin

Japanese Release Date: July 10, 1987
English Release Date: May 7, 2003

The Red Ribbon Army’s leaders employ Taopaipai, the greatest assassin in the world, to “take care” of Son Goku permanently since they are sick of losing their best agents to Son Goku.

Goku must scale the miles-high Karin Tower, where a mysterious hermit guards a jug of magic water that will give its drinker incredible strength, in order to stand a chance of fighting this new foe.

Time is running short when Goku tries to obtain the magical water, as Commander Red only needs two more Dragon Balls to fulfill his most fervent desires!

85. “Taopaipai the Assassin”
86. “The Devastating Dodon-Pa!!!”
87. “The Great Climb”
88. “Sage of the Karin Tower”
89. “A Drink of Water”
90. “Son Goku Strikes Back!”
91. “Battle in the Sanctuary!!”
92. “Taopaipai at the Brink”
93. “Goku’s Charge”
94. “Attack from the Sky”
95. “The Fall of Commander Red”
96. “The Triumph!”

9. Volume 9 – Test Of The All-Seeing Crone

Japanese Release Date: September 10, 1987
English Release Date: May 7, 2003

Goku discovers that one Dragon Ball is still missing after defeating the Red Ribbon Army by himself and stealing their Dragon Balls. He visits the home of Baba Uranai, the All-Seeing Crone, who can find anything in the world—for a fee—in order to find it.

In exchange for Goku and his companions Yamcha, Pu’ar, Kuririn, and Upa defeating her five supernatural champions in a single match, the crone promises to find the Dragon Ball for free. But even if they succeed in defeating Dracula, the Mummy, and the Devil, the final adversary can still surprise Goku to the core!

97. “The Lost Dragon Ball”
98. “The All-Seeing Crone”
99. “The Five Champions”
100. “Battle of the Bleeders”
101. “The Devil’s Cesspool”
102. “Goku at the Plate!”
103. “The Power of Goku”
104. “The Beam of Evil”
105. “The Last Champion”
106. “Strong vs. Strong”
107. “To Win By a Tail”
108. “Son Gohan”

10. Volume 10 – Return To The Tournament

Japanese Release Date: November 10, 1987
English Release Date: May 7, 2003

To bring Upa’s father back to life, Goku just needs one more Dragon Ball, but the Ball is in the possession of an old foe! As they separate ways, Goku and his comrades make a commitment to reunite at the Tenka’ichi Budôkai, the “Strongest-Under-the-Heavens” Martial Arts Tournament, in three years.

However, the rivalry is fiercer than ever this time thanks to Tenshinhan and Chaozu, the dangerous followers of Tsuru-Sen’nin, the Crane Hermit! Will the turtle-style kung fu of Kame-Sen’nin defeat the crane-style? Or will their weird new adversaries prevail?

109. “A Second Helping of Pilaf”
110. “The Pilaf Machine”
111. “Reenter the Dragon”
112. “Go, Goku, Go!”
113. “Return to the Tournament”
114. “The Qualifying Rounds”
115. “King Chappa”
116. “The Doctored Lottery”
117. “Yamcha’s Kamehameha!”
118. “The Cruelty of Tenshinhan”
119. “The Full Moon Grudge”
120. “Look Out! The Dodon Blast!”

11. Volume 11 – The Eyes of Tenshinhan

Japanese Release Date: February 10, 1988
English Release Date: May 7, 2003

There can be only one victor in the Tenka’ichi Budôkai, which is getting heated up! Jackie Chun, the winner of the previous competition, battles Tenshinhan, the three-eyed “Crane School” kung fu master!

The eagerly anticipated duel between Goku and Kuririn follows, and guess who has a few tricks up his sleeve?

Tenshinhan, however, isn’t simply trying to win; he’s also out to exact an act of deadly revenge on his master, the Crane Hermit, whose brother Goku killed. It all comes down to a final battle so brutal that even the spectators might not make it out alive!

121. “Kuririn’s Master Plan”
122. “Goku vs. Panpoot”
123. “Tenshinhan vs. Jackie Chun”
124. “Young Tenshinhan”
125. “Goku vs. Kuririn”
126. “Goku vs. Kuririn, Part 2”
127. “Goku vs. Kuririn, Part 3”
128. “Goku vs. Tenshinhan”
129. “The Volleyball Play”
130. “The Fist of the Sun”
131. “Tsuru-Sen’nin”
132. “The Arms Race”

12. Volume 12 – The Demon King Piccolo

Japanese Release Date: April 8, 1988
English Release Date: August 6, 2003

When a lizard-like monster kills Kuririn, Goku goes in pursuit of the killer and encounters his most dreadful foe yet: the terrible Demon King Piccolo!

After being imprisoned for generations, Piccolo is finally released and unleashes waves of monsters on a quest to find the Dragon Balls and wipe out any martial artists who might stand in his way.

After having his flying cloud destroyed, Goku becomes lost in the bush and comes into an unexpected new buddy. Kame-Sen’nin is crafting a last-ditch strategy to defeat Piccolo, but at what price?

133. “Desperation Move”
134. “Up in the Air”
135. “The Death of Kuririn”
136. “Target: Tenka’ichi Budokai”
137. “We Need You, Goku!”
138. “The Weirdo with the Ball”
139. “Yajirobe’s Prey”
140. “The Martial Artist Hunters”
141. “Goku vs. Tambourine”
142. “Piccolo Descends!”
143. “Goku vs. The Demon King”
144. “Goku… Loses?”

13. Volume 13 – Piccolo Conquers The World

Japanese Release Date: June 10, 1988
English Release Date: October 22, 2003

Piccolo rejuvenates himself by making a wish on the Dragon Balls, growing stronger than ever! He takes a plane to the palace of the King of the World, proclaims himself the new monarch, and begins broadcasting his reign of terror on Global TV!

Only Tenshinhan and Goku have a chance to defeat Piccolo: Tenshinhan by learning a martial arts technique that can kill its user, and Goku by ingesting a magic elixir that could either make him stronger or kill him as well! While the two heroes sacrifice their lives to save the planet, Yajirobe overeats and becomes ill.

145. “The Muten-Rōshi’s Decision”
146. “The Mafū-Ba”
147. “The Demon King of Old… Restored!”
148. “Go Ask Karin!”
149. “World Domination”
150. “Karin’s Quandary”
151. “The Superest Super Water!!!”
152. “Piccolo’s World”
153. “Tenshinhan’s Resolve”
154. “Tenshinhan vs. Drum”
155. “Guess Who’s Back?”
156. “Fury”

14. Volume 14 – Heaven And Earth

Japanese Release Date: August 10, 1988
English Release Date: January 21, 2004

The only person on Earth who is capable of taking on Piccolo, the Great Demon King, is Goku. He is the world’s only hope. However, Piccolo gives birth to a younger, even tougher version of himself, who will return in three years to finish the destruction his father started.

As a result, the war to destroy the city comes to an end. Goku looks up to the heavenly realm of Kami-sama, the Dragon Ball universe’s creator and deity, in quest of a strategy to destroy the new Piccolo. But there’s a startling secret that Piccolo and Kami-sama share.

157. “The Immortal Battle”
158. “Goku’s Greatest Crisis!”
159. “The Blasted Earth”
160. “Goku’s Final Gamble”
161. “The Fist of Son Goku”
162. “The Niyoi-bo’s Secret”
163. “The Sanctuary of Kami-sama”
164. “Enter God”
165. “Shen Long Resurrected!”
166. “The Reunion”
167. “New Challengers”
168. “The 8 Finalists”

15. Volume 15 – The Titanic Tournament

Japanese Release Date: December 6, 1988
English Release Date: April 21, 2004

The best martial artists in the world have gathered for the “Strongest Under the Heavens” contest! However, formidable foes await Kuririn, Goku, Tenshinhan, and Yamcha. Goku and Tenshinhan are targets of the resurrected cyborg assassin Taopaipai!

An unidentified young woman harbors animosity toward Goku. The only “mystery” surrounding the inept salaryman Shen is how he managed to advance to the final stages. The final competitor is the newly enhanced Piccolo, for whom winning the competition is merely a first step toward ruling the entire planet.

169. “Tenshinhan vs. Taopaipai”
170. “The Assassin’s Struggle”
171. “Goku Gets Married!”
172. “Kuririn vs. Demon Junior”
173. “Kuririn vs. Demon Junior, Part 2”
174. “Yamcha vs. Shen”
175. “Shen”
176. “Goku vs. Tenshinhan”
177. “Goku vs. Tenshinhan, Part 2”
178. “Tenshinhan’s Secret Move!”
179. “The Two Weak Points”
180. “Kami-sama vs. the Demon King”

16. Volume 16 – Goku vs. Piccolo

Japanese Release Date: February 10, 1989
English Release Date: August 3, 2004

Only Goku, Piccolo, and Shen—the cloaked Kami-sama—remain as the “Strongest Under the Heavens” martial arts competition comes to an end! Even a god, however, cannot stand against Piccolo’s new abilities, and soon Goku finds himself fighting…alone… in a conflict that will determine not only the world’s ruler but also the best fighter!

At the suspenseful end of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball, the audience runs for their lives as the battle tears the sky asunder!

181. “God’s Miscalculation”
182. “The Fated Showdown!”
183. “Testing the Waters”
184. “The Real Fight”
185. “The Super Kamehameha”
186. “Panic at the Tenkaichi Budokai!”
187. “Piccolo’s Super Giantification Spell”
188. “Goku’s Fight”
189. “The Demon King’s Final Gamble”
190. “Piccolo Destroys Everything!”
191. “The 10 Count”
192. “The Last Gasp!”
193. “The Fate of the Strongest”
194. “The Gift of the Dragon Balls”

Dragon Ball manga is a must-read for any fan of the series. Whether you’re just starting out or have been a fan for years, there’s always something new to discover in the Dragon Ball universe. Hopefully, this ultimate Dragon Ball manga reading guide has helped you navigate through the series and find your next read.

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Published on: June 7, 2023

Author: Lolita Rogers

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