Dragon Ball

Super Saiyan

Dragon Ball

See also: List of Dragon Ball manga volumes

Written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball was initially serialized in the manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump starting on December 3, 1984.^[5] The series ended on June 5, 1995 when Toriyama grew exhausted and felt he needed a break from drawing.^[5] The 519 individual chapters were published into 42 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha from November 10, 1985 through August 4, 1995.^[12][13][14] In 2004, the chapters were re-released in a collection of 34 kanzenban volumes, which included a slightly rewritten ending, new covers, and color artwork from its Weekly Shōnen Jump run. Toriyama also created a short series, Neko Majin, that became a self-parody of Dragon Ball. First appearing in Weekly Shōnen Jump in August 1999, the eight chapter series was released sporadically until it was completed in 2005. These chapters were compiled into a "kanzenban"-style package for release in Japan on April 4, 2005.^[15]
The Dragon Ball manga was licensed for release in English in North America by Viz Media which has released all 42 volumes. Viz released volumes 17 through 42 under the title Dragon Ball Z to mimic the name of the anime series adaptated from those volumes, feeling it would reduce the potential for confusion by its readers. They initially released both series in a monthly comic book format starting in 1998, and later began collecting them in graphic novels.^[16][17] The first 10 volumes of both series were re-released from March to May 2003 under the "Shonen Jump" format, with Dragon Ball being completed on August 3, 2004 and Dragon Ball Z finishing on June 6, 2006.^[18][19] In June 2008, Viz began re-releasing the two series in a wideban format called "VIZBIG Edition," which collects three individual volumes into a single large volume.^[20][21]
In 2006, Toriyama and One Piece author Eiichiro Oda teamed up to create a single chapter crossover of their individual hit series. Entitled Cross Epoch, the chapter was published in the December 25, 2006 issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump.^{[citation needed]}

Spin-offs

A manga adaptation of Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! illustrated by Ooishi Naho, was published in the March 21, 2009 and April 21, 2009 issues of V Jump.^[22]
A spinoff manga titled Dragon Ball SD, written by Ooishi Naho, has been published in Shueisha's Super Strong Jump magazine beginning in December 2010.^[23] A second issue was released in April 2011.^[24] This manga is a retelling of Goku's adventures as a child, with many details changed.^[25]
Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock is a special manga made by Ooishi Naho released in the July 2011 issue of V-Jump. As the title indicates the story revolves around Bardock, Goku's father, who in this 3-part special is featured in a "what-if" scenario in which he didn't die at the hands of Frieza and gets to fight his enemy as a Super Saiyan. The fact that Bardock will appear as a Super Saiyan is based on the Dragon Ball Heroes card featuring him as one.^[26] This manga is a sequel to the TV special Bardock - The Father of Goku with some key details changed.