The Dragon Ball Gallery
One manga, drawn once, collected four ways in Japan and split in two in America, then animated three times over: the shelf where the editions stand side by side.
Dragon Ball ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995, 519 chapters by Akira Toriyama, and the Library already keeps its Jump run, its editors, its inspirations, and its first games on the Dragon Ball shelf of the hub. This gallery is the editions door: the first volume in its two languages, the four collected shapes Japan gave the same chapters, and the questions those shapes raise, with the fighting games, which live on the Fighting Games shelf, reached by cross doors only.
VOLUME ONE, TWO LANGUAGES
Shueisha · Viz Media
Japan · Tankobon
The first Japanese volume: Goku saluting from Shenlong's back, the Jump Comics banner above. One of 42 volumes that sold 160 million copies in Japan.
America · Viz
The same Toriyama art on Viz red. The English line kept this cover and split the series in two at volume 17, a border Japan never drew.
The Editions
How is the Dragon Ball manga collected? Forty two, thirty four, thirty two, and eighteen volumes, all of them the same 519 chapters.
The Jump Run
How did Dragon Ball run in Weekly Shonen Jump? The magazine years, on the existing shelf.
The Shared World
How are Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump connected? One world, one crossover, on the existing shelf.
THE FOUR JAPANESE EDITIONS
1985 to 2017
Kanzenban · 2002 to 2004
Cover gap, honestly held: Toriyama drew 34 brand new covers for the Perfect Edition, restored its color pages, and rewrote its ending. No verified cover file was cleared for this page at build time, so the owl stands in.
Full Color · 2013 to 2016
Cover gap, honestly held: Shueisha's digitally colored edition, 32 volumes reorganized by story arc. No verified cover file was cleared for this page at build time, so the owl stands in.
THE ANIME, AGAINST THE MANGA
Toei AnimationNot in the Manga
How much of Dragon Ball Z is not in the manga? One full arc, a fake planet, and a driving test, counted.
The Driving Test
Why do Goku and Piccolo learn to drive? Chi-Chi ordered it, in the most beloved filler episode ever made.
His Part in GT
What did Toriyama actually do on Dragon Ball GT? The name, the cast, the robot, and the blessing.
The Kai Revision
What changed in Dragon Ball Z Kai? 291 episodes became 159, and the new score was thrown out.
The Music
Who composed Dragon Ball's music? Shunsuke Kikuchi, 23 packages and hundreds of pieces.
The Voice
Why does a woman voice Goku? Toriyama chose Masako Nozawa, and she never handed the role over.
THE GAMES, ACROSS THE HALL
Cross doors · Fighting Games shelfBudokai, 2002
The History of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. The 3D return that shipped three and a half million copies.
Super Butoden
The History of Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden, on the Fighting Games shelf. Cross door only.
The First Game
What was the first Dragon Ball video game? A 1986 Epoch shooter, on the existing shelf.