How to Read the Dragon Ball Manga?

The Ultimate Guide to Reading the Canon Manga Content of Dragon Ball 2025 - 03 - 14

We will show you the most accurate way to read the entire Dragon Ball manga in order, including all the canon content.

In this article, we want to present the ultimate guide to reading the Dragon Ball manga in the correct order while following the canon established by Toriyama, from the beginning of Goku's story to its conclusion. Not all of Dragon Ball's canonical story is found in the original work and its continuation, Super. Some parts must be read in Anime Comics and certain spin-offs.

If we asked you, "How and which Dragon Ball manga collections should you read to understand everything?", most would answer: the original manga by Toriyama and the Super manga by Toyotaro. But... that wouldn't be entirely correct.

That's why we've created this article—to serve as your guide, helping you discover where to find, what to read, and in what order to experience everything canonical related to the story of Goku and his friends.

To follow the story in chronological order, adhere to this sequence:

  • Dragon Ball Minus: A special included in the Jaco volume, recounting how Bardock sent Goku to Earth.
  • Jaco, the Galactic Patrolman: Chronicles Jaco’s adventures with Bulma’s sister. He is sent to Earth to prevent a newly dispatched Saiyan baby from arriving (spoiler: he does, and it’s Kakarot).
  • Dragon Ball (Original), Chapters 1 to 350: From Goku and Bulma’s first meeting to the arrival of Androids 16, 17, and 18.
  • Trunks: The Story: A special included in volume 33 of the Japanese edition, detailing Trunks' alternate future up to that point.
  • Dragon Ball (Original), Chapters 351 to 517 (Page 10): Concludes the Majin Buu saga, just before the 10-year time skip in the manga.
  • DB: Goku and His Friends Return: A manga drawn by Ooishi Naho (Dragon Ball SD author), narrating an adventure shortly after the Majin Buu battle, introducing Vegeta’s brother. (Not published in Spain).
  • Dragon Ball Super, Chapters 1 to 4: Covers events up until Sorbet begins searching for the Dragon Balls to revive Frieza.
  • Anime Comic DBZ: Resurrection ‘F’: This canonical story is not included in the Super manga.
  • Dragon Ball Super, Chapters 5 to 42 (Page 34): Ends with the Tournament of Power, leading into the events of the Broly movie.
  • Anime Comic DB Super: Broly: This story is not fully depicted in the manga, requiring reference to this anime comic.
  • Dragon Ball Super, Chapters 42 (Page 35) to the end: Continues from the events of Broly through to the manga’s conclusion.
  • Dragon Ball (Original), Chapters 517 (Page 11) to 519: Marks the end of the original manga, where Goku departs with Uub.
How to Read the Canon Dragon Ball Manga
How to Read the Canon Dragon Ball Manga

Some Figures, Games, or Manga We Have Cataloged

Here is a sample of everything you can find on the portal, from Dragon Stars or SH Figuarts figures, Dragon Ball Super, Heroes manga, or the Compendiums, to Sparking Zero and the very first game released on the Game Boy Color.

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball

Colecction:
Serie Amarilla
Number:
082
Year:
1998
Type:
Manga
Format:
Magazine
Binding:
Saddle stitch
Cover:
Paperback
Buy:
SHF - DB Super (Super Hero) - Gamma 2 - 2023

Gamma 2

Year:
2023
Run:
Exclusive
Tamashii Web Exclusive
Body:
2.5
Saga:
DB Super - Super Hero
Number:
140
Buy:
Dragon Stars Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta - DB Super Broly - 2019

Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta

Year:
2019
Run:
Standard line
Line:
Series 11
Saga:
DB Super - Broly
Number:
039
Buy:
Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball

Colecction:
Serie Amarilla
Number:
149
Year:
2000
Type:
Manga
Format:
Magazine
Binding:
Saddle stitch
Cover:
Paperback
Buy:
Funko Pop! Animation 1705 - DB Super Super Hero - Cell Max

Cell Max

Year:
2024
Run:
Standard line
Saga:
DB Super - Super Hero
Number:
1705
Buy:
Dragon Stars Series - Frieza Final Form - DB FigtherZ - Exclusive 2018

Frieza Final Form 'Clon'

Year:
2018
Run:
Exclusive
USA
Line:
BAF
Shenron
Saga:
DB FighterZ
Number:
027
Buy:
Funko Pop! Animation 948 - Exclusive FYE - DBZ - Super Saiyan Goku Kamehameha Wave GITD

Super Saiyan Goku with Kamehameha

Year:
2021
Run:
Exclusive
Line:
GITD
Saga:
Dragon Ball Z
Number:
0948
Buy:
DBZ: Garlic Junior Inmortal

DBZ: Garlic Junior Inmortal

Colecction:
Anime Cómics
Number:
2ª Parte
Year:
1998
Type:
Manga
Format:
Tankobon
Binding:
Softcover
Cover:
Paperback
Buy:
Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball

Colecction:
Serie Roja
Number:
189 / 36
Year:
1995
Type:
Manga
Format:
Magazine
Binding:
Softcover
Cover:
Paperback
Buy:
Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball

Colecction:
Ultimate Edition
Number:
03
Year:
2006
Type:
Manga
Format:
Kanzenban
Binding:
Softcover
Cover:
Paperback
Buy:
Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball

Colecction:
Ultimate Edition
Number:
15
Year:
2006
Type:
Manga
Format:
Kanzenban
Binding:
Softcover
Cover:
Paperback
Buy:
Funko Pop! Animation 154 - DBZ - Super Saiyan Vegeta Blue Chrome - Exclusive

Super Saiyan Vegeta

Year:
2018
Run:
Exclusive
Exclusive Event
NYCC
Line:
Chrome
Blue
Saga:
Dragon Ball Z
Number:
0154
Buy:
Funko Pop! Animation 314 - DB Super - Goku Black

Goku Black

Year:
2017
Run:
Standard line
Saga:
Dragon Ball Super
Number:
0314
Buy:
Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball

Colecction:
Serie Amarilla
Number:
141
Year:
1999
Type:
Manga
Format:
Magazine
Binding:
Saddle stitch
Cover:
Paperback
Buy:
Funko Pop! Animation 383 - DBZ - Gohan Training Outfit

Gohan (Training Outfit)

Year:
2018
Run:
Standard line
Saga:
Dragon Ball Z
Number:
0383
Buy:
SHF - Exclusive Edition - DBZ - Super Saiyan 2 Son Goku - SDCC 2022

Super Saiyan 2 Son Goku 'Exclusive Edition'

Year:
2022
Run:
Exclusive
Exclusive Event
SDCC
Body:
2.0
Saga:
Dragon Ball Z
The Menace of Buu
Number:
128
Buy:

We also have other complete lists classified by:

In addition to this Dragon Ball content, we have complete listings of Dragon Ball mangas and books, figures, and video games from this legendary story created by Akira Toriyama.
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