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There are 66 Dragon Ball manga volumes in total: 42 volumes in the original series (1984-1995) and 24 volumes in Dragon Ball Super (2015-ongoing). Akira Toriyama’s original run is sometimes split into “Dragon Ball” and “Dragon Ball Z” for marketing, but the manga is one continuous 42-volume story.
If you’re trying to read the manga from start to finish, or just figuring out which box set to buy, this guide covers the complete reading order, every spin-off, and where to get the best deals.
How Many Dragon Ball Manga Are There?
Dragon Ball has 42 volumes and 519 chapters. The core Dragon Ball manga consists of:
- Dragon Ball (original): 42 volumes (1984-1995)
- Dragon Ball Super: 24 volumes (2015-ongoing)
That’s 66 volumes total for the main storyline. There are also spin-offs and related manga, but these two series are the core reading.
A common point of confusion: the original 42-volume manga is sometimes split into “Dragon Ball” (volumes 1-16) and “Dragon Ball Z” (volumes 17-42) for marketing purposes. But Toriyama wrote it as one continuous story. The “Z” branding was created for the anime’s second half, not the manga.
Complete Dragon Ball Manga Reading Order
Here’s the order to read everything:
1. Dragon Ball (Volumes 1-16)
Young Goku’s adventures. Covers his training under Master Roshi, the first World Martial Arts Tournaments, the Red Ribbon Army arc, and the battle against Piccolo’s father (King Piccolo). This section has more comedy and adventure than the later arcs.
2. Dragon Ball Z (Volumes 17-42)
Adult Goku and the iconic sagas. This covers:
- Saiyan Saga: Raditz arrives, Goku learns he’s a Saiyan
- Frieza Saga: Namek, Super Saiyan transformation
- Cell Saga: Androids, Future Trunks, Cell Games
- Buu Saga: Majin Buu, fusion, Kid Buu
The Buu Saga ends with a time skip showing Goku meeting Uub at the World Tournament. This is sometimes called “End of Z.”
3. Dragon Ball Super (Volumes 1-24)
The continuation. Set after the Buu Saga but before the “End of Z” time skip. Introduces Beerus the God of Destruction, Whis, Super Saiyan God forms, and the multiverse tournament arcs. The manga has been on hiatus since spring 2024, apart from one special chapter in 2025.
Note: Dragon Ball Daima (the 2024-2025 anime) takes place between the Buu Saga and Dragon Ball Super in the timeline.
The anime is getting a do-over. Dragon Ball Super: Beerus started in October 2026 and re-animates the first three arcs of the Super anime. It tells the same story in far fewer episodes.
Not sure they’ll stick with Super? Volume 1 is around $12 and a cheap way to find out before you buy the rest.
Dragon Ball vs Dragon Ball Z – What’s the Difference?
This confuses a lot of people, so let’s clear it up:
The manga: There is no “Dragon Ball Z” manga. Toriyama’s manga is just called “Dragon Ball” from volume 1 to volume 42. It’s one continuous story.
The anime: The anime was split into two series for broadcast. “Dragon Ball” covered the first part (young Goku), and “Dragon Ball Z” covered the second part (Saiyan Saga onward). The “Z” was added to signal the show was entering its final phase – “Z” being the last letter of the alphabet.
The box sets: VIZ Media sells the manga in two box sets that follow the anime’s split: “Dragon Ball” (volumes 1-16) and “Dragon Ball Z” (volumes 17-42, renumbered as volumes 1-26). This is purely for marketing convenience. The story is the same as reading volumes 1-42 of the original Japanese release.
Bottom line: If you buy both VIZ box sets, you have the complete original manga. The split is artificial but doesn’t affect the reading experience.
What age? We rate Dragon Ball 10+ in our Anime Finder. The violence stays cartoonish, and the early Dragon Ball volumes have some crude humor worth knowing about before you hand them over.
Box Set Collector’s Guide
If you want to own the complete Dragon Ball manga, here are your options:
Option 1: The Two Box Sets (Recommended)
Buy the Dragon Ball Complete Box Set (volumes 1-16) and Dragon Ball Z Complete Box Set (volumes 1-26). Together they cover the entire original manga. Both include exclusive posters and collector’s booklets.
Total cost: Around $220-250 at retail, often discounted on Amazon to $150-180 for both. Both sets are on our box set deals for Black Friday page, which shows how to check whether a sale price is actually low. For a kid who reads in bed, a Glocusent neck light beats a flashlight under the blanket.
Best for: Collectors who want the complete set with extras.
Option 2: 3-in-1 Omnibus Editions
VIZ also publishes 3-in-1 omnibus editions that collect three volumes per book. These are cheaper per volume but don’t include the box set extras. The paper quality is slightly lower than the individual volumes.
Best for: Readers who want to save money and don’t care about collectibility.
Option 3: Individual Volumes
You can buy volumes individually, but this is the most expensive option per volume. Only makes sense if you’re collecting slowly over time or replacing damaged volumes.
Dragon Ball Super Collection
The Dragon Ball Super manga doesn’t have an official box set yet since it’s still ongoing. You can buy the 24 volumes individually. New volumes are paused while the manga is on hiatus.
40th Anniversary Box Set
In May 2025, Shueisha announced a special 40th anniversary box set that shipped in April 2026 after a delay. This Japanese collector’s edition includes all 42 original volumes, each featuring double covers with artwork by 42 different manga artists. If you’re a serious collector willing to import, this is the definitive edition, though pre-orders closed in August 2025.
Dragon Ball Super Manga
Dragon Ball Super is the ongoing continuation of the manga, written by Akira Toriyama with art by Toyotarou. It started in 2015 and has been on hiatus since 2024, with past chapters on VIZ and MangaPlus.
Where Super Fits in the Timeline
Dragon Ball Super takes place after the Buu Saga but before the final chapters of the original manga (the “End of Z” time skip). The timeline order is:
- Dragon Ball / Dragon Ball Z manga (volumes 1-42)
- Dragon Ball Daima (2024 anime)
- Dragon Ball Super (manga and anime)
- End of Z (final chapters of the original manga)
Manga vs Anime Differences
The Dragon Ball Super manga and anime tell the same general story but often differ in details. The manga includes arcs not in the anime and handles some fights and power scaling differently. Most fans recommend experiencing both, but if you have to choose one, the manga continues further into the story.
Where to Buy Dragon Ball Manga
The official English publisher is VIZ Media. Here’s where to find their releases:
- Amazon: Best prices on box sets, especially during sales
- Barnes & Noble: Reliable availability, member discounts
- VIZ.com: Direct from the publisher
- Local comic shops: Support local businesses, can often order specific volumes
For digital reading, VIZ and MangaPlus offer chapter-by-chapter access. The Shonen Jump app carries Dragon Ball Super, but no new regular chapter has come out since March 2024.
Spin-offs & Related Manga
Beyond the main series, Toriyama created several related works that expand the Dragon Ball universe. These aren’t required reading but add context and are fun for fans.
Jaco the Galactic Patrolman
A prequel manga written and drawn entirely by Toriyama, set 11 years before Dragon Ball begins. Follows Jaco, a clumsy alien cop who crashes on Earth and meets Bulma’s older sister Tights. The volume includes a bonus chapter called “Dragon Ball Minus” which reveals the origin of Goku’s parents – Bardock and his mother Gine. Jaco later appears throughout Dragon Ball Super as a recurring character.
Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha
A comedy spin-off where a Dragon Ball fan dies and gets reincarnated as Yamcha during the early story. Using his knowledge of future events (like Yamcha’s death by Saibaman), he tries to change fate and make Yamcha the strongest fighter. It’s a short three-chapter story but a fun what-if scenario for fans who know the series well.
Other Spin-offs
Dragon Ball SD is a chibi-style retelling of the original story aimed at younger readers. Neko Majin is Toriyama’s self-parody series featuring a cat character who trained under Goku. Neither is essential, but both show Toriyama’s comedic side. The original manga also connects to Toriyama’s earlier work Dr. Slump – Goku meets that series’ protagonist Arale in volume 7.
What’s Next
If you’re coming from the anime and want to understand where the new series fits, check out our Dragon Ball Daima guide which covers the 2024-2025 anime and its place in the timeline.
For art and behind-the-scenes content, see Dragon Ball: A Visual History, a hardcover art book covering Toriyama’s work across the entire franchise.
If your kid watches the anime and wants to explore beyond Dragon Ball, the Anime Finder can help pick the right show for their age.
Our manga facts page puts the Dragon Ball, DBZ and Super volume counts in one table, next to Naruto, One Piece, Bleach and Black Clover.
Browse all our guides on the Anime & Manga hub page.
More manga reading orders from the Big Three:
- Naruto manga reading order
- One Piece manga reading order
- Bleach manga reading order
- Big Three anime parent guide
About These Recommendations
I’m George, a dad of two. My wife did most of the reading to our kids when they were little, and I did my share. She’s a therapist, and she helps pick the books that actually matter for their development. Some of what’s on this site we’ve read, watched or played as a family. Some I tried on my own first. The rest comes from research: reviews, episode guides, other parents online, and whatever the kids bring home from school.
FAQ
The original Dragon Ball manga has 42 volumes. Dragon Ball Super adds 24 more volumes and is still ongoing. In total, that’s 66 volumes of main storyline manga.
The most cost-effective way is to buy the two VIZ box sets: Dragon Ball Complete Box Set (volumes 1-16) and Dragon Ball Z Complete Box Set (volumes 1-26). Together they cover the entire original 42-volume manga with bonus posters and booklets.
The original Dragon Ball manga (42 volumes) is complete. Dragon Ball Super is not finished, but the manga has been on hiatus since 2024. Akira Toriyama passed away in March 2024. Artist Toyotarou has not released a regular chapter since that month, apart from a special one-shot in February 2025.
No. The manga is just called ‘Dragon Ball’ throughout all 42 volumes. The ‘Z’ branding was created for the anime’s second half. VIZ sells them as two box sets for marketing purposes, but it’s one continuous story by Akira Toriyama.
VIZ Media is the official English publisher. You can buy from Amazon (best prices on box sets), Barnes & Noble, VIZ.com directly, or local comic shops. Digital chapters are available on VIZ and MangaPlus.
Read in this order: 1) Dragon Ball volumes 1-16 (young Goku), 2) Dragon Ball Z volumes 1-26 (Saiyan through Buu Saga), 3) Dragon Ball Super volumes 1-24 (ongoing). This covers the complete story chronologically.
DBZ is 26 volumes. It is the back half of Toriyama’s original 42-volume Dragon Ball manga, volumes 17 to 42. Viz sells it in English as Dragon Ball Z volumes 1 to 26, so the numbers on the spine restart, but the story picks up right where volume 16 of Dragon Ball ends.