They are one component of the universe, but are not the focus of most of the plot lines of the title. Main article: List of Dragon Ball manga chaptersĪ unifying component of the plot accompanying Goku's progression as a martial artist is his search for the eponymous Dragon Balls. Akira Toriyama had also been told by his editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, that Goku was considered 'quite bland', and thus Master Roshi was brought back and Krillin was introduced in the series. Originally not all that popular when first released, after the Emperor Pilaf arc, Akira decided to write in a World Martial Arts Tournament, a trend in manga that was very popular at the time. Toriyama notes that his goal for the series was to tell an 'unconventional and contradictory' story. Slump with a more action-oriented plot and paid homage to famous martial art actor Jackie Chan. This short work combined the comedic style of Dr. When he began work on Dragon Ball, he decided to model it loosely on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.ĭragon Ball was a redeveloped version of a one-shot manga series he made: Dragon Boy, which was initially serialized in Fresh Jump and released in a single tankōbon volume in 1983. Slump, Akira Toriyama wanted to break from the Western influences common in his other series. Main articles: Dragon Boy and The Adventures of TongpooĪfter the success of his previous manga Dr. He is not without help, however: the comic boasts a large ensemble cast of martial artist heroes and villains which provide the conflict that drives the story. During his life, he fights many battles and eventually becomes (arguably) the strongest martial artist in the universe. The story of Dragon Ball follows the life of Son Goku, a monkey- tailed boy loosely based on the traditional Chinese folk tale Journey to the West, from his life and adventures as a child all the way up to being a grandfather.

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