If a different manga artist had written Dragon Ball

[Fizzer]

What do you think would have changed, for a particular manga artist?

Say the story or concept was fundamentally the same, but it popped into another artist's head whole instead of being created by Toriyama. The stylistic differences would render Dragon Ball an entirely different experience.

For example, I think that if Rumiko Takahashi had created it, it would be quite similar to how it really is, but the tone would be more consistently balanced between silly and serious, and romances wouldn't be skipped over. We'd see the weddings, and we'd see connections between characters gradually forming within the plot itself. The "normal" sides of the characters and their human problems would be addressed. I also think we'd see more female characters, and less characters being dropped into the sidelines. I think it's quite possible that the characters in general would be significantly less powerful and ki and martial arts would be portrayed as quite a religious thing.

If you could drop into an alternate universe where another artist did write Dragon Ball, which ones would you be particularly interested in reading?

[Gyt Kaliba]

I can't think of another artist I'd want to see have done it, since a big part of what I love about it is solely due to Toriyama (even if a lot of what I don't like is from him too), but I will say this - if Yoshihiro Togashi had done it, the series would still be insanely popular...but it wouldn't be over and we'd get only a few chapters every few years.

[Kamiccolo9]

I'm a big fan of Nobuhiro Watsuki's work, and I think he could have pulled off the comedic aspects pretty well. The fight scenes would be way different though.
Edit: And we'd know the inner workings of every single technique in the series. I'd like it, but I can see where it would be a turn off for people.

[Mewzard]

I'm just left picturing Masami Kurumada taking the story and making it just the most insanely balls out Battle Manga ever. Just one blood-filled, murder heavy battle after the other. We'd have gotten something like Bubsy the Destruction God sooner though, with Goku going around wiping out the pantheons, before fighting Buddha to throw back to that Journey to the West connection.

[B]

Tite Kubo writes and draws Dragon Ball:

1) All characters show up within the story intermittently. No one goes away forever. Say hello to five chapters dedicated to whatever Monster Giran and Appule are doing.
2) All major battles happen in space or the Room of Space and Time.
3) It is slowly revealed that every enemy Goku fought against was predetermined by Babidi so by the Buu arc there was enough energy to revive Buu. Various small conversations from previous chapters you thought were innocuous turn out to be foreshadowing.
4) Bulma is the prominent female character until halfway through when she starts appearing less and less... I guess nothing changes here.

[Super Sonic]

They're not really manga artists, but I do think the stuff in space would've looked rather fantastic if done by Jack Kirby or John Byrne.

[Ringworm128]

If Hiro Mashima wrote DB Goku would never have to train, transform or get special power ups, He would just get beaten up by the villains for a few eps and then suddenly be able to beat them no matter how hyped up the villain is.

[Hellspawn28]

What about American comic book artist? If Todd McFarlane wrote Dragon Ball then the placing would have been slow. It would take 100 issues for Goku to finally get all seven dragon balls .

[Ringworm128]

Dragonball by Dan Slott. Ginyu takes Goku's body and becomes the new main character.

[Wobbuffet]

If Hiro Mashima wrote DB Goku would never have to train, transform or get special power ups, He would just get beaten up by the villains for a few eps and then suddenly be able to beat them no matter how hyped up the villain is.

This is what I hate the most about Fairy Tail.

Dragonball by Dan Slott. Ginyu takes Goku's body and becomes the new main character.

Now I'm laughing loud. Please, write a fanfic about this. I want to see him transform into a superior saiyan.

If Hirohiko Araki wrote Dragon Ball, Gohan would eventually become the main character and Goku would becoma an extra (and eventually disappear or die for real). Then we would have 15 volumes or so with a new arc with Pan as the main character. And another arc with Goten as the main character. And another with a biological son of Goku generated when somebody stole his body. And so on.

[SaiyaJedi]

Chibi Goten-kun by Momoko Sakura. The story of young Son Goten and his crazy extended family (though he indulges in the craziness sometimes too). It would focus on the following things:

• His sibling rivalry with / inferiority complex towards his goody-two-shoes, A-student, oblivious-to-everything brother Gohan
• His tyrannical mother Chi-Chi's obsession with studies (unfortunately for him, he inherited his father's intelligence). Trying to keep her from learning about his poor marks is a recurring theme.
• His chronically-absent father Goku, who can be counted upon to reliably forget to attend important milestones in Goten's life, even when not technically dead (birthdays, class observation day, sports festival, etc.)
• Hijinks gotten into with his spoiled-rich-kid / partner-in-crime best friend Trunks, frequently causing messes he's left to clean up himself
• His doting, yet chronically absent-minded grandfather, who's nearly as big as his house
• His nutty classmates at the elementary school in West City he attends with Trunks
• His inadvertent interference with his brother's love-life, as he either walks in on (or is foisted upon) Gohan and Videl when they'd rather be romantic

[Xeogran]

Masashi Kishimoto:

•Dragon Ball would have stayed as wonderful as it is. Funny and violent. World Tournament arcs would have been the best arcs and the most remembered by fans.

•Dragon Ball Z, after the time skip would focus only on Goku. Say goodbye to Gohan's development.

•Every training scene other than Gokus would have been offscreen.

•Master Roshi would die, which would be the reason for Goku to achieve new level.

•All of the villains would have a reason to be evil. Freeza, Cell and Buu would ultimately be "converted" by talking.

•Tsurusen'nin would be behind 99% of the manga plot points.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I'm a big fan of Nobuhiro Watsuki's work, and I think he could have pulled off the comedic aspects pretty well. The fight scenes would be way different though.
Edit: And we'd know the inner workings of every single technique in the series. I'd like it, but I can see where it would be a turn off for people.

I take it back, this I'd like to see if only because of Watsuki's art being AMAZING. I honestly think his fight scenes blow Toriyama's out of the water a lot of the time.

[Kamiccolo9]

I'm a big fan of Nobuhiro Watsuki's work, and I think he could have pulled off the comedic aspects pretty well. The fight scenes would be way different though.
Edit: And we'd know the inner workings of every single technique in the series. I'd like it, but I can see where it would be a turn off for people.

I take it back, this I'd like to see if only because of Watsuki's art being AMAZING. I honestly think his fight scenes blow Toriyama's out of the water a lot of the time.

IMO, the big battle between Kenshin, Saito, Sanosuke, and Aoshi vs Shishio trumps any of the fights in DB. The only one that comes close is the first Vegeta fight.