Dragon Ball Tankōbon
The Dragon Ball manga first appeared in Weekly Shōnen Jump, a popular manga anthology magazine in Japan, on 20 November 1984, where it would remain a staple for nearly ten and a half years. Each week a new chapter would be published with approximately 14 pages per chapter. In comparison, more recent manga series, such as Naruto and One Piece, contain roughly 20 pages per chapter. Occasionally some pages, and sometimes whole chapters, were printed in color, but the vast majority of the series was published in black-and-white. Ten and a half years later, when it finally came to a close, the series had come to a total of 520 chapters, including one side-story, which was an amazing feat at the time.
Beginning in September 1985, these weekly manga chapters began to be compiled into separate volumes called tankōbon (単行本; "separate volume"). In most English-speaking countries, the tankōbon are referred to as "graphic novels", while most people in Japan simply refer to them as "comics" (コミックス), taken from English. Each tankōbon volume contained roughly 12 chapters and was printed in a greyscale format only. Unfortunately, this meant that all of the original colored pages from Weekly Shōnen Jump could only be viewed in greyscale. This issue was later rectified with the kanzenban releases, which retained the original color pages.
Each of the first 12 tankōbon volumes contains a short, two-page Q&A session with author Akira Toriyama entitled, "Toriyama-san's Dragon Ball Ask-Me-Anything Corner", where he answers questions sent in by readers. Anyone was able to send in a postcard to the address listed in the book, and individuals whose submissions ran in a subsequent volume were promised a signed illustration from Toriyama himself. This solicitation remained in place in all printings through mid-1995 (the end of the series' run in Weekly Shōnen Jump), after which it was removed.
Refreshed Covers
In May 2009, Shueisha revised the tankōbon covers with a new "refreshed" look. Although the cover artwork was for the most part kept intact, these new editions did receive newly drawn spine art by Akira Toriyama. The actual content of each tankōbon was left unchanged, meaning these are not new editions of the tankōbon, but simply later printings of the originals with new dust covers. Shueisha opted to split up the debut of these "refreshed" versions, with the first 20 volumes hitting shelves in Japan on 15 May 2009 and the remaining 22 volumes being available three days later on 18 May 2009.
Digital Release
All 42 volumes of the Dragon Ball Tankōbon were released digitally on 12 October 2012. These digital releases are identical to their respective printed versions, being available in greyscale only as well, and feature the new "refreshed" covers. It should be noted that the digital color editions are not identical to the tankōbon release, in both print or digital formats, as they contain differing chapter counts.
List of Tankōbon Volumes
| # | Volume Title | Chapters | Print Release | Retail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
孫悟空と仲間たち Son Gokū to Nakama-tachi Son Goku and Friends |
1-11 | 10 September 1985 (ISBN 4-08-851831-4) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 2 |  |
ドラゴンボール危機一髪 Doragon Bōru Kiki Ippatsu A Critical Moment for the Dragon Balls |
12-24 | 10 January 1986 (ISBN 4-08-851832-2) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 3 |  |
天下一武道会はじまる!! Tenka'ichi Budōkai Hajimaru!! The Tenka'ichi Budōkai Begins!! |
25-36 | 10 June 1986 (ISBN 4-08-851833-0) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 4 |  |
大決勝戦 Dai-Kesshōsen The Grand Finals |
37-48 | 09 October 1986 (ISBN 4-08-851834-9) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 5 |  |
マッスルタワーの恐怖 Massuru Tawā no Kyōfu The Terror of Muscle Tower |
49-60 | 09 January 1987 (ISBN 4-08-851835-7) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 6 |  |
ブルマの大失敗!! Buruma no Dai-Shippai!! Bulma's Big Mistake!! |
61-72 | 10 March 1987 (ISBN 4-08-851836-5) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 7 |  |
追跡!!ブルー将軍 Tsuiseki!! Burū Shōgun Pursuit!! General Blue |
73-84 | 08 May 1987 (ISBN 4-08-851837-3) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 8 |  |
孫悟空突撃 Son Gokū Totsugeki Son Goku's Assault |
85-96 | 10 July 1987 (ISBN 4-08-851838-1) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 9 |  |
こまったときの占いババ Komatta Toki no Uranai Baba When Worried, See Uranai Baba |
97-108 | 10 September 1987 (ISBN 4-08-851839-X) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 10 |  |
第２２回天下一武道会 Dai-Nijūnikai Tenka'ichi Budōkai The Twenty-Second Tenka'ichi Budōkai |
109-120 | 10 November 1987 (ISBN 4-08-851840-3) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 11 |  |
天下一のスーパーバトル!! Tenka'ichi no Sūpā Batoru!! The World's Greatest Super Battle!! |
121-132 | 10 February 1988 (ISBN 4-08-851608-7) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 12 |  |
ピッコロ大魔王の恐怖! Pikkoro Daimaō no Kyōfu! The Terror of Demon King Piccolo! |
133-144 | 08 April 1988 (ISBN 4-08-851609-5) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 13 |  |
孫悟空の逆襲!? Son Gokū no Gyakushū!? Son Goku's Counterattack?! |
145-156 | 10 June 1988 (ISBN 4-08-851610-9) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 14 |  |
さらなる飛躍 Sara Naru Hiyaku Even More Action |
157-168 | 10 August 1988 (ISBN 4-08-851611-7) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 15 |  |
群雄割拠! Gun'yū Kakkyo! Rivals Standing Their Ground! |
169-180 | 06 December 1988 (ISBN 4-08-851612-5) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 16 |  |
龍虎相討つ! Ryūko Aiutsu! The Dragon and Tiger Mutually Strike! |
181-192 | 10 February 1989 (ISBN 4-08-851613-3) |
¥360 (no tax) |
| 17 |  |
かつてない恐怖 Katsute Nai Kyōfu An Unprecedented Terror |
193-204 | 10 May 1989 (ISBN 4-08-851614-1) |
¥359 + 3% tax |
| 18 |  |
孫悟飯とピッコロ大魔王 Son Gohan to Pikkoro Daimaō Son Gohan and Demon King Piccolo |
205-216 | 10 July 1989 (ISBN 4-08-851615-X) |
¥359 + 3% tax |
| 19 |  |
いそげ!孫悟空 Isoge! Son Gokū Hurry, Son Goku! |
217-228 | 10 November 1989 (ISBN 4-08-851616-8) |
¥359 + 3% tax |
| 20 |  |
天下分け目の超決戦!! Tenkawakeme no Chō-Kessen!! A Fateful Super Decisive Battle!! |
229-240 | 10 January 1990 (ISBN 4-08-851617-6) |
¥359 + 3% tax |
| 21 |  |
めざせ!ナメックの星 Mezase! Namekku no Hoshi Go For It! The Planet Namek |
241-252 | 10 April 1990 (ISBN 4-08-851618-4) |
¥359 + 3% tax |
| 22 |  |
ナメック星人の抵抗 Namekku-seijin no Teikō The Namekian Resistance |
253-264 | 10 July 1990 (ISBN 4-08-851619-2) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 23 |  |
恐怖のギニュー特戦隊 Kyōfu no Ginyū Tokusentai The Terrible Ginyu Special-Squad |
265-276 | 08 October 1990 (ISBN 4-08-851620-6) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 24 |  |
悟空か!?ギニューか!? Gokū ka!? Ginyū ka!? Goku or Ginyu?! |
277-288 | 10 January 1991 (ISBN 4-08-851414-9) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 25 |  |
フリーザ超変身!! Furīza Chō-Henshin!! Freeza's Super Transformation!! |
289-300 | 08 March 1991 (ISBN 4-08-851415-7) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 26 |  |
孫悟空…復活!! Son Gokū… Fukkatsu!! Son Goku... Revived!! |
301-313 | 10 June 1991 (ISBN 4-08-851416-5) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 27 |  |
伝説の超サイヤ人 Densetsu no Sūpā Saiya-jin The Legendary Super Saiyan |
314-325 | 07 August 1991 (ISBN 4-08-851417-3) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 28 |  |
未来から来た少年 Mirai kara Kita Shōnen The Boy From the Future |
326-337 | 08 November 1991 (ISBN 4-08-851418-1) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 29 |  |
悟空、敗れる! Gokū, Yabureru! Goku, Defeated! |
338-349 | 10 March 1992 (ISBN 4-08-851419-X) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 30 |  |
邪悪な予感 Jāku na Yokan An Evil Premonition |
350-361 | 10 June 1992 (ISBN 4-08-851420-3) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 31 |  |
忍びよるセル Shinobiyoru Seru Cell Sneaks Up |
362-373 | 04 August 1992 (ISBN 4-08-851686-9) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 32 |  |
セルの完全体 完成!! Seru no Kanzentai Kansei!! Cell's Perfect Form, Achieved!! |
374-385 | 02 October 1992 (ISBN 4-08-851687-7) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 33 |  |
セルゲーム始まる Seru Geemu Hajimaru The Cell Games Begin |
386-396; Extra | 26 December 1992 (ISBN 4-08-851688-5) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 34 |  |
悟空を越えた戦士 Gokū o Koeta Senshi The Warrior Who Surpassed Goku |
397-408 | 04 June 1993 (ISBN 4-08-851689-3) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 35 |  |
さようなら戦士たち Sayōnara Senshi-tachi Farewell, Warriors |
409-420 | 03 September 1993 (ISBN 4-08-851700-8) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 36 |  |
ニューヒーロー誕生!! Nyū Hīrō Tanjō!! The Birth of a New Hero!! |
421-432 | 04 November 1993 (ISBN 4-08-851495-5) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 37 |  |
動き始めた作戦 Ugoki Hajimeta Sakusen The Plan Goes into Motion |
433-445 | 04 April 1994 (ISBN 4-08-851496-3) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 38 |  |
宿命の対決 孫悟空対ベジータ Shukumei no Taiketsu Son Gokū Tai Bejīta The Fated Showdown: Son Goku vs Vegeta |
446-459 | 04 August 1994 (ISBN 4-08-851497-1) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 39 |  |
さらば誇り高き戦士 Saraba Hokori Takaki Senshi Farewell, Proud Warrior |
460-472 | 02 December 1994 (ISBN 4-08-851498-X) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 40 |  |
地球軍、最後の秘密兵器!! Chikyūgun, Saigo no Himitsu Heiki!! The Earth Army's Ultimate Secret Weapon!! |
473-485 | 03 March 1995 (ISBN 4-08-851499-8) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 41 |  |
がんばれ超ゴテンクスくん Ganbare Sūpā Gotenkusu-kun Do Your Best, Super Gotenks-kun |
486-502 | 02 June 1995 (ISBN 4-08-851500-5) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| 42 |  |
バイバイ ドラゴンワールド Baibai Doragon Wārudo Bye-Bye, Dragon World |
503-519 | 04 August 1995 (ISBN 4-08-851090-9) |
¥379 + 3% tax |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||