Where do I start?

[laserkid]

As much as I do love the anime (and don't own a complete set of the manga myself), I have to agree with the calls to go with the manga. It's cheaper, it's available complete beggining to end consistantly, and it's ALL readily available (parts of Dragon Ball are out of print, but will be coming back soon with the season set releases).

If you're not much of a manga reader or preffer to go with the anime though, I cannot stress how important it is to start with Dragon Ball season 1, and build your way to DBZ as the releases come out, and then go with the dragon boxes for DBZ.

If you do go the anime route, assuming you're down with the idea, I would highly reccomend watching the entire series in subtitled form. While Dragon Ball has a decent dub, as soon as you head into Dragon Ball Z the dub is an absolute and complete disaster. While it certainly has it's supporters on this board, they by and large tend to say they like it for nostalgia reasons. So while I can't say Dragon Ball dubbed into English is problematic, for a consistancy sake I would reccomend going subtitled from the get go.

If you don't like watching things subtitled, which is totally understandable, I'd reccomend watching Dragon Ball as is, but in stead of running into Dragon Ball Z afterwards, I would give Dragon Ball Kai a go. It's going to be a totally new dub, and regardless of the dub the show is much shorter then DBZ (due to the removal of filler). So, if it IS somehow a redo of the DBZ style dub it won't be terrible on you for too long.

Due to the... interesting manner of the english anime translations though, the Manga would probably be the best crash course, though Viz's translation also has it's fair share of issues, they are nowhere near as dividing or egregious/common. Just don't come back citing Vegerot as a valid name.

[Big Momma]

Anyone gonna suggest Kai for this members anime needs?

When you get to the anime, I'd watch Kai for the Z portion. FUNimations sets are coming out this Spring.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

If you're looking to get into Dragon Ball for a little while, the movies are for you. They're short, cheap and full of action.


If you're looking to become a hardcore Dragon Ball fan like us, then I suggest the Dragon Ball Season Sets to start with. Then, the Dragon Ball Z Season Sets or Dragon Box (depending on your financial situation). Finally, the Dragon Ball GT Season Sets (don't be put off by all the bad things people around here say about GT, it's really not that bad and gives the series a fucking proper ending).

[Rory]

I'm amazed how many people think buying the DVDs is a good way to start the series! Sure it was good for us, because we watched it on a weekly basis, but if you had the option of watching or reading Dragon Ball for the first time (not on TV like we did, but all at once now that we have the option to), would you honestly put yourself through all the filler, bad animation episodes, and poor pacing, when you could stream through Toriyama's original (and far superior) manga?

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

I'm amazed how many people think buying the DVDs is a good way to start the series! Sure it was good for us, because we watched it on a weekly basis, but if you had the option of watching or reading Dragon Ball for the first time (not on TV like we did, but all at once now that we have the option to), would you honestly put yourself through all the filler, bad animation episodes, and poor pacing, when you could stream through Toriyama's original (and far superior) manga?

Some people don't like reading and they feel watching something is more enjoyable.

[Rocketman]

Be warned: the first story arc of Dragonball is, to put it bluntly, crap. The series began as a gag comic for young boys, so it's like Family Guy without the sophistication. "HAW HAW IT'S HIS PENUS" is the quality of writing you're looking at here.

[rereboy]

Some people don't like reading and they feel watching something is more enjoyable.

I find this terrible

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Some people don't like reading and they feel watching something is more enjoyable.

I find this terrible

Terrible, but true. Some people actually dislike reading.

[Blue]

Some people don't like reading

Some people shouldn't be proud of being illiterate and try to better themselves.

Be warned: the first story arc of Dragonball is, to put it bluntly, crap. The series began as a gag comic for young boys, so it's like Family Guy without the sophistication. "HAW HAW IT'S HIS PENUS" is the quality of writing you're looking at here.

You put it as if the writing gets better. It's not like DB ever becomes the height of sophisticated plot and wit.

[Puto]

I can read, but I prefer watching something animated in full color with a soundtrack and voice acting to reading a black and white comic book.

[TripleRach]

Be warned: the first story arc of Dragonball is, to put it bluntly, crap. The series began as a gag comic for young boys, so it's like Family Guy without the sophistication. "HAW HAW IT'S HIS PENUS" is the quality of writing you're looking at here.

If Family Guy is more sophisticated than Dragon Ball, then I'm a flying unicorn.

There's a handful of dirty jokes, and none of them have anything to do with Gokuu being naked. Unless the very idea of that makes you laugh, then, sure...? But yeah, there's some dirty jokes and toilet humor, but that's not where all the humor comes from. No need to exaggerate it and try to scare people away.

[Corporate_Nothing]

Be warned: the first story arc of Dragonball is, to put it bluntly, crap. The series began as a gag comic for young boys, so it's like Family Guy without the sophistication. "HAW HAW IT'S HIS PENUS" is the quality of writing you're looking at here.

If Family Guy is more sophisticated than Dragon Ball, then I'm a flying unicorn.

There's a handful of dirty jokes, and none of them have anything to do with Gokuu being naked. Unless the very idea of that makes you laugh, then, sure...? But yeah, there's some dirty jokes and toilet humor, but that's not where all the humor comes from. No need to exaggerate it and try to scare people away.

There's definitely humor in Goku's frequent nudity, but the humor comes when Goku's innocence puts him naked in socially inappropriate situations because of innocence/naivety, rather than just, "LOL GOKU'S PENIS LOLOL." And then there's Master Roshi's perversion. That makes up the majority of the crude/toilet humor, whereas the other jokes are derived from puns and classic gags that seem to draw from early-to-mid 20th century American cinema and cartoons.

[verto]

There's a handful of dirty jokes, and none of them have anything to do with Gokuu being naked. Unless the very idea of that makes you laugh, then, sure...? But yeah, there's some dirty jokes and toilet humor, but that's not where all the humor comes from. No need to exaggerate it and try to scare people away.

Just wanted to emphasize this word for all the times Goku tried to figure out people's genders.

[Hellspawn28]

Go with the manga, and watch the anime if you want. The manga is a long read, but it's worth it. The anime is good, but reading the manga is much better if you ask me since it has better placing, and does not seem to be based on non stop fighting in my opinon. Welcome to the world of DB .

[Rory]

Family Guy without the sophistication.

I'd post a face-palm, but I'd only get in trouble 'cause this isn't a message board.
So instead, I'll just tell you how hard I 'palmed:
A lot.

[Hellspawn28]

If you are going to watch the anime then check out the blue bricks, and DBKai when it comes to the USA this may. The manga is the best place to go, and don't check out GT until later on in my opinon. GT is not that bad, but it's not great also if you ask me.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Some people don't like reading

Some people shouldn't be proud of being illiterate and try to better themselves..

It's not that people are illiterate, rather they dislike reading.

I can read, but I prefer watching something animated in full color with a soundtrack and voice acting to reading a black and white comic book.

Exactly, many people also prefer this.

[Velasa]

would you honestly put yourself through all the filler, bad animation episodes, and poor pacing, when you could stream through Toriyama's original (and far superior) manga?

Some people don't like reading and they feel watching something is more enjoyable.

And some people like reading but simply prefer animation. Some of us also happen to enjoy a lot of that filler <_< My favorite part of the show is filler.

I don't have a straight answer for the main questioner myself though. Do you like animation or comics better? It's the same core story and characters both ways (Dragonball is one of those shows where the anime stays intensely true to the manga) and follows the same path through the series, go with whichever you prefer. The first book of the manga will cost you anywhere from $7-13 depending on the format you pick, the first Blue Brick'll be maybe somewhere in the $20 range, both fair game to give something a shot. Either way, as Rocketman said the series starts awkwardly and crudely but definitely picks up as it keeps going along.

However if you'd rather start with the big actiony stuff and have a little more money to burn, you should be able to get the first DBZ Dragonbox for somewhere around $30. It's quick, intense and powerful- my personal favorite part of the series. And while it's better to start at the beginning, you'll pick up soon enough what's going on in Z like most of the rest of us did.

Oh, and on Dragonbox The Movies- not a good idea. So far it's only been available in a highly expensive limited release in raw Japanese- no subs- and it'd be pretty damn confusing who all these people are and what's going on because the movies like to make shit up as they go along and not really stop to introduce people to things. Damn fun on their own, but probably not the best intro.

[Rocketman]

Family Guy without the sophistication.

I'd post a face-palm, but I'd only get in trouble 'cause this isn't a message board.
So instead, I'll just tell you how hard I 'palmed:
A lot.

Thank you, Rory, that was the joke.

[Corporate_Nothing]

Maybe this thread isn't the thread for this, but these last few episodes of the Fortuneteller Baba Saga/middle of Season Three are dragging on so damn badly. Sheesh.