What if Dragon Ball was American franchise instead of Japanese?

[PowerPhantom245]

Let's imagine instead of Toriyama comes up with franchise, someone in America, who is a big fan of Asian martial arts movie and TV shows, comes up with the franchise.

For this scenario, instead of manga coming out in Japan, it would be American comic (doesn't matter which publisher: Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, etc.) released in 1984 and it would also get animated series in 1986, assuming if comic last that long and warrant it.

How different would it have been in terms of overall tone, drama, character development, etc.?
Would it suffer from competition with Ninja Turtles (which came out same year), which also involves martial arts (ninjitsu)?
Do you think it would have been just as popular and become worldwide phenomenon?
Would it be cult hit?
The manga ran from 1984~1995, so I'm not familiar with comic market in late 80s to mid 90s, so I don't know how fierce the competition would have been.

Some of you might be thinking that it would be Dragonball Evolution (lol), though, I don't think Stan Lee and Steve Ditko would have approve that, especially if it came out as Marvel comic; I would like to see Goku teaming up with Shang-Chi. lol
I'm curious for this scenario, any American comic book writers could pull off Toriyama creativity.


Any thoughts?

[JulieYBM]

The writing would be more ambitious, but the visuals would be far less ambitious. Catch-22, really.

[The Dark Knight]

It would be nothing like the Dragon Ball we have now, as Toriyama was a very unique writer who had a unique way of doing things that likely couldn't be replicated. It might have a handful of similarities, like collecting a specific number of dragon balls to summon a grant wishing dragon, but that's probably where the similarities end. If it was published by Marvel or DC, there would be a very specific status quo established in chapter 1 that would not be allowed to change. It would also not be allowed to have an ending, as it would be handed to new writers whenever the current one moves on and would go on indefinitely. The anime would just be its own separate thing that has little to nothing to do with the comic. Basically, everything that made classic Dragon Ball good would not be present in this hypothetical American DB.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

It definitely wouldn't have the same magic. The fights wouldn't be as interesting (especially pre-Raditz), the humour would be more generic, the art would lack that unique Toriyama flavour. I also couldn't see it having the same sense of progression. Goku would be an adult for the entire series.

In terms of success? It would probably be a cult thing, much like Shang-Chi until whatever phase when it got a movie of its own (if it was in the MCU).

[Peach]

I imagined it would be far more episodic. Maybe having anywhere between a two to five parter occasionally during the mid points in the season and end of the seasons.

It would likely have art style in line with other serious or semi-shows in the mid to late 90s like similar to Batman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles, Godzilla: The Animated Series, or Spider-Man.

I think the Frieza saga would have been a series of skirmishes on multiple planets, facing various people in his army (Cui, Zarbon, Dodoria, etc) with Frieza with Frieza more as a Claw (Inspector Gadget) or Skeletor (He-Man) type antagonist who hears news of what Goku or his friends did long, and getting angry at a desk.

Probably a lot more stories and enemies in general from enemies of the week. Probably a lot more sequel shows and reboots though like transformers…..

[Kenji]

Does anybody remember ThunderCats? That was our American Dragon Ball.

If it was made in the 80s, it's very likely there would be a lot of censorship and laws calling for the show to feature a moral at the end of every episode. I also distinctly remember when Kimba the White Lion was produced in partnership with Osamu Tezuka, they mandated episodes not have any serialization because TV networks back then didn't want to deal with airing the episodes in order, practically making it impossible for Kimba to slowly grow up into adulthood like Tezuka wanted.

[Kid Buu]

I feel like it it'd say closer to the original arc - where it is more adventure based than action based. It'd probably be more episode of the week. One benefit is that I'd hope it'd at least get rid of the awful Roshi & Oolong gags.

[PowerPhantom245]

Does anybody remember ThunderCats? That was our American Dragon Ball.

If it was made in the 80s, it's very likely there would be a lot of censorship and laws calling for the show to feature a moral at the end of every episode. I also distinctly remember when Kimba the White Lion was produced in partnership with Osamu Tezuka, they mandated episodes not have any serialization because TV networks back then didn't want to deal with airing the episodes in order, practically making it impossible for Kimba to slowly grow up into adulthood like Tezuka wanted.

Is ThunderCats that similar to Dragon Ball?

[Kenji]

Is ThunderCats that similar to Dragon Ball?

Kind of? It's a kind-of-adventure kind-of-action type of show animated in Japan featuring a team of magical superhero buff dudes and villain furries from outer space trying to kill each other while also having to fight a super-powerful ancient evil force. It's also about the main character's growth. Oh, and there's space travels... I'm probably making the show sound more interesting than it actually is lol

The similarities pretty much end there.
Was just using it as an example. A show like Dragon Ball if it was made in the 80s would probably turn out very unlike how we know it today because American television used to be very, very conservative and up-their-own-ass about TV being strictly educational for children.

[BernardoCairo]

I think it wouldn't fundamentally be Dragon Ball if it hadn't come from the East. But if I were to do a mental exercise, considering it would be a Marvel or DC-style comic, I would expect a more confusing story and inferior art. I think superhero stories are very cool, but they end up losing a lot by not having a beginning, middle, and end. Unless it was a separate story.

[Saiya6Cit]

Oh boy...

It depends on who would be working on it... I imagine it could have ended up being something similar to Samurai Jack, but it would really depend on the author. Could it have been Frank Miller? or Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, George Perez, John Romita Jr.? You gotta be more specific for a detailed answer.

Keep in mind American comic book industry was way more structured than in Japan, for example, we have all heard the stories on how in Japan they get to the point of locking down mangakas in a room (sometimes it is their own home) until they finish the pages for an upcoming manga, in USA it is a 9-5 job. And moreover, during those years (90s) comic conventions started, collectable started. Anime was rare, it did not become popular until ... let's say 1996 when after pearl Harbor events commerce with Japan became a little bit more affordable, allowing imports. Also technology (internet) enabled for anime to become trendy in America. American comic/animations are famous and loved in Japan (spiderman), but maybe Dragon Ball could have been rejected. It is interesting to think what could have happened. I don't believe DB would be as popular.

If Dragon Ball would have been an American Franchise, we would have a theme park already

[Tian]

Ah yes, I can imagine it being a 65 episode saturday morning cartoon produced by Filmation named The Adventures of Monkey Kid (Not sure whether the censors would've allowed the name Dragon Ball at that time) running on syndication TV.

I also can imagine the story being about a martial artist named Sonny Gordon who's been cursed or blessed (it's your choice) with a monkey-like transformation and meets the smart girl Brianna and then, the two of them start gathering the Crystal Balls and keeping them from the hands of the evil and annoying Filap and his minions the stupid but lovable buffoon Ushu and the fanservice provider Mia.

I dunno in the U.S but it would've been a hit in certain countries for sure. Here in Latin America, "forgettable" cartoons like Top Cat were a big hit.

[PowerPhantom245]

Oh boy...

It depends on who would be working on it... I imagine it could have ended up being something similar to Samurai Jack, but it would really depend on the author. Could it have been Frank Miller? or Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, George Perez, John Romita Jr.? You gotta be more specific for a detailed answer.

Keep in mind American comic book industry was way more structured than in Japan, for example, we have all heard the stories on how in Japan they get to the point of locking down mangakas in a room (sometimes it is their own home) until they finish the pages for an upcoming manga, in USA it is a 9-5 job. And moreover, during those years (90s) comic conventions started, collectable started. Anime was rare, it did not become popular until ... let's say 1996 when after pearl Harbor events commerce with Japan became a little bit more affordable, allowing imports. Also technology (internet) enabled for anime to become trendy in America. American comic/animations are famous and loved in Japan (spiderman), but maybe Dragon Ball could have been rejected. It is interesting to think what could have happened. I don't believe DB would be as popular.

If Dragon Ball would have been an American Franchise, we would have a theme park already

Who is closest equivalent to Toyirama for American comic artist/writer (in late 80s~mid 90s)?
Shang-Chi comic came out decade before Dragon Ball in 1973, so I'm sure someone would have made it.
I'm not a comic nerd, but Todd McFarlane's attempt of Dragon Ball would be interesting.
If it's Marvel, then it would have been interesting to see Goku interact with Shang-Chi.
Maybe 7 Dragon Balls would have some connection with Ten Rings or something.

Ah yes, I can imagine it being a 65 episode saturday morning cartoon produced by Filmation named The Adventures of Monkey Kid (Not sure whether the censors would've allowed the name Dragon Ball at that time) running on syndication TV.

I also can imagine the story being about a martial artist named Sonny Gordon who's been cursed or blessed (it's your choice) with a monkey-like transformation and meets the smart girl Brianna and then, the two of them start gathering the Crystal Balls and keeping them from the hands of the evil and annoying Filap and his minions the stupid but lovable buffoon Ushu and the fanservice provider Mia.

I dunno in the U.S but it would've been a hit in certain countries for sure. Here in Latin America, "forgettable" cartoons like Top Cat were a big hit.

How is Dragon Ball censored?
I like your idea tough. It's possible we could have Texas Battle as well. lol

[Tian]

How is Dragon Ball censored?

Well, the censors from U.S in the 80s may have interpreted the name Dragon Ball as if the show was about... the balls of a dragon.

Either Adventures of the Monkey Kid or Quest to the West may have worked well for a title for a hypothetical 80s western cartoon version of Dragon Ball.

[MasenkoHA]

Assuming hypothetical writer is also initially using Journey to the West as an initial source Goku would be called Sun Wukong. Son Goku is the Japanese reading of the name but there’s no reason an American comic book writer would use that rendering

Any 80s cartoon adaptation would be censored to hell and just try to downplay the violence.

The Saiyan stuff would likely play up more the immigration and new home aspect rather than the nationalism and racial pride the Japanese manga eventually did. Where as Toriyama story played up that Goku’s character is informed by being a member of a warrior race an American version would go more for the “dont forget your roots but earth is your home” type story

Kami wouldn’t be uh Kami some otherwordly protector or something

[BernardoCairo]

Honestly, I think these comic books have never been afraid to include gods and such in their plots.

[TheBigBoy]

I'd argue the Funi dub, especially in it's syndication through Toonami era is so rewritten and tailored to the sensibilities of western kids it's practically an American show at that point anyway.

Any 80s cartoon adaptation would be censored to hell and just try to downplay the violence.

Lots of devastating footsweeps and aiming energy blasts not at their foe but rather the tree branch above them.

[TechExpert2021]

If Dragon Ball were an American franchise, it wouldn't have the same atmosphere as the Dragon Ball we know. The battles wouldn't look interesting, any inappropriate elements would be drastically toned down or removed, the plots would be simplified, there would be no serialized storylines (which makes the series episodic), and the art style would mostly bear resemblance to various American cartoons (especially TMMT and those of Hanna-Barbera) from the 1980s.

[The Dark Knight]

Here's a better framing of the question to really get speculation off the ground: What if Toriyama himself was working for an American company instead of Jump, how would DB have changed ? Toriyama is still Japanese, and he still grew up in Japan and is influenced by the same things, it's just that his career at Jump didn't work out and he instead got hired at an American company who also wanted a martial arts comic.

[MasenkoHA]

Here's a better framing of the question to really get speculation off the ground: What if Toriyama himself was working for an American company instead of Jump, how would DB have changed ? Toriyama is still Japanese, and he still grew up in Japan and is influenced by the same things, it's just that his career at Jump didn't work out and he instead got hired at an American company who also wanted a martial arts comic.

He’d probably get replaced with a different writer as soon as sales dropped instead of being told to just focus more on action to get sales up.