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Manga Guide

Dragon Ball: Cell arc

Arc Information

Original Run: 21 January 1992 – 27 April 1993 (1 year, 15 weeks)
Corresponding: Dragon Ball Chapters 357 – 420 (65 chapters)
Page Count: 974 pages (13 full color / 53 limited color / 908 black and white)

Arc Synopsis

The ultimate life-form Cell, who came from the future, begins to absorb humans across the globe. After merging with God, Piccolo confronts first-form Cell and the two battle in Ginger Town. The battle grounds were left in shambles by Piccolo’s power, which was beyond imagination, but Cell escapes. In an attempt to prevent Cell from achieving his perfect-form, Piccolo challenges No. 17 to a one-on-one battle. However, during this battle, Cell drew near to the battle ground, and ultimately ended up absorbing No. 17. Having changed into his second form, Cell stretched his evil hand toward No. 18 in order to become complete. However, through the great efforts of No. 16 and Tenshinhan, No. 18 was able to escape from Cell’s grasp.

In order to absorb No. 18, Cell explored the nearby islands. Meanwhile, Vegeta and Trunks completed their training in the Room of Spirit and Time. From there the two of them quickly head off to battle Cell. Second-form Cell was like a child before the powered up Vegeta. The bitter Cell discovers No. 18 and provokes the proud Vegeta, who allows Cell to absorb No. 18. Vegeta fights the now perfect-form Cell, but is done in before Cell’s overwhelming strength.

With Vegeta defeated, Trunks shows his true power. However, his transformation relied on power, but sacrificed speed. Because of this, he could not defeat Cell. With Trunks admitting that he has lost, Cell announces to him the opening of the Cell Games. After completing their training, Goku and his family rest before the battle with Cell. And then, on the appointed day, Goku and the other warriors gather one after the other at the tournament grounds. As the battle was about to start, Mister Satan appeared. Being beaten all too quickly, he retreats.

With all his allies watching, Goku stepped up to the Cell Games arena. At first glance it looked like an even battle, but while Goku was fighting desperately, Cell was calm and composed. Gauging Cell’s true strength, Goku willingly surrendered and entrusted everyone’s fate to Gohan. Ignoring his allies’ concerns, Gohan radiated a gigantic ki. However, Goku’s miscalculation was that Gohan had no taste for battle. Loosing his temper at Gohan, who wouldn’t fight seriously, Cell gives birth to the Cell Juniors and has them attack Goku and co. With his friends in jeopardy, Gohan finally lets loose!

Before Gohan, who had let loose his true power, Cell quickly found himself no match for the young Saiyan. Having lost his perfect-form from Gohan’s attack, Cell tries to kill Gohan and take out the Earth by blowing himself up. Realizing the danger Goku transports Cell to Kaiō’s planet, but is caught in the explosion and dies. As everyone was gripped with sorrow, Cell, who had managed to revive into his perfect-form, once again comes after Gohan. Gohan injures his arm protecting Vegeta, but with Goku’s encouragement he defeats Cell!

Chapter List

ブルマからの知らせ
Buruma kara no Shirase
News From Bulma
21 January 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #07
邪悪な予感
Jāku na Yokan
An Evil Premonition
28 January 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #08
神様は見た!!
Kami-sama wa Mita!!
God Has Seen It!!
04 February 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #09
神と大魔王の融合
Kami to Daimaō no Yūgō
The Union of God and the Demon King
11 February 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #10
謎の怪物、ついに出現!!
Nazo no Kaibutsu, Tsui ni Shutsugen!!
The Mysterious Monster, Finally Appears!!
18 February 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #11
ジンジャータウンの決闘
Jinjā Taun no Kettō
A Duel in Ginger Town
25 February 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #12
解けた怪物の謎
Toketa Kaibutsu no Nazo
The Monster’s Riddle is Solved
03 March 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #13
笑うセル
Warau Seru
Cell Laughs
10 March 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #14
目覚めた孫悟空
Mezameta Son Gokū
Son Goku Awakens
17 March 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #15
サイヤ人たちの修業
Saiya-jin-tachi no Shugyō
The Saiyans’ Training
24 March 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #16
新生ピッコロ対17号
Shinsei Pikkoro Tai Jūnana-Gō
The Reborn Piccolo vs No. 17
31 March 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #17
忍びよるセル
Shinobiyoru Seru
Cell Creeps Up
07 April 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #18
人造人間対セル
Jinzōningen Tai Seru
The Artificial Humans vs Cell
14 April 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #19
新生ピッコロ決死の抵抗
Shinsei Pikkoro Kesshi no Teikō
The Reborn Piccolo’s Do-or-Die Opposition
21 April 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #20
動き始めた16号!
Ugoki Hajimeta Jūroku-Gō!
No. 16 Stirs!
28 April 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #21/22
決死の16号パワー!!
Kesshi no Jūroku-Gō Pawā!!
The Desperate No. 16’s Power!!
28 April 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #21/22
阻止せよ!セルの完全体
Soshi Se yo! Seru no Kanzentai
Prevent It! Cell’s Perfect Form
12 May 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #23
悟空とセル初めての対峙
Gokū to Seru Hajimete no Taiji
Goku and Cell’s First Confrontation
19 May 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #24
ベジータ、トランクス発進!!
Bejīta, Torankusu Hasshin!!
Vegeta and Trunks Depart!!
26 May 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #25
ベジータに自信あり!
Bejīta ni Jishin Ari!
Vegeta’s Self-Confidence!
02 June 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #26
孫悟空と孫悟飯
Son Gokū to Son Gohan
Son Goku and Son Gohan
09 June 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #27
超ベジータ
Sūpā Bejīta
Super Vegeta
16 June 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #28
絶たれた!?セルの完全体
Tatareta!? Seru no Kanzentai
Cell’s Perfect Form, Interrupted?!
23 June 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #29
逃げろ!!18号
Nigero!! Jūhachi-Gō
Run Away, No. 18!!
30 June 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #30
ベジータの好奇心セルを助ける
Bejīta no Kōkishin Seru o Tasukeru
Vegeta’s Curiosity Saves Cell
07 July 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #31
完全体 完成!!
Kanzentai Kansei!!
Perfect Form Completed!!
14 July 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #32
形勢逆転!!
Keisei Gyakuten!!
The Tables Turn!!
21 July 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #33
ベジータ、執念の秘策
Bejīta, Shūnen no Hisaku
Vegeta’s Stubborn Secret Plan
28 July 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #34
トランクス始動
Torankusu Shidō
Trunks Starts Up
04 August 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #35
父を超えた超トランクス!
Chichi o Koeta Sūpā Torankusu!
Super Trunks Surpasses His Father!
11 August 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #36/37
TRUNKS THE STORY -たったひとりの戦士-
Torankusu za Sutōrī -Tatta Hitori no Senshi-
Trunks the Story –A Lone Warrior–
11 August 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #36/37
超パワーのバランス
Sūpā Pawā no Baransu
The Balance of Super Power
25 August 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #38
セルの思いつき
Seru no Omoitsuki
Cell’s Idea
01 September 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #39
戦慄のメッセージ
Senritsu no Messeiji
A Terrifying Message
08 September 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #40
悟空と悟飯外へ
Gokū to Gohan Soto e
Goku and Gohan Come Out
15 September 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #41
大対決戦前の休息
Dai-Kessen Mae no Kyūsoku
A Rest Before the Big Showdown
22 September 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #42
王立防衛軍の抵抗
Ōritsu Bōeigun no Teikō
The Royal Army’s Resistance
29 September 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #43
新しい神様
Atarashī Kami-sama
A New God
06 October 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #44
セルゲーム始まる
Seru Geimu Hajimaru
The Cell Games Begin
13 October 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #45
フルメンバー集合!!
Furu Menbā Shūgō!!
The Entire Group Gathers!!
20 October 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #46
セルゲームのお荷物!?
Seru Geimu no Onimotsu!?
The Cell Game’s Dead Weight?!
27 October 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #47
セル対孫悟空!!
Seru Tai Son Gokū!!
Cell vs Son Goku!!
03 November 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #48
孫悟空フルパワー
Son Gokū Furu Pawā
Son Goku at Full Power
10 November 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #49
最高レベルの決戦
Saikō Reberu no Kessen
Showdown at the Highest-Level
17 November 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #50
敗北か死か!
Haiboku ka Shi ka!
Defeat or Death?!
21 November 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #51
かめはめ波フルパワー
Kamehameha Furu Pawā
A Full Power Kamehameha
01 December 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1992 #52
孫悟空謎の行動
Son Gokū Nazo no Kōdō
Son Goku’s Puzzling Behavior
08 December 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #01
悟空を超えた戦士
Gokū o Koeta Senshi
The Warrior Who Surpassed Goku
15 December 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #02
発進!超孫悟飯
Hasshin! Sūpā Son Gohan
Take Off! Super Son Gohan
22 December 1992
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #03/04
怒るか孫悟飯
Okoru ka Son Gohan
Will Son Gohan Get Angry?
05 January 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #05/06
16号の秘密兵器
Jūroku-Gō no Himitsu Heiki
No. 16’s Secret Weapon
19 January 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #07
セルジュニアの地獄
Seru Junia no Jigoku
The Hell of the Cell Juniors
26 January 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #08
孫悟飯爆発!!
Son Gohan Bakuhatsu!!
Son Gohan Explodes!!
02 February 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #09
本気対本気
Honki Tai Honki
Seriousness vs Seriousness
09 February 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #10
究極のかめはめ波
Kyūkyoku no Kamehameha
The Ultimate Kamehameha
16 February 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #11
追い詰められたセル
Oitsumerareta Seru
Cell, Driven to the Wall
23 February 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #12
セルゲームの結末
Seru Geimu no Ketsumatsu
The End of the Cell Games
02 March 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #13
苦しむ孫悟飯
Kurushimu Son Gohan
Son Gohan in Agony
09 March 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #14
思わぬ形勢逆転
Omowanu Keisei Gyakuten
An Unexpected Turning of the Tables
16 March 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #15
孫悟空からのメッセージ
Son Gokū kara no Messēji
A Message From Son Goku
23 March 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #16
かめはめ波対かめはめ波最後の決戦
Kamehameha Tai Kamehameha Saigo no Kessen
Kamehameha vs Kamehameha: A Final Showdown
30 March 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #17
大団円
Dai-Dan’en
The Grand Finale
06 April 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #18
さようなら戦士たち
Sayōnara Senshi-tachi
Farewell, Warriors
13 April 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #19
もうひとつの結末
Mō Hitotsu no Ketsumatsu
One More Conclusion
20 April 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #20
未来に平和を…
Mirai ni Heiwa o…
Peace for the Future…
27 April 1993
Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 #21/22