Custom Image by Casandra Ronning
Published May 3, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT
Zach joined the ScreenRant Anime team as a contributor in June 2024, before taking on a Senior Writer role in November. Since then, he has covered breaking news and produced features and lists about the most popular anime titles.
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For over four decades and counting, Dragon Ball has entertained and inspired generations of fans around the world. Since Goku's humble 1984 debut in the pages of Weekly Shōnen Jump, the franchise has spawned countless manga and anime series and spin-offs, video games, collaborations, and more merchandise than the biggest fan could ever get their hands on. Dragon Ball has become an entertainment titan, and that isn't likely to change anytime soon.
The passing of series creator Akira Toriyama made the future of the franchise somewhat uncertain, though after a relatively brief period of inactivity, the next era of Dragon Ball was revealed at a special 40th anniversary event in Tokyo earlier this year. As long as Dragon Ball remains profitable, and it very much is profitable, Goku and company won't be going anywhere.
As part of the series' 40th anniversary celebration, a new box set of Akira Toriyama's original manga, featuring alternate covers drawn by some of the most successful and influential manga artists ever, was announced. As of now, it won't be released in English, or any other language than its original Japanese, for that matter. Dragon Ball has an incredibly loyal global fan base, yet its international releases, especially those in North America, have been notoriously subpar quality, and that needs to change as the series enters its new era.
Dragon Ball's Official English Manga Releases Are Not Good Enough
Localization has become a divisive topic throughout the global anime and manga community in recent years. Unfortunately, there just isn't a way to perfectly translate works written in Japanese into English, and those tasked with doing so are often treated harshly by fans who wish to experience their favorite titles exactly how their creators intended. That being said, the official English manga releases of Dragon Ball by Viz Media simply aren't good enough for a number of reasons, beyond and including translations.
Across the various English printings of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball, of which there have been a few, translations are wonky. Character names differ from their official spellings, like Vegito inexplicably being called Vegerot. Piccolo speaks in a strange dialect throughout the majority of the series, reading like a character from an 18th century English novel. And there are a number of instances in which Vegeta's dialogue is misleadingly harsh during moments meant to accentuate his character growth.
Shueisha/Bird Studio/Viz MediaThe quality of the artwork is also hit or miss across different English physical releases, with panels or entire pages being cropped or faded. On the Manga Plus and Shōnen Jump apps, commonly used by manga fans in the West, the scans are terribly low quality, especially early on in the series. Some colored pages have been transferred in black and white, making certain illustrations a smudgy, near incomprehensible mess. On top of it all, there are varying degrees of censorship across all English versions of Dragon Ball.
It isn't an ideal way to release one of the most important manga series in history, drawn by a legend in the industry. And with no word on an English release of the new 40th anniversary box set, it appears there won't be a definitive way to experience the Dragon Ball manga in English for some time.
Dragon Ball's Home Releases Have Never Been Good Enough
Dragon Ball Fans Are Dedicated, and They Deserve Better
Unfortunately, poor home releases aren't unique to Dragon Ball's manga. Its anime adaptations, which are the most popular method for enjoying Dragon Ball around the world, haven't been preserved very well. Color and sound degradation have become serious issues over the years, while absurd cropping to fit different aspect ratios has plagued a number of different official home releases. In recent years, fan groups have taken it upon themselves to restore Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z to their former glory.
Dragon Ball · Character Profile Which Dragon Ball Character Are You? “Power comes in response to a need, not a desire.”
👊 Goku The Fighter
👑 Vegeta The Prince
🧘 Piccolo The Mentor
POWER UP →
01
A powerful new enemy appears. What’s your first reaction?
AThis is amazing! I can’t wait to fight them and see how strong they are! BI’ll defeat them myself. No one else is worthy of the challenge. CWe need a plan. Rushing in blindly is how people get killed.
NEXT →
02
How do you train for an upcoming battle?
AFind the strongest sparring partner I can and push myself past my limits every day BTrain alone in isolation — I don’t need anyone holding me back CMeditate, study the enemy’s weaknesses, and train the younger fighters so they’re ready too
NEXT →
03
Your team is losing a fight. What do you do?
AJump in front of everyone — I’ll take the hits so my friends can regroup BGet angry. I refuse to lose — my pride won’t allow it. I’ll surpass my limits right here. CFall back and coordinate — someone needs to think clearly while everyone else is panicking
NEXT →
04
A rival challenges you to a one-on-one fight. How do you respond?
AAbsolutely! Let’s go right now — no holding back! BFinally, a chance to prove I am the strongest. I accept — and I will crush you. CIf it serves a purpose, fine. But pointless fighting is a waste of energy.
NEXT →
05
An old enemy offers to join your side. What do you do?
AI don’t trust them — once an enemy, always an enemy. They’ll betray us. BSure! Everyone deserves a second chance. The more friends the better! CI’ll allow it, but I’m watching them closely. Trust is earned, not given.
NEXT →
06
What’s your biggest weakness?
AI’m too trusting and sometimes let enemies power up just for the thrill of the fight BMy pride — I’d rather die than accept help from someone else CI keep everyone at arm’s length — caring about people is a liability I struggle with
NEXT →
07
You sense a massive power level approaching Earth. What’s your move?
AFly straight toward it — I want to meet them first and see what they’re made of BPrepare myself — if this threat is real, I’ll be the one to destroy it CGather the fighters, assess the threat, and make sure the people I protect are safe first
NEXT →
08
What drives you more than anything?
AProtecting those who can’t protect themselves — someone has to be the responsible one BThe thrill of getting stronger — there’s always a new level to reach, a new challenge to find CProving my worth — I am the Prince of all Saiyans, and I will surpass everyone
REVEAL MY CHARACTER →
Power Level Scanned Your Dragon Ball Identity
👊
Goku
“I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace.” You’re a pure-hearted warrior who lives for the thrill of the fight. Every challenge is an opportunity, every enemy a potential friend, and every defeat just fuel to come back stronger. People are drawn to your infectious optimism and unbreakable spirit, even when your naivety drives them crazy. You’d give your last Senzu Bean to a stranger and charge headfirst into a battle you can’t win — not because you’re reckless, but because you genuinely believe that pushing past your limits is the only way to grow. Like Goku, your greatest power isn’t your ki — it’s your ability to inspire everyone around you to be better.
Pure-Hearted Fearless Limitless Inspiring
👑
Vegeta
“I do not fear this new challenge. Rather like a true warrior, I will rise to meet it.” You carry yourself with the pride of royalty and the ferocity of a born warrior. Second place is not in your vocabulary, and you’d rather break your body than your spirit. People might call you arrogant, but beneath that iron exterior lies someone who has learned to fight not just for themselves, but for the people they’ve quietly grown to love. Your journey is one of evolution — from cold-blooded conqueror to Earth’s fiercest protector — and every scar you carry is proof that pride and love can coexist. Like Vegeta, you don’t just want to be the strongest — you need to earn it on your own terms.
Proud Relentless Fierce Evolving
🧘
Piccolo
“Sometimes, we have to look beyond what we want and do what’s best.” You’re the one everyone depends on when things fall apart — the calm center in the middle of chaos. While others charge in recklessly or let their ego do the talking, you see the bigger picture and make the hard calls that need making. You didn’t choose to care about people, but somewhere along the way it happened, and now you’d sacrifice everything for those you’ve taken under your wing. Stoic on the surface, deeply loyal underneath, you’re the mentor, the strategist, and the last line of defense all in one. Like Piccolo, your true strength is wisdom — and the courage to do what’s right even when no one is watching.
Wise Tactical Protective Stoic
↻ PLAY AGAIN
Despite it being one of the most successful franchises in anime and manga history, backed by legions of hardcore and dedicated fans, it's incredibly difficult for fans to enjoy Dragon Ball as it was intended to be seen and read. And that needs to change as the series enters its new era later this year, starting with the airing of Dragon Ball Super: Beerus.
Created by Akira Toriyama
First Film Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
Latest Film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Latest TV Show Super Dragon Ball Heroes
First Episode Air Date April 26, 1989
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku's never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
English (US) ·