“A long time ago, a few thousand kilometers from the city, deep in the mountains… our story begins.” This is how it begins Dragon Ball. In a fantastic world similar to Earth and populated by creatures each stranger than the last, we follow the adventures of Goku, a little boy with herculean strength and a monkey’s tail, who will one day cross paths with of a young girl.
Together they will leave – on Kinto-An, lhe famous magical (and supersonic) cloud – in search of the seven “dragon balls”, crystal balls which allow you to summon Shenron, the legendary dragon who grants any wish. The work, available in 42 volumes and printed by Glénat, was inspired by one of the classics of 16th century Chinese literature, the fantastic novel The Journey to the West.
A joyful adventure manga is what Akira Toriyama, who died in March 2024, wanted to do, but his publisher sees things differently and takes it into a slightly more dramatic dimension. Despite everything, the mangaka will succeed in integrating numerous gags, sometimes grotesque, but which work every time. Starting with the names of the characters, with their often kitsch look and sometimes borderline humor, but that is part of the charm of the series.
Dragon Ballit is at the same time science fiction, fantasy and comedy. Added to this are numerous martial arts tournaments and lots of twists and turns that keep the reader in suspense. If the quest for crystal balls is still present, as the chapters progress, more and more powerful heroes appear, giving rise to incredible fights.
The manga has sold more than 260 million copies worldwide, according to the Mangazenkan website, and has been adapted for television, cinema or video games. It also inspired several sequels including Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Super. Before his death, Akira Toriyama participated in the project Dragon Ball Daimaa new sequel to Dragon Ball broadcast in France from October 15 by the pay channel Mangas, in the original version with subtitles, and by Netflix.
The creator of Dragon Ball has inspired many generations of mangakas, notably Eiichiro Oda, the author of One PieceMasashi Kishimoto, celui de Narutoor even Tite Kubo, the creator of Bleach. The character of Son Goku has become a figure in pop culture and many French rappers evoke him in their songs.
An ambitious video game eagerly awaited by fans: Dragon Ball : Sparking ! ZERO was released in October 2024. On the program: free movements in 3D in very large environments, incredible attacks from the Super Saiyans – including the legendary “Kamé Hamé Ha” – dynamic and pyrotechnic clashes between the game’s 182 characters – a record -, all from the manga but also from the franchise’s numerous films and series. Dragon Ball Super will also experience new chapters which will begin a new narrative arc. More than ever, Akira Toriyama’s work is considered a true classic by fans around the world and is one of the cult titles in the history of manga.
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