Dragon Ball Super Manga Series - Dragon Ball
The Dragon Ball Super manga series is a sequel to the original manga and television series Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. The manga is written by Akira Toriyama and illustrated by Japanese manga artist Toyotaru and began production in the weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 2015. The Dragon Ball Super anime has been produced by Toei Animation, aired from 2015 to 2018.
Dragon Ball Super follows the adventure of Goku and friends after the end of the Dragon Ball Z storyline where peace was brought to planet Earth at the end after defeating Majin Buu. Dragon Ball Super extends into a multiverse world, where Goku travels to other Universes and encounters many strong opponents, we also learn the existence of ‘God of Destructions’ which Beerus is one of, and they have the role of maintaining the balance of their respective Universe with no hesitation to destroy planets or races if needed.
The movie Dragon Ball Super: Broly Movie was released in 2018, which is the third movie to feature Broly Broly following Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan and Broly – Second Coming.
Production
The outline of the Dragon Ball Super story is written by Akira Toriyama and Toyotaro creates the dialogue, illustrations, expansions and changing elements on top of the base built by Toriyama. It is mentioned by Toriyama that Toyotaro’s freedom to alter the story gives a better final product.
Viz Media started publishing Dragon Ball Super manga chapters in English on their website in 2016 with fortnightly uploads of new chapters in English.
The Dragon Ball series has developed into a Media Franchise by Akira Toriyama, among the merchandise, there has been Action Figures, Cosplay and Costumes, Goku and Dragon Ball Toys, Collectable Card Games, Clothing and Funko Pop as well as Dragon ball movies, games and a bunch of collaborations.
Reception
Dragon Ball Super fan reactions have been positive, especially with the quality of the anime production, although there we some inconsistencies with delivering the high quality illustrations in the anime after the fifth episode. But some fans have criticized the series for lacking the mild blood and gore which the popular Dragon Ball Z was famous for, this is because Dragon Ball Super is a series targeted towards younger audiences than previously. The series is still packed with great action and fighting elements.
All of the first four volumes of the Dragon Ball Super manga have been listed as weekly best-selling manga by Oricon. Volumes 1 and 2 sold 29,995 and 56,947 copies in the debut week and volume 3 and 4 sold 92,114 and 150,889.
Manga volume set sales in Japan:
- Volumes 1 and 2 - 594,342 copies (as of June 2017)
- Volume 3 - 236,720 copies (as of July 2017)
- Volume 4 - 267,417 copies (as of November 2017)
- Volume 5 - 400,000 copies (as of April 2018)
- Volume 6 - 216,871 copies (as of June 2018)
- Volume 7 - 208,796 copies (as of September 2018)
- Volume 8 - 314,296 copies (as of January 2019)
Differences from the Dragon Ball Super TV Anime Series
Super Saiyan blue Goku uses Kaio-ken in the anime.
It is explained in the anime that Goku does not have enough Ki control with other transformations to utilise Kaio-ken, Super Saiyan Blue has perfect Ki control, allowing Goku to pull the transformation off.
Cell Junior comes back in the Manga
The last appearance of Cell Junior is back in Dragon Ball Z during the Cell Arc, where they all get killed by Gohan after he transforms into Super Saiyan 2.
Goku and Vegeta master Super Saiyan blue in the manga.
We see Goku achieve a form referred to as the “Perfect Super Saiyan Blue”, Vegeta also attains this form later in the manga.
Vegeta surpasses his limits in his own way in the anime
In Dragon Ball Super, we see Goku break his limit and achieves a form called Ultra Instinct. Vegeta also tried to achieve this form, to contrast Goku’s Ultra Instinct he develops the Super Saiyan Blue form further calling it the “Super Saiyan Blue Evolution” which he uses to fight Jiren alongside Goku.
Commeson appears in the anime
In the Dragon Ball Super anime, there is a character with an ability called “Commeson '', where he can encompass the opponent with his liquid body and copy their shape, statistics, and abilities. Commeson is used to create a copy of Vegeta in the anime series but he does not appear in the manga.
Toppo’s Powers are displayed differently in the Manga
Toppo is a candidate to become the God of Destruction in Universe 11, being trained by the current god Belmod. There is a difference in his powers between the anime and manga. He achieves a form similar to a God of Destruction in the anime with the vibrant aura, but in the manga he has a different aura to the one of a Gods state, making him lack the destructive capabilities he usually has in the anime version.
Links
Dragon Ball Series
Dragon Ball Z Series
Dragon Ball Kai Series
Dragon Ball Super Series
Dragon Ball GT Series
Super Dragon Ball Heros
Akira Toriyama