Highlights
- Dragon Ball Super’s Galactic Patrol Arc featured an intense battle with major antagonist Moro over 25 chapters.
- The Battle Against Demon King Piccolo spanned 27 chapters, showcasing Goku’s triumph over the demonic threat.
- The Saiyan Saga marked the beginning of Dragon Ball Z, introducing Radditz, Nappa, and Vegeta as formidable foes.
Dragon Ball is one of the oldest manga (and anime) still ongoing, and throughout its history, many things have happened, and many arcs and sagas have come and gone. From its humble origins as one’s average shonen manga to the current worldwide success of Dragon Ball Super.
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These examples are the longest arcs and sagas in Dragon Ball, including overarching stories, and details on their main antagonists, major events, timelapse, and the number of chapters in the manga. Fans be warned, because they’re up for a wild ride, with spoilers included.
9 The Galactic Patrol Arc
25 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 2018
- End Year: 2020
- Main Antagonist: Moro
The Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga, also known as The Moro Arc, spans from Chapter 42 of Dragon Ball: Super and ends in Chapter 67 of the manga. Goku and Vegeta are commissioned by the Galactic Patrol to capture one of the most dangerous beings in the universes called Moro, who in the past had to be stopped by the Grand Supreme Kai and stripped of his magic powers.
Unbeknownst to them, Moro is on his way to get the Super Dragon Balls from New Namek to regain his strength. Goku and Vegeta face off against the escaped prisoner but they’re unable to contain him, and he manages to use Porunga’s power to wish back his magic powers, and his youth. Ultimately, the final confrontation happens on Earth, where Goku manages to pull off a near-perfected ultra instinct and defeat Moro once and for all.
8 Battle Against Demon King Piccolo
27 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 1987
- End Year: 1988
- Main Antagonist: Piccolo Daimao
The Piccolo saga happens between Chapters 135 and 161 of the Dragon Ball manga. After the end of the 22nd Martial Arts Tournament, Krillin is murdered under mysterious circumstances, and the Dragon Gang decides to investigate the whereabouts of the mysterious assailant. They end up facing off against the dangerous Piccolo Daimao, the Demon King who was sealed by Mutenroshi and his master ages ago.
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Piccolo is trying to use the Dragon Ballto recover his youth and power, which he manages to do despite the efforts from Bulma and the rest of the crew to gather all the spheres before him. Meanwhile, Master Karin takes Goku to meet Kami-Sama, who to the distraught of the young Saiyan, is a look-alike of the BBEG. He trains for a while under Kaio Sama and Mr. Popo to prepare to beat Piccolo. After an exhausting confrontation with the Demon King, Goku ends up badly hurt but manages to pull off a last-minute save using the Dragon Punch, destroying Piccolo, but not without him spitting out an egg using his remaining life force.
7 21st Martial Arts Tournament (Mutenroshi’s Arc)
31 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 1985
- End Year: 1986
- Main Antagonist: Jackie Chun (Mutenroshi)
The 21st Martial Arts Tournament Arc begins in Chapter 24 and ends in the 54th chapter of the manga. After training for a long time with Master Roshi, Goku and Krillin are invited by their mentor to participate in the Budokai Tenkaichi (Martial Arts Tournament). Little do they know that his master, sensing a great evil coming, is using this occasion to test Goku and Krillin’s progress as martial artists.
With that purpose, Roshi disguises himself as Jackie Chun and enters the tournament as a participant. Goku and Krillin both face dangerous opponents and climb to the top of the tournament until Krillin ends up facing Jackie Chun and loses. That makes Goku and Roshi stand in the finals and they face off. During the fight, the moon rises and Goku turns into an Ōzaru (Giant Ape) so Roshi destroys the satellite, making Goku return to its regular shape and fainting, while also winning the tournament in the process.
6 23rd Martial Arts Tournament (Piccolo Jr.’s First Appearance)
33 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 1988
- End Year: 1988
- Main Antagonist: Piccolo Jr.
The 23rd Martial Arts Tournament begins in manga Chapter 162 and concludes in Chapter 194. Goku reunites with his friends after a three-year absence, in which many things have changed, including Goku’s height, which is now taller than most of the Dragon Team, much to the surprise of Bulma and Krillin, who barely recognize him.
The stage is set for the beginning of a new Budokai Tenkaichi on Papaya Island, and the stakes are higher than ever since a mysterious participant called Demon Junior has his eyes on Goku’s head. Turns out he is the “reincarnation,” or more like the son of Piccolo, and Goku and him end up clashing at the finals, with the result of both of them getting incapacitated, but Goku is considered the victor. Afterward, Goku and Piccolo develop a sort of rivalry/friendship that will continue from that point on.
5 The Saiyan Saga
47 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 1988
- End Year: 1989
- Main Antagonist(s): Radditz, Nappa, Vegeta
The Saiyan Invasion Saga spans from Chapters 195 to 243 of the manga and is the beginning of the Dragon Ball Z era. Five years have passed since the fateful 23rd Martial Arts tournament, where Goku rose as the winner above Piccolo, and Goku is now a married man, husband to Chichi and both have a child named Gohan. Amid all that relative peace, a small Pod crashes on Earth, and an unknown warrior pops out of it. Turns out this is Radditz, Goku’s older brother and member of a warrior race known as Saiyans, who come to conquer Earth. Radditz kidnaps Gohan and then fights Goku and Piccolo (who’s turned to the good side apparently).
The Outcome of the fight ends up with Goku and Radditz being killed, and Piccolo taking Gohan under his wing. They find out more Saiyans will come after a few years, and so, Goku goes to Kaio Sama to train in the afterlife, while the rest of the Dragon Team prepares. When the other two Saiyans arrive, they end up being stronger than they thought, and many of Earth’s mightiest die in the battle. In the end, an empowered Goku arrives and defeats both Nappa and Vegeta. Vegeta turns tail and swears to get revenge. However, fans all know he ended up being tamed by Bulma in the end.
4 The Red Ribbon Army Arc
58 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 1985
- End Year: 1986
- Main Antagonist: Commander Red and the Red Ribbon Army
The overarching saga of the Red Ribbon Army lasts from Chapter 54 until Chapter 112 of the Dragon Ball manga and covers the events where Goku fights the Red Ribbon Army, with its many officers and assassins, including the iconic Sergeant Major Purple, and the infamous Tao Pai Pai.
With many side stories happening in the middle, Goku lives hundreds of adventures as he fights the Red Ribbon officers, then gets captured, and escapes to fight again. Always accompanied all along by Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, and Puar, the original Dragon Team. During this arc, Krillin also joins the crew as a recurring team member. The saga includes the appearance of one of the first numbered Androids (N 8) fabricated by the evil Dr. Gero (who appears in the shadows of the Red Ribbon organization) and sets the precedent for future battles.
3 Journey To Namek/Frieza’s Arc
87 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 1989
- End Year: 1990
- Main Antagonist: Frieza’s Army and Frieza
The overarching Namek Saga, also known as the Frieza (or Super Saiyan Saga) begins in Chapter 243 and ends around Chapter 330, with the beginning of the era of the Super Saiyans. It is one of the most extensive sagas in the manga and consists of three separate parts. The first is the travel to planet Namek, to get that planet’s Dragon Balls and resurrect all the people killed by the Saiyan invasion. The second is the search for the spheres and Frieza’s Army fight, where an old “frenemy” re-appears: Vegeta. The third is the fight against Frieza in its four forms and is the longest of the arcs.
Turns out, someone else was looking for them: Frieza, the one who blew up Planet Vegeta, and the enemy of Goku’s parents, and Vegeta’s parents. As the old saying goes: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. So Vegeta, after being tossed around by Frieza, and meeting Bulma, turns to the light side (sort of) and begins to work with the Dragon Team. After a long battle, Goku finally arrives, beats several members of Frieza’s Army, and gets into a fight with the BBEG. Frieza kills Krillin, which triggers Goku’s rage, managing to activate his latent genes, and turning him into the mythical (and feared) Super Saiyan. Goku beats Frieza to a pulp and a new era in Dragon Ball Z begins.
2 The Android/Cell Saga
90 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 1991
- End Year: 1993
- Main Antagonists: Androids 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Cell
The Android/Cell Saga begins around Chapter 330 of the manga, with the arrival of Future Trunks to Earth, and ends in Chapter 420, with the defeat of Perfect Cell. After Frieza’s defeat in Namek, he went to ask Cooler, his daddy, for help. Meanwhile, Goku was training in Yadrat to learn special techniques, while the Dragon Team eagerly awaited his return. Frieza returns to Earth for vengeance and is stopped by a mysterious Super Saiyan, who names himself Trunks. Goku arrives (late as per usual) to say hello.
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Trunks reveals to Goku his secret, much to the surprise of Piccolo, who almost loses his mind upon hearing that he’s the son of Bulma and Vegeta and comes from the future. He comes with a warning about several powerful Androids destroying the Earth and tells the team to prepare for the worst. Turns out time travel is not an exact science, and Trunks’ intervention already shifted the universal balance.
Now five murderous Androids are roaming around, plus a super uber monster/Android named Cell, who absorbs N:17 and N:18 and perfects himself. Cooked with the genes from every race in the manga so far, Cell is super powerful, and takes down many Z Warriors including Trunks, Vegeta, and Goku. Gohan finally steps up, rages into Super Saiyan 2, and disintegrates Cell forever, turning into the strongest warrior on Earth in the process.
1 The Majin Buu Arc
98 Chapters Total
- Release Year: 1993
- End Year: 1995
- Main Antagonist: Babidi and his Evil Army, Majin Boo (four incarnations)
The Majin Buu Arc (also known as the Final Arc of Dragon Ball Z) begins with the Great Saiyaman Arc (Chapter 421) and ends with the Peaceful World Arc (519). After the death of Goku during the Cell Tournament, the Z Warriors are relatively at peace. Gohan is all grown up and enters college, trying to balance out his academic studies with his vigilante activities as the Great Saiyaman. After that Super Sentai (ridiculous) period, Dragon Ball Z finally goes back to its core essence: The Martial Arts Tournament.
Gohan and crew join as participants of the 25th “Number One Under Heaven Martial Arts Gathering” Arc and welcome back Goku, who is back on Earth living on borrowed time as a special favor from Kaio Sama. But, the mood is ruined by the appearance of Supreme Kai and his cohort, who warn them about the evil wizard Babidi who’s up to no good. Fast forward, the wizard has a monster he wants to resurrect by committing evil acts. Vegeta turns to the dark side (again). Majin Buu is resurrected and beats Vegeta to a pulp. Fusions become a part of Dragon Ball for the first time, with Gotenks (Trunks and Goten) and Vegito (Vegeta and Goku) fighting Buu in their second and third forms. Gohan shows his power and almost defeats Buu in the third incarnation until he gets over-confident then eaten and absorbed by Buu. Goku comes to save the day and beats Kid Buu, starting an era of peace and prosperity once more.
Dragon Ball
Created by Akira Toriyama First TV Show Dragon Ball (1986) Latest TV Show Dragon Ball Super First Episode Air Date February 26, 1986
Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Anime
