When one talks about the greatest shonen series of all time, it's only a matter of time before Dragon Ball comes into the picture. After all, this legendary series is one of the major catalysts that sparked an interest in anime in the West. Many fans still consider Dragon Ball Z to be one of the most important and nostalgic aspects of their childhood.
Akira Toriyama truly created something magical with this series, which is still going strong to this day — even after a hiatus that lasted two decades. While most people are familiar with Dragon Ball because of the legendary anime, the manga itself has several positives. Ideally, these aspects can convince newcomers to check out the manga as well as the show.
10 Toriyama's Art Is Brilliant To Behold
At the start of the manga, Dragon Ball was meant to be a series that prized adventure over everything else. However, this focus changed over time as Toriyama realized that he wanted to convert this series into a full-on shonen battle manga. The manner in which he changed his art style to accommodate the same is rather interesting to see.
As the tone shifted, the designs of his iconic characters changed as well to adjust to the change of Dragon Ball's genre. The manner in which the limbs and bodies of characters contorted to land hits are fascinating to watch. The manga as a whole shows how Toriyama was evolving as an artist.
9 The Story Is Paced Exactly How The Creator Planned
The anime might be a great watch in its own right. However, the pacing of the show and the manner in which story beats are handled are certainly quite different, when compared to the manga.
Toriyama's original vision when it comes to the story and its pacing can only be witnessed in the manga. Additionally, the anime had to draw out scenes so that it didn't catch up to the manga during its original run. This also hampers the former's pacing in many ways.
8 Watching Iconic Moments In Their Rawest Form
Dragon Ball Z is full to the brim with some of the most iconic moments in shonen history. From amazing battles to awe-inspiring transformations, the show had it all.
However, seeing these moments in their original medium is a unique experience in its own right. The manga has its own charm while portraying these scenes, which is quite a treat to witness firsthand.
7 The Manga Has Little To No Filler
Perhaps the biggest point in favor of the manga is that it lacks the filler content that viewers despised in Dragon Ball Z. In the anime, these filler scenes were added so that the anime didn't catch up to the manga; thus, there's no reason for the manga to include them.
These filler episodes resulted in some scenes in Dragon Ball Z that felt needlessly stretched out or completely unnecessary, ruining the show's pacing. Thankfully, the manga doesn't suffer from these problems.
6 The Gore Is Cranked Up Considerably In The Manga
Given the sheer intensity of most fights in Dragon Ball Z, one would expect the fighters to be absolutely coated in cuts, bruises, and blood. However, the anime tends to shy away from making its scenes appear this vicious.
The manga doesn't suffer in this regard. Toriyama pulled no punches in showing gore during moments where it made sense. Most fans would argue that it actually enhances the experience of witnessing these gruesome scenes.
5 The Super Saiyan Transformation Leads To Frieza Being Hopelessly Outmatched
When Goku turns Super Saiyan in the anime, Frieza ended up powering up all the way to the max in a bid to fight on equal footing. This actually allows them to go toe-to-toe before the Saiyan emerges victorious.
However, in the manga, Frieza doesn't stand a chance — even after powering up against the Super Saiyan. Most people would agree that this was the best way to show the immense power of the Super Saiyan form, seeing Goku crush his enemy.
4 The Journey Through Snake Way Is Shorter In The Manga
The initial moments of the show when Goku travels through Snake Way is easily among the most agonizing moments in the show. While this does hammer in the point that Snake Way is an extremely long journey, it's still not particularly entertaining to watch.
The manga doesn't feature any of this extended content at all. Goku simply makes his long journey through Snake Way with little to no detours, ensuring readers don't get bored.
3 The Dragon Ball Super Manga Has Its Own Unique Inclusions
Dragon Ball Super was a boon for fans of Dragon Ball who were positively hungering for new material. The idea of witnessing new transformations and even greater power levels intrigued fans to no end.
People who both read the manga and saw the show were in for a treat. The manga features its own changes to the events of the show that are quite interesting and allows for a fresh — and, some would argue, better — perspective on existing scenarios.
2 Super Saiyan God Appears More In The Manga
One of the biggest pet peeves that viewers have with Dragon Ball Super is that Super Saiyan God is introduced for just one arc, before being relegated to the sidelines. It makes this form feel rather wasteful as a result.
Thankfully, the Dragon Ball Super manga ensures that this form gets the recognition it deserves. It is used in a myriad of unique ways throughout the manga's run, allowing Super Saiyan God to feel somewhat useful when it comes to energy conservation.
1 The Manga Is Still Ongoing, & Is The Best Way To Catch Up To The Story
The biggest and most obvious draw of the Dragon Ball Super manga is the fact that it isn't on a hiatus. The show has stopped after the Universal Tournament arc, but the manga has already covered major story arcs following this contest. From new transformations to imposing villains, the Dragon Ball Super manga houses a myriad of treats.
It's a godsend for any Dragon Ball fan who might be suffering from a dearth of content from their favorite shonen series. After all, not every fan can wait for the anime to resume so that they can get their Dragon Ball fix.