Is the Dragon Ball manga complete?

If you’re a longtime fan of Dragon Ball, chances are you’ve asked yourself at some point: is the Dragon Ball manga actually complete, or is it still going in some form? With so many anime adaptations, spin-offs, and sequels, it’s easy to get lost in the timeline. Let’s clear it up once and for all, while also looking at how the story has continued even after Akira Toriyama’s original run.

And if you ever feel like diving back into the story yourself, you can always revisit Dragon Ball manga online to relive the action from the very beginning.

The original Dragon Ball manga run

The original Dragon Ball manga by Akira Toriyama ran from 1984 to 1995. That’s eleven years of Goku’s adventures, starting with his childhood journey alongside Bulma to search for the Dragon Balls, and ending with the climactic battle against Majin Buu.

Toriyama’s manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump and collected into 42 tankobon volumes. Over time, the story evolved from a comedic adventure tale into a full-blown action-packed series that introduced Super Saiyans, intergalactic villains, and some of the most iconic battles in manga history.

By the time the Buu saga ended, Toriyama brought the manga to a close. Yes, in one sense, the original Dragon Ball manga is indeed complete.

Why fans are still confused

So why do so many people wonder if the manga is complete? A big part of that comes from the sheer number of continuations and adaptations. After the original manga ended, the anime adaptations kept the story alive. Then came new material, such as Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Kai, and, most importantly, Dragon Ball Super.

When fans hear about these new titles, they sometimes assume the manga must have also continued in the same way. And to be fair, they’re not entirely wrong.

Dragon Ball Super keeps the manga alive

In 2015, Dragon Ball Super launched as a direct continuation of the story after the Majin Buu saga. Unlike GT, which was an anime-only project, Super exists both as an anime and as a manga.

The Dragon Ball Super manga is still ongoing today. It’s drawn by Toyotarou with story guidance from Akira Toriyama himself. While Toriyama is no longer drawing the pages, his involvement in outlining arcs ensures the story stays faithful to his vision.

This means the Dragon Ball manga is both complete and incomplete at the same time. The original 42-volume run ended in 1995, but the story itself keeps going through Super.

Big arcs after the original

The Super manga has introduced plenty of material that keeps fans hooked. Here are just a few of the major arcs that make it clear Dragon Ball isn’t slowing down:

• The Battle of Gods and Resurrection F arcs brought Beerus and Golden Frieza into the spotlight.
• The Universe 6 Tournament arc gave us new Saiyans like Cabba, Kale, and Caulifla.
• The Future Trunks Saga reintroduced Trunks while giving us Goku Black and Zamasu, two of the most memorable villains in years.
• The Tournament of Power arc expanded the multiverse and gave us Jiren, along with Goku’s Ultra Instinct form.
• The Moro Arc and Granolah Arc added brand-new enemies and pushed Goku and Vegeta’s growth even further.
• The manga has even started adapting the events of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie into its chapters.

Clearly, while the original is complete, the manga universe is still expanding.

So is Dragon Ball manga complete?

The honest answer is both yes and no. The Dragon Ball manga by Akira Toriyama is finished. That was a complete story that ended with Goku flying off with Uub, setting up the next generation. But the Dragon Ball Super manga, which continues in the same timeline, is still being published.

This situation is kind of unique because it allows fans to view the original 42 volumes as a finished masterpiece, while also enjoying fresh stories that expand the universe.

Why it matters to fans

For many readers, knowing whether the manga is complete helps set expectations. If you want a self-contained journey from start to finish, the original Dragon Ball is all you need. But if you’re hungry for more and curious about what happens after Buu, then Super is where the action continues.

It’s also worth noting that Super isn’t just rehashing the anime. In fact, the manga sometimes tells the story differently, with alternate versions of fights or extra details that add depth. That makes it exciting even for fans who have already watched the anime.

So, is the Dragon Ball manga complete? The original run absolutely is, and it will always stand as one of the greatest manga ever created. But the world of Dragon Ball hasn’t ended. Thanks to Dragon Ball Super, the manga continues to grow, with Goku, Vegeta, and their friends facing challenges bigger than ever before.

If you’ve only read the classic chapters, you might be surprised at how much new material there is to enjoy. And if you’re ready to catch up, you can revisit or continue the story at readdragonball.net.

The answer to the question is simple but layered: yes, Dragon Ball is complete, but no, the adventure is far from over.