- Chapter 1
- 1984 No.51on sale 20 Nov 1984
- Vegeta
- 1989 No.1/2New Year double issue
- Super Saiyan
- 1991 No.15chapter 317
- Ch.1 in Japan
- ¥4.1M+Japanese auction · Mar 2026
Dragon Ball began in Weekly Shonen Jump 1984 No.51, on sale 20 November 1984. Vegeta first appeared in the 1989 No.1/2 New Year double issue (on sale 6 December 1988), Frieza in 1989 No.47, and Goku first turned Super Saiyan in 1991 No.15, in chapter 317. Original copies of the chapter 1 issue sold for more than ¥4,000,000 in Japan in March 2026.
Last updated . Prices include buyer's premium unless noted.
Dragon Ball's key issues
| Milestone | Chapter | Issue | On sale | Cover date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1: Goku and Bulma meet | Ch. 1 "Bulma and Son Goku" | 1984 No.51 | 20 Nov 1984 | 3 Dec 1984 [1] |
| Raditz arrives: the start of the Z part | Ch. 195 | 1988 No.45 | 4 Oct 1988 | 17 Oct 1988 [2] |
| Vegeta and Nappa first appear | Ch. 204 "Farewell, Son Goku" | 1989 No.1/2 (double issue) | 6 Dec 1988 | 7 Jan 1989 [3] |
| Frieza first appears, with Zarbon and Dodoria | Ch. 247 | 1989 No.47 | 24 Oct 1989 | 6 Nov 1989 [4] |
| Goku turns Super Saiyan | Ch. 317 "Life or Death" (生か死か) | 1991 No.15 | 19 Mar 1991 | 1 Apr 1991 [5] |
| The final chapter | Ch. 519 "Bye-bye Dragon World" | 1995 No.25 | 23 May 1995 | 5 Jun 1995 [7] |
| The 6.53-million-copy record issue | Ch. 500 (black and white) | 1995 No.3/4 (double issue) | 20 Dec 1994 | 10 Jan 1995 [6] |
Jump's cover date runs about two weeks after the day it went on sale, so listings can quote either date. New Year issues are double issues numbered like "1/2".
Chapter 1 ran 30 pages, the first seven in full colour, and the issue's cover illustration has never been reprinted, one more reason the original is the one collectors want.[1] Two details trip people up:
- The Super Saiyan issue. Goku transforms in chapter 317, in 1991 No.15. The chapter actually titled "The Legendary Super Saiyan" is chapter 318, a week later in 1991 No.16.[5]
- The record issue isn't a key chapter. 1995 No.3/4 sold a record 6.53 million copies,[8] but its Dragon Ball chapter (500) is in black and white. Slam Dunk took the colour opening pages.[6]
What the chapter 1 issue sells for
| Date | Grade | Price | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | Not stated | $550,000 | Private sale | Logan Paul's purchase, reported. [13] |
| 7 Mar 2026 | Raw | ¥4,101,000 | Japanese auction | 400 bids. [10] |
| Mar 2026 | Raw | ¥4,601,000 | Japanese auction | Front cover tear. [10] |
| Dec 2025 | BGS 9.2 | $40,000 | Private sale | Reported by Beckett; not confirmed. [12] |
| Mar 2025 | Raw | ¥3,800,000about $25,600 | Japanese auction | [9] |
Sales data for the other key issues is thin. We'll add verified results for the Vegeta, Frieza and Super Saiyan issues as we confirm them.
Can you grade a Jump issue?
Yes. Beckett has graded magazine-size manga, Weekly Shonen Jump included, since 15 October 2024,[15] and CBCS grades them too.[16] Graded copies are still rare, which is part of why the few high-grade sales get attention.
Fakes and reprints
- The 2022 fake. A man in Japan was arrested for auctioning a counterfeit 1984 No.51 that sold for ¥180,000. The giveaway: it was glue-bound, while genuine copies are stapled.[11]
- Official reprints. For Jump's 50th anniversary in 2017, Shueisha reprinted landmark issues, including 1995 No.3/4 and 1991 No.21/22.[17] Reprints are listed in Japan as 復刻版; check every listing for that word.
What to search for in Japan
Finding an original issue
Original 1980s and 90s Jump issues were cheap weekly magazines, mostly read and thrown away. The survivors are in Japan: in second-hand bookshops, collector lots and auctions, listed only in Japanese. Tell us which issue and what condition you want.
