Dragon Ball Z, Vol. 1

This volume is not a standalone entry but rather the beginning of the second half of a single, continuous narrative that starts with the original Dragon Ball manga. Reading the preceding volumes is necessary to understand the established history and character relationships that define the events in this book.

The original manga series was serialized as a single work, and the title Dragon Ball Z was applied by the English publisher to the latter portion of the story to distinguish it for readers. While the anime adaptation of the same name covers these chapters, the manga serves as the primary source material for the entire narrative arc.