Dragon Ball Z, Vol. 2

The original Dragon Ball manga serves as the foundational starting point for the entire story, as the Z rebranding was an anime-only distinction that does not exist in the original print run. Starting here means missing the character development and world-building established in the earlier chapters of the same narrative.

The manga is noted for its direct, efficient pacing, whereas the anime adaptation often expands scenes and includes filler material that can significantly alter the flow of the story. Many readers prefer the manga for its consistent art quality and lack of the pacing issues sometimes found in the animated version.