November 20th marks the day Dragon Ball first entered publication on the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump in 1984. Over 40 years have passed since then, and Goku's adventures have been followed by fans around the world not only on the pages of the manga, but also in anime, games, and more.
To mark this auspicious day, we're going back to where it all began and choosing one panel from each of the 42 volumes of Jump Comics' Dragon Ball to retrace Goku's journey over the course of three articles.

In today's article, we'll be looking at 14 panels, one each from volumes one through 14. The second article planned for November 27th will cover volumes 15 through 28, and the third article planned for December 4th will cover volumes 29 through 42.
Whether you're already a Dragon Ball fan or you're new to the series, this is the perfect chance to experience the thrill and charm of this series, so without further ado, let the journey begin!

From the dynamic between the duo of country boy Goku and city girl Bulma, to the setting of the story and anticipation for the thrilling adventures to come, this dynamic scene perfectly conveys it all! The two go on to meet all kinds of new people and forge deep bonds of friendship with characters such as Oolong, Kamesennin, Yamcha, Puar, and more, but this is where it all began.

Volume 2: Wish Upon a Dragon

Goku and Bulma continue their journey and manage to collect six out of seven Dragon Balls, but they are stolen by the Pilaf Gang, who are plotting to take over the world. To add insult to injury, the two are also locked away in the depths of Pilaf's Castle. With Goku's Four-Star Ball also in hand, Emperor Pilaf is now able to summon Shenron to have his wish granted in the thrilling moment pictured below!

Shenron's first appearance took up an entire page in all of its stunning glory, conveying the awesome power of this impressive being! Immediately after, Oolong rushes out of the castle and manages to sneak in a wish before Pilaf can make his request to Shenron. Meanwhile, Goku transforms into a Great Ape under the full moon and crushes Pilaf's Castle, along with Pilaf's lofty aspirations.

Volume 3: The Training of Kamesennin

Having granted a wish, the Dragon Balls turn to stone for a one-year period. Goku parts ways with Bulma and the others to further his training and eventually visits Kamesennin to ask to be taken on as a disciple. Alongside fellow disciple Krillin, Goku spends his days training in preparation to enter the Tenkaichi Budokai, a gathering where martial arts experts put their strength to the test. The panel below provides a snapshot of their daily routine.

As you can see, the Kame School's training focuses not only on building physical strength, but also emphasizes eating, resting, and studying properly. Much later, just before the beginning of the Cell Games, we see Goku cut his training short in the Room of Spirit and Time to spend a moment with Chichi and Gohan; perhaps indicating that Goku took Kamesennin's teachings to heart.

Volume 4: Strongest Under the Heavens

Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha have won their preliminary matches at the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai and are moving on to the next round, which includes Kamesennin disguised as Jackie Chun as one of their competitors. Goku faces off against Namu in the semi-finals and shows off the impressive results of all his training, which this panel from volume four showcases perfectly.

Goku sends Namu flying with a powerful blow, which Namu deftly turns into a chance to strike back. The two trade attacks with no end in sight until Goku uses Namu's penchant for aerial attacks against him and seizes victory, securing a place in the finals. With the victor of the match up in the air, the Tenkaichi Budokai arc of the story made for a real page-turner!

Volume 5: The Red Ribbon Army

Here the 21st Tenkachi Budokai at last reaches its climax. Evenly matched and exhausted in the final round, Goku and Jackie Chun draw on their remaining strength for one more clash. The panel below illustrates this decisive moment!

Having assessed the size difference between the two, Jackie Chun maneuvers the situation so that the bout can be settled with one final kick. His longer legs allow him to deal an impressive blow to Goku and win the tournament. With Jackie Chun's wisdom and experience pitted against Goku's youth and vitality, spectators were all too happy to applaud this exciting match between fighters of very different generations.
Following the tournament, Goku takes off on a journey to find the Four-Star Ball, a memento of his Grandpa Gohan. Along the way, he finds himself embroiled in a struggle with the Red Ribbon Army over the Dragon Balls.

Volume 6: Bulma Returns

Searching for the Four-Star Ball, Goku first heads up to the snowy northern regions. Despite encountering numerous setbacks, such as becoming stranded in the cold, he ends up on a mission to rescue the mayor of Jingle Village, who had been kidnapped in order to strongarm his fellow villagers into hunting for the Dragon Balls. This mission takes him to Muscle Tower, a stronghold of the Red Ribbon Army and the scene of some thrilling battles. Below is our pick for a panel to watch out for from volume six!

Here, Goku has been shot with a powerful gun by General White and is being gently held by the new friend he made in Muscle Tower, Android 8, also known as Hatchan. In this panel we can get a glimpse of the budding relationship of trust and friendship between the two. After this, Muscle Tower is successfully toppled and Hatchan is taken in by the residents of Jingle Village as one of their own.

Volume 7: General Blue and the Pirate Treasure

In this volume, Goku is reunited with Bulma and Krillin. Hunting for the Dragon Balls while being hunted by the Red Ribbon Army themselves, the three make their way to a cave at the bottom of the sea, where they face off against one of the Red Ribbon Army's commanding officers, General Blue. The panel below depicts the moment where General Blue has Krillin backed into a corner, but Goku comes to the rescue!

General Blue's psychic abilities allow him to restrain his opponents, move objects, and more, which gives Goku all kinds of trouble. However, after a series of battles, Goku and friends successfully retrieve the stolen Dragon Balls and set their sights on Karin Sanctuary to the west.

Volume 8: Taopaipai and Master Karin

At Karin Sanctuary, Goku meets the father-son pair Bora and Upa and regains his beloved Four-Star Ball. Meanwhile, the Red Ribbon Army has contracted the world's deadliest assassin, Taopaipai, to eliminate Goku and retrieve the Dragon Balls.
This panel shows off Taopaipai's rather unorthodox method of travel as he makes his way to Goku!

In this mind-boggling scene, Taopaipai simply throws a pillar and surfs on it all the way to his destination, a distance of approximately 2,300 kilometers! Though Goku initially loses to Taopaipai, he undergoes training at Karin Tower and comes back for a rematch, this time managing to vanquish the assassin. He keeps up this momentum, busting into Red Ribbon Army Headquarters and taking them down.

Volume 9: Test of the All-Seeing Crone

To bring back Bora, who was killed by Taopaipai, Goku resolves to gather the seven Dragon Balls, but is unable to find the last one he needs to complete the set. In exchange for having Fortuneteller Baba locate the final Dragon Ball for him, Goku faces off against a series of warriors at her behest. In a shocking twist, the final opponent is revealed to be none other than his very own Grandpa Gohan!

Here, Grandpa Gohan has returned from Another World for just one day, and Goku can't help but run to him in tears. Seeing the always brave and cheerful Goku revert back to childhood for a fleeting moment makes this a touching scene indeed!
Afterwards, Goku obtains the last Dragon Ball and brings Bora back to life before heading out on his next adventure: a journey of training to prepare for the next Tenkaichi Budokai, to be held in three years.

Volume 10: The 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai

Three years later, Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha are ready to take on the competition at the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai. This time, they come face to face with Tsurusennin, who views Kamesennin as his rival, as well as his disciples Tenshinhan and Chaozu.
The pair are truly talented, with Tenshinhan easily making it through the preliminaries to face off against Yamcha in the first round of the main event. The panel below, depicting the deciding moment of their match, took up an entire page in the manga!

Seeing Tenshinhan use unreasonable force on Yamcha even after the match was decided, Goku swears to "avenge Yamcha in a match!!" As promised, Goku defeats Krillin in the semi-finals, pitting himself against Tenshinhan in the finals.

Volume 11: The Eyes of Tenshinhan

The final match of the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai is a showdown between Goku and Tenshinhan. With speeds so fast that even the announcer can't keep up, a thrilling non-stop exchange of blows unfolds. And this is the exact panel Goku lands a skillful strike!

After some back-and-forth between illusions created by the Zanzo-Ken (Afterimage) technique, Goku lands a kick on Tenshinhan! Recognizing Goku's prowess, Tenshinhan decides to turn his back on Tsurusennin's questionable teachings and fight fair and square as a true martial artist. The battle between the two rages on until a stroke of luck gives Tenshinhan the win, bringing the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai to a close. However, yet another trial lies before Goku and his friends.

Volume 12: The Demon King Piccolo

Released from his confinement, the Great Demon King Piccolo searches for the Dragon Balls in order to gain eternal youth, while also hunting down martial artists around the world. Krillin falls victim to this villain, and a new fight begins as an enraged Goku embarks on a quest for revenge.
The Great Demon King Piccolo, the fiercest of Goku's childhood foes, makes his debut in the panel below!

With an appearance considerably different from any other character that had appeared before, plus his seat upon a throne decorated with skulls, this scene truly conveys to readers the fearsome, imposing aura befitting a great demon king. Eventually, he succeeds in wresting the Dragon Balls from Goku and regaining his youth, after which he sets his sights on world domination.

Volume 13: Piccolo Conquers the World

Defeated by the Great Demon King Piccolo, Goku resolves to undergo further training and grow stronger. With the help of the swordsman Yajirobe, he makes for Karin Tower. He achieves an impressive leap in power by undergoing the trials to reach the Super Water of the Gods, which draws out one's latent potential. Tenshinhan attempts to take on the Great Demon King Piccolo before Goku does but finds himself having bit off more than he can chew. The panel below depicts the thrilling moment when Goku comes to the rescue!

From Goku's serious expression, it's plain to see that he is burning with resolve to defeat the Great Demon King Piccolo. He takes out Tenshinhan's opponent, the demon king's underling Drum, in one hit, displaying only a fraction of his newfound strength. All that remains is the decisive battle against the demon king himself, younger and more powerful than in their previous encounter.

Volume 14: Heaven and Earth

With no holds barred, Goku and the Demon King Piccolo clash with enough force to blow away a whole town. In the midst of their fight, Tenshinhan is taken hostage and Goku is unable to fight freely, eventually leaving him bruised and battered. But somehow, Goku is still able to move his right arm and channels all of his remaining strength into a single blow. The panel below, which shows the moment before this fierce battle is settled, is our top pick from volume 14!

During the trials on the path to the Super Water of the Gods, readers had a glimpse of the power of the Great Ape hiding within Goku. Summoning this strength, Goku's strike pierces right through the Demon King Piccolo, returning peace to the land. However, Goku learns that on the brink of death, the demon king left behind a double of himself. To deal with the future appearance of this threat, he undergoes further training with Kami as his mentor.

Volumes one through 14 cover Goku and Bulma's fateful meeting and their first adventures, Goku's first time saving the world, and more! Each and every panel showcases the thrilling twists and turns to be found in each volume!
Do you have a favorite panel in particular? Tell us in the comments below!
The next article in this series is scheduled to be published on November 27th. Stay tuned to see what awaits in volumes 15 through 28 of Dragon Ball!