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Guidebooks are actually meant to expand or add information to a certain manga, sometimes since it is very complicated, it could not be focused on enough in the manga, or the writer felt the need to explain important elements of the story in a more direct way. Different manga have different guidebooks, and Dragon Ball has also had guidebooks over the years, the books were usually written by editors and people close to Akira Toriyama and he was also at least partially involved in some of them.
Now we will briefly tell about each one:
Dragon Ball: Adventure Special
The first guidebook for Dragon Ball, released in 1987. The book deals with the beginning of Dragon Ball until the middle of the Piccolo saga (Chapter 146), and it reveals a number of secrets about the series, a more extensive background for the various characters, about the process of creating the manga, and even a glimpse into the personal life of Akira Toriyama. The book also includes reprints of Dragon Boy and the Adventures of Tongfu, two one-shots (short manga) that served as the basis for Dragon Ball, several games, and a Q&A with Toriyama.
Jump Gold Selection 4: Dragon Ball Z Anime SpecialJump Gold Selection 6: Dragon Ball Z Anime Special Vol. 2
Two instructional books released by the publisher of Shonen Jump, the magazine in which the Dragon Ball manga is published - Shuisha, in 1989 and 1991. They deal with the Dragon Ball anime from the end of the regular Dragon Ball anime to the middle of the Saiyan saga (the first volume), and then the Namek/Frieza saga, and even the special: Bardock - Son Goku's father, and Dragon Ball Z - Lord Slug. The first volume includes a Piccolo side story, color photos and pages that show how the characters are designed. In addition, it includes information about the main characters, training, and the Tenkaichi Budokai - the tournaments. In addition, the volume also includes a comic that explains Toriyama's involvement in the anime, as well as how he creates the manga. The second volume reveals more character designs and interviews with the main anime team.
Jump Anime Library 1: Dragon Ball Z Movie 12
It is a Shueisha magazine released in June 3 1995, dedicated to the 12th Dragon Ball Z movie, which contains character information and images, location sketches, and behind-the-scenes information.
Jump Anime Collection 3: Dragon Ball Z Movie 13
It is a Shueisha magazine released at October 21 1995, dedicated to the 13th Dragon Ball Z movie, which contains character information and images, location sketches, and behind-the-scenes information.
Daizenshuu
A collection of 7 instructional books and a number of accompanying ones, published for the first time after the end of the original manga, in 1995. This collection is extremely extensive, and includes a lot of information about the Dragon Ball manga, anime and movies, and is practically an encyclopedia of the series. In addition, the collection includes interviews with Toriyama and other people involved in the series.
Extra Daizenshuu
Extra Daizenshuu: Carddass Perfect Files are a pair of guides released on February 18, 1996 and April 19, 1996. They cover all of the Dragon Ball Carddass cards. It consists mostly of pictures of cards and card game rules.
Supplemental Daizenshuu
Supplemental Daizenshuu: TV Animation Part 3 was released on August 18, 1996. It covers various anime-related odds and ends left out of the other anime-based Daizenshuu, including a look at Dragon Ball: The Path to Power and Dragon Ball Z episodes 269-291.
Dragon Ball GT: Perfect File
Two books released in 1997 and then reissued in 2006. They were also published by Shuisha, and written by Jump Comics. The books include information not revealed in the series, for example about characters, plot points, transformations, illustrations, and comments from the series team.
TV Anime Guide: Dragon Ball Z Son Goku Densetsu
TV Anime Guide: Dragon Ball Tenkaichi Densetsu
Guidebooks released in 2003 and 2004. The first book adds information about Dragon Ball Z, and also a long interview with Akira Toriyama and Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, one of the animators and character designers in the series (GT and Boo Saga). The second book adds information about Zee, and includes interviews with Toriyama, series organizer Takao Koyama, and interviews with the entire Japanese dubbing team of the series.
Dragon Ball Kanzenban Official Guide: Dragon Ball Landmark
Dragon Ball Kanzenban Official Guide: Dragon Ball Forever
Two tutorial books released in 2003 and 2004 by Toriyama. The first book includes information about the manga, both information found in Daizenshu and new information, a tutorial for drawing a manga cover, color drawings, and a long interview with Akira Toriyama. The second book expands on the first , and includes the results of a vote for the most popular characters at that time in the series.
Dragon Ball: Super Exciting Guides
Two instructional books released in 2009 by Shuisha. The books are divided into a "story volume" and a "character volume". The story volume analyzes the narrative part of the manga, and the character volume analyzes the characters themselves. In addition, there are posters, illustrations and stickers , and each volume has an interview with Toriyama
Dragon Ball Uranai
An instructional book published in 2010 by Shuisha. The book includes information about the characters, and about the power of predicting the future of Baba the fortuneteller.
Dragon Ball Anime Illustration Collection: The Golden Warrior
A collection of illustrations published by Shuisha in 2010. The book includes illustrations from all the Dragon Ball series released up to that time as well as from the films, and even illustrations that have never been released. Interviews with Tadayoshi Yamamoru, Minoru Mada and Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru.
Dragon Ball: Extreme Battle Collection
Two instructional books were released by Shuisha in 2010, and deal with battles in Dragon Ball Z.
Chouzenshuu
Guidebook volumes released in 2013 by V-Jump (Shonen Jump). These volumes are simply a more condensed version of Daizenshuu - the Dragon Ball Encyclopedia.
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods Official Movie Guide
Guide released in a special edition of Shonen Jump. The guide was released about a week before the premiere of the film in Japan, and mainly includes background to the film and some behind-the-scenes information, a summary of each Dragon Ball, the poster of the film, and also interviews with Masako Navaza and Akira Toriyama.
Dragon Ball: A Visual History
An illustration book released in 2013, of illustrations from many years of Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball Volume ‘F’
A book that serves as an extension to "The Resurrection of Frieza". The book was written by Akira Toriyama, and mainly includes and explains information from the movie, and a little background information.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Start Guide
As its name suggests, the guide gives basic information about Dragon Ball Super. It was published in 2015. Akira Toriyama also released 5 illustrated books from 1990 to 1993, which include illustrations for various manga he worked on, such as Dragon Ball. Additionally, most video games have had guides released as well.
that's it! Thanks for reading!
Now we will briefly tell about each one:
Dragon Ball: Adventure Special
The first guidebook for Dragon Ball, released in 1987. The book deals with the beginning of Dragon Ball until the middle of the Piccolo saga (Chapter 146), and it reveals a number of secrets about the series, a more extensive background for the various characters, about the process of creating the manga, and even a glimpse into the personal life of Akira Toriyama. The book also includes reprints of Dragon Boy and the Adventures of Tongfu, two one-shots (short manga) that served as the basis for Dragon Ball, several games, and a Q&A with Toriyama.
Jump Gold Selection 4: Dragon Ball Z Anime SpecialJump Gold Selection 6: Dragon Ball Z Anime Special Vol. 2
Two instructional books released by the publisher of Shonen Jump, the magazine in which the Dragon Ball manga is published - Shuisha, in 1989 and 1991. They deal with the Dragon Ball anime from the end of the regular Dragon Ball anime to the middle of the Saiyan saga (the first volume), and then the Namek/Frieza saga, and even the special: Bardock - Son Goku's father, and Dragon Ball Z - Lord Slug. The first volume includes a Piccolo side story, color photos and pages that show how the characters are designed. In addition, it includes information about the main characters, training, and the Tenkaichi Budokai - the tournaments. In addition, the volume also includes a comic that explains Toriyama's involvement in the anime, as well as how he creates the manga. The second volume reveals more character designs and interviews with the main anime team.
Jump Anime Library 1: Dragon Ball Z Movie 12
It is a Shueisha magazine released in June 3 1995, dedicated to the 12th Dragon Ball Z movie, which contains character information and images, location sketches, and behind-the-scenes information.
Jump Anime Collection 3: Dragon Ball Z Movie 13
It is a Shueisha magazine released at October 21 1995, dedicated to the 13th Dragon Ball Z movie, which contains character information and images, location sketches, and behind-the-scenes information.
Daizenshuu
A collection of 7 instructional books and a number of accompanying ones, published for the first time after the end of the original manga, in 1995. This collection is extremely extensive, and includes a lot of information about the Dragon Ball manga, anime and movies, and is practically an encyclopedia of the series. In addition, the collection includes interviews with Toriyama and other people involved in the series.
Extra Daizenshuu
Extra Daizenshuu: Carddass Perfect Files are a pair of guides released on February 18, 1996 and April 19, 1996. They cover all of the Dragon Ball Carddass cards. It consists mostly of pictures of cards and card game rules.
Supplemental Daizenshuu
Supplemental Daizenshuu: TV Animation Part 3 was released on August 18, 1996. It covers various anime-related odds and ends left out of the other anime-based Daizenshuu, including a look at Dragon Ball: The Path to Power and Dragon Ball Z episodes 269-291.
Dragon Ball GT: Perfect File
Two books released in 1997 and then reissued in 2006. They were also published by Shuisha, and written by Jump Comics. The books include information not revealed in the series, for example about characters, plot points, transformations, illustrations, and comments from the series team.
TV Anime Guide: Dragon Ball Z Son Goku Densetsu
TV Anime Guide: Dragon Ball Tenkaichi Densetsu
Guidebooks released in 2003 and 2004. The first book adds information about Dragon Ball Z, and also a long interview with Akira Toriyama and Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, one of the animators and character designers in the series (GT and Boo Saga). The second book adds information about Zee, and includes interviews with Toriyama, series organizer Takao Koyama, and interviews with the entire Japanese dubbing team of the series.
Dragon Ball Kanzenban Official Guide: Dragon Ball Landmark
Dragon Ball Kanzenban Official Guide: Dragon Ball Forever
Two tutorial books released in 2003 and 2004 by Toriyama. The first book includes information about the manga, both information found in Daizenshu and new information, a tutorial for drawing a manga cover, color drawings, and a long interview with Akira Toriyama. The second book expands on the first , and includes the results of a vote for the most popular characters at that time in the series.
Dragon Ball: Super Exciting Guides
Two instructional books released in 2009 by Shuisha. The books are divided into a "story volume" and a "character volume". The story volume analyzes the narrative part of the manga, and the character volume analyzes the characters themselves. In addition, there are posters, illustrations and stickers , and each volume has an interview with Toriyama
Dragon Ball Uranai
An instructional book published in 2010 by Shuisha. The book includes information about the characters, and about the power of predicting the future of Baba the fortuneteller.
Dragon Ball Anime Illustration Collection: The Golden Warrior
A collection of illustrations published by Shuisha in 2010. The book includes illustrations from all the Dragon Ball series released up to that time as well as from the films, and even illustrations that have never been released. Interviews with Tadayoshi Yamamoru, Minoru Mada and Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru.
Dragon Ball: Extreme Battle Collection
Two instructional books were released by Shuisha in 2010, and deal with battles in Dragon Ball Z.
Chouzenshuu
Guidebook volumes released in 2013 by V-Jump (Shonen Jump). These volumes are simply a more condensed version of Daizenshuu - the Dragon Ball Encyclopedia.
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods Official Movie Guide
Guide released in a special edition of Shonen Jump. The guide was released about a week before the premiere of the film in Japan, and mainly includes background to the film and some behind-the-scenes information, a summary of each Dragon Ball, the poster of the film, and also interviews with Masako Navaza and Akira Toriyama.
Dragon Ball: A Visual History
An illustration book released in 2013, of illustrations from many years of Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball Volume ‘F’
A book that serves as an extension to "The Resurrection of Frieza". The book was written by Akira Toriyama, and mainly includes and explains information from the movie, and a little background information.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Start Guide
As its name suggests, the guide gives basic information about Dragon Ball Super. It was published in 2015. Akira Toriyama also released 5 illustrated books from 1990 to 1993, which include illustrations for various manga he worked on, such as Dragon Ball. Additionally, most video games have had guides released as well.
that's it! Thanks for reading!
