The series heads into 1987 continuing on with the latter half of the Uranai Baba story arc. Akira Toriyama takes the opportunity with this location change to provide a contrasting desert backdrop to the recent Red Ribbon Army base, pulling in Middle Eastern themes and architecture. Alongside a brief reunion between Son Goku and his adoptive father, Son Gohan, Toriyama decides to bring back the Pilaf Gang whose roles have been prominently expanded in the Dragon Ball TV series. With the arrival of his son imminent, Toriyama decides to jump the story’s timeline ahead three years and return to a simplistic tournament-style story with another Tenka’ichi Budōkai, a decision that had previously boosted the series’ popularity just two years prior. Toriyama once again pulls inspiration from his love of martial arts movies and follows a classic martial arts movie trope by introducing a rival to the “Turtle” school, one that is of course not opposed to using underhanded trickery to win.

With the 22nd Tenka’ichi Budōkai story nearing its end, Toriyama begins piecing together the series’ first truly evil villain, Demon King Piccolo, modeling him after his editor Kazuhiko Torishima. As he states in his Daizenshuu 2 interview, there was always something likable about all of the villains up to this point, even noting later in his Asahi Shimbun interview that prior villains have always had a “humorous aspect to them somewhere”. From this point on, the direction and formula of the Dragon Ball manga is more-or-less set: an evil villain stronger than the last appears to threaten the series’ heroes, forcing them to obtain new strength to overcome such a formidable obstacle.

As of the 5th issue of the year, which is actually the last issue published in 1986, Weekly Shōnen Jump celebrates 4.5 million copies in circulation. By the end of 1987, the number of copies in circulation has increased to 4.85 million. Throughout the year Dragon Ball is the featured illustration on five issues, although the cover illustrations from issues #17, #26, and #49 have unfortunately never been reprinted in either Daizenshuu 1 or the Chōgashū. The series is also featured on a foldout poster in issues #10 and #21, is the exclusive series featured in Weekly Jump’s traditional yearly calendar for 1987, and a Dragon Ball sticker pack is included as part of the opening page supplements in both issues #14 and #15. Over the course of the year Shueisha also released six new collected tankōbon volumes, with four featuring new cover art drawn by Toriyama and the final two recycling artwork from previous chapter title pages.

Away from the series, 1987 is a life-changing year for Toriyama and his family. Just as the year begins his assistant Takashi Matsuyama gets married, temporarily leaving much of the work to Toriyama. A few months later, on 23 March 1987, Toriyama’s son Sasuke is born. Throughout the year after this, Toriyama uses his author comment in Weekly Shōnen Jump and the series’ tankōbon to more frequently complain a bit about fatherhood, saying he is “working while helping out with changing diapers”, although he does admit that “having a child makes a good excuse to go to the toy store”.

With Toriyama’s personal life becoming as hectic as ever, Toriyama adapts his professional life in an attempt to keep pace. In June, Toriyama begins requesting applications for another assistant, but ultimately never hires anyone else to help alleviate his workload. In September, Toriyama sends out his final newsletter (Bird Land Press, issue #25) to his official fan club, apologizing that he has become too busy to continue. As the year wraps up, not only is the Dragon Ball manga approaching its climax with Demon King Piccolo, but Toriyama finally finishes up work on the series’ first guide book and completes the character designs and artwork for the Dragon Quest III video game, all while also frantically drawing his third one-shot of the year. The first one-shot Toriyama drew earlier in the year was the notoriously raunchy Lady Red, a full-color, two page comic about a crime-fighting heroine-turned-prostitute which was published in the second issue of Super Jump. The other one-shots included Ken’nosuke-sama, a comedy following an old-fashioned samurai family living in modern-day Tokyo, and SONCHOH, another comedy following the extreme measures a mayor goes to in order to protect the peace and order of his village, both of which were published in Weekly Shōnen Jump.

Weekly Jump Issues



Cover

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #01/02 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 01 January 1987 Issue Date 02 December 1986 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

103 孫悟空強し！！

Son Gokū Tsuyoshi!!

Son Goku The Mighty!! 47



Cover

A Star is Bomb Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #03/04 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 08 January 1987 Issue Date 09 December 1986 Sale Date ¥180 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

104 アクマイト光線

Akumaito-kōsen

The Akumaito Beam 83



Cover

All Main Series Characters Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #05 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 15 January 1987 Issue Date 19 December 1986 Sale Date ¥190 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

105 ５人目の男

Gonin Me no Otoko

The Fifth Man 77



Cover

All Current Manga Artists Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #06 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 22 January 1987 Issue Date 05 January 1987 Sale Date ¥190 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

106 強敵同士

Kyōteki Dōshi

Mutually Strong Opponents 15



Cover

Saint Seiya Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #07 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 29 January 1987 Issue Date 13 January 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

107 悟空のシッポ

Gokū no Shippo

Goku’s Tail 61



Cover

Dragon Ball Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #08 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 02 February 1987 Issue Date 20 January 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

108 孫悟飯

Son Gohan

Son Gohan 79



Cover

Sakigake!! Otokojuku Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #09 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 09 February 1987 Issue Date 27 January 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

109 ピラフ一味の再挑戦

Pirafu Ichimi no Sai-Chōsen

The Pilaf Gang’s Second Attempt 79



Cover

Fist of the North Star Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #10 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 16 February 1987 Issue Date 03 February 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

110 ピラフの大作戦

Pirafu no Dai-Sakusen

Pilaf’s Great Strategy 6



Cover

City Hunter Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #11 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 23 February 1987 Issue Date 10 February 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

111 神龍再び！！

Shenron Futatabi!!

Once Again, Shenlong!! 119



Cover

Kimagure Orange Road Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #12 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 02 March 1987 Issue Date 17 February 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

112 駆けろ！孫悟空

Kakero! Son Gokū

Run, Son Goku! 64



Cover

Saint Seiya Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #13 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 09 March 1987 Issue Date 24 February 1987 Sale Date ¥180 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

113 第２２回天下一武道会

Dai-Nijūnikai Tenka’ichi Budōkai

The Twenty-Second Tenka’ichi Budōkai 69



Cover

Umisora Prefecture High School Baseball Member Taro Yamashita-kun Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #14 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 16 March 1987 Issue Date 03 March 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

114 予選サバイバル

Yosen Sabaibaru

Surviving the Preliminaries 113



Cover

Captain Tsubasa Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #15 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 23 March 1987 Issue Date 10 March 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

115 予選サバイバルその２

Yosen Sabaibaru Sono Ni

Surviving the Preliminaries, Chapter Two 81



Cover

Tsuide ni Tonchinkan Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #16 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 30 March 1987 Issue Date 17 March 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

116 つくられた対戦表

Tsukurareta Taisenhyō

Manufactured Matchups 71



Cover

Dragon Ball Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #17 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 06 April 1987 Issue Date 24 March 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

117 ヤムチャのかめはめ波

Yamucha no Kamehameha

Yamcha’s Kamehameha 83



Cover

City Hunter Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #18 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 13 April 1987 Issue Date 31 March 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

118 ヤムチャ破れる！！

Yamucha Yabureru!!

Yamcha Broken!! 69



Cover

Yūrei Kozō ga Yatte Kita! Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #19 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 20 April 1987 Issue Date 07 April 1987 Sale Date ¥180 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

119 満月の恨み

Mangetsu no Urami

A Full Moon Grudge 125



Cover

Saint Seiya Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #20 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 27 April 1987 Issue Date 14 April 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

120 なんとどどん波

Nanto Dodonpa

An Unexpected Dodonpa 89



Cover

The Sky Turned Canvas Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #21 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 04 May 1987 Issue Date 21 April 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

121 クリリンの大作戦

Kuririn no Dai-Sakusen

Kuririn’s Great Strategy 8



Cover

Machine Dragon Barion Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #22 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 11 May 1987 Issue Date 28 April 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

122 孫悟空参上！！！

Son Gokū Sanjō!!!

Here’s Son Goku!!! 66



Cover

The Burning Wild Man Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #23 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 18 May 1987 Issue Date 02 May 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

123 実力伯仲！！

Jitsuryoku Hakuchū!!

Evenly Matched!! 65



Cover

God Sider Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #24 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 25 May 1987 Issue Date 12 May 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

124 若き天津飯

Wakaki Tenshinhan

Young Tenshinhan 64



Cover

Sakigake!! Otokojuku Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #25 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 01 June 1987 Issue Date 19 May 1987 Sale Date ¥180 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

125 孫悟空対クリリン！！

Son Gokū Tai Kuririn!!

Son Goku vs Kuririn!! 75



Cover

Dragon Ball Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #26 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 08 June 1987 Issue Date 26 May 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

126 孫悟空強し！！

Son Gokū Tsuyoshi!!

Son Goku The Mighty!! 81



Cover

Fist of the North Star Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #27 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 15 June 1987 Issue Date 02 June 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

127 クリリンの作戦、悟空の作戦

Kuririn no Sakusen, Gokū no Sakusen

Kuririn’s Strategy, Goku’s Strategy 63



Cover

KochiKame Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #28 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 22 June 1987 Issue Date 09 June 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

128 天下一のスーパーバトル！！

Tenka’ichi no Sūpā Batoru!!

The World’s Greatest Super Battle!! 87



Cover

Umisora Prefecture High School Baseball Member Taro Yamashita-kun Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #29 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 29 June 1987 Issue Date 16 June 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

129 排球拳と戦闘パワー

Haikyū-Ken to Sentō Pawā

The Haikyū-Ken and Fighting Power 79



Cover

Saint Seiya Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #30 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 06 July 1987 Issue Date 23 June 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

130 天津飯あせる！

Tenshinhan Aseru!

Tenshinhan Feels the Heat! 9



Cover

The Sky Turned Canvas Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #31 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 13 July 1987 Issue Date 30 June 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

131 天津飯、苦悩！

Tenshinhan, Kunō!

Tenshinhan, in Anguish! 57



Cover

All Main Series Characters Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #32 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 20 July 1987 Issue Date 07 July 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

132 鶴仙人の怨念気功砲！！

Tsuru-Sen’nin no Onnen Kikōhō!!

Tsuru-Sen’nin’s Curse, the Kikōhō!! 63



Cover

Present From Lemon Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #33 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 27 July 1987 Issue Date 14 July 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

133 両者最後の戦術！！

Ryōsha Saigo no Senjutsu!!

The Pair’s Final Tactics!! 75



Cover

Yūrei Kozō ga Yatte Kita! Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #34 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 03 August 1987 Issue Date 21 July 1987 Sale Date ¥180 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

134 武道大会終了！そして…

Budō Taikai Shūryō! Soshite…

The Martial Arts Tournament Concludes! And Then… 61



Cover

Super Patrol Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #35 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 10 August 1987 Issue Date 28 July 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

135 クリリンの死そして恐ろしき陰謀

Kuririn no Shi Soshite Osoroshiki Inbō

Kuririn’s Death, and a Terrible Conspiracy 79



Cover

City Hunter Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #36 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 17 August 1987 Issue Date 04 August 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

136 ピッコロ大魔王の恐怖！

Pikkoro Daimaō no Kyōfu!

The Terror of Demon King Piccolo! 81



Cover

Dragon Ball Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #37 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 24 August 1987 Issue Date 11 August 1987 Sale Date ¥180 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

137 よみがえれ孫悟空！

Yomigaere Son Gokū!

Come Back, Son Goku! 77



Cover

Sakigake!! Otokojuku Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #38 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 31 August 1987 Issue Date 18 August 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

138 ボールを持った妙なやつ

Bōru o Motta Myō na Yatsu

The Strange Guy With the Ball 93



Cover

KochiKame Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #39 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 07 September 1987 Issue Date 25 August 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

139 ヤジロベーの獲物

Yajirobē no Emono

Yajirobe’s Prey 79



Cover

Saint Seiya Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #40 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 14 September 1987 Issue Date 01 September 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

140 タンバリンがやってくる！

Tambarin ga Yatte Kuru!

Tambourine Draws Near! 79



Cover

Fist of the North Star Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #41 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 21 September 1987 Issue Date 08 September 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

141 孫悟空爆発！！

Son Gokū Bakuhatsu!!

Son Goku’s Explosion!! 81



Cover

God Sider Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #42 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 28 September 1987 Issue Date 15 September 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

142 ピッコロ大魔王降り立つ！！

Pikkoro Daimaō Oritatsu!!

Demon King Piccolo Descends!! 64



Cover

NO SIDE Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #43 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 05 October 1987 Issue Date 22 September 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

143 孫悟空対ピッコロ大魔王

Son Gokū Tai Pikkoro Daimaō

Son Goku vs Demon King Piccolo 111



Cover

The Burning Wild Man Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #44 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 12 October 1987 Issue Date 29 September 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

144 孫悟空完敗！！

Son Gokū Kanpai!!

Son Goku Completely Defeated!! 61



Cover

Saint Seiya Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #45 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 19 October 1987 Issue Date 06 October 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

145 武天老師の決心

Muten Rōshi no Kesshin

Muten Rōshi’s Resolve 69



Cover

Tsuide ni Tonchinkan Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #46 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 26 October 1987 Issue Date 13 October 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

146 亀仙人最後の魔封波！！

Kame-Sen’nin Saigo no Mafūba!!

Kame-Sen’nin’s Final Mafūba!! 87



Cover

Yūrei Kozō ga Yatte Kita! Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #47 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 02 November 1987 Issue Date 20 October 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

147 若がえるか！？ピッコロ大魔王

Wakagaeru ka!? Pikkoro Daimaō

Demon King Piccolo’s Youth Restored?! 71



Cover

Umisora Prefecture High School Baseball Member Taro Yamashita-kun Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #48 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 09 November 1987 Issue Date 27 October 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

148 カリン塔に会え！！

Karin Tō ni Ae!!

Get to Karin Tower!! 65



Cover

Dragon Ball Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #49 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 16 November 1987 Issue Date 03 November 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

149 世界征服

Sekai Seifuku

World Domination 9



Cover

City Hunter Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #50 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 23 November 1987 Issue Date 10 November 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

150 カリン様もなやむ

Karin-sama mo Nayamu

Even Karin-sama is Worried 75



Cover

Sakigake!! Otokojuku Weekly Shōnen Jump 1987 #51 Softcover | JIS B5 (18.2 × 25.7 cm) 30 November 1987 Issue Date 17 November 1987 Sale Date ¥170 (no tax) Retail Chapter (No. / Title) Page

151 超神水！！！

Chō-Shinsui!!!

The Super God Water!!! 75