Dragon Ball ##1
Viz Select Comics • Dragon Ball Vol. 1 (1998 Viz Select Series)
Writer
Akira Toriyama
Interior Artist
Akira Toriyama
Cover Artist
Akira Toriyama
Publication Date
March 1998
Cover Variant
Regular Edition (Direct Edition with UPC)
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
First English language comic book appearance of Goku, Bulma, and Master Roshi. This issue adapts the beginning of the 'Emperor Pilaf' saga, where Bulma discovers Goku in the mountains and they begin their quest for the Dragon Balls.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine/Near Mint (CGC 9.0)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress visible through the bag, slight blunting on the bottom left corner, potential light surface scuffing on the back which is common for this high-gloss stock. The image shows some wrinkling which appears to be on the poly-bag rather than the comic itself.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $150 - $250; Graded (9.8): $1,000 - $1,500+
Recent Sales
High-grade 9.8 copies have recently sold for over $1,200 due to increased demand for early Akira Toriyama English first printings. Raw copies in mid-to-high grade typically sell between $180 and $220.
Grading Recommendation
Highly Recommended. Due to the passing of Akira Toriyama and the historical importance of move from manga to US floppies, grade appreciation is high. A professional clean and press could push this toward a 9.2 or 9.4.
Notable Features
First appearance of Goku in American comic book format. Key silver-age style manga floppy. Features the iconic Akira Toriyama cover art of Goku riding Shenron.
Authentication Notes
Visually authentic. Correct 'Viz Select Comics' logo and secondary $4.00 CAN pricing. UPC barcode suffix '00111' correctly identifies it as Issue #1, First Printing.