What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragon Ball [ドラゴンボール] #7
Dragon Ball, Vol. 7: General Blue and the Pirate Treasure
Only Goku, Bulma and Kuririn stand between the Red Ribbon Army and the seven Dragon Balls which can grant any wish in the world! Using a submarine loaned by Kame-Sen'nin, the heroic trio explores a pirate's undersea cave in search of the next
Dragon Ball
, but gun-toting bad guys are on their tail! Now they must face not only perilous pirate traps but the sinister General Blue, a martial artist with powers even Goku doesn't have! Can they escape the cave alive? As the battle continues, Goku and General Blue go to Penguin Village, the home of the weird scientist
Dr. Slump
and one of the strangest places on Earth!
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 1987
About the author
Akira Toriyama
1,925 books1,822 followersAkira Toriyama (鳥山明) was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He first achieved mainstream recognition for creating the popular manga series Dr. Slump, before going on to create Dragon Ball (his most famous work) and acting as a character designer for several popular video games such as the Dragon Quest series, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon. Toriyama came to be regarded as one of the most important authors in the history of manga with his works highly influential and popular, particularly Dragon Ball, which many manga artists cite as a source of inspiration.
He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen/shōjo manga with Dr. Slump, and it went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into a successful anime series, with a second anime created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended.
His next series, Dragon Ball, would become one of the most popular and successful manga in the world. Having sold 260 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga series of all time and is considered a key work in increasing manga circulation to its peak in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been more successful than the manga and are credited with boosting anime's popularity in the Western world. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
In October 2024, Toriyama was inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen/shōjo manga with Dr. Slump, and it went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into a successful anime series, with a second anime created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended.
His next series, Dragon Ball, would become one of the most popular and successful manga in the world. Having sold 260 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga series of all time and is considered a key work in increasing manga circulation to its peak in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been more successful than the manga and are credited with boosting anime's popularity in the Western world. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
In October 2024, Toriyama was inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
May 21, 2025
PT Son Goku continua a sua busca pela terceira Dragon Ball, com o General Blue do Exército Red Ribbon no seu encalço.
Pelo caminho, temos um divertido crossover com personagens de Dr. Slump, outra série de culto de Akira Toriyama.
No final: General Yellow e a lendária Torre Karin.
--
EN Son Goku continues his quest for the third Dragon Ball, with General Blue of the Red Ribbon Army hot on his trail.
Along the way, we get a fun crossover with characters from Dr. Slump, another beloved series by Akira Toriyama.
At the end: General Yellow and the legendary Karin Tower.
Pelo caminho, temos um divertido crossover com personagens de Dr. Slump, outra série de culto de Akira Toriyama.
No final: General Yellow e a lendária Torre Karin.
--
EN Son Goku continues his quest for the third Dragon Ball, with General Blue of the Red Ribbon Army hot on his trail.
Along the way, we get a fun crossover with characters from Dr. Slump, another beloved series by Akira Toriyama.
At the end: General Yellow and the legendary Karin Tower.
March 18, 2008
The Dr. Slump crossover is admittedly fun, although confusing haha
August 17, 2014
Well, as with all great multi-volume stories, Dragon Ball finally hits a (Dr) slump with its seventh volume.
The Red Ribbon Army are targeting Son Goku and friends with a small group surrounding the Turtle Master’s house and another group, led by General Blue, pursuing Son Goku, Kuririn, and Bulma underwater.
The first half of the book is this weak pirate-themed story as Goku goes through an unremarkable cave system to battle a xenomorph-looking robot and a talking octopus. And if you thought “pirate” meant wooden ships and eye-patches, think again as these pirates had an underwater hideout to rival a Bond villain’s!
General Blue’s not that great a character either - Akira Toriyama seems to be making his power-set up as he goes along. One minute he’s this tough hand-to-hand combat fighter when fighting Kuririn but then he goes up against Goku who of course kicks his butt, so suddenly he has this psychic power which can freeze him to the spot! Then later on he has this even more bizarre “rope power” which ensnares the group long enough for him to steal the dragon balls and escape! It’s like… wha…?
The second half of the book sees Goku chasing Blue into somewhere called Penguin Village, which I gather is the setting of Toriyama’s previous series, Dr Slump. My knowledge of Toriyama’s work begins and ends with Dragon Ball so seeing his older characters may be exciting for fans of Dr Slump but not for me.
And though Dragon Ball’s not exactly an edgy series - it’s child-friendly for the most part - compared to Dr Slump, it’s like a Garth Ennis book! The characters in Dr Slump are just soooo cutesy-wutesy, from the floating genius baby who can telepathically make machines, to the little happy power girl, and the twins wearing animal hats who are also super-super-upbeat about everything; eesh, it’s so sickeningly sweet!
But there are lots of great Goku moments throughout, especially when he’s fighting Blue and a rat inadvertently gives him an opening that allows him to momentarily beat him. When the cave starts to fall in, he saves the rat because the rat saved him - that’s how good-hearted a person he is.
And the “Superman” parody scene was brilliant too - seeing the little “Clark Kent” character dash off into a conveniently placed phone box to change into Suppa-Man was so funny.
Volume 7 is definitely the weakest addition to the series so far, but with the Dr Slump fan service/back-patting (hopefully) over and done with, things can only get better here on out as Goku continues his quest to get his grandpa’s four-star dragon ball before the Red Ribbon Army.
The Red Ribbon Army are targeting Son Goku and friends with a small group surrounding the Turtle Master’s house and another group, led by General Blue, pursuing Son Goku, Kuririn, and Bulma underwater.
The first half of the book is this weak pirate-themed story as Goku goes through an unremarkable cave system to battle a xenomorph-looking robot and a talking octopus. And if you thought “pirate” meant wooden ships and eye-patches, think again as these pirates had an underwater hideout to rival a Bond villain’s!
General Blue’s not that great a character either - Akira Toriyama seems to be making his power-set up as he goes along. One minute he’s this tough hand-to-hand combat fighter when fighting Kuririn but then he goes up against Goku who of course kicks his butt, so suddenly he has this psychic power which can freeze him to the spot! Then later on he has this even more bizarre “rope power” which ensnares the group long enough for him to steal the dragon balls and escape! It’s like… wha…?
The second half of the book sees Goku chasing Blue into somewhere called Penguin Village, which I gather is the setting of Toriyama’s previous series, Dr Slump. My knowledge of Toriyama’s work begins and ends with Dragon Ball so seeing his older characters may be exciting for fans of Dr Slump but not for me.
And though Dragon Ball’s not exactly an edgy series - it’s child-friendly for the most part - compared to Dr Slump, it’s like a Garth Ennis book! The characters in Dr Slump are just soooo cutesy-wutesy, from the floating genius baby who can telepathically make machines, to the little happy power girl, and the twins wearing animal hats who are also super-super-upbeat about everything; eesh, it’s so sickeningly sweet!
But there are lots of great Goku moments throughout, especially when he’s fighting Blue and a rat inadvertently gives him an opening that allows him to momentarily beat him. When the cave starts to fall in, he saves the rat because the rat saved him - that’s how good-hearted a person he is.
And the “Superman” parody scene was brilliant too - seeing the little “Clark Kent” character dash off into a conveniently placed phone box to change into Suppa-Man was so funny.
Volume 7 is definitely the weakest addition to the series so far, but with the Dr Slump fan service/back-patting (hopefully) over and done with, things can only get better here on out as Goku continues his quest to get his grandpa’s four-star dragon ball before the Red Ribbon Army.
March 20, 2023
Yeah, this series is just a lot of fun. Here the gang in search of a Dragon Ball underwater with the Red Ribbon gang on their tail, run into a hidden underwater pirate fortress! Goku nearly meets his match against the powerful General Blue.
The adventure takes Goku to Penguin Village where we meet Akira's previous manga creation Dr. Slump. I'm not familiar with that manga, but you can tell the characters are from a manga of a different style than Dragon Ball. It's a bit of a weird fit, but that weirdness works in a Dragon Ball story.
The adventure takes Goku to Penguin Village where we meet Akira's previous manga creation Dr. Slump. I'm not familiar with that manga, but you can tell the characters are from a manga of a different style than Dragon Ball. It's a bit of a weird fit, but that weirdness works in a Dragon Ball story.
December 9, 2020
This was another great volume, here the focus is on Bulma and Goku and Krillin going on to find the 3rd dragon ball and they are in some cave and have to swim in the shores while being chased by General Blue and who presents a challenge to them and shenanigans and fights happen between them which is so fun to read and then they come to Master Roshi house and again attacked by General Blue. There is a great part after escaping from there, Goku chases after him and meets Dr Slump, another oone of Akira Toriyama's creations and I am loving the continuity between them. Its a fun battle and as Goku gets those balls again and goes after the fourth one! Next up: The Assassin "Taopaipai"!
December 20, 2022
Who doesn't love a good old pirate treasure hunt??
No complaints from me here.
ONWARDS!
No complaints from me here.
ONWARDS!
October 3, 2022
Goku, Bulma and Krillin go on another adventure to find the dragon balls, full of silliness, wacky humor and action. There's a subplot involving a crossover with Akira's previous series, which I didn't think was executed well and didn't enjoy very much.
February 21, 2021
I see the Penguin Village side-trip in a whole different light than I used to, now that I've read Dr. Slump as well. I do wish they'd published that in Finnish at some point.
March 29, 2021
5/10 stars
Eh, could've been better. The crossover attempts seemed a bit lazy to me, a Deus ex Machina solution that is designed mainly to introduce old characters from other series. Fortunately, the crossover is short.
I don't find Blue funny or compelling as a villain - again, some weird skills with ropes and mind control seem just lazy, especially considering Toriyama's earlier ideas.
Glad to have snatched an omnibus version, I can already start vol. 8! :D
Eh, could've been better. The crossover attempts seemed a bit lazy to me, a Deus ex Machina solution that is designed mainly to introduce old characters from other series. Fortunately, the crossover is short.
I don't find Blue funny or compelling as a villain - again, some weird skills with ropes and mind control seem just lazy, especially considering Toriyama's earlier ideas.
Glad to have snatched an omnibus version, I can already start vol. 8! :D
September 4, 2015
True Rating: 4.5 Stars
Goku and Bulma arrive to Master Roshi's Island and he gets to reunite with Kuririn, Lunch, Turtle, and Master Roshi. Kuririn wants to tag along with his friend again and Master Roshi is kind enough to loan his plane/submarine to them in order to pursue for the Dragon Ball. The downside of it all is that Bulma left the dragon balls on the island and the Red Ribbon Army has found their location. They believed that Master Roshi is the inventor of the radar and oblivious to the fact that he is a powerful fighter because of his old man appearance. The general who is in charge of that region is called General Blue and he decides to split his men into two teams (A & B), one would follow Goku and the gang while the other attacks the island.
Since Master Roshi is powerful there is nothing to worry as he defeats the entire team using his martial arts technique. But for Goku and the rest, they are in a danger zone as they discovered that the Dragon Ball is hidden in an underwater cave. General Blue follows them and tries to attack them but realizes that the cave will collapse so instead he gives the misleading impression that they have left Goku alone. While they find the dragon ball and the rumored buried treasure, General Blue plans to attack and steal everything the gang has achieved.
Kuririn and Bulma find the hidden treasure and General Blue decides to attack. Since Kuririn is the only fighter available, he decides to battle Blue and sadly gets his ass kicked. I believe the reason why this happen is because he hasn't continued his training. By staying on the island with Master Roshi and not working out, he has returned to the fighter he was before and unable to defeat Blue.
Luckily for the gang, Goku found them and beats the day lights out of Blue and finds the hidden dragon ball. Unfortunately the cave is collapsing and now time is in the essence. After coming close to death, the gang escape and return to Master Roshi. General Blue survived the cave incident and follows them and is able to paralyze everyone and steal the dragon balls and the radar. Now Goku is mad and when he gets untied, he goes on the dangerous mission of retrieving everything that Blue has stolen.
What I was disappointed for a few pages was that Akira tried to bring Dr. Slump (another series of his) into this manga and did a terrible job of incorporating them into the storyline. This entire manga has this phenomenal pace that left me on the edge of the seat and then out of nowhere it felt abrupt and brought these characters who I have no idea who they are or care for that matter.
While Goku is attack General Blue in the air, Dr. Slump and the rest of gang witness this in the sky and wonder what that is all about. General Blue makes Goku fall to the ground but he fails to pay attention and his plane crashes. He manages to escape the crime scene but needs to find an airplane to escape. Goku meets Dr. Slump and his crew and they help him repair the radar again in order to find General Blue. Since Dr. Slump is the only one with an airplane, General Blue shows up.
They get into a major fight but Dr. Slump robotic girl invention wrestles with General Blue and sends him faraway from Penguin Village. Goku retrieves the dragon balls, but he lost the radar since it was in Blue's pocket. Dr. Slump makes him a new one and now he is off towards finding the next dragon ball. If it weren't for Dr. Slump storyline, it would have been amazing manga as usual.
To check out all my reviews visit http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com
Goku and Bulma arrive to Master Roshi's Island and he gets to reunite with Kuririn, Lunch, Turtle, and Master Roshi. Kuririn wants to tag along with his friend again and Master Roshi is kind enough to loan his plane/submarine to them in order to pursue for the Dragon Ball. The downside of it all is that Bulma left the dragon balls on the island and the Red Ribbon Army has found their location. They believed that Master Roshi is the inventor of the radar and oblivious to the fact that he is a powerful fighter because of his old man appearance. The general who is in charge of that region is called General Blue and he decides to split his men into two teams (A & B), one would follow Goku and the gang while the other attacks the island.
Since Master Roshi is powerful there is nothing to worry as he defeats the entire team using his martial arts technique. But for Goku and the rest, they are in a danger zone as they discovered that the Dragon Ball is hidden in an underwater cave. General Blue follows them and tries to attack them but realizes that the cave will collapse so instead he gives the misleading impression that they have left Goku alone. While they find the dragon ball and the rumored buried treasure, General Blue plans to attack and steal everything the gang has achieved.
Kuririn and Bulma find the hidden treasure and General Blue decides to attack. Since Kuririn is the only fighter available, he decides to battle Blue and sadly gets his ass kicked. I believe the reason why this happen is because he hasn't continued his training. By staying on the island with Master Roshi and not working out, he has returned to the fighter he was before and unable to defeat Blue.
Luckily for the gang, Goku found them and beats the day lights out of Blue and finds the hidden dragon ball. Unfortunately the cave is collapsing and now time is in the essence. After coming close to death, the gang escape and return to Master Roshi. General Blue survived the cave incident and follows them and is able to paralyze everyone and steal the dragon balls and the radar. Now Goku is mad and when he gets untied, he goes on the dangerous mission of retrieving everything that Blue has stolen.
What I was disappointed for a few pages was that Akira tried to bring Dr. Slump (another series of his) into this manga and did a terrible job of incorporating them into the storyline. This entire manga has this phenomenal pace that left me on the edge of the seat and then out of nowhere it felt abrupt and brought these characters who I have no idea who they are or care for that matter.
While Goku is attack General Blue in the air, Dr. Slump and the rest of gang witness this in the sky and wonder what that is all about. General Blue makes Goku fall to the ground but he fails to pay attention and his plane crashes. He manages to escape the crime scene but needs to find an airplane to escape. Goku meets Dr. Slump and his crew and they help him repair the radar again in order to find General Blue. Since Dr. Slump is the only one with an airplane, General Blue shows up.
They get into a major fight but Dr. Slump robotic girl invention wrestles with General Blue and sends him faraway from Penguin Village. Goku retrieves the dragon balls, but he lost the radar since it was in Blue's pocket. Dr. Slump makes him a new one and now he is off towards finding the next dragon ball. If it weren't for Dr. Slump storyline, it would have been amazing manga as usual.
To check out all my reviews visit http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com
April 1, 2026
This is exciting and funny.
February 17, 2017
Ech, Armia Czerwonej Wstęgi zawsze mnie wkurzała.
Ale pojawia się wreszcie kraina Karin! :D
Ale pojawia się wreszcie kraina Karin! :D
February 25, 2016
I decided to read this book because I have read one before and it was a fantastic book.
I liked this book because there is lots of adventure and characters
I learnt that there is an underground base made by pirates and Goku has found it as he runs away from the enemies.
The underground base holds a boat which by the look of it was a pirate ship, and in the base holds 2 dragon balls, but who will get it first Goku or Genral blue
I liked this book because there is lots of adventure and characters
I learnt that there is an underground base made by pirates and Goku has found it as he runs away from the enemies.
The underground base holds a boat which by the look of it was a pirate ship, and in the base holds 2 dragon balls, but who will get it first Goku or Genral blue
December 8, 2023
3,5⭐/5
Kolejna przygoda Son Goku i przyjaciół z Armią Czerwonej Wstęgi. Ponownie mogę napisać, że jest to bardzo schematyczna, drażniąca historia, jednak nie widzę w tym sensu, bo mangi ze świata Dragon Balla wzbudzają we mnie wielki sentyment. Są zwyczajną, bardzo ciekawą rozrywką, do której się przyzwyczaiłam oglądając te akcje w anime. Czasem mega wkurzają mnie bohaterowie i to, jak niejasno zostali opisani, nie są statyczni w swoich działaniach i często gubią swój charakter, nie uczą się na swoich błędach, ale warto o tym zapomnieć i zatracić się po prostu w tym świecie. Drażniące są również stereotypy, które autor w mandze powiela, ale zważywszy na czas wydania całej serii, zupełnie nie dziwią. Motyw Armii Czerwonej Wstęgi jest jednym z tych, które najmniej lubię, ale znowu, komiks czyta się/ogląda niezwykle szybko i zwyczajnie nie nudzi nawet na chwilę, więc jest to mega fajna rozrywka i sądzę, że warto poznać się z historią dzielnego, opiekuńczego Goku.
Kolejna przygoda Son Goku i przyjaciół z Armią Czerwonej Wstęgi. Ponownie mogę napisać, że jest to bardzo schematyczna, drażniąca historia, jednak nie widzę w tym sensu, bo mangi ze świata Dragon Balla wzbudzają we mnie wielki sentyment. Są zwyczajną, bardzo ciekawą rozrywką, do której się przyzwyczaiłam oglądając te akcje w anime. Czasem mega wkurzają mnie bohaterowie i to, jak niejasno zostali opisani, nie są statyczni w swoich działaniach i często gubią swój charakter, nie uczą się na swoich błędach, ale warto o tym zapomnieć i zatracić się po prostu w tym świecie. Drażniące są również stereotypy, które autor w mandze powiela, ale zważywszy na czas wydania całej serii, zupełnie nie dziwią. Motyw Armii Czerwonej Wstęgi jest jednym z tych, które najmniej lubię, ale znowu, komiks czyta się/ogląda niezwykle szybko i zwyczajnie nie nudzi nawet na chwilę, więc jest to mega fajna rozrywka i sądzę, że warto poznać się z historią dzielnego, opiekuńczego Goku.
April 19, 2023
Very Indiana Jones. Very pulpy in this volume. Heavier on the exploration and adventure than the long drawn out fight sequences, and that's a good shift to keep things interesting. Although it's Goku vs. the telekinetic Red Ribbon Army guy the whole time, it's not just a drawn out fight scene between them. They globe trot all over and face off in various locales. Fun stuff!
October 2, 2017
This volume was a little bit of everything. You can also tell that the plot lines are getting a little more serious and a lot less fun. Not that fun is bad but I think Dragon Ball shines when the plot is more life on the line rather then objective, if that makes sense.
May 10, 2022
The Red Ribbon army continue to be fun antagonists and they make this series truly feel like a classic adventure!
June 20, 2022
A Red Ribbon aumentou o grau de dificuldade com o general Blue e a perseguição pelas esferas do dragão foi bem frenética. Mas o que eu mais gostei nesse volume foi revisitar a vila Pinguim e a Arale!
November 19, 2023
#7 is less entertaining than the earlier mangas, but I still enjoyed it enough to continue collecting the series.
April 2, 2024
El viejo pervertido sigue siendo viejo pervertido, pero que lindo recordar
March 6, 2026
I'm wondering if there's gonna be a consistent world that's slowly being uncovered by Goku's adventure, it's all so exciting!!
November 1, 2026
I love that Dr Slumo and Arale appear here. It's such a wonderful cameo.
July 26, 2025
Arte e argumento com magistral competência e dinamismo. O humanismo reflete-se no humor e dinamismo das personagens.
April 1, 2026
as always, akira toriyama has an odd obsession with a teenager’s ass. it definitely deducted points especially considering said teen is shown continuously trying to seduce adults and of course falls victim to a creep.
the only part i actually enjoyed was goku eating octopus and what im sure is the only time we’ll see little arale.
the only part i actually enjoyed was goku eating octopus and what im sure is the only time we’ll see little arale.
July 1, 2024
Super
December 22, 2023
3.5/5
didnt enjoy the weird forced inclusion of all the dr slump characters
didnt enjoy the weird forced inclusion of all the dr slump characters
January 6, 2023
This felt a little lackluster compared to the one before it. To sum up the volume would be to say it's a chase scene. The whole manga felt like the heroes are being chase, then they chase the villain. It felt very repetitive. But the artwork and location make up for some of it.
May 4, 2015
For some reason, Toriyama's art and even his storytelling is starting to remind me of Carl Barks. Am I just going crazy from prolonged Dragon Ball exposure, or does anyone else see it too? Highlight of this volume for me was the brief appearance of the Dr. Slump cast! It was fun to see Toriyama playing with the respective universes and poking fun at himself.
September 3, 2017
La lucha contra Red Ribbon se hace un poco larga, pero al menos el General Blue es un poco menos inutil que los otros oficiales y soldados hasta ahora. Me gustó particularmente la parte en Villa Pingüino y la inclusión de los personajes de Dr. Slump, y como Toriyama encuentra formas totalmente forzadas y divertidas de que muchos de ellos aparezcan en la historia.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews