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Dragon Ball [ドラゴンボール] #9
Dragon Ball, Vol. 9: Test of the All-Seeing Crone
Having defeated the Red Ribbon Army single-handedly and taken their Dragon Balls, Goku finds that one is still missing! To locate it, he goes to the palace of the All-Seeing Crone, Baba Uranai, who can find anything in the world...for a price! The crone agrees to find the Dragon Ball for free if Goku and his friends--Yamcha, Pu'ar, Kuririn and Upa--can best her five supernatural champions in one-on-one combat. but even if they can beat Dracula, the Mummy, and the Devil, the final challenger just might give Goku the shock of his life!
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 1987
146 people are currently reading
854 people want to read
About the author
Akira Toriyama
1,916 books1,725 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
August 20, 2025
EN Son Goku is now searching for the final Dragon Ball in order to revive Upa's father, who was killed by Taopaipai in the previous arc. However, the last ball isn’t appearing on Bulma’s radar. Because of this, they’re forced to seek the help of the mysterious All-Seeing Crone.
I remember this character from the cartoon, but I had completely forgotten about this arc—so it’s been a real treat to revisit everything connected to it.
By the end, there's a touching emotional twist waiting for readers.
--
PT Son Goku está agora à procura da última Dragon Ball para conseguir ressuscitar o pai do Upa, que foi morto por Taopaipai no arco anterior. No entanto, a última esfera não aparece no radar da Bulma. Por causa disso, eles são forçados a pedir ajuda à misteriosa Vovó Vidente.
Lembro-me desta personagem dos desenhos animados, mas tinha-me esquecido completamente deste arco — por isso, tem sido um prazer recordar tudo o que lhe está associado.
No final, há uma reviravolta emocional muito bonita à espera dos leitores.
I remember this character from the cartoon, but I had completely forgotten about this arc—so it’s been a real treat to revisit everything connected to it.
By the end, there's a touching emotional twist waiting for readers.
--
PT Son Goku está agora à procura da última Dragon Ball para conseguir ressuscitar o pai do Upa, que foi morto por Taopaipai no arco anterior. No entanto, a última esfera não aparece no radar da Bulma. Por causa disso, eles são forçados a pedir ajuda à misteriosa Vovó Vidente.
Lembro-me desta personagem dos desenhos animados, mas tinha-me esquecido completamente deste arco — por isso, tem sido um prazer recordar tudo o que lhe está associado.
No final, há uma reviravolta emocional muito bonita à espera dos leitores.
April 28, 2024
Son Gohan!
August 22, 2014
Can you get addicted to a comic? I think I might have a Dragon Ball addiction. I’ve mentioned it in other reviews but I actually felt sad, like that yawning in the pit of your stomach when you feel something bad’s going to happen, when I finished Vol 8 and realised I’d have to wait 5 days until I could read Vol 9. And now? I’m not just stockpiling Dragon Ball books like a wealthy junkie going into a wild weekend, I’m also jumping ahead to Dragon Ball Z - which is even longer, at 26 books! - and stockpiling those so I never have to go 5 days without my fix again.
It’s sounds demented - because it is. I won’t talk about my addiction again, I’m just going to happily use until it’s all gone.
Anyway!
So, in the last book after Goku’s trained himself up, taken out the Red Ribbon Army single-handedly, and collected 6 of the 7 Dragon Balls, he now can’t find the 7th he needs to resurrect his friend Upa’s dead father (killed by Taopaipai in the last book). The Dragon Ball tracker’s broken and even Bulma can’t fix it but luckily Master Roshi knows someone who can find anything: the All-Seeing Crone. Goku, along with Kuririn, Yamcha, Pu’ar and Upa, must battle five of the Crone’s champions to get her to tell him where the final Dragon Ball is.
It’s Dragon Ball - so why didn’t I love this? Well, the five champions of the Crone spoiled it for me as they’re pretty terrible. Besides the last one (who’s brilliant), they’re generic “bad guys”. Count Dracula, the Invisible Man, the Mummy, and the Devil. Aside from the Devil, it’s basically the Universal monsters lineup, and I hate that because it’s so lazy! The fights themselves aren’t bad but it’s not nearly like the Strongest Under the Heavens where all of the contestants were Akira Toriyama originals. These guys? Lame rip-offs we’ve seen a hundred times before elsewhere.
And I really don’t like that the whole book is so that Goku can get the Crone to tell him where the last Dragon Ball is - it just feels like filler and a wasted opportunity to move the story forward to the next phase.
But the final fight against the mysterious final champion saves the book from being a total waste. It was tense, exciting, fun, and the reveal of who was beneath the mask was really sweet, especially when Goku broke down and cried. Also I’m glad that the rest of the cast are reunited with Goku again - he’s fine on his solo adventures but the books are at their best when the cast are all assembled together.
Toriyama tries to recapture the magic that was the Strongest Under the Heavens tournament and unfortunately fails. It’s not a terrible book as it has Toriyama’s usual high quality artwork/writing, but the new characters felt derivative and this doesn’t measure up to the better volumes in the series. That said, the adorable villain Reich Pilaf is back and the dragon ball quest is nearing its conclusion (for the second time) so things are looking up for volume 10!
It’s sounds demented - because it is. I won’t talk about my addiction again, I’m just going to happily use until it’s all gone.
Anyway!
So, in the last book after Goku’s trained himself up, taken out the Red Ribbon Army single-handedly, and collected 6 of the 7 Dragon Balls, he now can’t find the 7th he needs to resurrect his friend Upa’s dead father (killed by Taopaipai in the last book). The Dragon Ball tracker’s broken and even Bulma can’t fix it but luckily Master Roshi knows someone who can find anything: the All-Seeing Crone. Goku, along with Kuririn, Yamcha, Pu’ar and Upa, must battle five of the Crone’s champions to get her to tell him where the final Dragon Ball is.
It’s Dragon Ball - so why didn’t I love this? Well, the five champions of the Crone spoiled it for me as they’re pretty terrible. Besides the last one (who’s brilliant), they’re generic “bad guys”. Count Dracula, the Invisible Man, the Mummy, and the Devil. Aside from the Devil, it’s basically the Universal monsters lineup, and I hate that because it’s so lazy! The fights themselves aren’t bad but it’s not nearly like the Strongest Under the Heavens where all of the contestants were Akira Toriyama originals. These guys? Lame rip-offs we’ve seen a hundred times before elsewhere.
And I really don’t like that the whole book is so that Goku can get the Crone to tell him where the last Dragon Ball is - it just feels like filler and a wasted opportunity to move the story forward to the next phase.
But the final fight against the mysterious final champion saves the book from being a total waste. It was tense, exciting, fun, and the reveal of who was beneath the mask was really sweet, especially when Goku broke down and cried. Also I’m glad that the rest of the cast are reunited with Goku again - he’s fine on his solo adventures but the books are at their best when the cast are all assembled together.
Toriyama tries to recapture the magic that was the Strongest Under the Heavens tournament and unfortunately fails. It’s not a terrible book as it has Toriyama’s usual high quality artwork/writing, but the new characters felt derivative and this doesn’t measure up to the better volumes in the series. That said, the adorable villain Reich Pilaf is back and the dragon ball quest is nearing its conclusion (for the second time) so things are looking up for volume 10!
December 11, 2020
Goku can't find the seventh ball due to something and so Master Roshi suggests he go to Uranai Baba as she is a fortune teller, and since they can't pay her fees Goku, Yamcha and Krillin have to fight her fighters, first is some Draula-man vs Krillin and that fight is hilarious, and then Yamcha vs Invisible man but the way they defeat him using Muten Roshi's blood is hilarious, and then fight in some hellscape vs some mummy, Yamcha loses then its Goku vs him and the way he defeats him is something, then a strong guy named Ackman comes in and like here we learn Goku is so pure at heart and obviously Goku defeats him but the fifth fight was so epic and by the end you see his power, and you find out (spoiler) its his grandfather Son-Gohan-kun and it was such an emotional reunion, when he says how proud he is of Goku and all, and when he hugs him, that was everything. Seeing him have a proper goodbye and Roshi and Gohan meet and it was a good reunion and then a final farwell, and Goku's adventures continues! This volume just shows what a guy Goku is and all he wants is to fight strong opponents and help others and be better! Just such an awesome guy!
October 20, 2022
Goku being humble and innocent is the best thing to see. The interaction between the characters is top-notch and really makes them life-like.
Despite being mainly an action fighting manga, its great to see the characters using brain than brawn and the subtle use of humor, which I didn't expect. There's a surprise in this volume that I didn't expect at all.
Last but not the least is the art which is very expressive, and really captures the characters emotions.
Despite being mainly an action fighting manga, its great to see the characters using brain than brawn and the subtle use of humor, which I didn't expect. There's a surprise in this volume that I didn't expect at all.
Last but not the least is the art which is very expressive, and really captures the characters emotions.
March 29, 2021
7/10 stars
This one was quite enjoyable, mostly due to the surprise at the end - it was an absolutely lovely moment, which made up for the repetitiveness of increasingly unexciting fights with the plethora of old horror characters - a vampire, an invisible man, a mummy and a devil. I do love Goku's unbeatable innocence and Kame Sen'nin's suspicions that it's just a lack of brains, and not a willingly assumed stance on life - Toriyama delivers here a surprisingly subtle message, and kudos for this.
I did like the reveal about the crone's familial relations and her gangsta attitude, it was pretty funny, but all in all this volume seemed to try recapturing the quirky magic of the Strongest under the Heavens tournament - and not entirely succeeding.
This one was quite enjoyable, mostly due to the surprise at the end - it was an absolutely lovely moment, which made up for the repetitiveness of increasingly unexciting fights with the plethora of old horror characters - a vampire, an invisible man, a mummy and a devil. I do love Goku's unbeatable innocence and Kame Sen'nin's suspicions that it's just a lack of brains, and not a willingly assumed stance on life - Toriyama delivers here a surprisingly subtle message, and kudos for this.
I did like the reveal about the crone's familial relations and her gangsta attitude, it was pretty funny, but all in all this volume seemed to try recapturing the quirky magic of the Strongest under the Heavens tournament - and not entirely succeeding.
May 28, 2017
Jak zawsze - dobry, solidny tomik :)
November 25, 2017
A quirky romp that delivers on all fronts.
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August 1, 2020
Ugh, the thing I dislike about these is that they often end very abruptly! I want to continue reading but I don't own any of the next bind-ups! *sighs*
December 19, 2023
I don't like this manga but I love Goku
January 15, 2024
Damn Toriyama, you are fucking genius...
January 27, 2023
What can stop Goku from getting stronger? Nothing that's right.
I have seen dragon ball Z and played some games. I tried to watch the original dragon ball but it never appealed to me. Reading the manga has been amazing to see how Goku became so strong and seeing returning characters entering the series for the first time.
We get to see Goku and friends enter a mini tournament to have a fortune teller see where the last dragon ball is. Even though this is the main point, what held my attention is seeing the fighting. Even though the fights take place on paper and the characters move frame by frame, you can still experience how intense these battles go.
I have seen dragon ball Z and played some games. I tried to watch the original dragon ball but it never appealed to me. Reading the manga has been amazing to see how Goku became so strong and seeing returning characters entering the series for the first time.
We get to see Goku and friends enter a mini tournament to have a fortune teller see where the last dragon ball is. Even though this is the main point, what held my attention is seeing the fighting. Even though the fights take place on paper and the characters move frame by frame, you can still experience how intense these battles go.
May 11, 2022
Another fun mini-battle arc with fun and wacky fighters! It’s just a delight to read.
December 17, 2023
4⭐/5
W tomiku dziewiątym akcja zaczyna nabierać tempa, a bohaterowie walczą w słusznej sprawie. Tym razem wydarzenia opierają się na jednym celu – Goku i przyjaciele przybywają do Wróżki Jagi, bo ona z magicznej kuli może im podać lokalizację ostatniej kuli, której próżno szukać na radarze Bulmy. Cel jest szczytny – wezwanie Shen Longa, by przywrócić życie Borze, ojcu Upy, który bezinteresownie pomagał Son Goku. Jak to jednak bywa, Wróżka Jaga jest niezwykle przebiegła, więc lokalizację poda bohaterom za darmo, jeśli pokonają jej pięciu, bardzo silnych i sprytnych zawodników.
Ta część podobała mi się bardziej, niż większość poprzednich ze względu na wiele ciekawych aspektów i tematów poruszanych w tomiku. Bohaterowie rozwijają się prężnie, ich umiejętności i zdolności walki wciąż się polepszają, choć wiele jeszcze im brakuje (mam na myśli np. Kuririna, który miał o wiele większy potencjał z początku, a teraz jest traktowany jak totalny amator i nie myśli w trakcie walki wcale). Obrzydziła mnie również akcja, która miała zwrócić uwagę na jednego z przeciwników (niewidzialnego), mianowicie rozebranie Bulmy przed Żółwim Pustelnikiem, to zdarzenie zupełnie nie potrzebne i szkodliwe. Najbardziej jednak podobała mi się końcówka tomika, która wręcz niezwykle mnie zauroczyła wywołując same przyjemne odczucia. Pojawienie się jednej postaci, by sprawić radość Goku było zwyczajnie w świecie uroczą akcją, chwytającą za serce. Cieszę się również, że Goku nie spoczywa na laurach i faktycznie szkoli swoje umiejętności i każdy zauważa jego czyste serce (nawet przeciwnicy, w tym przypadku Biesicz). Za ostatnie rozdziały należy się więc podwyższenie oceny o jedną gwiazdkę i czekam na dalsze historie, które o wiele bardziej lubię.
W tomiku dziewiątym akcja zaczyna nabierać tempa, a bohaterowie walczą w słusznej sprawie. Tym razem wydarzenia opierają się na jednym celu – Goku i przyjaciele przybywają do Wróżki Jagi, bo ona z magicznej kuli może im podać lokalizację ostatniej kuli, której próżno szukać na radarze Bulmy. Cel jest szczytny – wezwanie Shen Longa, by przywrócić życie Borze, ojcu Upy, który bezinteresownie pomagał Son Goku. Jak to jednak bywa, Wróżka Jaga jest niezwykle przebiegła, więc lokalizację poda bohaterom za darmo, jeśli pokonają jej pięciu, bardzo silnych i sprytnych zawodników.
Ta część podobała mi się bardziej, niż większość poprzednich ze względu na wiele ciekawych aspektów i tematów poruszanych w tomiku. Bohaterowie rozwijają się prężnie, ich umiejętności i zdolności walki wciąż się polepszają, choć wiele jeszcze im brakuje (mam na myśli np. Kuririna, który miał o wiele większy potencjał z początku, a teraz jest traktowany jak totalny amator i nie myśli w trakcie walki wcale). Obrzydziła mnie również akcja, która miała zwrócić uwagę na jednego z przeciwników (niewidzialnego), mianowicie rozebranie Bulmy przed Żółwim Pustelnikiem, to zdarzenie zupełnie nie potrzebne i szkodliwe. Najbardziej jednak podobała mi się końcówka tomika, która wręcz niezwykle mnie zauroczyła wywołując same przyjemne odczucia. Pojawienie się jednej postaci, by sprawić radość Goku było zwyczajnie w świecie uroczą akcją, chwytającą za serce. Cieszę się również, że Goku nie spoczywa na laurach i faktycznie szkoli swoje umiejętności i każdy zauważa jego czyste serce (nawet przeciwnicy, w tym przypadku Biesicz). Za ostatnie rozdziały należy się więc podwyższenie oceny o jedną gwiazdkę i czekam na dalsze historie, które o wiele bardziej lubię.
April 14, 2020
Of all the volumes in this original series, I feel like this one has to be my favorite so far. Not only is the Red Ribbon Army arc wrapped up, but the entire volume is dedicated to introducing Baba Uranai and showcasing the fights that Goku and the gang have to undergo in order to convince her to divine for them the location of the seventh dragon ball. It's very self-contained, and I appreciate that in the midst of all this craziness.
I would say that I should slow down on this series for a while, but I don't know if I'll be able to, at this rate. It's nice to have something to read during self-isolation that is entertaining and quick from volume to volume.
I would say that I should slow down on this series for a while, but I don't know if I'll be able to, at this rate. It's nice to have something to read during self-isolation that is entertaining and quick from volume to volume.
March 19, 2021
Something of a mini-tournament taking place in this volume. I like it - I like the monster theme going on with them, I like how the first two are beaten with cunning rather than raw force (Dragon Ball could use more of that, especially later on), and I like the final battle, its emotional stakes, and it actually being a challenging fight for Goku that up until now coasted his way through everything. It even gets a bit bittersweet towards the end.
It also has some rack. In America, this scene is censored by giving Bulma a bra; in Finland, they simply pasted a great big sound effect to cover it. I like the Finnish version better - it still maintains everything as it is in-universe, and simply has the narrative cover things up. Japan, of course, did not bother with such things to begin with.
It also has some rack. In America, this scene is censored by giving Bulma a bra; in Finland, they simply pasted a great big sound effect to cover it. I like the Finnish version better - it still maintains everything as it is in-universe, and simply has the narrative cover things up. Japan, of course, did not bother with such things to begin with.
December 19, 2021
Goku is looking for the final Dragon Ball, so he gets roped into a tournament of sorts against Baba the All-Seeing Crone! If him and his friends can defeat her array of supernatural soldiers, she'll divine where the dragon ball is. No one would call Dragon Ball a horror manga, and certainly none of this is scary, but I love all the little monsters the Crone brings out. And the battles are a mix of silly and fun, watching our heroes pull out some odd tricks to fight their odd powers.
This volume does fall short in trying to incorporate more fighting in this mock tournament/challenge, but compared to previous fights against villains that felt more closely tied to the narrative or previous tournaments with a better structure and plot, it's hollow. This volume is still a lot of fun but feels like a placeholder while some other plot gets set up.
This volume does fall short in trying to incorporate more fighting in this mock tournament/challenge, but compared to previous fights against villains that felt more closely tied to the narrative or previous tournaments with a better structure and plot, it's hollow. This volume is still a lot of fun but feels like a placeholder while some other plot gets set up.
April 6, 2024
さすがすごいアートや楽しいキャラクター！また武道会から楽しみね！いろんな面白い的今回
Excellent art and fun characters as always. I’m excited for this new tournament, because there are some interesting villains this time around. I also bought a big stack of the next kanzenban volumes last time at BookOff so I’m excited to read them!
[Note: This review is for the 8th Kanzenban volume, which isn’t listed on Goodreads. For reference, it begins with Goku about to fight the crone’s final challenger, and ends after the Roshi / ManWolf fight.]
Excellent art and fun characters as always. I’m excited for this new tournament, because there are some interesting villains this time around. I also bought a big stack of the next kanzenban volumes last time at BookOff so I’m excited to read them!
[Note: This review is for the 8th Kanzenban volume, which isn’t listed on Goodreads. For reference, it begins with Goku about to fight the crone’s final challenger, and ends after the Roshi / ManWolf fight.]
Read
April 12, 2021After fighting against the gargoyle or however you spell it. He fights with an old guy with a mask Muten Roshi regcognized him when the guy grabs goku's tail and makes him weak. The tail fall off and goku recovers his strength but the guy gives up and we discover that he is goku's grandpa. You get a lot of emotions in this part
October 2, 2017
Another great volume. Still making our way through the Red Ribbon Saga. I think at this point Akira Toriyama started to balance the level of humor and action. By now you can really tell the growth in each new volume.
July 19, 2022
It's time for the All-Seeing Crone, Baba Uranai, and a whole new series of challenges in the form of a little tournament. Another fun volume where battles are mostly won through wit rather than brute force. At least when it comes to everyone except Goku.
June 25, 2023
SON GOHAAAN
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2024
Honestly, the amazing fun picked back up after volume 8. This volume is full of fun and quirky characters, interesting (low-stakes) battles and cute plot twists. I loved it and I'm gonna rush through the next 7 volumes ASAP.
January 21, 2025
goku reuniting with gohan is one of my favorite scenes in dragon ball :)
October 20, 2025
The ending is so endearing it always makes me bawl
July 18, 2018
Goku do battle with his grandfather. It’s touching scene. Goku is usually pure, optimist and strong, but he cried when he met a grandfather. He is sooo cute. I may be moved to tears. Goku promised with his grandfather about to be more strong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2024
Super
February 19, 2023
Goku está atrás da última esfera do dragão e para descobrir onde ela se encontra precisa enfrentar um grupo de cinco guerreiros. Mais um mini torneio acontece durante essa volume, com um final surpreendente para o menino Goku. E seguimos com a leitura. :)
February 7, 2015
Gokú está intentando localizar la última esfera del dragón, la que no puede visualizar en el rastreador. Visitan a Uranai Baba quien puede adivinar la ubicación, pero para ello Goku y compañía deben pasar una prueba, ganar 5 combates con sus guerreros. El volúmen 9 tiene mucha acción como siempre, pero con un final inesperado y muy emotivo. Mi pequeño Clemente casi se pone a llorar :)
5/5
5/5
May 18, 2015
Akira Toriyama's art makes me smile. And his fight choreography is a wonder to behold. For some reason, the location of the final Dragon Ball is hidden, so Goku must seek the all-seeing crone and defeat her champions for her to reveal its location.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews