Dragon Ball, Vol. 5: The Red Ribbon Army

Dragon Ball #5

by Akira Toriyama

In the final round of the "Strongest under the Heavens" martial arts competition, it's down to Goku vs. Jackie Chun, the mysterious old man who's as powerful as Kame-Sen'nin himself! Will the audience survive the confrontation? After the smoke clears, Goku jumps on his flying cloud and returns to his quest to find the seven Dragon Balls, but now he's not the only one looking for them. The evil Red Ribbon Army wants the Dragon Balls for themselves, and to stop their plans, Goku must go around the world—and survive the six deadly floors of Colonel White's fortress, Muscle Tower!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Adventure, Shonen

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 1987

About the author

Akira 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.

Reviews

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

PT Este volume traz a conclusão do torneio 'O Mais Forte Debaixo dos Céus' e, de seguida, o nosso herói, Son Goku, parte para novas aventuras, onde se cruza pela primeira vez com o Exército da Fita Vermelha.

Mais um volume cheio de boa disposição e excelentes cenas de ação.

--

EN This volume concludes the 'Strongest Under the Heavens' tournament, and soon after, our hero, Son Goku, sets off on new adventures where he encounters the Red Ribbon Army for the first time.

Another volume full of good humour and great action scenes.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to get to Dragon Ball because it’s so damn good! Seriously, I just want to have all 42 volumes with me right now so I can just read this and nothing else until I’ve finished!

Volume 5 rounds out the Strongest Under the Heavens tournament with Son Goku squaring off against Jackie Chun (Master Roshi in disguise) in the final, and it might be the best superhero fight I’ve ever read in comics. It’s so unpredictable, it’s like Akira Toriyama didn’t know himself who he was going to let win! One minute Goku’s winning, then it’s Chun, then THIS happens, then THAT happens, and it’s this whirlwind of energy and tension, and before you know it, half the book’s gone!

Even at half a book’s length, the fight doesn’t feel overlong because so much happens in it. It’s an epic fight between master and disciple, especially given how Goku’s abilities keep getting more and more unpredictably powerful.

The second half sees Goku leaving the rest of the cast behind to go on a new adventure. With Goku clearly having learned all he can from Master Roshi, he and Kinto’un (his magic flying cloud) head off to once more find Dragon Balls. His search takes him to snowier climes and into the path of the Red Ribbon Army who’re also after the Dragon Balls. They’ve enlisted the help of a nearby town’s men, against their will, and it’s up to Goku to liberate them and grab his grandpa’s Dragon Ball too.

Looking at the way the stories are structured - Goku fights one opponent after another after another etc. - they should be much less interesting to read than they are, and yet the colourful world, inventive characters, and brilliant execution of the action makes them utterly irresistible reads. And they’re very light-hearted which adds to its charm too - that final sequence with the dumb ninja trying to outwit Goku was hilarious!

I would recommend this series to all comics readers, not just manga fans, as these are truly outstanding books. This series has been excellent so far and this book is awesome too - Toriyama is killing it with the art and the writing. I’m totally gutted that I don’t have the next few volumes to hand because I would devour them if I did! Gotta catch ‘em all, Dragon Balls and the books alike!

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first tournament hath ended. There is the recurring problem of Goku being too overpowered, which was an issue in the very beginning of Dragon Ball, but it was nice to see who won in the end (I won't say spoilers).

And after that story concludes, comes the first semi-serious villains of the series: The Red Ribbon Army. They aren't the most intimidating villains especially at first--I prefer when some cosmic character can fight Goku one on one and has the power to destroy the world--still, it was nice to see Toriyama try something different as the manga shifted from comedy to more adventure.

Goku even fights an android, which fans of a certain latter DBZ saga will see as sort of a prelude. Personally, I don't like when superpowered heroes fight technology. It's like when Superman fights robots, never feels like there are any real stakes and just an excuse for easy explosions.

At least there are actually Dragon Balls in this story, as the title suggests there should be.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, I'm really loving this series.

The finale of the battle definitely dragged on a bit but I didn't hugely mind it; it was still hilarious.

I like that we're finally over the tournament and Goku is getting out into the world again. In this volume he meets the Red Ribbon Army, and the two fight over dragon balls. So we're looking at more hilarious showdowns but the humour really carries the story along at a great pace.

Nice lil cliffhanger here so keen to move onto the next one.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent finale to the tournament with a slightly stretched focus on the last battle as well as an introduction to the Red Ribbon Army that leads our little protagonist into a snowy context where a multi-level battle tower awaits him to test his skills and push his limits.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wraps up the tournament with an epic show down between Goku and Jackie Chun. I thought it would just go on forever. Even after Chun destroys the Moon to revert Goku back to human form the battle just keeps going!

After the tournament Goku decides to head off on his own in search of his Grandfather’s Dragon Ball. He ends up in the northern parts of the world in battle with the Red Ribbon group - who are also looking for Dragon Balls. It feels a bit like Soviet Era Russia.

Very fun stuff. Can’t wait to see more epic battles.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Due to previously-mentioned issues with nudity and dirty jokes, Dragon Ball was pulled out of Finnish publication after fourth volume, and this fifth one only came out a whole year later... pretty heavily censored with clumsy speech bubbles and sound effects over naughty bits, and in one instance in (I think) volume seven, a pretty bad-looking zoom to cover the lower portion of a panel. I thought it was ridiculous even then.

But I enjoyed the return of Dragon Ball nonetheless. I loved the conclusion to the martial arts tournament - although in retrospect, I feel like it got a bit too close and that maybe Goku could have lost more clearly in the end. On the other hand, it's nice to see Goku adventuring again after this, beat up some lowly Red Ribbon mooks, and even after all these years Murasaki still makes me laugh.

It really picks up from here.

[Ola G · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10 stars

So inventive and funny! I loved the final fight of Tenka'ichi Budokai and the conclusion to this arc was absolutely spot on, very sweet and fun.
Sure, some jokes might not have aged that well, but even Master Roshi is less of a pervert in this one, and actually shows some outstanding cuddly bear qualities (blasting the Moon instead of Goku - that was perfect!) Goku is a wonderfully, enthusiastically destructive innocence incarnated, and his paper-scissors-rock fighting technique was just awesome.

I wasn't that sold on another Dragon Ball quest, but the "Muscle Tower" pays inventive homage to the concept, and especially the meeting with ninja was cool.

I want Kinto'un back!

[Natalie Dunn-Billings · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fucking hate the Red Ribbon Army and their bullshit

[Himanshu Karmacharya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tournament is finally over and the quest for dragon balls resumes once again. This particular volume introduces the eponymous criminal organisation, clichéd and dull, but the humor and action keeps the series going.

[Jolly Ann Troesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very funny.

[Blake the Book Eater · Rating 3 out of 5]

The explosive end to the tournament arc and the introduction of some new characters and the start of a new adventure for Goku! I will have to say, I’m invested, but not like addicted to this series yet. But it is very fun! Makes me feel like a kid while I’m reading it.

[XOX · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragonball Vol 5 The Red Ribbon Army

Now the competition is over. Son Goku is on his way to find the dragon balls. The first one is at a territory occupied by the Red Army.

Son Goku has not seen any snow before and is not ready for the cold weather. He was saved by a nice family and had to fight off the Red Army when they tried to harm the family.

This is more interesting as it puts Goku in a different environment. Goku was only 12 at this time and his understanding of the world is very limited.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tournament wraps up satisfactorily and then Goku leaves the team to go search for his grandfather's dragon ball. It was good to see him leave the team and go out on his own. Of course he encounters bad people looking for dragon balls for nefarious reasons. Along the way he has a couple of fun fights, the best of which is his fight with the funny ninja on the fourth floor of the tower. Super creative and entertaining. Another excellent volume.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goku and Master Roshi' s fight intensifies to new heights but a winner is finally declared. Afterwards Goku sets off on a new journey to re find his grandpa's Dragon Ball!!

[Sarah Reffstrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Med selvbeherskelse har jeg kun læst én om dagen færdig i løbet af ugen...det var ikke nemt 🙈

[Kiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Ribbon causing some ruckus!

[Matty F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool

[Saul the Heir of Isauldur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goku vs the Tower!

[Moe Nishijima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goku go to the snow country then he fight against a Ninja. The ninja is strong but a little stupid. It’s so funny to read. Battle in Dragon Ball is serious but sometime joke. I think the reason why DB is popular for many people.

[Luke Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

See Vol. 16 review...

[Casper Paaske · Rating 4 out of 5]

This I mention that this book is delightful?

[Glorioso soldato nero · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of the red ribbon arc means a lot of adventures!🫣

[Laurene Allibert · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the tournament that opposed Master Roshi to Son Goku in which master Roshi won. Son Goku, starts another journey to find dragon balls and encounter the red ribbon army.

[Lenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume wasn’t nearly as good as the others so far, but that could be because I found the Red Ribbon arc to be tedious in the anime. That being said, the art is still superb, Goku is charming as ever and we got far less of Roshi’s…antics, a huge plus.

[Zachary White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. The tournament was wrapped up in a nice ending and demonstrated how powerful these characters are. The next arc started and it helps expand the world and goes back to the roots of hunting for dragon balls

[⋆˚࿔ ashmita ࣪ ִֶָ☾. · Rating 3 out of 5]

So very cute. He is such a kid lmao. And I really appreciate the lack of perverseness in this one haha.

[Rebecca Overton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragon ball

A great entertaining graphic manga about son goku and his friends. This book is for 12 and up I think.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goku is an eccentric monkey-tailed boy with superhuman strength and boundless energy. His life of peaceful solitude is interrupted one day when he meets Bulma, a feisty young lady on the hunt for mysterious wish-granting orbs known as Dragon Balls. Accompanied by a group of zany companions, the two team up on a grand adventure full of all kinds of intense battles, dangerous villains and whacky hijinks.

Now this was a blast of nostalgia! Dragon Ball was the first anime I ever watched as a dorky little toddler. I remember watching it every week with my big brother. I watched the reruns multiple times and owned all the Budokai and Tenkaichi fighting games. I developed a bit of an unhealthy obsession with Dragon Ball Z throughout my middle school years. While I don't like the series nearly as much as I once did, I'm very thankful toward this series for introducing me to the wonderful world of anime and manga. After Dragon Ball, I watched Ghibli, Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, Inuyasha, Fullmetal Alchemist, Rurouni Kenshin, Yu Yu Hakusho, Sailor Moon, Fruits Basket and dozens of others. I then went on to discover some of my all time favorite series like Berserk, Naoki Urasawa's Monster, Gantz, Battle Royale, Attack on Titan, Vagabond, Blade of the Immortal, Parasyte, Goodnight Punpun and more. Dragon Ball made me a fan of this medium and it felt great to re-experience the series from beginning to end for the first time in twenty years.

The story and characters are simple, but the series is easy to read, hilarious and wholesome in spite of the constant action. The series starts off as a raunchy, self-aware slapstick comedy full of fourth-wall breaking, sexual innuendos and surprisingly dirty jokes. This series was definitely edgy for its time considering it was geared towards a young audience. A lot of the perverted humor and gag comedy wouldn't fly too well with modern sensibilities, but it can be pretty funny for people who don't get offended easily and can handle some outdated mannerisms and attitudes from the past.

While the series does start off as a comedy gag reel, it slowly develops into a more serious streamlined plot with better written characters and villains. The story never really blooms into anything worth writing home about, but it remains consistently entertaining and fun to read. The interactions between Goku and his pals is always funny, even the way he plays around with his enemies is comical. If I remember as well as I think I do, I believe the maturity of the story and characters improve much more in the sequel series which I'll eventually get around to reviewing at some point. The original Dragon Ball ends on a great battle sequence that sets up the more serious tone of Dragon Ball Z.

My only major complaint about the overall story is the Dragon Balls make things way too convenient and removes the stakes and consequences of literally everything. If a major character dies they can just be wished back. This removes any sense of drama or tension from the battles and the consequences of the villains actions becomes moot. The series doesn't take itself too seriously and often pokes fun at itself, but the way the Dragon Balls are utilized are just a little too much in my opinion. Even comedies need a certain amount of suspension and stakes to make me care about what's going on.

***

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[Natalie]

Okay I'm just going to get out there and say this but . . . I don't much care for Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z.

Now let me make this perfectly clear. This doesn't mean that I think that the manga or anime of the Dragon Ball franchise is bad. Far from it. I think there's a lot of things to admire about the Dragon Ball franchise. In fact, a lot of famous manga artists have received inspiration from this Shonen manga series. And those artists have written some manga that has increased in popularity all around the world such as Kishimoto's Naruto, Kubo's Bleach, and Oda's One Piece. Which is ironic because those are manga series I really enjoy. Each of these manga take an element from the Dragon Ball series and use it for inspiration for their own work like battles, art, character design, and plot.

In a nutshell, this series was kinda of a bore for me but to be fair I kind of expected that from a late 80's-early 90's manga. It has all the elements that you would expect from a manga published in that time frame. The plot is very simple, the action is very cheesy, the comedy is a bit overdone, the characters are simply designed but memorable, and the art definitely has a 90's art style when it comes to the expression of the characters.

The only character I cared for (and remembered) was the main character Goku. He's innocent and the typical hero whose strong and has a good heart but not very bright. He's willing to help his friends because he has a strong will that brings out his powers. There's a lot of things to like about this character and what's more interesting is that you can see different characters from other manga that resemble a few traits from Goku that basically became a norm for main leads in Shonen manga. The few examples that I can come up with at the top of my head are Luffy from One Piece, Naruto from Naruto, and Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star who mostly portrays the 'manly' appearance and strength that Goku possesses and displays within the series.

With all that's been said, I still think it's an admirable series despite my personal feelings towards it. It's extremely popular worldwide and for the anime to still be watched and loved to this very day I think that says a lot about it. So there are some things to like and admire about it because of the legacy that it brought with its creation.

So if you're going to take something from this review, just remember the fact that Dragon Ball has done a lot for a very popular art form and will continue to be great and loved for years to come.