Dragon Ball manga personae list, and background data, Part 1. Note: This guide will cover volumes 1 through 11. Later characters be included in the second part of this guide. [fa:vxxx -- First Appears in Volume xxx.] [oa:vxxx -- Only appearance is in Volume xxx.] [la:vxxx -- Last Appears in Volume xxx. Normally, good guys continue to appear throughout the series, and minor bad guys don't last for more than one volume. The exceptions will get entry for la:vxxx. However, the major bad guy exception is Tao-pie Pie, who has shown up in the TV series as recently as the Winter of 1993.] Character List: Son Gokuu: The naive, super-powerful young boy. Carries an expanding staff (the nyoi bo) he received from his grandfather, and rides a hyper-fast cloud (Kintoun) that Kamesennin gave him in book 1. Kamesennin got Kintoun from Kami-sama (god.) [fa:v1] Buruma: The spunky young girl that first shows up looking for the 7 Dragon Balls. She's very high-tech, and later shown to be the daughter of the founder of Capsule Corp. (the company that makes the Hoi Poi capsules. These capsules can be carried in a case or pocket, and expand to provide the user with cars, campsites, and weapons.) Wants the Dragon Balls to wish for a boyfriend. [fa:v1] In volume 6, her name is spelled "Bulma," but with it pronounced this way, you lose the joke where someone mistakes her for "bloomers." Yamcha: The longhaired male teenager who wants the Dragon Balls to wish for a girlfriend. Strong and fast, with a wolf-style martial arts attack, but is very shy around women. Starts out as one of Gokuu's enemies. [fa:v1] Puuaru (Pool ?): Yamcha's floating, shape-changing cat friend. Not very bright, but loyal. [fa:v1] Oolong: Shape-changing sukebe pig. First appears as a giant, who has been terrorizing villagers. Quickly gets enlisted to assist Buruma in finding the Dragon Balls. [fa:v1] Kamesennin Mutenroushi: The dirty old man with the turtle shell on his back. Wise, powerful, and subject to severe nose bleeds. [fa:v1] NOTE: Sennin means "master", so the old man is "turtle master." This word is used more often starting with volume 8. Gyuu Maou: Magical Cow King. Massive man with extended goggles over his eyes. Well-known leader in this land, and highly respected. [fa:v1] Chi Chi: Gyuu Maou's young daughter. An attractive airhead with a throwing fin attached to her helmet. Appears frequently in later volumes. [fa:v1] Tonin Jinka: Large gangster bunny with the ability to turn people into carrots. Controls the town Usagi-dan, but is just a one-shot bad guy. (His gangster title -- Oyabun -- could be a play on "bunny". His name translates to "Rabbit, Carrot-Changer". The kanji on his chest reads "Rabbit".) [oa:v2] Pilaf: A short, blue-skinned guy wearing a cap with one star on it. Has plans for world domination, and lots of money. Hates Gokuu, and has very bad luck. [fa:v2] [la:v13] Shuu: Pilaf's dog-bodyguard. Dressed up like a ninja, but has no real special skills. First given a name in volume 10. [fa:v2] [la:v13] Mai: Pilaf's female bodyguard. Very loyal, and attractive, but not really brave, lucky, or sexually experienced. (Blushed easily when Pilaf threatened to torture Buruma by making kissing sounds at her.) [fa:v2] [la:v13] Shenlon: The Dragon God summoned when the 7 Balls are brought together. [fa:v2] Kushami: The very violent, highly mercenary blond woman that is first seen running away from the police after having robbed a bank. [fa:v3] [la:v16] Ranchi (pronounced closer to "Lunch"): Kushami's "other half." A gentle, kind, nice brunette who moves in with Kamesennin "and the rest of the boys." When she sneezes, Ranchi turns into Kushami, or turns back. Somehow, Kushami always manages to produce automatic weapons during her change- over. Eventually leaves Kamesennin to live with Tenshinhan and Chao-zu. Finally, forgotten about entirely. [fa:v3] [la:v16] Kuririn: Short, bald, and with 6 priestly burn-marks on his forehead instead of a nose, Kuririn is introduced as a boastful little would-be fighter who wants Kamesennin to train him. Later becomes Gokuu's closest friend. His home town is Ouringi, which means "many tree temple." [fa:v3] Jackie Chun: One of the world's greatest fighters (possibly a pun on Jackie Chan,) and a man with a peculiar secret. [fa:v3] Silver: A commander from Red Ribbon. Very strong and fast. Doesn't wear a shirt under his jacket. Is in charge of the western deserts. [oa:v5] Red Sousui: Leader of Red Ribbon. In the TV series, Red is VERY short. Has a patch over one eye, always smokes a cigar, and has no patience at all. [fa:v5, la:v8] White Shogun: Commander of the northern regions. Located in Muscle Tower. Bulky, strong, and tricky. [fa:v5] Metallic Gunsou: White's 3rd floor robot guard. [oa:v5] Murasaki Souchou: White's military aide and 4th floor guard. Sneaky ninja master. [fa:v5] Android 8: White's 5th floor guard. A Frankenstein monster who later changes his name to Hatchan (dimunitive form of 8-chan.) Involuntarily recruited to guard the Tower. [fa:v5] Gomu: One more of White's guards. A rubbery monster. (Gomu is Japanese for Gum.) [oa:v5] Blue Shogun: South Eastern commander for Red Ribbon, encamped on an island in the ocean. Incredibly strong and well-built, but probably gay. A very fussy dresser. [fa:v6, la:v8] Black Hosa: Red Sousui's primary advisor. A big black man who starts out very loyal to RR, but changes his mind when he discovers what Red really wants the Dragon Balls for. [fa:v5, la:v8] Yellow Taisa: RR's remaining commander, in charge of the western regions. The only non-human commander (drawn as a tiger.) [oa:v7] Tao-pie Pie: The Chinese kung-fu master with a braided pony-tail, and the words "kill you" on the back of his jacket. One of Gokuu's most formidable foes, and one of the few that repeatedly shows up in later episodes after he's been killed off. Favorite mode of transport is to chop down a tree, throw it, and then leap on it to fly away. [fa:v8, although is mentioned several times in volume 7.] Bora: The huge American Indian that guards the land beneath a certain tall tower. His son is named Upa. [fa:v7] [la:v10] Senpyou: The short, squat cat holding a staff, that lives at the top of Karin Tower. He guards the Chousei water, and is initially faster and stronger than Gokuu. [fa:v8] Violet Taisa: One of the few women working for Red Ribbon (showing that Blue Shogun lied to Buruma in the last volume, about women not being accepted as RR soldiers. She uses Gokuu's Dragon Radar to recover one of the other Balls, but is seen for only 3 panels. Another RR commander. [oa:v8] Uranai Baba: The little old crone who floats around atop her crystal ball. She has a very elaborate estate/fighting complex where she will answer any question for a fee. Either you pay 10 million zenii, or fight her five warriors. Apparently, no one has ever had a question answered by winning the combats. Is Kamesennin's older sister. [fa:v9] Son Gohan: Gokuu's dead grandfather. (Also the name of Gokuu's and Chichi's son, much later on in the series.) [oa:v9] Tenshinhan: 3-eyed student of Tsurusennin. Tall, muscular, very strong fast, and nasty. In the TV series, he is shown, with Chao-zu, to be a thief and fraud (he brings a certain monster into town, the monster causes damage, and Tenshinhan then gets paid money for chasing the monster away.) [fa:v10] Tsurusennin: Crane Master, and Kamesennin's arch-rival. Rather Chinese- looking, with a crane's head hat. Very vicious, and intent on getting his students to win the 22nd Tenkaichi-Budoukai. Is also Tao-pie Pie's older brother. [fa:v10] [la:v15] Chao-zu: White-faced dwarf, and one of the few fighters who are shorter than Kuririn. Uses the Dodon attack, and has ESP powers that allow him to fly, freeze opponents in place, and manipulate objects. [fa:v10] Fighting Styles and attacks: Janken -- actually the Japanese name for "scissors/paper/stone." Gokuu punches (stone) and the proper counter is a block (paper.) Kamehame-ha -- A power blast. Originally, Kamesennin was the only one that could do this, after 50 years of training. Gokuu picked it up just by watching. (Kame means "turtle".) Jackie Chun is the third person to have been seen using this attack. Later on, a number of other characters start using it. One Pattern -- A fake, where the attacker moves so fast that an after-image is left behind. Gokuu has been able to leave three images of himself. First used by Jackie Chun. Dodon -- This actually a mimetic adjective used to describe something that is very powerful (eg. -- That bull is dodon strong.) This is the name Tao-pie pie uses for his finger-blast, which initially is more powerful than Gokuu's Kamehame-ha. Dodon can also be used as a sound effect for an explosion (kind of like calling your bomb a "ka-whump".) Rouga Fuufuu Ken -- Yamcha's "Wolf Wind Attack." In volume 10, this is replaced by Shin-Rouga Fuufuu Ken, or "New" Wolf Wind Attack. Shin-tsurusen-ryuu Taiyou-ken: This is a blinding attack used by Tenshinhan during the Tenkaichi-budoukai. His entire body can glow with a very intense light. Kikouhou: Another of Tenshinhan's techniques. Requires a lot of concentration, and can be very devastating. Other notes: Dragon Ball -- The 7 mystical balls that, once brought together, will summon the great Dragon God. This god will grant one wish before departing. The balls will then fly apart to different locations across the world. Dragon Radar -- The device Buruma built to help locate the Balls. She gives the Radar to Gokuu after the Tenkai-ichi Budoukai. Tenkai-ichi Budoukai -- The big battle that establishes the strongest fighter in the world, at any given time. Usually has a cash prize. Zenii -- What passes for money in this world. The symbol is a backwards "$". Red Ribbon -- The evil organization that spans the globe. Originally headed by Red Sousui, who is later killed. Very interested in obtaining the Dragon Balls for their own use. Penguin Village -- This is the home for all of the characters from Dr. Slump. Gokuu chases Blue Shogun into Penguin village in volume 7. It's a lot funnier if you are already familiar with that manga. Seichi Karin -- The holy grounds surrounding the base of the tower leading up to Senpyou-sama. Chouseisui -- Or, the Super Holy Water. Rumored to bestow great strength and speed on the person who drinks it. Gokuu climbs the Karin Tower to reach the home of Senpyou-sama, to drink this water in the hopes of becoming strong enough to defeat Tao-pie Pie after the assassin had killed Bora. Senzu -- An edible seed. Just one can help you recover from fatigue and physical damage, and is the same as eating LOTS of food. First appears at the top of Karin Tower. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Curtis H. Hoffmann June 30, 1993