Dragon Ball Has Officially Been Surpassed By A New Shonen Manga

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Dragon Ball is a hugely influential series that fundamentally changed the world of anime and manga. Created by Akira Toriyama, it’s a timeless classic and remains incredibly popular today. It’s easily one of the most well-known anime series globally, and the manga is among the best-selling of all time, ranking in the top five.

Although Dragon Ball remains very popular, a newer manga, Demon Slayer, has recently become more successful. Despite having only half the number of published volumes as Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer has sold more copies in Japan and is now the second best-selling manga in the history of Weekly Shonen Jump.

Dragon Ball Is The Father of Shonen, But It’s Falling Behind Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer Has Surpassed Dragon Ball In The Domestic Market

Many anime fans consider Dragon Ball the origin of the popular Shonen genre, and it’s easy to see why. It’s had a huge influence on the series we enjoy today – many wouldn’t exist at all, or would be very different without it. Because of this, Dragon Ball is firmly established as one of the most important and enduring manga series of all time.

There’s no point in continuing this fight. You’re clearly defeated and humiliated. Just live with what happened, keep your feelings hidden, and I’m done with you. Frieza, I hope you can find some peace for the rest of your life.

“I Am The Hope Of The Universe. I Am The Answer To All Living Things That Cry Out For Peace.”

Dragon Ball remains a hugely influential series, but it has recently been overtaken in sales. For years, Dragon Ball was the second best-selling manga in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump, with around 160 million copies sold domestically, trailing only One Piece. However, the popular anime Demon Slayer has now taken that second-place spot. Demon Slayer has surpassed Dragon Ball by 4 million copies, and its sales continue to climb. Remarkably, Demon Slayer achieved this with just 23 volumes, while Dragon Ball spanned 42.

I’ll strike down any demon without hesitation to appease the souls they’ve taken and prevent further harm. However, I won’t scorn those who feel remorse for their demonic deeds, because they were once people – just like me – and deserve compassion.

Demon Slayer Won In The Domestic Market, But Dragon Ball Is Far Ahead Internationally

  • Demon Slayer Has 220 Million Sales Globally
  • Dragon Ball Has Over 260 Million

I’ve been watching the success of Demon Slayer, and it’s definitely become a huge hit here at home. However, when it comes to global popularity, it still hasn’t quite reached the level of Dragon Ball, and I think that might be permanent. Dragon Ball has sold over 260 million copies worldwide, while Demon Slayer is around 220 million. While Demon Slayer is still benefiting from sales related to its movies, it’s hard to say if that will be enough to make up the 40 million copy difference. For now, Dragon Ball‘s position as an international favorite seems secure.

You’ve got it wrong, Tanjiro. I don’t hate people, I just can’t stand weakness. I have no respect for those who are weak – it genuinely disgusts me. It’s simply how the world works; the weak are meant to be eliminated.

You can now see Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle in cinemas! If you can’t wait for the film, the story continues in the manga, available on Manga Plus. There are currently four seasons of the Demon Slayer anime, all streaming on Crunchyroll. The rest of the story will be released as movies, so fans will need to see them in theaters when they come out in their country.

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2025-11-02 13:36