Dragon Ball’s Little-Known Prequel Is One Of Akira Toriyama’s Best

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For over 40 years, the Dragon Ball series has mainly followed Goku, a powerful Saiyan and Earth’s frequent protector. While new projects like Dragon Ball Super: Beerus (an updated version of the Battle of Gods story) and the anime Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol are on the way, and will continue to feature him, not all Dragon Ball stories center around Goku.

In 2013, Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, created the manga Jaco the Galactic Patrolman. It ran for 11 chapters in Weekly Shonen Jump and tells the story of Jaco, an alien police officer tasked with defending Earth from an alien threat. During his mission, he meets humans like Dr. Tokunoshin Omori and a young woman named Tights.

Even without considering its connection to the larger franchise, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is considered one of Akira Toriyama’s strongest works. It’s also a bonus that the series acts as a backstory to the original Dragon Ball. Plus, Jaco has continued to appear in other Dragon Ball stories after his initial series ended.

Warning: spoilers for Jaco the Galactic Patrolman are ahead!

How Jaco The Galactic Patrolman Connects To Dragon Ball (& Dragon Ball Super)

Most of Jaco the Galactic Patrolman works well as a self-contained story, similar to other series by Akira Toriyama like Dr. Slump and Sand Land. However, the story takes a surprising turn in the last chapter when it’s revealed that Jaco’s mission was to stop a young baby Goku!

It’s now evident that the story in this manga happens earlier than the original Dragon Ball. When Jaco doesn’t see Goku’s spaceship land, he mistakenly believes the alien threat has passed. However, the ship does land, and Son Gohan discovers the baby Goku, eventually raising him as his grandson.

The story also reveals that Tights is the daughter of Dr. Briefs, which makes Bulma, a longtime friend of Goku, her younger sister. Because of this connection, Jaco is able to get help from Bulma to repair his ship and return home. The manga ends with a glimpse into the future, showing Bulma starting her quest to collect the seven Dragon Balls – a search that fans of Dragon Ball will remember well.

After the brief run of Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, the main character first appeared in animated form in the 2015 film Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’. He continued to appear in the Dragon Ball Super series, which continued the story. A bonus chapter from Jaco the Galactic Patrolman – detailing how Goku (also known as Kakarot) was sent to Earth and Jaco’s mission to investigate the spaceship – was also incorporated into the 2018 movie Dragon Ball Super: Broly.

Jaco The Galactic Patrolman Is A Throwback To Dragon Ball’s Early Tone

As a long-time Dragon Ball fan, I’ve always appreciated how Jaco the Galactic Patrolman feels connected to the whole series, but honestly, what really makes it special is its vibe. It totally takes me back to the original Dragon Ball days, when things were simpler and before we met heavy hitters like Vegeta and Frieza. Don’t get me wrong, DBZ, Super, and even Daima have their funny parts, but those early adventures with Goku and Bulma were just way goofier, and this manga really captures that same spirit.

Similar to its origins, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman balances comedy and more dramatic scenes. This is shown through Jaco’s experiences learning about life on Earth, a big mix-up with the police, and his attempts to fix his spaceship with the help of Dr. Omori and Tights. It offers a lighter tone compared to the high-stakes, world-threatening events of the main Dragon Ball story.

Considering its name, the new TV show Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol might feature the return of Jaco. But even if he doesn’t appear, Dragon Ball fans will definitely enjoy reading Jaco the Galactic Patrolman. It’s a really entertaining story that works well on its own, and it also adds depth to the broader Dragon Ball universe.

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2026-05-30 02:21