The Story Dragon Ball follows the life of Son Goku, a monkey-tailed boy loosely based on the traditional Chinese folk tale Journey to the West, from his life and adventures as a child all the way up to being a grandfather.During his life, he fights many battles and eventually becomes (arguably) the strongest martial artist in the universe. He is not without help, however the Manga boasts a large ensemble cast of martial artist heroes and villains which provide the conflict that drives the story.