Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama's manga, began in Weekly Shonen Jump in late 1984. Within its first chapters, Goku met the character who would train him and shape the series: Master Roshi, the Turtle Hermit. His first appearance came in the magazine's 1985 New Year double issue, Weekly Shonen Jump #1-2, 1985.
Master Roshi's first appearance in Dragon Ball, Weekly Shonen Jump #1, 1985. Art by Akira Toriyama. Source: Wikipedia
Master Roshi in the Dragon Ball anime. Source: Dragon Ball Wiki
The character
Roshi is introduced as a lecherous old man living alone on a small island, who turns out to be one of the strongest martial artists in the world. He becomes Goku and Krillin's teacher, teaching them the Kamehameha, the series' signature technique, and setting the pattern for Dragon Ball's training arcs. He is also one of the series' great comic characters, and Toriyama kept him in the story for its entire run.
Why it matters
Master Roshi is one of the founding figures of Dragon Ball. His debut is an early key issue from the series' first months, and the 1985 New Year double issue is the magazine in which collectors look for it. Early Weekly Shonen Jump issues were read and discarded, so surviving copies in collectible condition are the exception.
Prime City Comics copy
Our copy is Weekly Shonen Jump #1-2, 1985, graded C, the first appearance of Master Roshi, listed at $400. You can view it here: Weekly Shonen Jump 1-2, 1985.