Patalliro is a very long running series. It has 49 episodes running from 1982 to 1983, and 80 volumes of manga. It also has various AU universes, because the author (Mineo Maya) likes to re-use the same characters in different setting. On top of all that, there are other series that take place in the same universe (Rashanu, for example, even makes appearances in Patalliro).

As such the plot is difficult to summarize. It mainly revolves around the three main characters; Patalliro, Bancoran and Maraich. Some stories are crack, some are very serious. It goes from robots to laser-eye-beam showdowns. There's probably very little that hasn't happened at some point in the series.

Patalliro himself is the boy king of a small island country named Malynera. He has his guards (called Tamanegi, or "Onion Heads"), diamond mines and the tendency to get into trouble.

Bancoran first meets him by working as his bodyguard, and from there-on out can't seem to get away from him.

Later on Maraich joins as the last main character by trying to assassinate Patalliro's bodyguard (Bancoran). He later changes sides, and he and Patalliro are often working together to stalk Bancoran.