A color image forming apparatus which, in a sequential order for each of plural colors of a composite color image, charges plural photosensitive bodies, exposes electrostatic latent images on the plural photosensitive bodies, develops latent images on the photosensitive bodies into color images, and transfers the color images to sequentially form images of each of the plural colors one on another to form the composite color image and transcribing the composite color image onto a printing medium. The color image forming apparatus includes: plural charging units which perform the charging process for each of the plural colors; plural exposing units which perform the exposing process for each of the plural colors; plural developing units which perform the developing process for each of the plural colors; and plural transfer units which perform the transfer process for each of the plural colors.