After the passing of Akira Toriyama in March 2024, the ongoingDragon Ball Supermanga was put on an indefinite hiatus. The series resumed briefly with the release of a single one-shot chapter this past February, but there is still no official confirmation of a full return. Having beenthe only consistently activeDragon Ballproductionover the years since its anime counterpart concluded,Dragon Ball Superis incredibly popular among the franchise’s ever-growing fan base.
Though Akira Toriyama was the legendary creator and artist behindDragon Ball, he wasn’t the one in charge of drawing theDragon Ball Supermanga. The series is illustrated by Toyotarou, who has long lent his talents to the franchise, and waschosen by Toriyama and Shueishato take on the manga series in 2015. He and Toriyama worked together to createDragon Ball Super, and thoughDragon Ball’s guiding light passed away,his protégé is more than capable of spearheading the series.
The Artist Is the Perfect Choice to Keep Dragon Ball Super Going
In aV Jumpinterviewpublished alongsideDragon Ball Super’s first volume, Akira Toriyama told Toyotarou that he “might actually be the closest to my style - there aren’t many who can manage that.“It’s clearDragon Ball’s creator placed great trust in Toyotarou, mentoring the artist while leaving his creation in his hands.In a recently surfaced interviewwithLe Journal de Mickeyfrom 2019, Toyotarou expressed his love and respect for the series, showcasing exactly why he was the correct choice to illustrate it.
He revealed that he was first introduced to Toriyama’s work inDr. Slump,but it wasDragon Ballthat inspired him to draw as a child. He spent his time in school, like many others around the world, attempting to fire off Kamehamehas in class. Later, the artist gained recognition for his spin-off fan comics that found their way online, and was eventually hired to work onSuper Dragon Ball Heroes. When working alongside Toriyama onDragon Ball Super, he would receive the story outline, draft storyboards, and await his sensei’s approval.
With Dragon Ball Super’s Future Uncertain, Its Artist Promises the Story Is All a “Team Effort”
An old but touching interview with Dragon Ball Super’s artist, Toyotaro, might be what fans need to recover hope.
There likely isn’t a better candidate for inheritingDragon Ball Superthan the artist who worked alongside Toriyama in its creation for nearly a decade. And its most recent one-shot chapter proves Toyotarou iscapable of handling the series on his own.
Dragon Ball Super’s Latest Chapter Proves Toyotarou Is the Right Guy for the Job
The Newest One-Shot Captures the Spirit of Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball Super’s latest one-shot chapter, though not a direct continuation of the current story,captures the spirit of the series perfectly. Focusing in on Trunks and the start of his obsession with superheroes, Toyotarou pays tribute to the many heroes ofDragon Ball’s past, while driving home the central theme of the need for strength to protect loved ones. As an added bonus, his artwork is pretty dang impressive as well.
The future ofDragon Ball Superis somewhat uncertain, as an ongoing rights dispute keeps the series on hiatus. However, whenever it returns, the manga has beenleft in extremely capable hands, and fans should be excited about what Toyotarou can bring to the table in the future. The cover art for the latest physical volume of the series was just revealed, and it only further proves Toyotarou is the artist for the job.
Sources:V Jump “Tori-Toyo Free Talk” (translation by Kanzenshuu), Le Journal de Mickey (translation by DB-Z.com)
Dragon Ball Super
Cast
Dragon Ball Super is an anime series set after Majin Buu’s defeat. It follows Son Goku, now a radish farmer, as peace prevails until Beerus, the God of Destruction, appears. Seeking to challenge a legendary warrior, the series revisits events from two Dragon Ball Z films before exploring alternate universes.
