Dragon Ball Honors Creator With Heartfelt Tribute One Year After His Passing!
It’s been a year since the anime and manga world lost a legend—Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball. His passing on March 1, 2024, left fans heartbroken, but his legacy is stronger than ever. And now, the Dragon Ball Super manga has made a powerful return, honoring Toriyama in the most touching way possible.
After a long break, the manga came back with a special one-shot chapter—Chapter 104: “The Birth of Saiyaman X.” This new story focuses on Trunks and his superhero obsession, but the real highlight is a tribute drawn by the current series artist, Toyotarou—the man Toriyama personally chose to continue the Dragon Ball manga.
In one of the chapter’s special pages, Toyotarou includes a massive illustration filled with characters from across Toriyama’s career. Of course, Goku is front and center, but fans will also spot characters from Toriyama’s lesser-known works like Dr. Slump, Sand Land, Go! Go! Ackman, and more. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate everything the creator gave to fans over the decades.
Toyotarou’s tribute isn’t just fan service—it’s emotional. He was mentored by Toriyama and became the lead illustrator of Dragon Ball Super after working on Dragon Ball Heroes. This tribute feels personal, and Toyotarou even left a note in the manga telling fans to "look forward to future developments." That means the manga will continue—and the world of Dragon Ball is far from over.
While fans are still unsure what’s next, they haven’t been left empty-handed. Dragon Ball DAIMA, a recent anime series that aired not long after Toriyama’s death, featured his direct input. He even came up with the idea of turning all the characters into kids! The show felt like a celebration of everything Dragon Ball stands for and left fans hopeful.
As for the future? It’s bright. According to Akio Iyoku, a longtime Dragon Ball producer, the franchise isn’t slowing down anytime soon. He believes Dragon Ball can go on "for 50 years and beyond."
So even though the man behind Goku is gone, his spirit lives on. Through the pages, the shows, and the fans, Akira Toriyama’s world continues to grow—and it’s not saying goodbye anytime soon.