Dragon Ball Super's Toyotaro Confirms the Manga's Return Under His Direction

Summary

Fans of theDragon Ballfranchise have been understandably confused and worried about the fate ofDragon Ball Super, the monthly serialized manga that continues the adventures of Goku and friends, after the passing of Akira Toriyama. These fans can now put those doubts and fears to rest, asToyotaro- the artist behind the manga - has indirectly confirmed thathe is working on the return of the series.

In the August 26th edition of the Weekly Dragon Ball News show,V-Jumpeditor Victory Uchiha shared the screen with Toyotaro, who is a regular host on the show. While the main subject of this episode was the results of the “Goku Best Bout Poll”, which allowed fans worldwide to vote for their favorite Goku battle, at the end of the broadcast Toyotaro made a comment that sheds light on the future ofDragon Ball Super:

“With the Moro fight being included and all, I was delighted to see the poll results. But I won’t stop there! I plan to keep on coming up with lots of exciting battles for fans to enjoy, so I hope you all will continue following my work!

While an official statement regarding the exact return date ofDragon Ball Superis still missing, Toyotaro’s words clear the air regarding the fate of the series,confirming it will continue under his direction.

Toyotaro Will Take the Reins of Dragon Ball Super

Akira Toriyama’s Legacy Is in Good Hands

Fans already had unofficialconfirmation thatDragon Ball Superwould return, as its spot inV-Jumphas been occupied by special illustrations by Toyotaro, under the label of “Dragon Ball Super Interval Special”, which implies that the series is only on a temporary hiatus. However, fans couldn’t sleep too soundly as reports of a battle over the rights of the Dragon Ball franchise surfaced, following the passing of Akira Toriyama.

Considering how lucrative the property is, and how many parties are involved (Toriyama’s heirs, the publisher Shueisha, Toei for the anime, and Bandai for the merchandise) this was to be expected, andthe biggest doubt was if Toyotaro would be confirmed as the creative mind behindDragon Ball Super.

The artist’s words at the end of the broadcast seem to dispel those doubts. Toyotaro’s comment was in reference tothe final battle of the Moro Arcbeing voted at number 4 (number 2 among English-speaking fans), as that was the first arc where he had complete creative freedom from Toriyama. It’s clear that fans appreciated his direction, and, hopefully, his words also mean that he has been officially appointed to leadDragon Ball Superinto the post-Toriyama era.

Toyotaro’s Passion and Devotion Should Be Rewarded

He Never Lost His Spirit as a Dragon Ball Fan

Toyotaro sits in a unique and difficult position. Obviously, Toriyama was the creator of the franchise and owned parts of the rights, along with supreme creative direction over it. Toyotaro was brought over to be the artist ofDragon Ball Superand, while over time his role and freedom expanded, he still operated under Toriyama’s supervision. Thus, his future on the series depends entirely on Shueisha and on the heirs of the Toriyama estate.

This is quite different from what happened toBerserk, as there were initially no plans to continue the series after Kentaro Miura’s passing. His best friend, Kouji Mori, decided on his own thatBerserkneeded a conclusion, and he pitched the idea to Studio Gaga.Dragon Ball, on the other hand, is a global multi-million dollar franchise, and every decision about its future surely comes from above.

Still, fans will surely rejoice after hearing Toyotaro’s words. While his style is still far from the heights of Toriyama’s, he has undeniable credit as someone who is a fan first and foremost. His storytelling decisions have been praised, and he has proved he can push the franchise in a new direction while respecting its roots. All that remains now is to look forward to the announcement ofDragon Ball Super’s return underToyotaro’s guidance.