The global anime and manga community was shocked and deeply saddened when the ing of Akira Toriyama was announced in March 2024. The legendary Dragon Ball creator, whose influence can be felt throughout countless mediums of entertainment, inspired generations of both fans and artists alike. The weeks that followed were filled with an outpouring of and iration from the ever-growing Dragon Ball fan base. As time ed and the Dragon Ball Super manga was put on hiatus, many wondered what the future of the franchise would have in store.

Nearly a year later, that future remains uncertain. However, on February 19, 2025, Dragon Ball Super returned with an all-new one-shot chapter, which followed the often sidelined Goten and Trunks on a superhero journey. The entry, while largely celebrated by fans of the series, has also been somewhat divisive among those who wanted to see plot progression. Despite that, one takeaway from the chapter cannot be denied: Toyotarou is the perfect artist to carry on with Dragon Ball Super going forward.

Toriyama Left Dragon Ball Super in Toyotarou's Hands

The Latest Chapter Is the First Spearheaded by Toyotarou Alone

Though Akira Toriyama is credited in Dragon Ball Super's chapter #104, "The Birth of Saiyaman X", and will continue to be credited if and when any future chapters release, the latest entry is the first to be led by Toyotarou without the assistance of the series' creator. For nearly a decade, Dragon Ball Super has been illustrated by Toyotarou, while Akira Toriyama outlined the series' plot and checked over his partner's storyboards and drawings. It was the manga master who chose Toyotarou for the job.

In an interview in V Jump shortly after the release of Dragon Ball Super's first volume, the two artists touched on their process for creating the series. Toriyama told Toyotarou, "You might actually be the closest to my style. There aren't many people who can manage that!" Before adding, "Maybe there are people who can imitate my pictures, but not many artists can pull off an entire chapter like you can!"

It's clear that Toriyama trusted Toyotarou with his vision for the series from the very beginning, later mentioning in the same interview that he gave the illustrator creative freedom to expand and build upon his story outlines. Ten years later, Toyotarou's first outing without Toriyama's guidance was able to capture the spirit of Dragon Ball perfectly, even if it isn't exactly what everyone wanted.

Dragon Ball Super's Latest Chapter Captures the Magic of Dragon Ball

The Latest One-Shot Is a Celebration of the Long-Running Series

Interestingly enough, Toyotarou was later asked which part of Dragon Ball he enjoyed most growing up, to which he responded by stating he really enjoyed Gohan's school life early on in the Majin Buu Saga. The latest chapter, and the first without Toriyama, takes quite a bit of influence from this brief section of the series, returning to the topic of superheroes as well as how Trunks came to ire them.

The chapter reads a bit like a celebration of Dragon Ball, and both its most celebrated and forgotten fighters. At its core is a story of a hero inspiring the next generation to become strong and protect their loved ones, which encapsulates one of the strongest themes in Akira Toriyama's original manga. All the while, Toyotarou's ability to capture his mentor's art style while adding his own flavor shines through. Having the job of carrying on a franchise as beloved as Dragon Ball will not be an easy task, but the right person for the job is seemingly already in place.

The reveal that Gohan was the one playing Clean God throughout the chapter is also a fantastic nod to the history between him and Trunks, which reaches across two separate timelines. The current timeline's Trunks did not have to experience the misery of the future, but he also missed out on the formative relationship formed with Gohan during the Androids' terror. The latest chapter showcases that the two are linked even across multiple realities.

Dragon Ball Super's future remains uncertain, and chapter #104 offered no insight into when a full return might come. Nevertheless, whenever serialization resumes, fans will be pleased to know the series is in the right hands. Dragon Ball Daima's finale is just around the corner, and there is nothing better for those waiting patiently for Super's manga to return to fill the void.

Source: V Jump "Tori-Toyo Free Talk" (translation by Kanzenshuu)