10 Best Dragon Ball Super Gallery Covers Toriyama Would Have Loved

The “Dragon Ball Super Gallery” project, initially planned to mark the shonen franchises’ 40th anniversary, took on an additional significance following the demise of creator Akira Toriyama. This collaborative art endeavor became a tribute to the late mangaka, with renowned creators contributing their skills to recreate some of the most iconic covers from the Dragon Ball manga’s history. Among these covers, we at egmr.ru found some that perfectly encapsulate the essence of the Dragon Ball series.

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery, for those unacquainted, debuted in 2021, with Masashi Kishimoto, creator of Naruto, setting it in motion. After Masashi reimagined a cover depicting Goku’s early years, he was joined by artists renowned for series like Bleach, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Chainsaw Man, Demon Slayer, Spy x Family, Gintama, Dr. Stone, and others. The project has now concluded in fitting fashion, as One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda re-created the cover that marked the end of Dragon Ball’s manga run. Though Akira Toriyama is no longer with us, his artistic legacy continues to thrive in the realm of anime, as demonstrated by this project.

10.) Hiroyuki Asada – Tegami Bachi

This powerful image serves as an ideal introduction to our rankings, showcasing the artwork that embodies the spirit of the Dragon Ball series while seamlessly blending the artist’s unique style. Hiroyuki Asada perfectly accomplishes this with his emotional tribute to Toriyama, sharing these heartfelt words:

“For six years, I was honored to serve as a judge for the Tezuka Award, which gave me the opportunity to meet Akira Toriyama-sensei twice every year. We exchanged ideas, dined together, and shared numerous amusing anecdotes. Toriyama-san always had a laid-back demeanor that I admired. The news of his passing arrived just before my deadline, making it painful to create this volume’s artwork. I drew it with the hope that it would reach him, even though I can’t guarantee he will see it. Thank you for everything. Dragon Ball is my passion.

9.) Gege Akutami – Jujutsu Kaisen

The creator of Jujutsu Tech has given their own twist to the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project, and the result is both amusing and reminiscent of Akira Toriyama’s style. Characters like Piccolo, Gotenks, and Majin Buu are depicted humorously in this artwork, and Akutami has done a fantastic job capturing what they intended. Furthermore, Gege expresses their admiration for Toriyama, sharing that as a child, they found solace in reading Dragon Ball volumes at a pub run by a friend of their father’s during late-night gatherings. They now find it profoundly moving to be involved in a project like this 25 years later.

8.) Tite Kubo – Bleach

Currently, “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War” is making waves in the anime community. Yet, even with its popularity, creator Tite Kubo has contributed to this project as well. Remarkably, he managed to illustrate characters such as Goku, Frieza, and Piccolo in a manner that they seem perfectly suited for the Soul Society. Similar to other creators, Kubo expressed heartfelt sentiments towards the late “Dragon Ball” creator. He remarked, “I didn’t know what to write here, so I looked at the author comment for the original Volume 27. It said something like, ‘I’m supposed to write about what I’ve been up to recently, but I’ve been so busy with the serial that I don’t have anything to write about.’ I could relate to that, but it also mentioned, ‘I have my editor write the comments in the Jump table of contents,’ which is an ingenious move I wish I had known during my own serial. It reminded me again of how incredible Toriyama-sensei is. To think I could’ve done it like that…

7.) Tatsuki Fujimoto – Chainsaw Man

In Denji’s graphic novel, there’s an abundance of violence and gore, but it also carries a tender heart. When participating in the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project, Fujimoto demonstrates their ability to convey emotion effectively. Here’s what Tatsuki shared for the project: “I feel privileged to be part of this project! I can recall hearing the characters’ names from my daily life before even reading the manga, and I memorized them! Prior to starting my own manga, I re-read the entire series, which proved very beneficial in understanding how a ‘dry’ character could make a shonen manga so engaging. I encourage you all to revisit Dragon Ball yourself!

6.) Shinohara Kenta – Sket Dance

Kenta nailed the assignment by perfectly emulating the spirit of the early shonen series, Sket Dance’s creator, Shinohara, successfully replicated the essence of Dragon Ball in a unique cover that was distinctly his own. In a message for the project, Shinohara shared, “My art style and comics have been significantly impacted by Dr. Slump, and I adore the feeling of traversing through picturesque landscapes in the early Dragon Ball. I particularly admire the character Bulma and remember the thrill as they embarked on their journey, sharing a motorbike. Goku, Bulma, a dragon, and travel! I love the illustration from Volume 9. To imagine that one day I’d be involved in a project like this… I would go back and tell my school-aged self, who was buying colored inks and mimicking Toriyama-sensei’s illustrations. Congratulations on 40 years of Dragon Ball!

5.) Boichi – Dr. Stone

Similar to Gege Akutami’s approach for Dr. Stone, the artist behind it doesn’t make a literal copy but instead creates a dynamic group illustration that represents the Namek Saga. In a concise and enthusiastic statement, Boichi expressed his feelings about drawing the Z-Fighters: “It’s an immense privilege to create a Dragon Ball cover. That’s simply put.

4.) Kohei Horikoshi – My Hero Academia

Delightedly diving into a fresh take on one of Dragon Ball’s legendary covers, Kohei Horikoshi has gracefully blended his signature style, typically dedicated to Class 1-A, with Son Goku. This cover isn’t just a testament to Kohei’s distinctive artistry, but it adds vibrant detail and color to the original masterpiece. Here’s what Kohei shared about his experience: “It’s a privilege to be part of Dragon Ball in this way! I’ve always admired Goku’s light-hearted, robust, and comforting character. No matter when or where I read, he stands out, exuding coolness with a touch of humor — he’s an unparalleled character!

3.) Yusuke Murata – One-Punch Man

As a passionate admirer of Yusuke Murata’s art, I’ve always been captivated by his energetic style that seamlessly blends with the world of Saitama, and surprisingly, it resonates beautifully with the universe of Dragon Ball too. Just like the other artists in the Gallery Project, I can appreciate the deep respect Murata has for the series and its creator Akira Toriyama.

The storyline of Dragon Ball revolves around Goku, who, despite being incredibly strong, maintains an unassuming nature that’s hard to miss. In the first half of the series, before the Saiyan arc, Goku competes in the Tenkaichi Budōkai, a martial arts tournament, and manages to win it, defeating Demon King Piccolo along the way, saving Earth from his plans for world domination, all without violating the tournament rules.

This understated heroism is what makes Goku so appealing. His strength allows him to prioritize things that others often overlook. This could be what it means to rise above the ordinary, ultimately. And I believe this attitude reflects not just Goku, but also Toriyama-sensei himself, a creator who produced an international phenomenon while maintaining a casual, laid-back approach, as shown by his quotes like “I can’t wait to finish this manuscript so I can build more plastic model kits!” or “I find it tedious to ink his hair black all the time, so I’ll make Super Saiyan have white hair.”

The essence of “the person” shines through in anything one creates. If you aspire to create a comic as thrilling as Dragon Ball, start by embodying that same spirit within yourself. That’s my take on it.

2.) Masashi Kishimoto – Naruto

Previously mentioned, Kishimoto initiated the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project and made quite an impact from the start. Here’s what Masashi shared when he joined the project, “Among all the characters in Dragon Ball, Kuririn is my favorite. I found myself really connecting with him as he struggled to keep up with Goku, who was always leading the way. I couldn’t help but feel excited whenever chapters focused on Kuririn’s significant role. Congratulations on the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball!

1.) Eiichiro Oda – One Piece

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project concluded with a touching contribution from the creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda. This heartfelt image and commentary not only marks the end of the project but also pays tribute to Akira Toriyama. Here’s what Oda shared: “I bought the first volume of the Dragon Ball manga series when I was in elementary school, but I didn’t buy the second volume! I always read the chapters through the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and when the final volume 42 was released, I went to the bookstore and saw it, but I didn’t buy it! I am grateful for this chance to redraw it again! And now, I wish I could buy this volume while Toriyama-sensei is still here.

2025-01-11 23:40