One Piece Creator Tells Heartbreaking Dragon Ball Confession to Final Volume Cover

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As an observer with a keen interest in the world of manga, I must say that witnessing the tribute project for Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is nothing short of heartwarming and poignant. The collaboration between some of the most renowned names in the industry, including Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, is a testament to the profound impact that Dragon Ball has had on countless creators and fans alike.

Eiichiro Oda, the mind behind One Piece, concludes the Dragon Ball Super Gallery initiative with a touching redesign of Volume 42 and an emotional farewell note. This venture kicked off in 2021 as a heartfelt homage to the manga, marking the series’ 40th anniversary. Forty esteemed manga artists took part, each contributing a distinctly styled cover for a single volume. This project was unveiled as part of Shonen Jump magazine’s celebratory events.

Creators behind hit series like One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Jujutsu Kaisen, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Hunter x Hunter, and others paid homage to one of the most impactful manga masterpieces ever made: Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball. This iconic work left an indelible mark on history as one of the greatest mangas of all time. Echoing his admiration since childhood, Oda was deeply influenced by Dragon Ball, and he was among a select few who spoke about Toriyama in his Shonen Jump memorial.

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Eiichiro Oda Shares His Thoughts on the Redrawn Version of Dragon Ball Volume 42

On the right side of the book cover, the author (Eiichiro Oda) reveals an interesting fact: He bought the first volume of the Dragon Ball manga series when he was in elementary school, but not the second! Instead, he read each chapter through the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. When the final volume 42 was released, he went to a bookstore and saw it, but didn’t purchase it. He expresses his gratitude for the chance to re-draw the series and hopes he could buy this volume while Toriyama-sensei (the original creator) is still alive. Pewpiece, a well-known One Piece account on X, shared the translation of this message.

After purchasing the initial volume of Dragon Ball manga during my elementary school years, I skipped on buying the second one. Instead, I would regularly read the chapters from Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. When the last volume, number 42, was published, I found myself going…

— Pew (@pewpiece) December 26, 2024

In my perspective, as I look upon Volume 42, it concludes the Majin Buu Saga, a journey that’s felt more like a shared experience than just a story. Much like Oda himself, Goku can be seen bidding adieu and expressing gratitude to the fans, mirroring Toriyama’s original sentiments. Despite the distinct art style, the key transformation is Robotoriyama (Toriyama’s avatar) navigating a flying saucer instead of Majin Buu, lending a unique and heartfelt touch to this emotional farewell.

Starting from 2021, a fresh cover design was revealed each month in the V Jump magazine, featuring various artists’ creative interpretations of Toriyama’s characters and scenes. Now that the Super Gallery project has concluded, Shueisha plans to reissue the Dragon Ball manga with new covers to celebrate its 40th anniversary. These reprinted volumes will be available in a special box set comprising all 42 volumes, each containing two covers: one original by Akira Toriyama and another alternate cover created by a different mangaka. The official release date is yet to be disclosed, but given that the project has now been completed, we can expect an announcement within the next few months.

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Back in March 2024, I bore witness to a significant shockwave sweeping through the world of manga, as well as the global fanbase of Dragon Ball. The passing of Akira Toriyama left an indelible impact. Numerous authors penned heartfelt tributes to this legendary mangaka. At that moment, Dragon Ball Super, serialized monthly in V Jump, was put on pause indefinitely. Though Toyotaru was the artist, Toriyama had been the story’s driving force. However, during Jump Festa 2025, we learned that the manga would resume with a new chapter focusing on Goten and Trunks.

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2024-12-27 19:40