Volume 24 of Dragon Ball Super is released today in Japan, one year after the 23rd. The wait was worth it, as the volume contains some nice surprises, such as an illustration by Toyotaro paying tribute to Akira Toriyama. It's a powerful gesture to honor the master one last time before taking flight alone. Thus, Toyotaro made an announcement that all fans were waiting for regarding the future of the manga.
The complex situation in which Dragon Ball Super was found
The tragic loss of Toriyama on March 1, 2024, was a huge shock for everyone. Despite this tragedy, the Dragon Ball franchise has consistently delivered content like the game Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and the anime Dragon Ball DAIMA. The only production to have been quiet for several months was Dragon Ball Super, but that's completely understandable.
While the loss of Toriyama was a shock to fans, it was undoubtedly even harder for Toyotaro. He frequently rubbed shoulders with the creator of Dr. Slump, learning from him like a student under his master. We can imagine how hard it must have been to take on DBS alone. And yet, Toyotaro did it by signing a one-shot prequel to the Super Hero arc. And that's just the beginning, since in volume 24 the mangaka announced some big news.
Toyotaro teases the future of Dragon Ball Super
It's been over two years since the DBS manga got stuck in the Super Hero arc. The hiatus didn't help, even though it was justified. The manga's return in February even got some people talking, however, Toyotaro shed some light on this subject. In volume 24, he reveals that while he was working on the origins of the "Saiyan X", Toriyama gave him a plot idea that he quickly added. This means that this story is potentially the master's final contribution to DBS. This is a valuable contribution, since, as Toyotaro points out at the end of his text, the Super Hero arc is now complete thanks to her.
The "Saiyamen X" origin story that I was able to include at the end of the volume is a manga adaptation with additional details based on a text written by Toriyama.
While I was working on "Saiyamen X" as a prequel to the Super Hero arc, the master shared a story with the note: "It's up to you to decide whether this can be used in the main story or not." I thought it was a waste not to include it, so I wanted to adapt it into a manga. However, since the prequel to the Super Hero arc was limited to three chapters (chapters 88 to 90), I had no choice but to leave the idea aside. Instead, I was allowed to draw three chapters covering the events after the birth of Saiyan X.
However, as we came to the conclusion of the Super Hero arc, this was one story I couldn't abandon. I was fortunate enough to have my request granted, allowing me to do it as a one-shot. Thanks for reading. With that, the Super Hero arc is officially over!
Stay tuned for what's to come!
DBS will officially be entering a new arc. Obviously, we're all thinking about Black Frieza, as the character's artwork in Volume 24 hints that the next story will be dedicated to him. However, DBS may very well go in another direction before that. It's important to remember that the manga is on the cusp of End of Z. It's therefore possible that the next arc will modify or reinterpret the ending of Dragon Ball. We can imagine that the 28th Tenkaichi Budokai won't even be present or that it will be very different. Perhaps we'll see a new Tournament of Power to stick to the DBS lore. In any case, we really hope to see Uub. The perfect moment to give him a big role, and why not a better treatment than in GT. Who knows? The next arc could even be entirely dedicated to him.
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