Will Toyotaro Redefine Dragon Ball as Toriyama’s Chosen Successor?

by

Summary

  • Toyotaro, chosen by Toriyama, is regarded as his successor to continue the Dragon Ball Super story.
  • Potential legal battles may complicate Toyotaro’s involvement with Dragon Ball Super after Toriyama’s death.
  • The manga remains on hiatus, with fans awaiting news in April upon Volume 24’s release for a possible return.

This year, there were some positive developments regarding “Dragon Ball Super”, however, they’re yet to announce a definite date for its manga continuation. With the conclusion of “Dragon Ball Daimaou”, fans have returned their attention to “Super”, which serves as an official sequel (or one of them) to the original story.

In the franchise, Daima sparked a significant controversy as it conflicts with certain events depicted in Super, which is also known as retconning depending on one’s viewpoint. Now, Dragon Ball enthusiasts are debating which tales align with the manga’s chronological sequence. With this understanding, what status does the work of Toyotaro hold within the established narrative timeline?

Toyotaro Was Chosen By Toriyama

Toyotaro, a dedicated enthusiast of the Dragon Ball series, has authored various DB doujinshi (fanzines) under the pen name Toyble. One of his most renowned works is the Dragon Ball AF manga (it’s worth noting that he didn’t originated the rumor).

Initially, his involvement with the Dragon Ball series began through the manga “Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission,” marking his first official work within the franchise. Since then, he has penned additional Dragon Ball Heroes mangas. Later on, he was given the opportunity to illustrate Dragon Ball Super. From March 2024, Toriyama provided plot guidelines for this series, while Toyotaro took charge of the storyline drawings. Despite having the freedom to make adjustments as needed, Toriyama reviewed Toyotaro’s storyboards and corrected anything he deemed inaccurate.

During a conversation with the French magazine Journal de Mickey, Toyotaro openly stated that Toriyama views him as his potential successor.

In 2015, Shueisha approached me to illustrate Dragon Ball Super due to the popularity of my manga. This was an incredible opportunity, and it became even more special when I had the chance to meet Akira Toriyama-san. He praised my work, acknowledging its intricacy and my abundance of ideas. Being selected by him as his potential successor was both humbling and gratifying. It is a tremendous honor that I will always cherish.

Possible Issues Emerging After Toriyama’s Death

It appears that Toriyama was setting up Toyotaro to take over from him at some point, but his passing has added an element of complexity. Word on the street is that Shueisha and Capsule Corporation Tokyo are currently embroiled in a lawsuit regarding ownership rights to the franchise.

It’s been whispered that a large portion of these legal issues revolves around Dragon Ball Super, a series believed to be partly owned by Shueisha. Given this connection, Capsule Corporation might opt to steer clear of Toyotaro until the matters are resolved, aiming to prevent additional complications with Shueisha. Similarly, Toyotaro himself may desire some space from CC Tokyo for similar reasons.

As a die-hard Dragon Ball fan, I couldn’t help but notice the buzz surrounding Dragon Ball Daimaoshima. Though Toyotaro didn’t seem to be directly involved, it’s fascinating to learn that Akio Iyuko suggested Toriyama himself penned most of it during his lifetime. This revelation makes me wonder if Toyotaro’s input might not have been necessary for this series, given the legendary hand that crafted the Dragon Ball universe was still at work!

If Toriyama considers him as his successor, those fans who later disagree with how the story is handled might resort to labeling it as “no longer canonical” to support their views.

Does Super Being Canon Mean Daima Is Not?

Akira Toriyama contributed to both “Dragon Ball Super” and “Dragon Ball Daima,” and they’re both continuations of the initial tale. There might be some small inconsistencies, but they can potentially occur within the same timeframe.

In essence, if an author deems certain tales as the authentic part of their narrative, then both versions hold canonical status. On second thought, perhaps it’s high time we reconsider the concept of a strict “Dragon Ball” chronology.

When Will Dragon Ball Super Return?

Following Toriyama’s passing, there was a prolonged break in the release of Dragon Ball Super. However, what was initially announced as a one-shot special chapter later turned out to be part of the ongoing story (it’s labeled as Chapter 104, not a bonus chapter), leading fans to anticipate that the next chapter would follow shortly. Unfortunately, this has not been the case, and Dragon Ball Super is currently on another extended hiatus.

Despite fan anticipation for positive updates in April, when Volume 24 is scheduled to release in Japan, if Toyotaro should acknowledge Daima in future chapters, it could serve as a potential sign that he will carry on the story as Toriyama’s successor. In fact, many fans have already viewed him in this role.

You can stream Dragon Ball Super on Crunchyroll, with subtitles available in multiple languages. In the United States, the manga is officially published by VIZ Media.

Read More

2025-03-11 17:34