Author One Piece Eiichiro Oda has concluded the Dragon Ball Super Gallery project with a stunning cover page for Dragon Ball Volume 42, along with a heartfelt message. This project began in 2021 as a special tribute to Akira Toriyama’s legendary manga.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the manga, 40 renowned mangaka participated in the project, creating a unique cover page for a volume of the manga in the distinctive style of their respective works. The project was launched as part of the activities celebrating the anniversary of Shonen Jump magazine.
Notable creators from popular manga such as One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Jujutsu Kaisen, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Hunter x Hunter, and several others have honored one of the most influential manga series of all time. Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has left a significant impact on many subsequent works and is recognized as one of the greatest manga of modern times.
Oda has long admired Toriyama since childhood and has been heavily influenced by Dragon Ball. Additionally, Oda is one of the few individuals who have spoken about Toriyama in a heartfelt message published by Shonen Jump.
Eiichiro Oda Shares His Thoughts on the Cover of Dragon Ball Volume 42
The author’s commentary is displayed on the right side of the volume cover. Eiichiro Oda states: “I bought the first volume of the Dragon Ball manga when I was still in elementary school, but I never purchased the second volume! I always read the chapters through Shonen Jump, and when volume 42 was finally published, I was already aware of it and saw it, but I never bought it! I’m thankful for the chance to revisit it! And now, I’m thrilled to finally be able to purchase this manga while Toriyama-sensei is still alive.”
Volume 42 marks the conclusion of the Majin Buu Saga. In Oda’s version, you can see Goku waving goodbye and expressing gratitude to the reader, reflecting Toriyama’s emotions in the original artwork. Despite the distinct artistic styles, the most significant change is the replacement of Majin Buu with Robotoriyama (a character representing Toriyama), adding a unique twist and meaning to the farewell.
Since 2021, a new volume has been released monthly in the V Jump magazine, each issue showcasing distinct art styles from contributing artists related to Toriyama’s characters and scenes. With the conclusion of the Super Gallery project, Shueisha is set to re-release the Dragon Ball manga with new cover pages to commemorate the 40th anniversary. The manga will be available in a special edition box set that includes all 42 volumes, each featuring two covers: the original by Akira Toriyama and a new cover illustrated by a different mangaka. The release date has yet to be officially announced, but given that the final project has been completed, it will likely be revealed in the coming months.
