Upon learning of Akira Toriyama’s passing, fans naturally think about the future trajectory of the Dragon Ball franchise, particularly regarding the fate of the Dragon Ball Super manga. Recently, the manga had been faithfully adapting the storyline of the movie Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO and had just embarked on a new story arc a mere two months prior.
Given these recent developments, it appears probable that Toriyama, the late manga creator, had intentions to extend the narrative further. However, with his untimely demise on March 1st, the series’ future now hangs in uncertainty.
鳥山先生にほめられたくて漫画描いてました。僕のすべてでした
— とよたろう (@TOYOTARO_Vjump) March 8, 2024
Thus, the burning question remains: Will the Dragon Ball Super manga persist in the wake of Toriyama’s passing?
Dragon Ball Super’s Future After Akira Toriyama
Certainly, the continuation of the Dragon Ball Super manga after the passing of its creator, Akira Toriyama, seems probable, although no official confirmation has been issued as yet.
Toriyama, while recognized as the writer of the Dragon Ball Super manga, was initially credited for the series’ “original story and character concepts” upon the anime’s announcement.
Manga artist Toyotarou, responsible for illustrating the manga, previously outlined his collaborative process with Toriyama. Toyotarou would receive significant plot points from Toriyama, and sketch out the storyboard, which Toriyama would then review, making adjustments to dialogue and art. This revised draft would then be finalized by Toyotarou.
Given this collaborative dynamic, it appears that as long as Toyotarou continues to receive guidance from Toriyama, he could conceivably carry the manga forward. However, the extent to which Toriyama had outlined future chapters remains unclear.
It’s improbable that Toriyama had meticulously planned out the manga’s future, as his sudden death, attributed to an acute subdural hematoma, suggests an unforeseen tragedy. This condition, categorized as a medical emergency, occurs when a blood clot forms between the brain’s surface and its protective outer layer, often resulting from head trauma.
With the possibility of Toriyama’s passing being the result of an accident, it’s likely that Toyotarou was not prepped for the series’ future. Toyotarou himself, expressing his sorrow, revealed through X (formerly Twitter) that his motivation for manga stemmed from a desire to impress Toriyama-sensei, indicating a deep reverence for the late creator.
As Dragon Ball Super Chapter 103 gears up for release on Thursday, March 21, 2024, it’s anticipated to proceed without disruption. However, there’s a chance that Shueisha may opt for an indefinite hiatus thereafter to strategize the series’ future direction.
