Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball turns 40 and celebrates with the ultimate tribute: 40 successful manga artists redesign its best covers
Authors of Naruto, Bleach, Jujutsu Kaisen, Kimetsu no Yaiba and dozens of other manga redesign the best Dragon Ball covers for its 40th anniversary.
40 years of 'Dragon Ball
'Dragon Ball' nº11, by Masashi Kishimoto ('Naruto')
"Among the many characters in Dragon Ball, the one I like the most is Krillin. I’ve always passionately read the parts where he chases Goku’s back, even though he knows he’s stronger than him. I love all the chapters where Krillin fights, and that’s one of the reasons I choose to draw Volume 11. Congratulations on the 40th anniversary!!"
'Dragon Ball' nº25, by Tite Kubo ('Bleach')
"The truth is, I didn’t know what I ought to write here, so I took a look at the author comment for the original Volume 27, and it said something like, “I’m supposed to write about what I’ve been up to recently, but I’ve been so busy with the serial that I don’t have anything to write about.” ‘I know, right?’ I thought, but at the same time, it also said something like, “I have my editor write the comments in the Jump table of contents,” which is a killer move that I would have loved to know about during my own serial. That reminded me once again of how awesome Toriyama-sensei is. To think I could’ve done it like that…"
'Dragon Ball' nº28, by Osamu Akimoto ('KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops')
"In the original, the Turtle Hermit was riding the first-gen Honda Monkey, so I had Ryō-san ride tandem on the most active-styled Monkey, the Monkey RT. I like the machines in Toriyama-san‘s works, and in Dragon Ball specifically, things like the flying machines and submarines look really cool. On the character side, I like the Turtle Hermit. He’s a kooky old lech, but he’s actually strong. I admire that. I tried building up my strength in pursuit of him, but I was frustrated in my efforts. Still, I think my age, at least, is catching up to him (laughs), so I ride around with the top down, wearing shades. (laughs)"
'Dragon Ball' nº38, by Ryuhei Tamura ('Beelzebub')
"Congratulations to Dragon Ball on its 40th anniversary! The first time I saw Goku’s sons, I thought they were so unbelievably cute that I drew them like crazy. I love both Gohan and Goten. Being reminded once again that that was where my passion for drawing children came from, I chose to redraw the cover to volume 38. I am so honored to have gotten the chance to participate in this project!!"
'Dragon Ball' nº2, by Tatsuki Fujimoto ('Chainsaw Man')
"I am honored to be able to participate in this project! Dragon Ball was such a part of everyday life that I remember having heard the names of the characters somewhere before ever having read the manga, to the point I memorized them! Before serializing my own manga, I went through the entire series again, and it was really helpful for me to see how putting this sort of “dry” character in a shōnen manga would make it so appealing. I suggest you read Dragon Ball again yourselves!"
'Dragon Ball' nº32, by Koyoharu Gotouge ('Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba')
"Greetings, this is Gotōge. I really liked Bulma, so I’m really happy that I was able to draw her! Thank you very much. My parents, my siblings and their children all know of and love Dragon Ball (just the other day, they had a Goku figure in their left hand), so I sometimes think about how truly amazing Toriyama-sensei is for having made this story that is so timeless and beloved."
'Dragon Ball' nº9, by Shinohara Kenta (Sket Dance)
"Both my art style and my comics have been strongly influenced by Dr. Slump, and I just love the sense of traveling through bucolic scenery in early Dragon Ball. I especially like the character Bulma, and I still recall the feeling of excitement as they set off on their journey, riding together on one motorbike. Goku, Bulma, a dragon, and travel! I love the illustration from Volume 9. To think the day would come when I’d be able to take part in a project like this… I want to go back and tell my school-age self, buying color inks and imitating Toriyama-sensei‘s illustrations. Congratulations on 40 years of Dragon Ball!"
'Dragon Ball' nº15, by Tatsuya Endo (Spy × Family)
"Dragon Ball is my origin of origins. I first started drawing manga because I admired Toriyama so much. I’d copy his character art, copy whole chapters, and drew a ton of manga that were basically rip-offs of his. I also played Super Butōden like an idiot. I love the colorization and mechanical structures Toriyama employs on his title pages and frontispieces, and often have them in mind even now as I work. His fully-proportioned and super-deformed styles are both so cute I can’t stand it. I’m truly, truly honored to be able to take part in a project like this. Dragon Ball, congratulations on 40 years!"
'Dragon Ball' nº6, by Hiroshi Shiibashi ('Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan')
"When I was little, I was the kind of kid that would just go to the bookstore and get the latest volume of whichever series I wanted at the moment, not once thinking about starting from volume 1. This is why the first Dragon Ball comic I ever bought was volume 7, the one with the fight against General Blue. I remember wondering for a while about what might have happened in the previous volumes. When I finally managed to get my hands on volume 6, I excitedly thought to myself: “so there were all these super fun battles before, huh?” I really liked the battle with Ninja Murasaki, so I wonder what kind of face that kid that was still in the first year of primary school would have made if he heard that he would one day draw the cover for volume 6, the one that contains that battle…?"
'Dragon Ball' nº19, by Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro ('Toriko')
"When I was in the second year of middle school, I liked the scene in this volume right before Goku and Vegeta started battling so much that I copied it over and over again. I feel like I was really lucky to be able to catch the Dragon Ball serialization in Jump right when I was smack-dab in the middle of its target audience. Congratulations to Dragon Ball on its 40th anniversary!!"
'Dragon Ball' nº20, by Yusei Matsui ('Assassination Classroom')
"Even I, who had no drawing aptitude, am managing to get some understanding of art after keeping at it for all these years. Even with the drawings of people that are so talented as to be almost magical, once you understand the way the art was composed, the “magic” turns into “technique,” and you can learn it and get even better. However, Toriyama-sensei‘s art is the only one whose technique I feel I can’t quite get a hold of. No matter how many years pass, it still keeps its “magical” status. It’s easy enough to imitate, but its essence will forever remain out of reach. That’s the feeling I get once again, as I have the privilege of imitating that image of the ideal manga artist."
'Dragon Ball' nº33, by Hirohiko Araki ('Jojo's Bizarre Adventure')
"While trying to make a perfect copy, I realized once again: while Toriyama-sensei‘s art might look like it was drawn onto a flat surface in a very simple manner, the truth is that it has an extremely precise sense of three-dimensionality to it. An amazing technique that can convey both flatness and three-dimensionality at the same time! It really is great artwork, isn’t it? I am extremely honored that I got to draw the cover to volume 33."
'Dragon Ball' nº23, by Kyosuke Usuta ('Pyū to Fuku! Jaguar')
"Welp, after considering the fact that I have zero knack for drawing mechanical stuff, as well as pondering how much of my own taste I could get away with incorporating on the sly, I chose this cover illustration. Really, for us, Freeza’s impact was absolute, so I was glad I got to draw him! When I think of how its appeal hasn’t faded in the slightest, even though it’s coming up on its 40th anniversary, it just sets me trembling all the more from the bottom of my heart. Congratulations!! I mean it!''"
'Dragon Ball' nº3, by Kōji Inada ('Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai')
"A celebration of Dragon Ball‘s 40th anniversary!! I redrew the cover of the third volume, The Tenka’ichi Budōkai Begins!! In Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, there’s also an arc called “The Great Martial Arts Tournament of Romos Kingdom”… Since they’re pretty similar, I took the liberty of adding some more characters. Sorry about that… (sweats)"
'Dragon Ball' nº7, by Mikio Ikemoto ('Boruto: Naruto Next Generations')
"Congratulations to Dragon Ball on its 40th anniversary!! I feel nothing but the utmost gratitude to be included in this project. Dragon Ball has kind of been my source of nutrition ever since I was a kid. The cover of volume 7, which I like so much and had the privilege of being able to choose, has this sense of vigor and pop-ness, a stylish ride, and also a healthy dose of sexiness; that is to say, it has all the appeal of Dragon Ball crammed into this one picture. The fact that it looks extremely easy to draw is another of its strong points. I will forever be unable to look at it with anything other than admiration."
'Dragon Ball' nº14, by Tadatoshi Fujimaki ('Kuroko's Basketball')
"When I was in elementary school, meaning, right in the middle of the Dragon Ball serialization, everyone in my class was reading it. From those simple beginnings where I enjoyed copying the Dragon Ball drawings, to buying Jump every week, to deciding I want to draw my own comics, to submitting my own manuscripts, to working as an assistant, and then to finally having my own serialization, who would have thought the day would come when I would be able to draw for a project like this. It is truly an honor. Congratulations to Dragon Ball on its 40th anniversary!"
'Dragon Ball' nº4, by Akira Amano ('Katekyō Hitman Reborn!')
"Hello, Akira Amano speaking. More than an unforgettable part of my childhood, Dragon Ball is something I like so much it’s seeped into my very being! By being granted this opportunity to draw Goku, I confirmed once again that I really do love this character a lot. Thank you so much!"
'Dragon Ball' nº18, by Kentarō Yabuki ('To Love Ru')
"I first got into comics by looking at Dragon Ball, studying how to split pages into panels and having fun drawing the adventures of Goku and the gang on my notebook when I was in elementary school. Who would’ve thought that I would be able to enjoy a new comic with Goku’s adventures even in my forties?… And to top it off, that I would be allowed to contribute a drawing of the Artificial Humans that I like so much to this project? I really want to go back and tell all of this to my younger self. Toriyama-sensei, congratulations on Dragon Ball‘s 40th anniversary!"
'Dragon Ball' nº16, by Hideaki Sorachi ('Gintama')
"When I was a child, I loved the cover to volume 16, but when I tried to copy it, it never came out well, so I asked my father to draw it for me on a big sheet of drawing paper and I hung it in my bedroom as a poster for the longest time. Time has passed and Dragon Ball is now nearing its 40th anniversary. That brat was such a lousy artist and managed to get some drawing skills, but I still think I’m not quite at the level of that worn-down, yellowed-out poster.''"
'Dragon Ball' nº22, by Posuka Demizu ('The Promised Neverland')
"I really liked Dende and Cargo, so I asked if I could draw the cover of volume 22! Since the events surrounding them turn out quite tragic in the main story, I drew them in a still peaceful Namek, happily going out for a ride. I’ve always wished I could draw machines as skillfully as Toriyama-sensei, something I still think nowadays (and I’m sure I will continue to do!). Congratulations on Dragon Ball‘s 40th anniversary!"
'Dragon Ball' nº26, by Boichi ('Dr. Stone')
"It’s an absolute honor to be able to draw a Dragon Ball cover. That’s all there is to it."
'Dragon Ball' nº10, by Shun Saeki ('Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma')
"It’s the ultimate honor to be associated with such a legendary series. The cover of this volume has a very peculiar design, and after pondering about how to recreate it, I decided on a setting where Goku and Bulma come to look for a Dragon Ball on some ruins that just so happened to have objects shaped like the patterns from the original cover, but now I’m wondering if it was maybe a bit forced. Anyway, I gladly drew it and had a lot of fun doing it! Thank you so very much."
'Dragon Ball' nº40, by Yuki Tabata ('Black Clover')
"Dragon Ball was the start of my life in comics, and it will always be my Number One. That’s what the child in me says. Way back when I was in daycare, I saw Dragon Ball in a copy of Jump my friend had brought in, and I decided that when I grew up, I would be a cartoonist. That’s why to me, there could be no higher honor than having the opportunity to participate in a project like this. And Dragon Ball is still stupendously popular. Having actually managed to become a cartoonist, I’ve been able to appreciate all the more just how amazing Dragon Ball is. Thank you so much!!"
'Dragon Ball' nº25, por Kazue Kato ('Blue Exorcist')
"Congratulations to Dragon Ball on its 40th anniversary!! Out of all the covers I enjoy, I purposefully picked one that had as many elements as possible. But I also wanted to draw Piccolo and Vegeta… While I was making this homage, I remembered how much I loved copying the artwork when I was a kid, saw how deep an influence it had on the way I draw natural objects and things like knots, and managed to realize once again how much Toriyama-sensei‘s talents became a part of my very being. It was fun!! It was such an honor to be able to partake of this opportunity. Thank you so much!"
'Dragon Ball' nº34, por Yasuhisa Hara ('Kingdom')
"¡Felicidades por los 40 años! 'Dragon Ball' es un trabajo que leo todas las semanas en Jump desde el primer capítulo, por lo que es un verdadero honor poder participar en un proyecto especial como este. Es una gran lección de humildad estar haciendo un arreglo de una de las ilustraciones de Toriyama-sensei, pero también me divertí mezclando elementos de 'Kingdom', agregando soldados de fondo para resaltar esa "semejanza", incluso mientras le daba a la armadura un color estilo Goku".
'Dragon Ball' nº26, by Shūichi Asō ('The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.')
"My friends used to bring all 42 volumes to our secret base and we’d go around reading them until it got dark outside. Whenever I bought a Carddass booster pack, I’d quickly flip through all the common cards, but then burst into dance if I got a foiled Gohan card. In Super Butōden, I’d quickly press all the buttons at random and then unexpectedly launch a secret move. I’d line up with my parents under the blistering heat to go and see the Toei Anime Fair. I’d draw Super Trunks on the blackboard in the back of class and get praised by my teacher. If I think back on my childhood days, the one constant running through all of it is definitely Dragon Ball. Congratulations on its 40th anniversary!!"
'Dragon Ball' nº27, by Katsura Hoshino ('D.Gray-man')
"When I was a kid, I really admired Toriyama-sensei and drew Trunks and Goku a lot, as well as many manga and illustrations that copied his style. Sensei‘s linework, while simple, is also very difficult, with both depth and fun, and I had a lot of fun and excitement trying with all my might to emulate it. When I got the opportunity to be a part of this project, while drawing, I kept telling my child self: “You’re drawing Dragon Ball! And Toriyama-sensei is actually going to see it!” I was really excited and terribly nervous, but thank you so much for letting me draw this.''"
'Dragon Ball' nº41, by Gege Akutami ('Jujutsu Kaisen')
"Whenever I was at the pub that a friend of my father’s used to run, the only reason I was able to wait my way through the adults’ late-hours drinking without so much as a peep was thanks to the fact that they had all the Dragon Ball volumes available to read. To think that, 25 years later, I would be able to participate in a project like this fills me with such deep emotion that I think it’s transcended the concept of 'deepness' at this point."
'Dragon Ball' nº8, by Sui Ishida ('Tokyo Ghoul')
"Not even in my dreams did I ever think I would get to participate in a project like this! What an honor. Even I, who didn’t read a lot of manga back in primary school, remember copying drawings of the Kamehameha in my notebook. After becoming a mangaka, I went to exhibitions of Toriyama-sensei‘s artwork, and even already as an adult, I still got really excited by each and every page of his illustrations. I remember being really moved. Congratulations to Dragon Ball on its 40th anniversary!"
'Dragon Ball' nº12, by Yusuke Murata ('One-Punch Man')
"'While obediently following his masters’ teachings, Goku seeks to win the Tenka’ichi Budōkai. After training hard, he then enters and wins the tournament, and, in so doing, ends up defeating Demon King Piccolo, saving the Earth from his designs on world domination.' This is the plot of the first half of Dragon Ball (right before the Saiyan arc). Even with just the plot, don’t you think the fun of Goku’s unassuming nature — being somehow laid-back despite being insanely strong — comes right out? He manages to defeat the Demon King, who’s trying to destroy the world, all without actually breaking the tournament rules. That’s what’s so great about him. Since he’s so strong, he ends up prioritizing things other people don’t. This might be what 'being above it all' is all about, in the end. And this might be the same attitude that characterizes Toriyama-sensei himself, someone who created an international mega-hit while famously thinking things like, 'I wanna get this manuscript over with so I can go build more plastic model kits!' or 'inking his hair black all the time is a pain, so I’m just gonna make Super Saiyan have white hair.' And this isn’t limited limited to just manga – 'the person' shows through in anything one makes. If you want to make a comic this thrilling, then you first need to be a thrilling person yourself. That’s how I see it."
'Dragon Ball' nº21, by Yoshifumi Tozuka ('Undead Unluck')
"I love the tense battle royale vibes of the Freeza arc. I think Dragon Ball‘s theme of 'every character is doing whatever they can as best as they can' is something that influenced my own manga."
'Dragon Ball' nº29, by Takeshi Obata ('Death Note')
"Congratulations on Dragon Ball‘s 40th anniversary. I got to redraw the cover to Volume 29. As someone who got to grow up with Toriyama-sensei‘s mechanic designs, this is the highest honor. Every time he featured an automobile in his works, it was so intricately detailed and had even more appeal than actual, real cars, so I copied them oh so many times. It never came out well, but before I knew it, I grew an appreciation for similar-looking cars and it completely defined my preferences. The Volkswagen featured in this cover is also a pretty rare ride. No matter how much I looked, I couldn’t find any reference material, so once again, the final product did not come out well (laughs). I have nothing but the highest respect for Toriyama-sensei‘s insane knowledge of mechanics."
'Dragon Ball' nº18, by Naho Ōishi ('Dragon Ball SD')
"My first contact with the manga was when I was in kindergarten and couldn’t even read it, given to me by my father in place of a coloring book. Even after becoming an adult, I thankfully continued to be involved with Dragon Ball, so I was able to live my life alongside the larger-than-life Goku, who had become a father, and later a grandfather. It’s no exaggeration to say that Dragon Ball has occupied a very, very big presence throughout more than half my life. No matter how much I try, I will never be able to thank Toriyama-sensei enough for allowing me to live my life alongside the Dragon Ball. Thank you so, so much. I will continue to love Dragon Ball with aaaaaaaaaaall my heart from now on, too."
'Dragon Ball' nº35, by Hiroyuki Asada ('Tegami Bachi')
"I had the privilege of serving for six years as a judge for the Tezuka Award, so twice every year I would get to meet Akira Toriyama-sensei, exchange opinions, dine together, and hear lots of delightful stories. Toriyama-san was always easygoing and relaxed, and I loved that about him. The news of his passing came right before my deadline, and having to draw this volume’s illustration at this timing was heartbreaking. More than anything, I can’t get Toriyama-san to see it. Still, I drew this with a prayer that it might reach him. Thank you for everything. I love Dragon Ball."
'Dragon Ball' nº39, by Toyotarou ('Dragon Ball Super')
"When it comes to snow country, I immediately think of Muscle Tower, so I went with a situation where they’re being chased by the ghosts of the Red Ribbon Army! All of Toriyama-sensei‘s illustrations are already perfectly composed, so I was quite humbled by the experience. Come to think of it, Toriyama-sensei had said right along that out of the illustrations he drew, there were hardly any he really liked. “That can’t be true when he draws such amazing stuff!” I thought, so one time I went ahead and asked him directly. His response was, “People of our generation don’t really do stuff like bragging about our own work.” Judging from that, I think he probably did have a favorite illustration or two, but that wasn’t the sort of thing the creator himself should be going on about. That’s how I interpreted it. I remember thinking that was so cool and just like him, and I came to admire him even more than before. Congratulations on 40 years! Now and forever, Dragon Ball will never die."
'Dragon Ball' nº17, by Takehiko Inoue ('Slam Dunk')
"I was very happy and extremely blessed to have had a series running at the same time and in the same magazine as Dragon Ball."
'Dragon Ball' nº5, by Yoshihiro Togashi ('Hunter × Hunter')
"Drawing this piece was like going back to those times, so it was really fun! When I finished drawing, I came to my senses, and was overcome with emotion so strong I could almost cry, so I just read Dragon Ball Volume 5, which was right in front of me. Yup, I’m not lonely at all! Toriyama-sensei is right here!!"
'Dragon Ball' nº24, by Morita Masanori ('Rokudenashi Blues')
"There was once a time when I was battling it out with Dragon Ball for the top spot in the reader surveys. This one week, I got 350 votes and thought I was going to win for sure, and then it turned out that Dragon Ball got 700. I turned these feelings of frustration into a cherished memory, and now it’s one of my go-to jokes whenever I’m at the bar; it’s something I brag about. Toriyama-sensei, those days I got to be serialized alongside you were like a shiny gem to me. Thank you so very much. I worked really hard on this illustration. What do you think? I really wish I could have gone out for a leisurely drink with you, even just once. And then I could say: “Do you remember that time when I was battling it out for first place with you, Sensei? There was this one week when I got 350 votes and thought ‘Hell yeah!’, and then it turned out that Dragon Ball…”"
'Dragon Ball' nº39, by Kohei Horikoshi ('My Hero Academia')
"It’s an honor to get to be involved with Dragon Ball like this! I’ve drawn my comics in admiration of Goku’s light-hearted, strong, and reassuring character! No matter when and where I read from, he’s right there, looking cool with a sense of humor — he’s the greatest character!"
'Dragon Ball' nº30, by Nobuhiro Watsuki ('Rurouni Kenshin')
"It was the first time in more than 30 years since I became a manga artist that I copied DB (Dragon Ball), and I was reminded of the sheer brilliance and power of the perfect, flawless drawing ability and impeccable sense of style, leaving little room for personal designs. Every time we crossed paths during my more than ten years as a Tezuka Award judge, he’d greet me warmly, saying, “Watsuki-kun, huh? Long time no see!” with his characteristic smile. “Thank you for your hard work.” was the final greeting. I sincerely pray for the peaceful repose of Mr. Akira Toriyama’s soul."
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