Toyotaro traces Toriyama’s style in this great new commemorative illustration of ‘Dragon Ball’

‘Dragon Ball’ celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024, a year that saw many new developments for the franchise, but also the unexpected death of its creator, Akira Toriyama. However, new projects continue to move forward, both in manga and anime, as well as video games such as the upcoming Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. But there is a very special initiative that continues to bring us unpublished illustrations based on the mythical Dragon Ball manga covers by the most famous mangakas. And the latest delivery from Toyotaro, the illustrator of ‘Dragon Ball Super’ and successor of Toriyama himself, could not be more special.

Majin Buu and Mr. Satan by Toyotaro

Toyotaro wanted to pay tribute to the cover of the 39th volume of the ‘Dragon Ball’ manga by Akira Toriyama with his reinterpretation of the illustration featuring Majin Buu and Mr. Satan at the wheel of a classic Mini. He has done so by copying the style of his master, with a design of both characters and vehicles that could have come from an illustration book or the cartoons of Toriyama himself.

And, as is usually the case with this kind of reinterpretation, the artists are not content to copy Toriyama’s original composition but offer their own vision of a specific moment conceived by their creator. Such is the case with this new art by Toyotaro, number 35 of 42, where he has kept Majin Buu and Mr. Satan at the controls of a classic Mini and added many other characters from the Red Ribbon arc, such as the iconic Tower and some of his long-dead enemies like the Murasaki Ninja or the Gelatinous Monster.

Also in the race are both Goku and Tsuno in their adult versions, with the terrifying Octavio at the wheel of a convertible sports car that will be familiar to fans of ‘Dragon Ball’ and Akira Toriyama. The Dragon Ball Super Gallery initiative is scheduled to complete its collection of 42 reimagined covers next November.