Celebrating Dragon Ball’s Iconic Legacy Through Art
The universe of Dragon Ball, with its unforgettable characters like Goku, remains a cornerstone in the world of manga. This legacy has inspired many top-tier creators to offer their unique interpretations of the series’ beloved heroes. As part of the ongoing Dragon Ball Super Gallery event, famous artists are tasked with reimagining the covers of the series’ 42 volumes, including notable talents such as Masashi Kishimoto of Naruto and Yoshihiro Togashi of Hunter x Hunter. The latest cover is an exceptional offering by Kōhei Horikoshi, who infuses a My Hero Academia flair into Dragon Ball—a heartfelt nod to one of his favorite manga series.
A Tribute to Dragon Ball’s 40th Anniversary
The Dragon Ball Super Gallery project aims to recreate each volume cover with a new artistic vision every month until January 2025. This timeline coincides with the celebration of Dragon Ball’s 40th anniversary alongside Dragon Ball Daima. Various creators have already contributed stunning and intricately detailed interpretations, each reflecting their unique artistic styles. In October 2024, Kohei Horikoshi, the mastermind behind My Hero Academia, gives Akira Toriyama’s Son Goku a fashionable Dragon Ball makeover, demonstrating his deep admiration for the series.
Kohei Horikoshi’s Fresh Take on Goku
Adding Style Points to Goku’s Power Level
Horikoshi offers a faithful yet stylishly enhanced rendition of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball volume #13. His version features a meticulously replicated Goku, confidently perched atop a modern-looking Capsule Corp SUV. The Dragon Ball Super Gallery often highlights individual artists’ unique styles, resulting in fascinating interpretations of Dragon Ball characters. For instance, Tite Kubo delivered a Bleach-style volume #27, while Yusei Matsui portrayed Piccolo in an Assassination Classroom style for volume #20. Horikoshi, however, remains largely true to the original design, with the most notable change being Goku’s sneakers.
By infusing Goku with a contemporary flair, Horikoshi pays a delightful tribute to the Dragon Ball Super Gallery. His focus on Goku’s sneaker design showcases his exceptional talent for anatomy, a skill that many artists aspire to achieve. This modern twist on a timeless character like Son Goku is a testament to Horikoshi’s artistic prowess.
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Horikoshi’s subtle approach is surprising, especially given his recent acclaimed finale of My Hero Academia, which also received its own tributes. However, he is just one among many talented creators who have contributed to this remarkable project.
The Flexibility of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Series
Diverse Artistic Interpretations
In addition to Masashi Kishimoto’s initial contribution for volume #11, many artists have brought their distinctive styles and character design philosophies to the Dragon Ball Super Gallery. These efforts can range from direct recreations of the original covers with varied art styles, such as Tatsuya Endo from Spy x Family, to more nuanced yet enhanced interpretations like those by Jojo’s Hirohiko Araki. Some artists take creative liberties, such as Yasuhisa Hara, who reimagined Goku in orange armor riding a horse for volume #34. Others, like My Hero Academia’s Kōhei Horikoshi, incorporate personal and endearing touches to the covers.
Yoshihiro Togashi’s volume #5 submission, for instance, features Goku on a motorcycle, zoomed out to reveal Hunter x Hunter’s Gon Freecss riding closely behind. These contributions are profoundly heartwarming, as is Dragon Ball Super’s Toyotarou’s submission for volume #39. Akira Toriyama’s work has profoundly influenced multiple generations of mangaka, and witnessing numerous artists put their spin on Dragon Ball is truly inspiring. The latest My Hero Academia piece by Horikoshi stands as a testament to the series’ enduring impact.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku's never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
Source: WSJ_News on X