The world and characters ofDragon Ballare unforgettable and iconic, with the foremost manga creators in the industry eager to contribute their spin on its roster of heroes including Goku and beyond. As part of the long-runningDragon Ball SuperGallery event, set to feature different volume covers redrawn by famous artists including Masashi Kishimoto ofNarutoand Yoshihiro Togashi ifHunter x Hunterfame, the latest cover is an exceptional treatment. As reported byWSJ_News on X, Kōhei Horikoshi gives aMy Hero Academiaspin onDragon Ball, a fitting tribute to one of his all-time favorite manga.
TheDragon Ball SuperGallery is a project set to redraw each of theDragon Ballseries' 42 volume covers, with a new addition monthly, until January 2025, which will commemoratethe series' 40th Anniversary alongsideDragon Ball Daima. Different creators have already contributed gorgeous and detailed spins on the series based on their styles and sensibilities.Thanks to Kohei Horikoshi, the creator ofMy Hero Academia,Akira Toriyama’s Son Goku gets a stylishDragon Ballmakeover for the October 2024 edition.
Kohei Horikoshi’s Subtle Touches Make His Goku Fresh
Adding Style Points to Goku’s Power Level
Kōhei Horikoshi gives a more faithful yet stylistically enhanced version of Akira Toriyama’sDragon Ballvolume #13, featuring a perfectly replicated Goku posing atop a more contemporary-looing Capsule Corp SUV. TheDragon Ball SuperGallery project often showcases individual artists' styles, resulting in unusual spins onDragon Ballcharacters like Tite Kubo’sBleach-styled volume #27 or Yusei Matsui’sAssassination Classroomrendition of Piccolo in volume #20. But with Horikoshi, due to an already-present admiration forDragon Ball, the only truly unusual change is the shoes.
To do so with such flair and confidence, giving a cheeky modern sheen to a timeless character like Son Goku is a wonderful tribute to theDragon Ball SuperGallery.
Kōhei Horikoshi focuses on the design and modern style of Goku’s sneakers,highlighting his particular gift for anatomy that other artists can only dream of achieving. To do so with such flair and confidence, giving a cheeky modern sheen to a timeless character like Son Goku is a wonderful tribute to theDragon Ball SuperGallery.
Dragon Ball Super Is Much Better Than Some Fans Give It Credit For, & the Series' Two Best Characters Are Proof
Piccolo and Vegeta are two of the best antiheroes in all of anime and manga, and Dragon Ball Super puts their best qualities on full display.
It’s also a surprisingly subtle take fromtheMy Hero Academiacreator, whose recent finale got its own tributes. But Horikoshi is just one strong example of the dozens of creators who have contributed to the project.
Dragon Ball’s Gallery Project Has Proven Just How Flexible Akira Toriyama’s Series Always Was
Some Artists Get Wildly Creative, While Others Wear Their Heart on Their Sleeves
In addition to Masashi Kishimoto being given a fitting first go in volume #11,many creators offer their illustration style and character design philosophies in theDragon Ball SuperGallery. This can result in direct recreations of the original volume cover but with varied art styles, like Tatsuya Endo ofSpy x Family, or a stylistically enhanced yet subtle change likeJojo’sHirohiko Araki. It can reach surprising extremes, like Yasuhisa Hara’sKingdomremix featuring an orange-armored Goku riding a horse for volume #34. But others, includingMy Hero Academia’sKōhei Horikoshi, recreate the covers while adding endearing personal touches.
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!!
— Yoshihiro Togashi
One example is Yoshihiro Togashi, whose volume #5 submission for theDragon Ball SuperGallery features Goku on his motorcycle. Still, it’s zoomed out to showHunter x Hunter’sGon Freecss riding closely behind. It’s unspeakably wholesome, as isDragon Ball Super’sToyotarou submission for volume #39. Akira Toriyama’s work touched countless lives and influenced multiple generations of mangaka, so it’s truly breathtaking to see so many turn in their takes onDragon Ball, with the latestMy Hero Academiapiece being the latest great example.
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.
