Fans of the Dragon Ball Super series are undoubtedly aware that the manga has been in a state of hiatus following the passing of its esteemed creator, Akira Toriyama, last year. Since that unfortunate event, the community has shown remarkable patience towards Toyotaro, the current artist and writer, allowing him the necessary time to develop and release upcoming chapters. However, as the months drag on, maintaining hope has become increasingly challenging for fans eager to learn about the manga’s return to its monthly serialization schedule.
Recently, Dragon Ball Super has sparked renewed interest among fans with the release of a one-shot prequel and the launch of the 24th volume in Japan. In his afterword for this volume, Toyotaro dished out some encouraging insights, assuring fans that the series is very much alive and not nearing its conclusion.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Dragon Ball Super manga.
Insights from Dragon Ball Super Volume 24’s Afterword
Following the release of the one-shot chapter titled The Birth of Saiyaman X, the 24th volume of the Dragon Ball Super narrative hit the shelves. While fans have been awed by the striking cover art that showcases the six most recent transformations in the series, Toyotaro took a moment in his afterword to share pivotal details regarding the manga’s future.
While conceptualizing the Super Hero Arc, Toriyama entrusted Toyotaro with the decision of whether to incorporate the heroes’ origin story into the main narrative. Though Toyotaro recognized the importance of this addition, limitations regarding the number of chapters allotted for the prequel story necessitated its exclusion. Subsequently, he focused on crafting three chapters that unfold the events succeeding The Birth of Saiyaman X (chapters 88-90).
Despite concluding the Super Hero Arc, Toyotaro felt compelled to narrate the origin story, whether out of his genuine fondness for it or a desire to honor Toriyama’s vision. He successfully sought the necessary permissions to transform the untold story into a compelling one-shot chapter, thus wrapping up the Super Hero Arc properly.
Shortly thereafter, he encouraged fans to remain attentive for forthcoming developments. With the insights shared in the afterword of Dragon Ball Super volume 24, Toyotaro not only indicated the closure of the Super Hero Arc but also confirmed that this was not the end of the series, implying that additional arcs are on the horizon.
“Please stay tuned for what’s next!”
This revelation certainly comes as welcome news to devoted Dragon Ball Super followers. Additionally, the back cover of the latest volume prominently features Black Frieza, signifying an additional significant challenge that Goku and his allies must confront.