The Dragon Ball franchise, created by the legendary Akira Toriyama, is a cornerstone of Shonen manga, with several generations being inspired by it. The franchise’s latest manga iteration is Dragon Ball Super, which picks up about 4 years after the events of Dragon Ball Z. While the manga has entertained the audience with its arcs, it now faces an uncertain future.
Several reports suggest that Toyotarou, Dragon Ball Super’s lead artist and co-creator, is planning to depart from the manga. Fans have been reeling since the manga went on an indefinite hiatus. A recent update has confirmed that he will be talking to Kazuhiko Torishima about leaving. This update has solidified the fears that he is stepping away to pursue his own original manga series.
The future for Dragon Ball Super looks dim after this news
Toyotarou was handpicked by Akira Toriyama to helm the Dragon Ball Super manga. He shared a very close relationship with the legend and has been instrumental in shaping Dragon Ball Super’s narrative and visual style since its debut. Many believed that Toyotarou would bring about a new age for Dragon Ball, and he has done a great job so far.
Toyotarou was a unique mangaka. He managed to honor Toriyama’s original work (haha, just got reminded that he’d wash his car with those artworks) while inculcating his own elements. This kind of work earned him widespread acclaim, and fans loved Dragon Ball Super. While a few fans complained about his art style, no one could deny that he was a great mangaka.
While Dragon Ball Super was going steady till March of 2024, Akira Toriyama’s death caused the manga to go on an indefinite hiatus after wrapping up the Superhero Arc. This hiatus was broken in February 2025 due to the release of a new chapter, but fans were met with a hiatus once again.
These repeated hiatuses caused fans to worry about the manga’s future, and several wondered whether or not Dragon Ball Super would continue. A few fans speculated that the series would die with its creator, and that Toyotarou was going through a lot, since Toriyama’s presence meant a lot to him.
Anyone else annoyed with the hiatuses that the series has been going through
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Recent reports indicate that these speculations might be true after all. Reports suggest that Toyotarou is ready to forge his own path (like Toriyama did with Dragon Ball) and wants to leave behind the legacy of Dragon Ball and create an original manga. He will reportedly speak with Dragon Ball’s editor about this decision and will formalize his decision to leave.
The news of Toyotaro’s departure and the Hiatus is fuelling uncertainty
The indefinite hiatus of Dragon Ball Super has left fans in a state of limbo. Sites like Manga Plus by Shueisha have even gone as far as stating that there is no clear timeline for the manga’s return. This has annoyed a lot of fans, who want to see their favorite series back in action (we want to see Goku get stronger).
While the break was initially framed as a period of mourning following Toriyama’s death, Toyotarou’s rumored departure suggests deeper conflicts. His leaving the series could derail plans for the series’ continuation. The manga is yet to continue the Black Frieza saga, and fans want something new (not DAIMA. That was bad).
Fans on platforms like Reddit have expressed frustration, with many fearing that Toyotarou’s exit signals the end of the manga altogether. While several fans are praying for their worst fears not to come true, it must also be acknowledged that finding a successor like Toyotarou, who is capable of upholding Toriyama’s legacy, is impossible.
Dragon Ball Super’s future lies in uncertainty. Toyotarou’s potential departure threatens the end of the series, painting a grim picture for its survival. While the franchise’s enduring popularity ensures it won’t vanish entirely, Dragon Ball Super may not survive. As Toyotarou’s reported talk with Dragon Ball’s editor approaches, the community holds its breath, hoping for a miracle.
Dragon Ball Super is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
