Dragon Ball Super is currently still on hiatus even as the series prepares to celebrate the manga’s 10th anniversary, but the artist behind it all has returned once more with a powerful team up between Goku and Vegeta with some cool new art. Dragon Ball Super first went on hiatus last Spring following the passing of franchise creator Akira Toriyama. The series wrapped up with its extended adaptation of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero feature film (that included both a new prologue and epilogue), but has since not yet revealed whether or not there are any plans for the franchise to return in the future.

Dragon Ball is now celebrating the seventh anniversary of the Dragon Ball Legends mobile game, and things have kicked off with some cool new art from Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotaro himself. The illustrator has returned with some slick new art of both Ultra Instinct Goku and Super Saiyan Blue Evolution Vegeta, and imagines the two Saiyans in a fierce fight that fans can’t wait to see come to fruition someday. You can check out the special new Dragon Ball art for Goku and Vegeta below.

Dragon Ball Super’s Artist Returns for Goku and Vegeta

In explaining about how Toyotaro has returned to the franchise for this new look at Ultra Instinct Goku and Super Saiyan Blue Evolution Vegeta to Dragon Ball’s official website, the Dragon Ball Super artist explained, “When deciding on the poses, I wanted Goku and Vegeta to be able to stand on their own but also give a sense of teamwork when put together. I also wanted to make it look really dynamic, so I had them face the viewer, and gave extra thought to their clothing and facial expressions.” Toyotaro even guessed who the two would be fighting with this special art.

“I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular, but since I think the setting is the Tournament of Power, then I guess it must be Jiren. The idea is that they’ve both transformed after a long battle, so I thought it would make sense for their clothes to have some tears in them,” the artist continued when asked about their looks. As for what he kept in mind when drawing the duo, the artist revealed, “I wanted to keep it from looking too symmetrical, so I lined up their fists vertically instead of being right next to each other. There’s also some overlap between one character’s fist and the other’s body, which helps to add some depth.”

RELATED: Eric Legrand, Beloved Dragon Ball Z Voice of Vegeta and Yamcha, Dies at 66

Will Dragon Ball Super Ever Return?

Toyotaro even went into how the design changes with Goku and Vegeta’s transformations, “Since they’re in their Ultra Instinct and Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (Evolved) forms, I tried to bring out the unique characteristics of each form in their expressions. In particular, this version of Vegeta doesn’t exist in the manga, and it was my first time drawing this form. So, I paid close attention to his expression and hairstyle to make sure everything looked natural to fans of the anime.”

It’s clear the Dragon Ball Super artist still loves the series characters and takes these opportunities to still bring them to life. As the manga remains on hiatus even through its 10th anniversary, both Toyotaro and fans want to see make its comeback. But it’s a tougher road to navigate than expected following Toriyama’s passing, so fans will have to wait patiently until a decision on Dragon Ball Super‘s manga future is officially made one way or the other.

The post Dragon Ball Super Artist Returns With New Goku & Vegeta Team Up appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The world of live-action anime adaptations is hitting something of a renaissance these days, as offerings like One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender have helped change the game. In the past, the term “live-action anime adaptation” was often thought of with disdain but those times have changed. Various live-action projects are currently in the works, including the likes of Naruto, Mobile Suit Gundam, One-Punch Man, and many more. When it comes to what the live-action anime adaptation world has to offer, there are more than a few terrible examples that helped the medium gain its original infamy.

1) Cowboy Bebop

Let’s start with one of the most obvious, and most infamous, recent examples of live-action anime adaptation series to go awry according to fans. 2021’s Cowboy Bebop premiered on Netflix with ten episodes, with many Bebop enthusiasts finding that the series starring the likes of John Cho, Daniella Pineda, and Mustafa Shakir simply wasn’t able to hit the same heights as the original anime. Perhaps, it was an impossible task for any live-action Cowboy Bebop to come close to the original, even with the series using “Tank” as its opening song but I personally appreciated the effort to do so. Never receiving a second season despite its cliffhanger ending, the Bebop remains a prime example of what can go wrong when it comes to adapting anime stories.

2) Death Note

Another Netflix offering, 2017’s Death Note failing still throws me for a loop at this point. On paper, the Adam Wingard directed project seemed as though it was bound to be a hit. On top of Wingard making a name for himself with the likes of You’re Next, The Guest, and Blair Witch, the live-action film had serious star power behind it. Atlanta’s Lakeith Stanfield playing L was inspired casting to say nothing of Willem Dafeo taking on the role of the Shinigami Ryuuk. Unfortunately, the story of the film is a muddled mess and is unable to capitalize on what made the source material work so well. Much like Cowboy Bebop, Death Note’s movie ends on a cliffhanger with no sequel in sight, though Netflix is returning to the property with a future live-action television show helmed by Stranger Things creators, The Duffer Brothers.

3) Attack on Titan

On paper, an Attack on Titan live-action project is simply begging to come to life. The bleak anime franchise will stand the test of time and remain a fan-favorite anime series for years to come. Unfortunately, the two-part live-action films released in 2015 were unable to capitalize on what made Hajime Isayama’s series work so well. To start, the CG used for the Titans never quite elicited the true terror of them and from a strictly curiosity standpoint, the new additions to the films that weren’t a part of the source material need to be seen to be believed. We have to imagine at some point, a Western live-action take will come down the pike but these two films are sure to be forgotten in the mix.

4) Ghost In The Shell

2017 was not a great year for live-action anime adaptations. Ghost In The Shell has become legendary in its inability to live up to the source material especially considering just how much time and money seemingly went into the film starring Scarlett Johansson. The film’s story and characterization were found lacking according to many anime fans, especially when it came to the big twist involving Major Kusanagi in the film’s final minutes. Despite this failure to launch, the Ghost In The Shell franchise is still going strong and has a new anime adaptation dropping from Science SARU next year. Speaking of Science SARU…

5) Devilman

Science SARU had created one of the most nihilistic, best takes on the classic anime character Devilman. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for 2004’s live-action movie that attempted to breathe no life into Devilman. Much like Attack on Titan, the demon-centric story suffers from terrible computer-generated graphics and some horrible acting that doesn’t live up to the sheer emotion conveyed in the original story. You don’t hear as much about Devilman’s live-action portrayal too often, which makes sense considering the lack of groundswell.

6) Fist Of The North Star

Sometimes when you find yourself wading into the world of bad movies, you tend to steer your way into offerings that are “so bad they’re good.” Such is the case with 1995’s Fist of The North Star, which dodged a theatrical debut entirely. Many of the battles of the live-action anime adaptation were nowhere close to the excessive carnage that was a part of the original anime, and the lack of budget showed itself in more ways than one. Ironically enough, star Gary Daniels had been signed on for three films but the failure to launch for the first outing meant that this live-action anime adaptation was never meant to continue.

7) The Guyver

I really struggled with putting The Guyver on the list of “worst live-action anime adaptations” because I have a deep nostalgic affinity for this trashfire. Even with a film that is unable to live up to its source material, there is plenty to love here in the same way that fans have fallen for the previous Fist of The North Star entry. Even starring Star Wars’ Mark Hamill wasn’t enough to have the armored superhero series live up to its source, but with that being said, I refuse to add Guyver 2: Dark Hero to this list as the David Hayter-starring film improves on its predecessor in almost every way. Guyver simply didn’t have enough going for it to be a live-action anime adaptation and that’s a shame for fans of the character.

8) The Last Airbender

No, not the recent Netflix Avatar: The Last Airbender. I am of course referring to M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender which is now legendary for its infamy. The Paramount produced film was simply unable to capture what made the original series so special with its terrible bending, subpar acting, and strange tendency to completely rename characters with different pronunciations. The film is absolutely swimming in exposition to try to blast out as much information as possible and it’s almost a miracle that another live-action anime adaptation was released at all.

9) Black Butler

While making changes to the source material is nothing new for many live-action anime adaptations, 2014’s Black Butler took things a little too far for most fans of the anime franchise. Normally, these aspects can be dodged with a truly great outing but this can’t be said for the Warner Bros-produced film. Unfortunately, the changes made to the source material weren’t able to elevate the movie enough to make fans of the original overlook the drastic differences.

10) Dragon Ball Evolution

Everyone had to have seen this one coming right? Dragon Ball Evolution is legendary at this point, often considered by many to be the cream of the crop when it comes to just how horribly wrong live-action anime adaptations can go. On top of attempting to recreate Goku’s story in an American setting, Evolution misses the mark in almost every conceivable way in adapting Akira Toriyama’s shonen story. So terrible was the movie, that it somewhat caused the resurgence of the franchise as Toriyama created Dragon Ball Super as an answer to it, wanting the Z-Fighters to not be remembered for the awful live-action showing.

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Dragon Ball Daima was Akira Toriyama’s final project, which launched its lauded run last year, a few months after his death. The story is set six months after the Buu Saga, when Goku and his friends defeated Majin Buu, the biggest threat the Earth had faced so far. Unfortunately, Gomah, the new king of the Demon Realm, after Dabura’s death, saw their powers and concluded they would be a threat to him. Out of fear, he traveled to Earth and used the Dragon Balls to turn them into children before taking Dende with him. Goku and the others soon follow suit and go to the Demon Realm.

Not only are they weakened in their child form, but they have to explore an unknown world in hopes of getting back to normal and saving Dende. The 20-episode series follows their adventure as they fight enemies during their search for the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls. Amid those fights, Goku and Vegeta reveal their Super Saiyan 3 forms, that was introduced in Dragon Ball Z over 30 years ago. Although Chapter 474, “The Limit!! Super Saiyan 3,” was released in 1994 in Japan, it made its global appearance in 2006 in Weekly Shonen Jump. Unlike the first time we saw this form, Dragon Ball Daima gave it new life.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Artist Shares New Look at Ultra Instinct Goku and Gohan Beast]

Super Saiyan 3 Was Underwhelming in Dragon Ball Z Unlike in Daima

The only time Goku used SSJ3 in Dragon Ball Z was when he had to stall Majin Buu in the Buu Saga. Considering Toei’s pacing, it took several minutes for Goku to power up, and even then, he couldn’t fight for long. Considering Buu’s childish nature, Goku believed that it would be a good trick to distract the villain, and it worked. Unfortunately, Toriyama didn’t have the opportunity to develop this transformation further. Even Vegeta, who is usually one step behind Goku, didn’t achieve this transformation since the story ended shortly after that.

By the time Dragon Ball Super was released, SSJ3 was more or less forgotten or just rarely mentioned. Fans were focused on Super Saiyan God and Ultra Instinct, which introduced new and exciting forms that took over the internet. Fans slowly phased out SSJ3, and it became one of the least discussed transformations in the show, especially since it featured among some of the worse-animated moments, on top of other forms rendering it obsolete.

Compared to that, Dragon Ball Daima was able to adapt this old form with clean new animation to give it the proper amount of gravitas unlike in Z, which mostly focused on a lot of the form’s drawbacks. It easily drained Goku’s energy, and he couldn’t even maintain that form for long. Compared to that, Daima showed him fighting in SSJ3 without highlighting those drawbacks. Not only that, but the show even featured Vegeta in that form, which fans have been waiting for years to see. Whether future Dragon Ball projects will give similarly great glimpses at SSJ3 is too hard to say, but at the very least, Daima gave fans what they were craving with this form, if only for a short while.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Gave New Life to DBZ’s Most Underrated Form appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super has been in an indeterminate hiatus ever since the tragic passing of franchise creator Akira Toriyama, and unfortunately the series has even more bad news for fans this Summer as the hiatus is set to continue through June and potentially as well. Dragon Ball Super fans have been waiting for the series to return with new stories ever since it went on hiatus last Spring, but it’s likely going to be a tough road to navigate given the creator’s passing. But with so much of the story’s future left hanging, it’s hard not to imagine a potential continuation despite the troubles.

Dragon Ball Super will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its original manga release with Shueisha’s V-Jump magazine back in June 2015, and details of its celebration have been spotted online. As noted by @DbsHype on X, the issue celebrating Dragon Ball Super‘s big milestone will include a special illustration celebrating the 10th anniversary and new art for the Dragon Ball Legends mobile game, but it appears that there’s still no new chapter of the manga itself and potentially will not have a new chapter in July either.

Dragon Ball Super’s Hiatus Will Continue

With these details revealing that Dragon Ball Super is likely going to continue its hiatus through at least July, then it means that the series is even further away from a potential return than fans might have expected. The manga has shown signs of a potential continuation in the last few months, so it seemed like things were going in a great direction. The biggest example came from earlier this Winter when Dragon Ball Super returned for a new one-shot story that showcased more of Trunks and Goten before they became super heroes during the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero prequel arc. Even more of a promising sign was that it was labeled as the next official chapter of the series.

It turned out that this new Dragon Ball Super one-shot story was actually one of the final leftover events that Akira Toriyama himself left for Toyotaro. The Dragon Ball Super artist ended up not using the story during the original take on the Super Hero prequel, and asked Shueisha’s editors if they could turn that idea into a new one-shot instead. It was a fitting tribute to the creator, and served as a final story from the creator amidst the manga’s hiatus.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Artist Shares New Look at Ultra Instinct Goku and Gohan Beast

Will Dragon Ball Super Ever Come Back?

There’s a good chance that Dragon Ball Super will return someday, but it’s just a matter of waiting until Shueisha figures out a proper path forward. Not only does the manga series still have at least one major story left to tell with Black Frieza’s debut during the Granolah the Survivor Arc, but artist Toyotaro himself has revealed at many opportunities that he has a desire to keep drawing for the series in the future. But what form that will take is still very much a mystery.

Even those behind the anime are confident in seeing Dragon Ball Super return for new episodes as well. Vegeta (and more) star Christopher R. Sabat even revealed a sense of what his take on Ultra Ego Vegeta would sound like in a new anime, and fans were absolutely excited by the idea. It just makes all the sense in the world for the Dragon Ball Super anime to continue, but it can’t really do so until the manga returns with new material first. But as of this Summer, the wait continues.

The post Dragon Ball Super Has Bad News for Fans This Summer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has officially brought the English dub run of the new anime series to an end, and with it has given the now adult Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta some time to shine in the spotlight. Dragon Ball Daima introduced some massive shake ups to the franchise as the final story overseen by original series creator Akira Toriyama. Because it takes place within the official Dragon Ball canon, this new anime has series has filled in some of the gaps fans had been hoping to see in Dragon Ball Super. This includes some long awaited debuts of big name transformations.

One of the biggest debuts in Dragon Ball Daima was for Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta. During a previous episode, it was revealed that Vegeta had been training in secret to using the transformation after seeing Goku use it against Majin Buu. But the first time around, Vegeta used the form in his Mini body. But this changed with the final episodes of the new anime series as Vegeta and the others were changed back into adults, and Christopher Sabat got to bring Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta to life at last.

What to Know for Dragon Ball Daima’s English Dub

Christopher Sabat originally returned as the voice for Vegeta back when Dragon Ball Daima‘s dub first began, but has now made his comeback to the anime with the grand finale together with other returning stars Sean Schemmel (who really went all out with his take on Super Saiyan 4 Goku) and Monica Rial as Bulma. Now available for streaming with Crunchyroll, the full English dub cast breaks down as such:

• Goku – Sean Schemmel
• Bulma – Monica Rial
• Vegeta / Yamcha / Shenron – Christopher R. Sabat
• Krillin / Korin / Turtle – Sonny Strait
• Trunks / Gotenks – Alexis Tipton
• Goten / Gotenks – Kara Edwards
• Dende – Justin Cook
• Mr. Popo – Chris Cason
• Supreme Kai – Kent Williams
• Kibito – Chuck Huber
• Majin Buu – Josh Martin
• Babidi – Duncan Brannan
• Narrator – Doc Morgan
• Glorio – Aaron Dismuke
• King Gomah – Tom Lafiin
• Degesu – Landon McDonald
• Dr. Arinsu – Morgan Lauré
• Neva – Garett Schenck
• Sir Warp / Small Sir Warp – Kristian Eros
• Additional Voices – Van Barr Jr., Sean Letourneau, Corey Wilder, Derick Snow, Matthew Elkins, Belsheber Junior Rusape
• Goku (Mini) – Stephanie Nadolny
• Supreme Kai (Mini) – Nia Celeste
• Vegeta (Mini) – Paul Castro Jr.
• Piccolo (Mini) – Nasim Benelkour
• Bulma (Mini) – Taylor Murphy
• Krillin (Mini) – Lara Woodhull
• Chichi (Mini) – Brittany Lauda
• Master Roshi (Mini) – Jordan Dash Cruz
• Trunks (Mini) – Celeste Perez
• Dende (Mini) – Emi Lo
• Mr. Popo (Mini) – Trisha Mellon
• Kibito (Mini) – Aaron Michael
• Mr. Satan (Mini) – Corey Phillips
• Majin Buu (Mini) – Dusty Feeney

RELATED: Dragon Ball Makes History With New Awards Nomination After 25 Year Streak

What’s Next for Dragon Ball?

Unfortunately, Dragon Ball has yet to confirm any plans for its future as of the time of this publication. Dragon Ball Daima was a brand new anime project that was overseen by Akira Toriyama before his passing, but it’s currently the final project on the docket. There are likely plans to continue the Dragon Ball franchise in some way, but it’s likely going to be a while before we see forward momentum on a new anime without being produced now that Toriyama is no longer here.

It’s the same for Dragon Ball Super as well as the manga has been on hiatus since Toriyama’s passing. While Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotaro has expressed his interest in continuing the series, and it briefly returned with a new one-shot story, the manga has yet to confirm any plans to return. This also means a potential Dragon Ball Super anime return is even less uncertain thanks to the manga’s sudden pause.

The post Dragon Ball Daima’s Dub Gives SSJ3 Vegeta Time to Shine in Big Finale: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima was a dream come true for anime fans that were Grand Tour enthusiasts. Taking quite a few elements from Dragon Ball GT, the latest anime series made elements like Super Saiyan 4 canon for the first time. Unfortunately, while the black sheep series of the shonen franchise did give fans plenty of elements that remains fan-favorites to this day, Dragon Ball GT had some major issues that are tough to look past. One of the biggest was its villainous roster which had a few stand-outs but was ultimately bogged down by terrible choices for a story that could have been a truly worthy sequel to Dragon Ball Z.

To start, let’s do a deep dive on the villains of the Grand Tour that did work. Specifically, the villainous Tuffle known as Baby, who wanted revenge on the Saiyans for the destruction of his race. Thanks to both his devilish personality and his wild powerset that allowed him to possess the hero, Baby is routinely thought of as one of the best original villains that the Grand Tour created. On top of Baby, there certainly is an argument to be made for the evil Eternal Dragons were an interesting foil for Goku and the Z-Fighters. Specifically, the final villain of the Grand Tour, Omega Shenron, had a unique design that even warranted the arrival of Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta. Aside from these examples, GT was bereft in the villain department across the board.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Reveals a New Spin on a Familiar Divine Dragon]

The Super 17 Problem

One of the biggest issues in the villains’ department for GT was the introduction of Super 17. While the idea that Dr. Gero met another mad scientist, Dr. Myuu, in the underworld is solid enough, especially considering Myuu was the creator of Baby, the partnership falls flat in its execution. To start, Gero reveals that 17 was always meant to be his ultimate creation which is patently false from all angles. 17 and 18 always were meant as means to an end to empower Cell, a fact that Gero was more than willing to share in Dragon Ball Z. In changing continuity to boost this new 17, things were already off to a shaky start.

Things go from bad to worse when it comes to the handling of villains pouring out of hell to take revenge against the Z-Fighters. The idea of past threats making a return is a good one for Dragon Ball and has been used to great effect in the past. Unfortunately, GT isn’t truly able to live up to what could have been, sans for the legendary reunion between Vegeta and Nappa. Goku fighting in his kid form against Frieza and Cell comes across as more like a joke than anything else, which makes sense in a way considering the hero’s power level but it also makes Cell and Frieza look so much worse in doing so.

In the case of Super 17, the fusion of two 17s from Gero and Myuu simply didn’t have the weight that it could have. To start, 17’s personality is completely changed for GT, taking away his snark and making him feel quite generic. Despite his heightened power level, it felt like a wasted opportunity all around in creating a threat from the past to bring into the present.

The Grand Tour Problem

On top of Super 17, Dragon Ball GT had plenty of “gag villains” that fell short. Characters such as Don Kee, Ledgic, the Para Para Brothers, and General Rilldo were mostly introduced during the period before Baby’s arrival but they are so forgotten that even our readers might be stumped in trying to recall who these figures were. While Omega Shenron was an interesting enough villain, many of the other evil dragons failed to be as appealing. Should Dragon Ball Super one day make some of these villains canon, we are crossing our fingers that they will receive the “Broly treatment” and be made much better once they enter the shonen franchise proper.

Want to stay up to date on the ever-expanding world of Dragon Ball? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball GT Had a Villain Problem appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has officially come to an end with the English dub release of the series, and it’s going out on a high as it has made history with its newest awards nomination. Dragon Ball Daima first made its debut last year as part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s original Dragon Ball debut in the pages of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and the new anime told a brand new story not seen in the previous manga or anime releases. Sending Goku on a brand new journey through the Demon Realm, fans were treated to the first brand new Dragon Ball anime in a while.

It’s also why Dragon Ball Daima has been such a massive hit with fans since it first made its debut last year, and it’s why it seems to be just as big of a hit with kids too. Nickelodeon has announced this year’s nominees for the Kids’ Choice Awards taking place later this June, and with it has revealed that Dragon Ball Daima has been nominated for Favorite Cartoon…the first time an anime has been nominated for the category in 25 years.

Dragon Ball at the Kids’ Choice Awards

Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2025 will be taking place on Saturday, June 21, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Fans are now casting their votes for the winners, which include many franchises and actors that have been nominated for the very first time. Dragon Ball Daima has been announced for Favorite Cartoon in a group that features a lot of demographics with Monster High, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teen Titans Go!, The Loud House, and The Simpsons rounding out the rest of the category. But it’s a bigger deal for Dragon Ball than it is for the other nominees.

Anime hasn’t been represented in this category since the Pokemon anime was nominated for the Kids’ Choice Awards back in 2000. Pokemon Yellow was also nominated for Favorite Video Game, and Pokemon: The First Movie was nominated for Favorite Movie that same year, but the franchise on a whole didn’t take any awards. Rugrats beat it out for Favorite Cartoon that year, and that was off on a hot streak that Rugrats had going for five years at that point. So it’s been 25 years since anime has gotten back to the Favorite Cartoon category, but hopefully this could also be the first win.

RELATED: 10 Dragon Ball Characters Who Deserve More Attention in Dragon Ball Super

Where to Watch Dragon Ball Daima

Now that the English dub release has come to an end, you can now find all episodes of Dragon Ball Daima now streaming with Crunchyroll. The original Japanese episodes are also available for streaming with Netflix, and there’s plenty of time to catch the anime just in case you missed out. It’s a brand new story taking place after the events of the Majin Buu arc and before Beerus and Whis arrive in Dragon Ball Super, so it fills in some of the gaps of what Goku and the others had been up to during that time.

This new anime did raise some questions among Dragon Ball fans as to why its events are never referenced again in Goku’s future adventures, but it’s also hard to argue that just having a new Dragon Ball anime series back on TV wasn’t a big deal. It’s why the anime has made history with this new nomination at the Kids’ Choice Awards, and it has a chance of actually winning if enough fans show their support and vote for it.

The post Dragon Ball Makes History With New Awards Nomination After 25 Year Streak appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Toei Animation has become one of the heaviest hitters in the anime world for good reason at this point. Creating the anime adaptations for major shonen franchises such as Dragon Ball and One Piece, Toei also has helped to create the likes of Digimon, Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Kinnikuman to name a few. While the production house has earned plenty of goodwill amongst the anime fan community, rough seas appear to be ahead thanks to Toei’s future plans. Looking to the future, Toei Animation has revealed its plans to use artificial intelligence for its creations and this plan is raising some eyebrows amongst fans.

With Toei Animation’s newly released plan for its next financial year, FY2026, the studio held nothing back in noting that artificial intelligence would play a big role. Releasing a new image that breaks down just where the animation house plans on implementing A.I., Toei released the following statement expressing their future, “We will seek to co-develop new business opportunities and improve the efficiency and quality of our production, capitalizing on synergies between AI and animation production technologies.” You can check out the detailed plans below thanks to the newly released financial strategy which you can read in full by clicking here.

[RELATED: Anime Leaders Warn Against AI’s Dystopian Impact]

Artificial Anime Intelligence Controversy

A.I. has been one of the most controversial technologies to enter the anime world in some time. Animations, voice actors, and countless creators have routinely expressed trepidation regarding the use of artificial intelligence. In fact, last year, Japan’s Nippon Anime and Film Culture Association released the following statement regarding the dangers of artificial intelligence and how everyone involved needs to keep a watchful eye on the use of the format.

“We [the NAFCA] feel it will be very difficult in the future to bring fair revenue to creators when projects are being created through the use of generative AI. For instance, if an AI generates a character with the head of Doraemon, the body of a Gundam, and the voice of Son Goku… If that creation is made with the thought it can be used freely so long as we hand over the required revenue, we’re not interested. Even if a character created using 100 others were to make a ton of profit, there is no good mechanism of sharing profit and approval with the creators of those 100 said characters.”

Dragon Ball & One Piece’s Animated Futures

Dragon Ball brought its latest animated series, Dragon Ball Daima, to an end earlier this year, leaving many Z-Fighter fans left to wonder where Goku and his fellow brawlers will make a comeback. As of the writing of this article, that question remains unanswered. Luckily, Straw Hat Pirate fans have been eating good as of late, with the series recently bringing back its weekly anime episodes. As the final saga continues, things are heating up on Egghead Island and Luffy is in dire straits thanks to the arrival of one of the biggest villains of the Grand Line.

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to the ways that artificial intelligence is permeating the anime world? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball/One Piece Studio Reveals AI Plans (And Fans Aren’t Happy) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super is now in the midst of a hiatus that is showing no signs of ending anytime soon, but the artist behind it all has re-emerged with a cool new look at Ultra Instinct Goku and Gohan Beast. Dragon Ball Super’s manga entered an indefinite hiatus following the passing of franchise creator Akira Toriyama last year, and in that time the manga has returned for a few small outings that revealed that artist Toyotaro is still very interested in bringing the series to life. This includes all kinds of cool new artwork for the franchise, of course, and the latest example is no different.

Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotaro has found some fun ways to share new looks at the manga series ever during this hiatus with new volume covers showcasing the main heroes’ most powerful forms, and that’s the case with a cool new sketch shared with fans. Crafted for a special autograph signing (as nabbed by @guernicass4 on X), Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotaro has dropped a cool new look at Ultra Instinct Goku and Gohan Beast while we wait for their full comebacks. Check it out below:

What’s Going On With Dragon Ball Super?

Dragon Ball Super has been on hiatus following Toriyama’s passing, and left off following the end of the manga’s adaptation of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero feature film. The manga took things a bit further than the film as it not only included its own prologue arc heading into the arc, and even included a special epilogue that showcased more of Beast Gohan in action. This helped to prove that Gohan’s new form brought him up to Goku and Vegeta’s godly level, and could make him a fierce fighter to keep an eye on in the future as Gohan further masters the ability.

This epilogue even showcased how Gohan Beast stacked up against Ultra Instinct Goku in a full sparring match between the two, and teased that both forms could be pushed to even higher heights. This is ultimately where the series chose to enter its hiatus, and still has some big questions to answer if the series ever does make a comeback. Fans have been asking for just that in order to get much more of these transformations, and potentially take things to an even higher level somehow in potential future arcs.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Super: Vegeta’s Voice Actor Previews Ultra Ego Debut

Will Dragon Ball Super Return Soon?

As for whether or not Dragon Ball Super will return with new chapters someday, it currently seems like it’s possible. Not only has Toyotaro returned with a special one-shot bringing to life one of Toriyama’s final left over ideas, but the artist himself has been very open about his hope to return to the series in full. With new sketches like the one shared with fans, and some big cliffhangers still left from the manga before it could come to a complete end, a return seems on the table. It’s just a matter of figuring out how to actually make it happen.

Toyotaro has already been preparing for Dragon Ball Super’s future volumes, but actually continuing the series would be a huge undertaking. It’s one that should not be approached lightly as the series would be continuing without Toriyama’s input on its story, and it’s something both Dragon Ball’s manga and anime futures are contending with at the moment. It’s a question over how the series will approach its canon heading into the future, and one that everyone involved should take their time on. It’s what’s best for Dragon Ball overall.

The post Dragon Ball Super Artist Shares New Look at Ultra Instinct Goku and Gohan Beast appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima‘s English dub has reached the climax of the sequel anime series, and with the newest episode has finally unleashed Super Saiyan 4 Goku’s power. Dragon Ball Daima released last year as part of the 40th anniversary celebration for Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga, and the new anime series picked up from the events of the Majin Buu arc and kicked off a whole new adventure for Goku and the others. Heading into the Demon Realm for the first real time in the franchise, fans saw all kinds of new characters and powers in the works through the episodes.

Dragon Ball Daima‘s English dub release is now in the midst of its final few episodes after getting off to a late start, and Goku and the others are fighting against Supreme Demon King Gomah now that he’s been boosted with the Evil Third Eye. As Goku struggled to deal any real damage, Neva gave him a magical boost that brought about the Super Saiyan 4 form within his currently mini-sized body. This officially introduced Super Saiyan 4 into the Dragon Ball canon, and now it’s been debuted in the English dub release too.

Is Super Saiyan 4 Canon in Dragon Ball?

With the official debut of the form in Dragon Ball Daima Episode 18, Super Saiyan 4 officially becomes a part of the overall canon timeline. Dragon Ball GT was originally produced without Akira Toriyama’s input, and was thus labeled as a non-canon sequel to the events of Dragon Ball Z. While we would see some of its ideas incorporated into other non-canon releases like the Dragon Ball Heroes and Dragon Ball Xenoverse video games, the anime’s events never technically “happened” within Toriyama’s take on the series. But that’s not the case here.

Because Dragon Ball Daima feature the final original story from Toriyama before his passing, it also means that everything that happens in the series is officially part of the overall Dragon Ball timeline. That also means that Super Saiyan 4 is now an official Goku form that he unlocked following the end of the Majin Buu arc and never used again despite Beerus and many other universes showing up later in Dragon Ball Super. It’s raised all sorts of wild questions as a result, but it’s canon nonetheless.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima’s Biggest Secret May Have an Answer After All

When Does Dragon Ball Daima’s Dub End?

Dragon Ball Daima’s English dub release is finally going to reach its own grand finale soon as well. Crunchyroll has announced that they will be releasing the final two episodes on the same day with Episode 19 and 20 being available for streaming with the service on Friday, May 16 at 1:30 PM PT for fans in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India. So after getting off to a late start, fans checking out the dub for the anime are going to be able to send it all off with a bang.

While this initial version of Super Saiyan 4 Goku is voiced by the returning Stephanie Nadolny (which is one of the coolest aspects of the voice star coming back for the new series), the final episodes of the anime will be unleashing a much different version of Super Saiyan 4 Goku. It’s something fans of the English dub have been waiting for ever since it began months ago, and now it’s all going to come to a head as this second wave of Dragon Ball Daima comes to an end in a little under a week from the time of this publication.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Dub Finally Unleashes Super Saiyan 4 Goku appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima‘s English dub release has been getting closer and closer to its big finale, and the newest episode of the series finally brought out Goku’s mini version of the Super Saiyan 3 transformation. Dragon Ball Daima officially wrapped up its anime run not long ago, but for fans of the English dub release, it’s still gearing up for its final wave of episodes. Although they had to wait quite a while for the dub to actually get started, the anime has been proving to be just as great of an experience dubbed as it was during its original Japanese audio release.

Dragon Ball Daima’s English dub has also been a great way for fans to re-experience some of the best moments from the new anime series, and fans have gotten to see some big events in the episodes thus far. But now as the dub heads closer to the anime’s climax, it’s now time to finally show off some of the biggest moments from Dragon Ball Daima overall and that of course includes the debut of Super Saiyan 3 Goku. Check it out in action with Stephanie Naldony bringing it to life.

How Strong Is Super Saiyan 3 Goku in Dragon Ball Daima?

As Dragon Ball Daima’s English dub release gets closer to its grand finale, Episode 17 of the series officially debuts Goku Mini’s Super Saiyan 3 transformation. Goku and the others are now in the midst of facing off against Gomah now that he’s been powered by the Third Eye, and everything they are throwing at the Supreme Demon King is just bouncing off of his giant form. Although it had seemed like Dr. Arinsu was going to be trouble as she was collecting the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls, Gomah is proving to be an even bigger threat to face.

Thankfully, there are still a few more episodes of the Dragon Ball Daima English dub left to release before it comes to an end. While the anime has been a fun re-experience for fans who already saw the Japanese release, it’s still going to be a bummer when it ends. But at the same time, there are still some huge new events coming to the series that the dub will likely take it all to a whole new level. And Super Saiyan 3 Goku is really only the start of all of that.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Should Be More Consistent With Its Timeline (But Daima Doesn’t Break It)

What’s Next for Dragon Ball?

Dragon Ball Daima came to an end earlier this year, but has yet to announce any plans for the future of the franchise as of the time of this publication. Dragon Ball as a whole is now in a strange period as following the passing of original franchise creator Akira Toriyama last year, the franchise has been likely trying to figure out where to take it all next. Dragon Ball Daima features the likely final original story from the creator that we’ll ever get to see, so it’s not easy to pick up from something like that.

That’s also why Dragon Ball Super has been continuing through its hiatus as well. The manga’s story has been on hiatus ever since Toriyama’s passing last year, but has also yet to confirm whether or not the story would be continuing following the end of its take on the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero feature film. A continuation seems likely given there are still some major cliffhangers to work out, but is also likely just tough to start considering the circumstances.

The post Dragon Ball Daima’s SSJ3 Goku Finally Makes Dub Debut: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fast food chains have been venturing further into the realm of anime in recent years, thanks to the medium’s popularity skyrocketing worldwide. Chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, Hardees, and more have promoted menu items by crossing over with major anime franchises. The anime collaborations became so prevalent that McDonald’s even took things up a notch by teaming up with Studio Pierrot to create their own anime universe in “WcDonald’s.” In a wild new twist, Dragon Ball burgers have now been birthed into reality but getting your hands on these patties might be more tricky for some than finding the dragon balls in real life.

In France, there is a fast food chain that has not made its way to North America and/or Japan known as Quick. In a surprise collaboration, the restaurant has not only started a collaboration with Dragon Ball Super but has created new burgers to honor Goku and the Z-Fighters. On top of the patties having new recipes, the buns themselves are stamped with the classic “four star dragon ball symbol” on each. Of course, the four star Dragon Ball is legendary for the Z-Fighters as this was the sphere that Goku received from his Grandpa Gohan at a young age. The burgers themselves are now available at Quick restaurants but only in France and only until June 2nd.

[RELATE: Dragon Ball Daima Shares Tasty New Look At McDonald’s Collab]

The Dragon Ball Burgers of Your Dreams

The first burger that Quick is offering is a Teriyaki Beef Dragon Ball Burger, with the restaurant chain describing it as such, “With its 4-star burger, its sweet and delicious teriyaki-style sauce, its 100% pure beef patty, its crunchy diced white onions, its iceberg lettuce and its slices of melted cheese… The Dragon Ball Super Teriyaki Beef will envelop your appetite in a sweet and irresistible energy! Also available in a Qrispy Cheese version, a generous puck of melted cheese coated in puffed rice, for those with a sweet tooth. Beef = Beef, Qrispy Cheese = Crispy cheese.”

The other burger in the anime crossover is the Sriracha Chicken Burger, with Quick sharing the following description, “With its 4-star burger, spicy breaded chicken, intensely spicy Sriracha-style sauce, crunchy red onions, iceberg lettuce and slices of melted cheese… The Dragon Ball Super Sriracha Chicken will awaken the full power of your appetite! Also available in a Qrispy Cheese version, extra gourmet. Chicken = Chicken, Qrispy Cheese = Crispy with cheese.”

Want to see where the Dragon Ball franchise finds itself showing up in the future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Burgers Are Here (But Eating One Will Be Tricky) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball has been on a hot streak in the transformation department in recent years. Forms like Gohan Beast, Orange Piccolo, Super Saiyan 4 Goku, and Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta have proven that the shonen series still has plenty of gas in the tank when it comes to throwing fans for a loop. Unfortunately, there has been one major transformation for one of the biggest Z-Fighters that has yet to be animated in any way, shape, or form. Luckily, Vegeta’s voice actor Chris Sabat isn’t waiting for Dragon Ball Super’s anime comeback and is previewing the form known as Ultra Ego.

To start, let’s talk about what Ultra Ego is and when it debuted in Dragon Ball Super. The transformation is born for Vegeta specifically as the Saiyan Prince creates it, in a way, to be his own version of Goku’s Ultra Instinct. Discovering the form while training with the God of Destruction Beerus, Vegeta utilizes the transformation while fighting Granolah in one of the latest manga arcs. While Ultra Ego isn’t enough to take down the super-powered bounty hunter with a tie to the Saiyan race, it proves that the Prince of All Saiyans is still doing his best to make sure that he bridges the gap between himself and Kakarot.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Explains How Ultra Ego Works]

Chris Sabat Hints At Ultra Ego

At this year’s Puerto Rico Comic-Con, voice actor Chris Sabat was a part of a panel that discussed anime and Dragon Ball. During this event, the voice of Vegeta recreated one of the manga panels that hinted at the arrival of Ultra Ego. While it might be years before we see the Granolah The Survivor Arc finally animated, it’s clear that Sabat is chomping at the bit to take on this new challenge for Dragon Ball Super’s eventual return. You can check out the Ultra Ego preview below.

Dragon Ball Super’s Comeback

Following the conclusion of Dragon Ball Daima in recent months, many shonen fans have wondered when we can see the return of Dragon Ball Super. Unfortunately, the present storyline for the Z-Fighters is missing in action from both the manga and its anime adaptation, as the tragic passing of creator Akira Toriyama sparked a hiatus for the popular franchise. With Daima introducing some major new story beats and transformations despite being a prequel to Super, it will be interesting to see if elements like the Demon Realm and Super Saiyan 4 arrive in the Z-Fighters’ future.

Luckily for fans, the manga and the anime have been hinted at making a comeback from the creators and producers alike. While Toriyama might not have a hand in the shonen’s future, artist Toyotaro and the others who have helped Goku and company move their stories forward are hoping to create stories in this anime world for years to come.

Want to see when Vegeta’s Ultra Ego will officially make landfall in the anime? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Super and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Super: Vegeta’s Voice Actor Previews Ultra Ego Debut appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super has been showing a lot of love to Frieza over the years, and that love has reached a whole new level with a limited, and expensive new statue for Golden Frieza coming soon. Dragon Ball Super has spent a lot of time to bring Frieza back to the spotlight. Although Frieza had been soundly defeated many times before, Dragon Ball Super brought Frieza back on multiple occasions but much stronger each time. This first kicked off with Frieza returning during the Resurrection F arc as the villain brought out a new form that brought him to Goku and Vegeta’s godly new level.

Although Frieza goes on to unlock a new (and much more powerful) form later in Dragon Ball Super‘s run, Golden Frieza has become an icon look for the villain that has basically taken the place of his final form as his more default look across merchandise. That includes Premium Bandai’s new Golden Frieza statue, which is launching for 247,000 yen (about $1,700 USD). But only those who win a lottery will get the chance to buy one of these exclusive, expensive Golden Frieza figures.

What to Know for New Golden Frieza Collectible

This Golden Frieza statue was developed by Prime 1 Studio and MegaHouse for the Mega Premium Masterline (as detailed by Mantan Web). Premium Bandai has launched a lottery in Japan with the winner getting a chance to buy one of these collectibles. It stands about about 24 inches with a LED light up base that runs about 17 by 13 inches. But it’s incredibly limited as only 150 of the statues will be made for this release, and will likely be limited to those in Japan who are able to make the purchase. That means this Golden Frieza statue is not only one of the most expensive collectibles for the villain, but one of the hardest to obtain as well.

Golden Frieza was definitely one of the cooler reveals for Dragon Ball Super as it teased that while Goku and Vegeta could train to powerful new levels, it was actually the same for Frieza as well. When he devoted some time to training, he was quickly able to rise to this new level of power that actually got the upper hand on Goku and Vegeta in their first reunion. That changed later in the series, of course, as the Saiyans were then able to surpass his power, but has also changed in a significant way later too.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Artist Gives Master Roshi His Greatest Victory

What’s Next for Frieza?

But while Golden Frieza became the villain’s best form in the anime, it’s not the case for the Dragon Ball Super manga. Before it entered its hiatus following series creator Akira Toriyama’s passing last year, it was shockingly revealed that Frieza continued his training within a Hyperbolic Time Chamber he found out in space. Training for ten years’ worth of time, Frieza emerged from the chamber as the new strongest warrior in Universe 7 with the power to defeat Goku and Vegeta in a single blow.

This new “Black Frieza” form is still the final cliffhanger Dragon Ball Super needs to explore before it can come to its end. It’s yet to be revealed whether or not Dragon Ball Super’s manga will continue, but until then, Black Frieza is the strongest character in Dragon Ball’s Universe 7 overall. It’s definitely a fitting place for the villain who has seen himself as the strongest being for such a long time, but Dragon Ball fans probably don’t want to see Frieza at the top for long.

HT – Mantan Web

The post Dragon Ball Gives Golden Frieza His Most Expensive Statue Yet appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In a world that is fit to bursting with Super Saiyans and Gods of Destruction, the human fighters of the Dragon Ball franchise can often get lost in the shuffle. Luckily, Dragon Ball Super has found unique ways to focus on some of the brawlers who haven’t managed to keep up the pace with Goku, Vegeta, and their fellow alien warriors. In the Tournament of Power, for example, Master Roshi had the chance to shine with his wisdom and unique skill set and now, Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotaro has created what might be the biggest victory to date for the Turtle Hermit.

Despite Master Roshi being well over one hundred years old, he will most likely be a part of the shonen franchise for quite some time in the future. While Goku’s master can die from being destroyed by an energy blast or from battle injuries, he cannot die from old age thanks to a fountain of youth Roshi had discovered before the events of the original shonen series. Despite his experience, Roshi has had a tough time in keeping up with his students in the power-level department though he does have a trick that can even the playing field. The Mafuba has come quite in handy throughout Roshi’s time in the anime

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Made A Mistake With Its Multiverse]

Roshi Defeats Cell

For those who need a refresher on the Mafuba, aka the Evil Containment Wave, the technique allows Roshi to transform his opponent into a new form that will place them into a vessel. Said vessel can keep them locked up in perpetuity, which is what the Turtle Hermit was hoping to do with the original Piccolo. During Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power, the Mafuba was used against Roshi as he accidentally performed it on Vegeta. Regardless of how strong an enemy is, the Mafuba can help even the playing field for a “weaker” fighter like the Turtle Hermit.

In this new artwork from Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotaro, Roshi uses the Mafuba on what appears to be Cell Max, the strongest opponent that Goku’s master has ever taken on. Luckily, this latest iteration of Cell was defeated by Gohan and his latest transformation, Gohan Beast, so the Evil Containment Wave wasn’t needed. Hopefully, Roshi will return in some form when Dragon Ball Super’s manga makes a comeback.

Dragon Ball Super’s Return

At present, Dragon Ball Super has yet to let fans know when to expect the return of both its manga and anime adaptation. The shonen franchise isn’t looking to stop any time soon as producers have hinted that the Z-Fighters will continue their story for potentially decades into the future. Hopefully, the series will have good news for fans this year, especially hot on the heels of Dragon Ball Daima and its success.

Want to see what the future holds for Master Roshi and his fellow Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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Hop on Goku’s Flying Nimbus, we’re heading over to Kame House to meet up with the gang! Funko’s dropped 5 new Funko Pops straight from the original Dragon Ball anime, so if you’re used to these characters’ looks in Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Super, prepare to step into a time machine. Bulma, Chichi, Krillin, Oolong, and Master Roshi all appear as their younger selves, with Master Roshi’s Pop being a Funko Pop Town with the Kame House included. Each Pop is available to pre-order at Amazon or here at Hot Topic (with a 20% discount). You can also find them here at here at Entertainment Earth with a tariff charge. The Pops have and estimated delivery date set for June 26th, 2025. Read below for more info.

• Dragon Ball Bulma (Shop) Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure / See here at Amazon / See here at Entertainment Earth 
• Dragon Ball Chichi Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure / See here at Amazon / See here at Entertainment Earth
• Dragon Ball Krillin Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure / See here at Amazon / See here at Entertainment Earth
• Dragon Ball Oolong Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure / See here at Amazon / See here at Entertainment Earth
• Dragon Ball Master Roshi with Kame House Funko Pop! Town / See here at Amazon / See here at Entertainment Earth

Dragon Ball Super Manga Hits Big Milestone

While the Dragon Ball Super anime has been on hiatus since 2018, the manga has continued to reach new heights and new sales numbers. The Dragon Ball Super manga completed 2 more arcs after the anime had ended, and is now seemingly returning from its hiatus, meaning even more copies will sell in the future. Currently, the manga is set to reach 12 million copies, an impressive milestone to have without an anime uplifting it into mainstream consumption. 

Since Dragon Ball Super went on a hiatus after creator Akira Toriyama passed away, the future of the manga has been unclear. But with new changes happening behind the scenes, it seems likely the profitable IP will continue without him. Obviously, there are many who hope to see the franchise return with new projects in both manga and anime formats, but there’s also no clear path forward as of now. Shueisha and the Dragon Ball franchise are now navigating a world without Toriyama to guide the franchise forward, something that is sure to be very difficult.

My main hope is that, as such a longtime enjoyer of the franchise, that the vision and the characters are handled with care, especially as the world turns to cheap, nostalgic party tricks to keep fans returning. It’ll take some time for Dragon Ball to get on the right track, and I’m willing to be patient.

Want to stay up to date with all the latest anime news and collectibles? Then keep an eye on our Gear Page!

The post Funko Drops 5 New Dragon Ball Pops Including Kame House appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super opened up the long running franchise to a wide new world of potential stories with the introduction of its multiverse, and ultimately that might have been a mistake because it’s too big of an idea for the franchise to really play with. When Dragon Ball first introduced Beerus to the franchise, it was never really the same. It was not only revealed that there were a God and Angel that were actually the strongest beings in Goku’s universe, but it turned out to be the opening salvo to a whole new multiverse of introductions to come in the future.

Dragon Ball Super then revealed that there was a potential for even more on the way with all sorts of new allies and foes that could make their debut from across the many universes. But just like the lost potential from when it introduced the Demon Realm that wouldn’t get explored until years later, a multiverse might have been just too big of an idea for a series like Dragon Ball to dive into properly. Outside of an arc or two touching on many of the other universes’ fighters, fans will never get to really see this entire multiverse.

Dragon Ball’s Multiverse Is Just Too Big

To give it credit, Dragon Ball did initially avoid one of the biggest inherent problems when introducing the idea of a multiverse. When seen in other media, a multiverse is usually the idea that there are many other universes existing outside of the main one. There are sometimes even infinite other universes with infinitely different takes on each character, and some franchises even buckle under the weight of such an ordeal. But Dragon Ball did curb this early on by capping off its multiverse with just 12 universes in total. Each one even had its own number and power levels.

Dragon Ball’s multiverse revealed there are 12 universes that each have their own Gods of Destruction and Angels that watch over them. Then it was revealed that there was an even higher being that stood above them all. As later revealed through Dragon Ball Daima, this multiverse shrank a little in size even further when it was revealed that a being from the Demon Realm actually created the multiverse itself and sent out the Supreme Kais to watch over each one. So while it’s a massive multiverse in terms of potential, its scale is much smaller than many other versions of the multiverse.

But it’s still too big for Dragon Ball to handle. Because Dragon Ball was under the creative watch of original series creator Akira Toriyama for such a long time, it really meant that it could only go in a single direction. The series was still intent on exploring Universe 7’s own threats rather than continue on the multiverse path after the Tournament of Power. Almost seeming like the Tournament of Power was supposed to be the end of the multiverse shenanigans overall. For Dragon Ball fans, however, this only led to disappointment as (like Goku) we have been trained to always seek higher powers.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Artist Reveals Shocking Fact About Current Power Levels

Dragon Ball’s Multiverse Will Always Disappoint

Jiren was an interesting foe to end the original Dragon Ball Super TV anime series on as he represented the strongest of all the fighters from the potential multiverse. The thing about this, however, is that he’s also not the strongest. The Tournament of Power notably had four of the universe skip out on the battle royal for being simply too strong, and thus even Jiren is likely dwarfed by their power. It’s just that Dragon Ball was never really interested in exploring that idea. It was just a way to limit the number of fighters within the Tournament of Power itself.

Dragon Ball fans are always debating power levels to the point where they continue to want to see Goku stand up against the toughest fighters, so a multiverse with four fully unexplored universes means that fans will never truly get their answers as to how strong Goku really is. It’s disappointing in a way as it means that this potential will truly never be explored. Even if Goku were to somehow become the strongest in his own universe (and defeat Black Frieza in the process), it’s not likely that we’ll even scratch these other universes.

Dragon Ball’s multiverse was ultimately just too big of an idea for it to handle. While it managed its scale to some degree, there will still always be a lingering disappoint from fans for what we didn’t get to see (and likely won’t ever get to see) as a result from these universes. And when a multiverse is already knocked down a peg before it even gets going, all that potential is capped right from the jump. It’s all lost.

The post Dragon Ball Super Made A Mistake With Its Multiverse appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has ended but the shonen franchise isn’t finished just yet. Despite the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama, the series is planning to continue its story for decades according to producers. While Dragon Ball Super has yet to reveal when its manga will return and if it is returning to the small screen, the shonen sequel’s artist still has plenty to talk about. In a new quote, Toyotaro reveals just how strong the Z-Fighters are in relation to one another and whether one of the anime heroes stands as the strongest of them all.

In creating the newest manga volume for Dragon Ball Super, Toyotaro reveals that he believes that Ultra Instinct Goku, Ultra Ego Vegeta, Broly, Orange Piccolo, and Gohan Beast are on an even playing field. The manga artist also confirms that Frieza and his new transformation is leagues above our heroes, “I wanted to show all five of them being equally matched, so I went with this setup. I poured more effort into this than any cover I’ve ever done—and to be honest, I might not be able to spend this much time on a cover again. Oh, and on the back, there’s Black Frieza… that power gap he’s got is seriously intriguing.”

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Hits Major Sales Milestone Even Without a New Anime]

Z-Fighter Power Levels

While this doesn’t necessarily mean that all the heroes are at the same power level in Dragon Ball Super, Toyotaro believes that Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, and Broly are still within proximity to one another in overall strength. While readers did witness Gohan take on several of the others in the latest chapters of the manga sequel, a definitive victor was never truly confirmed. Based on the events of Super Hero, it’s safe to assume that Piccolo is at the bottom of the ladder in terms of sheer strength as he was unable to defeat Cell Max during their fight, while Gohan Beast was able to take down the genetic nightmare.

One of the early elements that Akira Toriyama’s story had to do away with was attributing numbers to power levels. Both the Saiyan and Frieza Sagas saw heroes and villains alike given stats to determine just how powerful they were, but now that characters can effectively destroy galaxies by sneezing, it makes sense that numbers had to fall to the wayside. If characters’ power levels were read by scouters at this point, we have to imagine that they would hit the billions, if not trillions, when it comes to the strength that rivals the gods.

Dragon Ball Super’s Return

Earlier this year, Toyotaro helped to release one of the final manga chapters from Akira Toriyama, telling the story of how Goten and Trunks decided to become the new Saiyamen. On top of the manga’s return being a mystery, shonen fans are debating just where the series will go in the future for its story. Considering Black Frieza is the biggest threat who is facing Universe Seven at the moment, we have to imagine that the alien despot will be front and center in the manga’s next big arc.

Want to stay up to date on the battles of the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Super and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Dragon Ball Official Website

The post Dragon Ball Super Artist Reveals Shocking Fact About Current Power Levels appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super continues to be one of the biggest franchises currently running today, and it has hit a massive new sales milestone even without a new anime to push it to those higher heights. Dragon Ball Super‘s TV anime came to an end back in 2018, and ever since fans have been hoping to see it return with new episodes someday. But while the anime never continued with more of the series (and instead opting to return with two new feature films), Dragon Ball Super‘s saga continued with new arcs being told through the release of its official manga adaptation.

Dragon Ball Super fulfilled those fan wishes of continuing the story beyond the Tournament of Power, and had two full arcs with brand new enemies, locations, and even Dragon Balls in the years since that anime came to an end. As the manga continues into the foreseeable future following the potential end of its current hiatus, it’s now reached a huge sales milestone with 12 million copies of the manga now in print (according to @WSJ_manga on X). Making it even more impressive is that it’s done all of this even without a new anime keeping up the hype.

Dragon Ball Super’s Manga Is Still Selling Well

Dragon Ball Super Volume 24 just hit shelves in Japan, and with has crossed this massive milestone. This volume collects the final few currently available chapters of the series, and officially brings the adaptation of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero feature film to an end. The series has gone on hiatus since the tragic passing of franchise creator Akira Toriyama last year, and that means the future of the franchise as a whole is left uncertain as now all of the chapters from the series have since been collected. And without any new anime releases for the series, Dragon Ball Super‘s future is even more unclear.

This sales milestone proves just how strong of a brand Dragon Ball Super continues to be only with manga releases being the ones available. This has gone as far as it has without the anime backing it up, and that’s one of the big reasons why fans are hoping to see a return from the series someday. Not only are there two big arcs that could be adapted with a new TV series, but there’s also the potential to keep the story going even without Toriyama’s input as those behind it all seem interested in doing so.

RELATED: DC Artist Unleashes Perfect Dragon Ball x Superman Crossover

Will Dragon Ball Super Continue?

There have been questions as to whether or not Dragon Ball Super can continue without Akira Toriyama overseeing the project, but it seems like it will either way. There are many who are interested in seeing the franchise return with new projects in both manga and anime formats, so it’s yet to be determined what that future will look like. Shueisha and the Dragon Ball franchise are now navigating a world without Toriyama to guide the franchise forward, and that’s a very daunting task.

It’s going to take some time before we start to see the first hints of the Dragon Ball franchise’s future without Toriyama, but there’s a roadmap to follow with Dragon Ball Super at least. The manga’s such a success that it will likely follow up on the massive Black Frieza cliffhanger that still lingers over the series, and that could lead to a full anime adaptation when that’s all wrapped up in the future. But it’s not something that can be done easily. It needs to be handled with care and respect, but it’s doable.

HT – @WSJ_manga on X

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The worlds of North American comic books and Japanese manga have met quite a few times in the past. The Avengers have fought Attack on Titan’s titans, My Hero Academia’s All Might has fought with Marvel’s Merc With a Mouth, and several members of the Justice League have received their own manga series. While not official, many comic book artists are more than willing to create crossovers between Marvel and DC’s finest and the anime legends that have helped the medium grow exponentially in years past. Now, one DC artist has brought together the Man of Steel and the version of Goku who started it all with an amazing Dragon Ball/Superman crossover for the ages.

Dan Mora has become a juggernaut for DC Comics these days, creating energetic and bold new takes on classic superheroes with comics including Superman, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Absolute Power, Detective Comics, Shazam, and more. Like many other comic book artists in the West, Mora clearly has a love for anime, having shared takes on one of shonen’s biggest entries in the past. While this new art doesn’t feature Goku and Clark Kent trading blows, it puts the young Saiyan side-by-side with the Last Son of Krypton for a crossover that pops off the page.

[RELATED: DC Artist Celebrates Dragon Ball Daima Finale With SSJ4 Goku Makeover]

The Saiyan of Steel

The argument of who would win in a fight between Clark Kent and Goku is one that has been a part of internet culture for decades. While we’ve never seen the two officially come to blows, it has to be one of the most desired crossovers when it comes to slapping together the two mediums. When it comes to Superman taking on the full-blooded Saiyan in his younger years, we have to imagine that the Man of Steel would take home the victory, especially since Son Goku couldn’t blow up any planets before he hit his ultimate stride.

DC’s Anime Arrivals

Last year, Warner Bros started to dive further into the anime universe with projects of its own. The Suicide Squad Isekai was created as a collaboration between DC and Wit Studio, taking the popular super villain team and throwing them into an anime world they had never experienced before. Earlier this year, Batman Ninja Vs. The Yakuza League once again took us into a wild new anime universe focusing on the Dark Knight. As of the writing of this article, no new projects for the Suicide Squad or Batman has been announced in the anime medium, though Warner Bros has stated in the past that they are aiming for more investments in the anime world.

Last year, Warner Bros Discovery President of Asia-Pacific, James Gibbons, touched on the major anime investment, “There is Japanese anime that comes from original IP. But there’s also anime that comes from elsewhere and we’ve looked at our DC universe and said, ‘Can we take these characters and reinvent them in world of world of anime,’ which is not straightforward because you have to do it the right way. You have to work with the right studios to make it happen and to build your fan base.”

Want to see how comics and anime continue to meet in the future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post DC Artist Unleashes Perfect Dragon Ball x Superman Crossover appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super has been on a hiatus since the tragic passing of franchise creator Akira Toriyama last year, but it seems like the manga might be on the verge of a comeback with some good news from the artist behind the series. Dragon Ball Super went on a hiatus following the end of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc, but the series recently returned with a brand new one-shot chapter earlier this year. This turned out to be an extra part of the Super Hero arc spawned from a leftover idea from Toriyama himself, but there might be even more on the way.

Dragon Ball Super has released a new volume onto shelves in Japan, and the artist behind it has shared some hopeful news for the future. In an interview with the official Dragon Ball website, artist Toyotaro revealed that he’s already drawn characters for the sides of the volumes (that together form one large image) for several more in the future and even hopes to share a look at each of them soon, “By the way, I’ve already drawn the characters after this, so I’ll do my best to show them to everyone soon.”

Will Dragon Ball Super Continue?

Dragon Ball Super has yet to confirm whether or not the series will be continuing, but Toyotaro’s comment leaves a hopeful sign that the series is not yet over. Also of note is the fact that with the release of this volume (and thus all of the chapters of the manga to date), Toyotaro also confirms that the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc has officially come to an end. Pointing out that the arc has finished rather than the entire manga itself also makes it seem like there’s a future in the works for the rest of the series that has yet to be put in place.

If the series was indeed over, Toyotaro likely would have outright said that the manga has come to an end rather than just the arc. Dragon Ball Super still has a major cliffhanger that needs to be resolved in the future as well, and that’s likely something Toyotaro is also keeping in mind as he included a new look at Black Frieza with the release of this latest volume too. There’s a lot of moving parts that seem to indicate that there’s indeed a future of the series still in the works.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Z Fans Are Poking Fun at This Hero’s Best Underused Attack

How Could Dragon Ball Super Continue?

As for where the story could go following the end of the Super Hero arc, there is a lot of potential to explore. Dragon Ball Super still has a lot on its plate with the introduction of its multiverse that didn’t exactly go as far as fans might have wanted to see before. Not only is there a multiverse full of potential allies and foes, but there are also plenty of new characters who could show up within Universe 7 too. With gods, time travel, and a multiverse, the sky is the limit for the series.

But if there’s one thing that immediately has to be taken care of, however, is that Frieza cliffhanger. He was revealed to be the strongest warrior in Universe 7, and unlocked a godly new Black Frieza form thanks to training within a Hyperbolic Time Chamber for ten years’ worth of time. With this still lingering overhead, it’s time for Goku to finally settle things with the long running villain who really won’t just stay down no matter how many times he’s been defeated.

The post Dragon Ball Super Shares Good News for Its Future appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball franchise creator Akira Toriyama passed away last year, and it turns out that the artist behind Dragon Ball Super paid tribute to the late creator by adapting one of the final stories he had left behind. Dragon Ball Super is currently in the midst of a hiatus following Toriyama’s passing. Wrapping up the events of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc ahead of the hiatus, Dragon Ball Super made a surprising return to Shueisha’s V-Jump magazine with a brand new one-shot story for Goten and Trunks as they were inspired to turn into local superheroes. But it turns out this was one of Toriyama’s final left over ideas.

Dragon Ball Super has returned with a brand new volume of the manga now hitting shelves in Japan, and it collects the final few chapters of the series now available. This includes the new one-shot story for Goten and Trunks set before the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero prequel arc, and this came from a story that Toriyama had left behind that had yet to be officially adapted into the manga. As series artist Toyotaro explained in a special message within the volume release, this story was based on an idea that Toriyama shared but hadn’t gotten used before.

Dragon Ball Super Uses Akira Toriyama’s Final Story

“The secret story behind the birth of ‘Saiyaman X‘ that I got to draw for the end of this volume was based on text written by Toriyama-sensei, which I revised and made into a manga,” Dragon Ball Super artist began in his message with Dragon Ball Super Volume 24 (as translated by @Herms98 on X). “During the process of working out the ‘Saiyaman X’ story that serves as a prequel to the Super Hero arc, he gave me this story as a prologue, saying ‘it really doesn’t matter whether you use this in the main story or not.’ But I felt it would be a waste to cut it, so I really wanted to make it into a manga.”

Explaining that Toyotaro ultimately was only given three chapters for the special Super Hero prequel arc, the artist then revealed that he ultimately went with the version of the story seen originally. But with the coming release of this final volume, Toyotaro requested to adapt this final idea that didn’t get made, “However, as the Super Hero arc drew to a close, this was still a story I wanted to draw no matter what, so they were nice enough to let me have my own way, and I got to draw it as a one-shot.”

RELATED: Dragon Ball Reveals Perfect April Fools Day Prank With Merch We Wish Was Real

What’s Next for Dragon Ball Super?

With the release of this final one-shot and latest volume of Dragon Ball Super, Toyotaro confirmed that the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc has officially come to an end. This is an important thing to note as it does give some hope that there’s still something for the future in the months or years to come. Rather than saying outright that the Dragon Ball Super manga has come to an end following this arc, it’s just the arc itself that’s ending.

Dragon Ball Super‘s artist seems to tease that there is more on the way in the future, but it’s unclear as to what this could mean. With the editorial team at Shueisha likely trying to figure out how to continue this story without Akira Toriyama’s input (much like how the anime team started its production with Dragon Ball Daima), Dragon Ball Super‘s future is still very much uncertain.

The post Dragon Ball Super Adapted One of Akira Toriyama’s Final Stories as Tribute appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero landed in theaters in 2022, using a unique CG-style to depict the Z-Fighters. With Gohan and Piccolo receiving new transformations in Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo, along with the film resurrecting Z-villain Cell, there was plenty to celebrate when it came to the shonen franchise’s latest outing. For those who need a refresher, Dragon Ball Super’s manga has been telling the story of Super Hero by exploring its beginnings and endings. What may come as good news for many shonen fans, artist Toyotaro has confirmed that the Super Hero Saga has officially come to an end.

While many of the events of the film were depicted in the manga, the printed story took the opportunity to explore scenes that weren’t during the movie’s runtime. One of the biggest moments was seeing Gohan reunite with the likes of Goku and Vegeta, while meeting Broly for the first time as well. During these chapters, manga readers witnessed Gohan Beast stacking up against Ultra Instinct, Ultra Ego, and Broly’s Legendary Super Saiyan form. Most recently, one of Akira Toriyama’s last chapters explored how Trunks and Goten became the masked crime fighters we know today but the future for the shonen series is anyone’s guess now.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Artist Reveals Major Fact About One of Toriyama’s Last Requests]

Toyotaro Lays It On The Line

Thanks to the release of Dragon Ball Super’s 24th manga volume, artist Toyotaro confirmed that the Super Hero Arc has finished but refrained from hinting at what is to come, “Since the Super Hero arc’s prequel was limited to three chapters, I had no choice but to abandon the idea. Instead, I was allowed to draw three chapters covering events after the birth of Saiyamen X. As we reached the conclusion of the Super Hero arc, this was a story I just couldn’t leave untold. I was fortunate enough to have my request granted, allowing me to present it as a one-shot. Thank you for reading. With this, the Super Hero arc is officially complete!”

When it came to the Super Hero Saga’s finale, it did set up some major elements for the future. Outside of the aforementioned Orange Piccolo and Gohan Beast, Dr. Hedo and Gamma 1 of the Red Ribbon Army became allies after fighting against the Z-Fighters. With Frieza still out there as the most powerful being in the universe, it seems like a safe bet that the alien despot will have a big role to play.

Dragon Ball Super’s Anime Return

Unfortunately, there has been no word on when Dragon Ball Super will return to the screen as of the writing of this article. There are still two major manga arcs to adapt in the forms of the Moro Arc and the Granolah the Survivor Arc, which both would create quite a few anime episodes were they confirmed. With producers in the past stating that the shonen franchise might be telling new stories for decades to come, things are looking good for Goku’s future.

Via SupaChronicles

The post Dragon Ball Super Confirms the Super Hero Arc Is Officially Over appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The loss of Akira Toriyama is still being felt in the anime community to this day as the Dragon Ball creator and his work helped influence so many stories in its wake. Thanks to the release of Dragon Ball Super’s 24th manga volume, artist Toyotaro shared several interesting facts about the chapters that made up this compilation. One of the biggest was one of the final conversations the artist had with his sensei Toriyama and what he had wanted for one of the last stories that he helped to create. Even with Toriyama gone, his influence on the world will be felt for quite some time to come.

In a new Afterword in Dragon Ball Super Volume 24, Toyotaro states, “The Saiyamen X origin story that I was able to include at the end of this volume is a manga adaptation with additional details, based on a text written by Toriyama-sensei. While working on Saiyamen X as a prequel to the Super Hero arc, Sensei shared a story with the note, ‘It’s up to you whether this gets used in the main story or not.’ I felt it would be too much of a waster to leave it out, so I wanted to adapt it into a manga.”

Toyotaro then continued after being handed the shonen reins by Akira, “However, since the Super Hero arc’s prequel was limited to three chapters, I had no choice but to abandon the idea. Instead, I was allowed to draw three chapters covering events after the birth of Saiyamen X. As we reached the conclusion of the Super Hero arc, this was a story I just couldn’t leave untold. I was fortunate enough to have my request granted, allowing me to present it as a one-shot. Thank you for reading. With this the Super Hero arc is officially complete!’

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Brings Back Frieza With New Look (Is the Manga Returning?)]

What Comes Next For Dragon Ball?

As of the writing of this article, no news has been revealed regarding the continuation of Dragon Ball Super’s manga. While the series has been hinted to continue, it’s anyone’s guess as to when new chapters will arrive and if Toyotaro will be handling both the writing and artistic duties moving forward. With the Super Hero Arc now officially over, there are many different avenues that the series could explore.

Perhaps one of the biggest elements to explore is the Demon Realm, fleshed out in the recent anime Dragon Ball Daima. During this spin-off series which took place after Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta achieved Super Saiyan 3 and Goku achieved Super Saiyan 4, two transformations that we have yet to see in Dragon Ball Super proper. Of course, there is also the major problem of Frieza and his ultimate transformation to contend with, meaning that the Z-Fighters might be in store for the biggest battle of their lives.

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on all things Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Supa Chronicles

The post Dragon Ball Super Artist Reveals Major Fact About One of Toriyama’s Last Requests appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The future of Dragon Ball Super‘s manga might be uncertain, but the series has brought Black Frieza back to the spotlight with an epic new look. Dragon Ball Super’s manga has been in the midst of a very long hiatus following franchise creator Akira Toriyama’s passing last year. The series has wrapped up with the end of its adaptation of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero feature film, and that could have served as a solid ending point for the long running series. But unfortunately for fans, there’s still one big cliffhanger that has yet to be resolved as of the manga’s hiatus.

Dragon Ball Super introduced fans to a much stronger version of Frieza at the end of the Granolah the Survivor arc as it revealed that Frieza had trained for ten years in a Hyperbolic Time Chamber his army happened to find in space. This has brought about a godly new form, dubbed Black Frieza, that has since made the villain the strongest being in Universe 7, and now the villain has returned to the Dragon Ball Super manga in the back cover art for the latest volume. Check it out below as spotted by @DbsHype on X.

What Is Going On With Black Frieza?

Frieza made his return to Dragon Ball Super as a surprising cameo at the end of the Granolah the Survivor Arc. Goku, Vegeta, and Granolah had been struggling against Gas as the Heeter was growing stronger thanks to wishes on the Dragon Balls, and it made the villain the strongest foe that Goku had ever faced. But all of a sudden, the fight comes to a surprising end when Frieza eliminates Gas with a single blow. Then quickly defeating both Goku and Vegeta without much trouble, Frieza reveals that he had been training for ten years within a Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

Unlocking a new form he dubs “Black Frieza” as a result of this training, it’s revealed that he has now become the strongest warrior in Universe 7. This had been weighing over Goku and Vegeta’s head ever since, and it’s why the two of them headed to Beerus’ planet to train with Broly during the events of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film. Now that Frieza has become such a strong foe, Goku and the others are trying their best to close the gap as soon as possible as Frieza’s threat is still very much active.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Is One Step Closer to Making Super Saiyan 5 Official

Is Dragon Ball Super Coming Back?

This new look at Black Frieza comes from the back cover of Dragon Ball Super Volume 24, which collects the final chapters of the series prior to the hiatus along with the special one-shot that briefly brought the manga back earlier this year. It’s yet to be revealed what the plans for the future of the series are, but this ominous look at Black Frieza could be a good sign for the future as the manga itself is not letting fans forget about the final cliffhanger that’s still yet to be explored.

Black Frieza is the final villain still lingering over the series before Toriyama’s passing, so the manga returning to settle the fight against him would be a way to fully close it all out. Dragon Ball Super does not need to return with several new arcs with even more new characters, but it would ne nice for fans to see how this story can end with Frieza being this strong. Goku and Vegeta could reach new higher forms to defeat him, and the thought of that eventually getting its own anime adaptation in the future would be exciting to see come to fruition.

The post Dragon Ball Super Brings Back Frieza With New Look (Is the Manga Returning?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s April Fools Day and that means you have to keep a close eye on what is real and what isn’t, especially in the world of anime. Taking advantage of the unique twenty-four-hour time frame, Shueisha and the Dragon Ball franchise have taken the opportunity to share a prank that we desperately wish was real. While the Akira Toriyama franchise has offered fans the ability to pick up items like Trunks’ sword, life-sized statues of some of the anime’s biggest characters, and so much more, this April Fools item would help you discover the legendary “wishing orbs.”

To celebrate the season, the Dragon Ball franchise has revealed a look at a “Dragon Radar Phone.” Taking the technology that Bulma created to find the Dragon Balls, this fake item is one that many anime fans are already hoping will come true. Here’s how Shueisha and Bird Studio describe the merch that we’re hoping to see hit shelves one day, “A Dragon Radar Phone is scheduled for release!? See Dragon Ball locations anytime, anywhere! Features the latest wish-granting AI. Able to register Power Levels. Get hyped for the release!” Going one step further to sell the bit, the shonen franchise even released an image of the item that won’t be hitting stands any time soon, which you can check out below.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Radar Now Available in Wristwatch Form]

Dragon Radars Are Real

Now this isn’t to say that there aren’t Dragon Radars that you can pick up online, as the shonen franchise has created multiple props that recreate the Capsule Corps devices in the past. While these items don’t actually track Dragon Balls, reveal power levels, and/or create an artificial intelligence version of Shenron to grant wishes, they do create real-life iterations of the well-known anime items. Considering how quickly technology continues to move forward, eventually seeing a “Dragon Radar Phone” might not be entirely outside the realm of possibility.

Dragon Radar’s Return?

The last time that the Dragon Balls played a major role in the shonen franchise was thanks to the events of the latest anime movie, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. In the film, Piccolo wishes on Shenron to give him a boost in power that grants him not one, but two new transformations to finally give the Namekian an upgrade to keep up with his Saiyan allies. Orange Piccolo might not have been enough to defeat the return of Cell, as the newly formed Cell Max, but it gave the green-skinned Z-Fighter a very new look and a much better shot at fighting enemies in the future.

When it comes to when Dragon Ball Super will return, either in its manga or its anime adaptation, that is anyone’s guess at this point. Earlier this year, one of Akira Toriyama’s final chapters was released that told the story of how Goten and Trunks became costumed superheroes, proving that the series is still looking to release new chapters. With artist Toyotaro still onboard following the tragic loss of Dragon Ball’s creator, the Z-Fighters are sure to return at some point.

Want to see what other anime April Fools Day pranks arrive? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on all things Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via Official Dragon Ball Site

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Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z is one of the most famous Shonen anime ever. Known for its crazy combat, mighty transformations, and fierce rivalries, it set the standard for action-packed stories where warriors shake entire worlds with their battles. The series also made anime a global phenomenon. DBZ was one of the first anime to really blow up worldwide, introducing millions to Japanese animation. And its impact on pop culture is obvious even today.

Even people who don’t watch anime know who Goku is. The show turned characters like Vegeta, Frieza, and Gohan into pop culture icons. Its sound effects, attack names, and power-up screams are instantly recognizable everywhere. But as iconic as DBZ is, it certainly isn’t the only one of its kind. If you crave that kind of excitement in more anime, a handful of other series offer the same energy in their own way. These seven shows have huge fights, awesome power-ups, and heroes who never give up — everything Dragon Ball Z fans enjoy. 

Yu Yu Hakusho 

Yusuke Urameshi is a street-brawling punk who dies during an uncharacteristic act of kindness. But life isn’t done with him yet. Revived as a Spirit Detective, Yusuke enters a world of bloodthirsty demons, underground tournaments, and power levels that shatter reality itself.  

Dragon Ball Z fans will feel right at home with the series’ brutal fights and legendary transformations. The character rivalries are also pure gold. Yusuke’s cocky grit echoes Goku’s battle-hungry spirit, while Hiei’s icy ferocity gives Vegeta a run for his money. This anime is your next obsession if you live for earth-shaking clashes and next-level power-ups.

Naruto Shippuden 

Naruto Uzumaki has spent his life chasing his village’s recognition, but when his best friend betrays him and a looming war threatens everything, his journey becomes bigger than just proving himself. The series follows him as he faces gods, legends, and his own inner demons to protect the world that once rejected him.    

The power-ups go crazy with Rasenshuriken, Sage Mode, and Kurama’s full form. It’s like watching Super Saiyan transformations but with that shinobi finesse. And just like Goku, Naruto’s got that never-quit energy that turns impossible odds into legendary moments. If DBZ had you hyped, Naruto Shippuden will have you straight-up addicted.

Fullmetal Alchemist

After a forbidden alchemy ritual goes horribly wrong, brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric lose parts of their bodies. To restore themselves, they set off to find the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. Along the way, they uncover dark secrets, face off against the powerful non-human Homunculi, and learn the true price of messing with nature.

DBZ fans will love the power scaling of this series as alchemy turns battles into explosive chess matches where intelligence and strength go hand in hand. Edward’s unbreakable spirit mirrors Goku’s. While the high-stakes showdowns and god-tier final boss battles feel right at home.

[RELATED – Dragon Ball Super Confirms Who Its World Sees as the True Heroes]

Bleach

Ichigo Kurosaki never asked to be a Soul Reaper. But after running into one Rukia Kuchiki, he’s thrown into a hidden world of spirits, Hollows, and deadly battles. As Ichigo unlocks new powers, he’s forced to fight for his friends, his family, and the balance of life and death itself.

Bleach channels the best of Dragon Ball Z with its over-the-top power-ups and thrilling action. Just like DBZ’s Super Saiyan, Soul Reapers unleash their Bankai, pushing beyond their limits in do-or-die moments. And the fast-paced energy blasts and planet-shaking clashes bring the same adrenaline rush that made DBZ so legendary.

Gintama

In a Japan taken over by aliens, lazy samurai Gintoki Sakata takes on odd jobs to pay the rent. With his weird but loyal friends, he gets pulled into wild adventures and fights that shake the city. And while Gintoki might not be a Saiyan, his swordplay and willpower put him right up there with DBZ’s best warriors. 

The show also nails DBZ’s balance of humor and hype. Goofy as hell one second, and dropping some of the rawest, most hype battles the next, Gintama hits that perfect Shonen sweet spot. Just like how DBZ could go from Goku messing around to a planet-destroying battle in seconds.

One Piece

Monkey D. Luffy sets sail to get hold of the legendary One Piece and become the King of the Pirates. Along the way, he builds a crew, takes on powerful enemies, and goes on an adventure full of danger and hidden secrets. With each island, the stakes get higher, and Luffy pushes himself beyond his limits to protect his friends and chase his dream.

One Piece has that same larger-than-life energy as DBZ, and in key ways including its humor and surprisingly incredible battles, it carries the torch for fans as a spiritual successor. Luffy, just like Goku, often gets stronger mid-fight, pushing past his limits and unlocking new powers when he needs them the most. The sense of adventure is also huge, like how DBZ takes you across planets, One Piece takes you through wild, unpredictable islands across a mysteriously vast expanse of ocean. And just like DBZ, the crew feels like family, always sticking together no matter how crazy things get.

Hunter x Hunter 

Gon Freecss dreams of becoming a Hunter, just like his long-lost father. But the Hunter world is brutal and full of impossibilities. As Gon travels with his friends, he faces life-or-death situations and pushes himself to the edge to prove he belongs among the strongest.

Hunter x Hunter has the same high-stakes action as DBZ, but with a strategic twist, turning battles into a mix of raw power and mind games. Just like DBZ, the series has many unforgettable villains, from Hisoka’s deadly obsession to Meruem’s terrifying presence. And if DBZ’s legendary showdowns had you on the edge of your seat, Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant arc will keep you there with even more surprises.

The post 7 Great Anime to Watch if You Like Dragon Ball Z  appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima officially ended its run earlier this year, but the English dub is keeping the anime going by finally showing off Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta’s big debut episode. Dragon Ball Daima was a fun anime series that fans watched week to week and suddenly found some massive shifts to the long time franchise. There was a surprise changing the lore pretty much every single episode, and Vegeta was at the center of one of the biggest reveals in the series overall as it turned out that he also had access to the Super Saiyan 3 transformation despite Dragon Ball Super skipping over it.

Dragon Ball Daima revealed that Vegeta had learned how to use the Super Saiyan 3 form after seeing Goku use it against Majin Buu, and he had trained to unlock it in secret. Though future anime releases like Dragon Ball Super seemed to tease that Vegeta just skipped right over this form in favor of the god transformations, Dragon Ball Daima revealed that Vegeta had it but just chose to not use it later in the series. Now it’s been brought to the English dub release with Paul Castro Jr. bringing Vegeta Mini to life, and you can check it out below as spotted by @DBPerfectShots on X.

Dragon Ball Daima Debut Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 12 sees Vegeta taking on the Tamagami for the Second Demon World, and through the fight struggled to the point where he needed to unlock the Super Saiyan 3 form to end it. It’s here that Bulma revealed that Vegeta had been training to use this form after seeing Goku use it during the Majin Buu arc, but also secretly teased why he had never used it before. Through the later episodes of the anime, Vegeta’s use of the Super Saiyan 3 form came with a few surprising issues that seemed to further explain why he didn’t use them in later fights.

Super Saiyan 3 form leaves Vegeta vulnerable not only with the way it quickly burns through stamina (as seen with Goku), but ultimately there’s something else holding him back. After Goku teases him about the fact that Vegeta trained to get the Super Saiyan 3 form, Vegeta quickly backtracked and even noted how it was going to be “Ultra Vegeta 1” instead of following in Goku’s naming conventions. But this strike to his pride is likely more of an issue that kept him from using it in the future as it lets him keep Goku at bay.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Was Great, But It Could’ve Been Better With One More Scene

Will Vegeta Ever Use Super Saiyan 3 Again?

Thankfully, this one instance isn’t the only time Vegeta uses the Super Saiyan 3 form in Dragon Ball Daima. There are still some big events left in the anime for the English dubbed release to explore for Vegeta and the others, and that’s a big reason to be excited for the future. But as for Vegeta potentially using the form in other Dragon Ball releases, it’s now on the table for any fight that Vegeta might be in. But it will be harder to bring in naturally now that Vegeta defaults to the god forms instead.

It’s also what ultimately holds back Goku from using Super Saiyan 3 form in fights as well. It’s not something he uses unless he’s deliberately trying to show off, and it will be even more of the case for Vegeta. Vegeta is prideful and does show off, but goes towards his strongest powers first and foremost rather than playing around with smaller forms first. And even if he does take his time, he’ll default to Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 2 as well. But seeing it again is possible.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Dub Finally Unleashes Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball’s beloved creator, Akira Toriyama, died on March 1st, 2024, the same year as the manga’s 40th anniversary. Toriyama was one of the most renowned manga artists in history for creating one of the most influential and best-selling manga of all time. Dragon Ball revolutionized the Shonen genre, inspiring countless iconic series like Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach. The anime adaptation, which was released in 1986, became a global phenomenon. Toriyama debuted as a manga artist with Wonder Island in 1978, but his sci-fi comedy in 1980, Dr. Slump, was his first breakthrough as it became a massive hit in Japan. Four years later, Toriyama’s Dragon Ball debuted, which made him a global icon.

Aside from manga, Toriyama played a significant role in the video game industry, designing characters for the Dragon Quest franchise, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon. His death at the age of 68 was a major shock to the world, with countless manga artists and celebrities paying their respects to the author on social media. The news was officially announced on March 8th, 2024, by Shueisha. However, in a recent interview, Toriyama’s longtime editors expressed their dissatisfaction with the publisher for several reasons, chiefly their handling of his passing.

Dragon Ball’s Editors Criticized Shueisha’s Handling of Toriyama’s Passing as Setting a Bad Precedent

In the second part of the interview by @KosoKoso_hoso, a podcast channel, the first three Dragon Ball editors, Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda, talked about the anime and criticized Shueisha. The original interview is available on the official website of Radiko, a service only available in Japan. A Dragon Ball fan account on X, @Venixys, shared the insights from the interview in English. The editors, despite knowing Toriyama for years, weren’t given the news of his death nearly early enough. While Torishima heard about it only a day before the announcement, the other two only found out on March 8th.

The fan account also shared in the same thread, “Toriyama’s long-time editors expressed harsh criticism towards Shueisha, believing the communication surrounding Toriyama’s passing was too sparse and impersonal. Additionally, after the author’s death, no official memorial event was held.” When comparing Shueisha’s statement even against his other colleagues in the same obituary post on Manga Plus, the issue is increasingly clear.

The account further adds, “The decision might align with his reserved nature, but in their view, there was a lack of proper message from the JUMP editorial team, as well as a public acknowledgement of Toriyama’s enormous contribution, from Dr. Slump to Dragon Ball.”

The editors also think that a simple gesture, such as displaying an iconic image of Goku waving goodbye, would have been enough. They also worry that since Toriyama didn’t receive a meaningful tribute, the future creators will also receive the same treatment. Creating a manga is an extremely difficult job, and the editors acknowledged the hard work mangaka put into it. The work is intense and exhausting, with the artists being under constant pressure regarding deadlines while reminiscing about their days working with Toriyama.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Animator on What to Expect For a Series Remake]

Toriyama’s Funeral Service Was Only Held With Family Members and Relatives

In the obituary, Shueisha honored Toriyama’s great achievements over the decades. Additionally, a note from Bird Studio Capsule Corporation stated that a funeral service was held with his family members and very few relatives. The service was held in accordance with Toriyama’s wishes. The company also informed that they wouldn’t accept flowers, condolences gifts, visiting, or offerings, while also asking the public not to conduct interviews with his family.

Additionally, they didn’t have any future plans for a commemorative gathering at the time. Bird Studio is a manga and design production studio created by Akira Toriyama in 1983. On the other hand, Capsule Corporation Tokyo was formed in 2023 by Akio Iyoku, a former editor. The company was established to manage the general production of Toriyama’s works, including Dragon Ball.

Apart from them, the obituary also consisted of messages from Dragon Quest Game Designer Yuji Horii, Zetman‘s creator Masakazu Katsura, One Piece’s creator Eiichiro Oda, and Naruto’s creator Masashi Kishimoto. While Shueisha honored Toriyama’s wishes of not holding a memorial service, the publisher didn’t do anything special to pay their tributes. It’s not only the editors who were upset with the behavior, but even fans were outraged after the interview came out. Shueisha is the leading manga publishing company, but the editors’ comments highlight that there have been issues regarding the management.

H/T: Manga Plus, @Venixys on X

The post Dragon Ball Editors Harshly Criticize the Series’ Publisher appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima recently came to an end, leaving many fans of the shonen series left to wonder when Goku and his fellow Z-Fighters will make a return to the screen. Despite Dragon Ball’s future remaining a mystery at the moment, this fact isn’t stopping Akira Toriyama’s brainchild from finding new ways to grab attention. In a new interview on the heels of the anniversary of Toriyama’s passing, producers of the original anime revealed that the biggest series in the franchise, Dragon Ball Z, wasn’t always titled as such. The sequel series originally had a name that was far different than what many might have originally expected.

Participating in the recent interview were Dragon Ball Z producers Kozo Morishita and Kenji Shimizu. While the title has easily become one of the most recognizable in the anime world as we speak, the producers confirmed that they had been struggling with what to call the Dragon Ball sequel. As the producers confirm, the original title was going to be Dragon Ball: Gohan’s Great Advenutre, “Actually we fretted a great deal about that title,” Shimizu confirmed, “Originally, we called it Gohan’s Great Adventure for the longest time.” This might have been the title moving forward had Akira Toriyama himself not interjected and made a correction as to who the star of the series truly was.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Reveals Akira Toriyama’s Changes to Super Saiyan 4 Goku]

Akira Toriyama’s Change To The Anime

Shimizu stated that the Dragon Ball creator informed the producers that Gohan wasn’t the star of “Z” but Goku would once again take the lead as he did in the original series. “Toriyama-sensei said things like, ‘No, the protagonist is really Goku.’ Then we asked, ‘Is that so? Then what should we do about the title?’ and he replied, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool with just a Z?’ ‘Ah, that’s ok,’ and with that, it was decided.”

As a reminder, the original Dragon Ball manga was never called Dragon Ball Z, as Son Goku’s life from his introduction to “The End of Z” arc. When Toriyama returned to the franchise by introducing the god of destruction Beerus and his handler Whis, the series ran with the title of Dragon Ball Super. While Super has yet to confirm when its anime will return, it will be interesting to see if it receives a new title to document the Moro and Granolah The Survivor Arcs.

Dragon Ball Super’s Manga Comeback

Earlier this year, Dragon Ball Super made its comeback following the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama by focusing on a past story of Goten and Trunks jumping into the superhero game. Originally written by Toriyama before he passed, artist Toyotaro once again breathed life into the script that took us to the past for the sons of Goku and Vegeta. Unfortunately, no word has been shared regarding when we can expect the manga to release new chapters but it’s a good sign that the Z-Fighters story is far from finished.

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Z and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via X

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Dragon Ball Daima was quite the show-stopper earlier this year, giving anime fans some long-desired character reveals and transformations that garnered quite a few headlines. With this anime series being one of the last projects from creator Akira Toriyama, there was some disappointment regarding the lack of a major reveal in Daima’s finale. Dragon Ball Super has yet to confirm when it will be making a return to the small screen, with its original ending airing in 2017 thanks to the Tournament of Power’s conclusion. Baring this in mind, the time has come for Goku and the Z-Fighters to continue their journey in the present and make up for lost time.

Since the Tournament of Power brought the anime adaptation to an end, Dragon Ball Super’s manga has continued. While the manga’s artist Toyotaro took the lead, Toriyama still had major input when it came to the storylines that took place following the Tournament of Power. Needless to say, the new arcs didn’t just include new transformations for some of the Z-Fighters but also revealed some major character beats while also exploring new territory in the universe’s past. Both the Moro and Granolah Arcs are dying to be adapted to the anime and it’s tragic that neither storyline has been confirmed for the screen.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Breaks Hearts With the Anime’s Newest Milestone]

Moro And Granolah Explained

Both of these storylines that have only been a part of the manga to date are unique in their plotlines. The Moro Arc, to start, introduced a very unique villain to the franchise. Rather than simply introducing a powerful alien, Moro was an ancient sorcerer who didn’t have the ability to regenerate his limbs and/or store the DNA of previous brawlers in the shonen series. Instead, the elder wizard had the power to absorb the energy of targets in his path and even entire planets. It was with this technique that Goku, Vegeta, and the Galactic Patrol truly struggled to fight back against this new threat.

The Moro Arc was quite the hefty arc in itself, running as one of the longest storylines in the Dragon Ball sequel series. Another interesting aspect of the story was the fact that it tied into the origins of Majin Buu and the Kaioshins specifically, making for an interesting parallel to what we learned during Dragon Ball Daima. The storyline is even able to bring back a major character from both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT, which would bring back said character to the television for the first time in years whenever Super makes a comeback.

The Anime Bounty Hunter Arrival

Granolah’s storyline is also an interesting one, in that it ties directly into the Saiyan race’s past while giving shonen fans the chance to finally see Vegeta carve out a transformation all his own. While the bounty hunter’s past has plenty of twists and turns, Vegeta’s Ultra Ego has been dying to be seen on the screen and Dragon Ball fans have yet to see it despite it originally debuting in 2022. Ultra Ego has yet to even appear in any video games, making the desire to see the Saiyan Prince’s unique form all the stronger.

The most interesting aspect of this arc was the inclusion of Goku’s father Bardock. Rather than displaying the deceased Saiyan warrior as a cold-blooded planet killer, the Granolah Arc shows that Bardock had a soft side before he died. Goku’s dear old dad saved the young Cerealian’s life while Son was able to learn more, for the first time, about the man he would never know. It’s an interesting piece of lore that feels trapped in the manga as fans who only follow the anime have yet to really sink their teeth into the proceeding.

Dragon Ball Super’s Anime Has Simply Been Gone For Too Long

Eight years is a long time for no Dragon Ball Super, especially when there is a treasure trove of material to adapt. Dragon Ball Daima was a fantastic stopgap for Z-Fighter fans and the previous Super movies worked to continue moving the story forward, but it’s past time that anime fans return to the shonen world’s present.

Want to stay in the loop when it comes to the world of the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Super’s Anime Needs To Return ASAP appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super’s TV anime aired its final episode seven years ago today, and unfortunately this milestone is a reminder that the anime isn’t coming back for new episodes any time soon. Dragon Ball Super was a revelatory new entry for the then dormant Dragon Ball franchise. Following the success of Dragon Ball Z‘s Battle of Gods and Resurrection F feature films, the franchise came back for a much fuller continuation of Dragon Ball Z with a new TV anime series that took Goku and the others to a whole new multiverse of strong foes and abilities unlocking their godly potential.

Dragon Ball Super ran for 131 episodes, and the final episode officially made its debut in Japan on March 25, 2018. It’s been seven years since the TV anime said goodbye to Goku and the others, and while we’ve had some new franchise entries in the years since, it’s far from the full continuation of the TV anime that fans have been hoping to see happen since. And as the anime celebrates this milestone, it’s just another reminder that we have yet to see a full return from Dragon Ball Super.

Dragon Ball Super Didn’t Really End With the Anime

Although Dragon Ball Super ended following the Tournament of Power back in 2018, the future of the franchise seemed bright. It was quickly confirmed that the anime would be continuing with a new feature film release so fans weren’t concerned then about the state of the anime franchise. The new film then later turned out to be full of even more surprises when Dragon Ball Super: Broly not only continued the story from the end of the TV anime series, but also introduced famous non-canon movie villain Broly into the official series timeline along with tweaking more of the Saiyans’ origins.

Dragon Ball Super then continued this hot streak with its official manga release. Dragon Ball Super‘s manga ended up releasing two brand new arcs that were not seen in the anime or movie releases, Galactic Patrol Prisoner and Granolah the Survivor. This got fans excited over the prospect of potentially getting more episodes someday, and this excitement grew even further with the release of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero feature film, which ended up taking place after those arcs. Then the manga took it even further with a massive Frieza cliffhanger that we’ve yet to see followed up on.

RELATED: 7 Times Goku Should’ve Used SSJ4 in Dragon Ball But Didn’t (For Some Reason)

Is Dragon Ball Super Ever Coming Back?

Dragon Ball’s anime franchise has even been active with the release of Dragon Ball Daima, which told a brand new story of its own. This was a big event as it features the final story from series creator Akira Toriyama and changed the Dragon Ball timeline forever, but it’s still not the continuation of Dragon Ball Super that fans had been hoping to see. This might seem an even more daunting task as well as the manga is on hiatus (and still on a cliffhanger) following Toriyama’s passing too.

But with those behind the anime franchise eager to keep it going, it’s highly likely that Dragon Ball Super will return someday. It might not be for even longer than fans might expect as the franchise really needs to end the manga story before continuing the anime. Otherwise, we’d end up in this same boat waiting for the franchise to continue. So it might be a good while before we get to see Dragon Ball Super return, but it’s not impossible. It’s just going to involve more waiting through bummer milestones like this.

The post Dragon Ball Super Breaks Hearts With the Anime’s Newest Milestone appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super is in the midst of a new hiatus as the manga’s future remains uncertain, but there’s some hope for the future with the coolest cover art for the manga with its next big volume release. Dragon Ball Super has been on a hiatus following the end of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc last Spring, and the future of the franchise on a whole has been a mystery following the passing of original franchise creator Akira Toriyama. But the manga has shown an interest in continuing as the artist behind it has been going all out with new releases.

Dragon Ball Super briefly returned from its long hiatus earlier this year with a brand new chapter of the manga that showcased a new side of Goten and Trunks before the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc. This was a welcome return to fans as this was not only the first new release for the series seen in a year since the hiatus began, but also it meant that the manga could move forward with a new volume of the series. And its cover is one of the best yet, so you should check it out below as spotted by @DbsHype on X.

What to Know for Dragon Ball Super Volume 24

Dragon Ball Super Volume 24 will be hitting shelves across Japan beginning on April 4th, but an international release date has yet to be set as of the time of this publication. This volume will be pulling together the currently final four chapters of the series between Chapter 101 and Chapter 104 (which was the new one-shot released mid-hiatus). The series has since gone back on hiatus since the release of Chapter 104 earlier this year, and there are no signs of it returning any time soon. So this newest volume holds quite a bit of weight.

As it might be the final volume of Dragon Ball Super we’ll get to have for a while, this cover holds a lot of significance. Not only is this showcasing a dream team up featuring all of the Z-Fighters’ newest forms that we have yet to get in the series itself, but this is a great image to potentially end on if the series never actually returns with new chapters. It’s each of these fighters at their very strongest, and it’s something fans are dying to see more of some day.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Is One Step Closer to Making Super Saiyan 5 Official

Will Dragon Ball Super Ever Come Back?

Dragon Ball Super‘s future might look uncertain for now, but there is a lot of potential for the manga still on the table to explore. It’s a tough road to travel down as it might be a difficult situation to continue the franchise’s story following Toriyama’s passing, but anime releases like Dragon Ball Daima had been able to take Toriyama’s story in a whole new direction. With Dragon Ball Super’s future still in flux, that might be the path the franchise goes down next.

Dragon Ball Super still left off its story on a massive cliffhanger following the end of the Granolah the Survivor arc too. It was revealed that Frieza had now become the strongest warrior in Universe 7 thanks to training within a Hyperbolic Time Chamber for ten years, and through it unlocked the powerful new Black Frieza form. If the series does continue, it should prioritize this story and make sure to end it without leaving fans on a cliffhanger with so much potential otherwise. It’s just too good to pass up. Especially when adding in the potential of a team up like seen with this cover.

The post Dragon Ball Super Releases the Manga’s Best Cover Yet appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima is over, having released its twentieth and final anime episode. Since Toei Animation hasn’t revealed whether this Akira Toriyama-fueled adventure will return for a second season, the best thing to do now for anime fans is to do an autopsy on the Dragon Ball Z sequel. The series might have given anime fans quite a few bits of “fan service” by introducing Super Saiyan 4 to the Z-Fighter universe while finally giving Vegeta his Super Saiyan 3 transformation, the lack of a big fusion moment is still perplexing fans. Introducing an amazing new element thanks to the Demon Realm, Daima missed out on something that could have been truly special.

The Join Bugs were introduced as a part of a lone shop in the bowels of the Demon Realm, which Son Goku, the Supreme Kai, and their demonic allies encountered in their fight against Gomah. Throughout Dragon Ball Daima, the Z-Fighters would routinely scarf down the Medi Bugs, aka the insects that had similar properties to that of the Senzu Beans which are a series staple. Unfortunately, the Join Bugs were never used, despite the fact that they were explained and could have given the shonen franchise an entirely new way for heroes to fuse. What was also lost in never using the Join Bugs was the opportunity for Dragon Ball Daima to introduce new fusions, because let’s face it, the shonen’s fusions have been stale as of late.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Needs a New Fusion (And We Know Just The One)]

A Missed Fusion Opportunity

For the longest time, Goku and Vegeta have been the gold standard when it comes to Dragon Ball fusions and for the most part, it has seemed like the only fusion we’ve seen. While we will see Goten and Trunks perform the fusion dance to summon Gotenks to the scene, there have been little to no fusions when it comes to other Z-Fighter pairings. Since Piccolo was there with the other heroes in the Demon Realm, the opportunity for the Namekian to potentially fuse with the Saiyans in Daima feels like a missed opportunity.

Even seeing Glorio fusing with Goku would have made for an interesting scene, bucking the trend of the usual Vegito and/or Gogeta fusions. Ironically enough, the Join Bugs might have even created a new Goku/Vegeta fusion in which the two Saiyans don a new appearance and name as they did when they fused in the past. It’s one of the biggest misses for an anime series that was able to give fans far more than they bargained for.

Where Can You See Dragon Ball Fusions?

To start, Dragon Ball Heroes as a franchise was more than willing to create wild fusions that never made their way to the main canon. The arcade cabinet turned anime adaptation featured Gohan fusing with Trunks, Trunks fusing with Vegeta, and many more hitting the scene for the first time. With Dragon Ball set to potentially continue for decades, it is still possible that we could see fusions that buck the trend of what has come before.

Ironically enough, there is a Dragon Ball video game that was specifically made to focus on fusions. Dragon Ball Fusions was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2016 and allowed players to effectively fuse any and every character from the shonen series. While a re-release for the game hasn’t been confirmed, we’re crossing our fingers that its many fusions will one day find their place back in the world.

Want to see which fusions could land in the Z-Fighters’ future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the world of Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Fumbled The Fusion Bag appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The final project by Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball Daima, concluded last month, leaving fans with nostalgic and bittersweet feelings. The acclaimed and beloved author wrote the story, designed the characters, and oversaw the production. The story takes place shortly after the Majin Buu Saga, as Goku and his friends face another major problem – they are turned into children. The culprit behind this is the new Supreme Demon King Gomah, who takes the throne after Dabura’s death. Gomah has never seen people nearly as powerful as Goku and his friends and is afraid that someday they will attack the Demon World too.

The story continues as Goku and the others travel all the way to the other world in hopes of acquiring their dragon balls. The anime was released around the same time as the manga’s 40th anniversary and captured fans’ hearts with gorgeous animation, expansive world-building, and adorable character design. When the anime entered its final stretch, it included an unexpected transformation, Super Saiyan 4, which fans adore more than ever. The transformation was first introduced in Dragon Ball GT but has never been considered canon until now. While the anime has ended, it didn’t answer a major question fans were looking for, with a bizarre, supposedly coded message in the episode titles.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Was Great, But It Could’ve Been Better With One More Scene]

Dragon Ball Daima Episode Titles Were Suspected of Hiding a Secret Message

During the New Year’s special, All Night Nippon – Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary Special, Dragon Ball Daima’s Executive Producer, Akio Iyoku, discussed the series. The 20-minute program was made available on Radiko’s official website. Since the original broadcast was in Japanese, @peraperayume on X (previously known as Twitter) translated and highlighted key points. Iyoku revealed that the episode titles hold a hidden meaning, which will only be unveiled after the season concludes. However, he refrained from providing further details, as it was meant to be a significant aspect of the show.

Each episode title has one character highlighted in red. The idea was that these characters from all twenty episodes would have a special meaning. However, even after the anime was concluded, there was no explanation about the episode titles. Since the letters are in Japanese, it’s more difficult for global fans to figure out the meaning. Even though the anime has ended, Iyoku hasn’t stepped forward to explain it yet. It’s possible that it contains some kind of wordplay, but we can’t know for sure.

Forming a coherent Japanese sentence using only those letters is nearly impossible, especially while using each one only once, but it might not strictly be meant as a written message. It’s been a popular puzzle, tied to the titles’ usage of each of the 20 dakuon katakana, essentially Japanese letters with two “muddy” accent marks. @Herms98 on X tried to solve this puzzle and came up with an answer. While it doesn’t fully explain everything, the user believes it corresponds to each of the twenty episodes of Dragon Ball Daima. The finale aired right before March 1st, 2025, the first anniversary of Toriyama’s passing. Hence, there is a possibility that Toei wanted to include one final tribute in the anime, using each of these unique characters once apiece.

What’s Next For Dragon Ball After Daima’s Ending?

As of now, there is no official confirmation regarding upcoming projects related to the franchise. Dragon Ball Daima’s post-credit scene left room for the story to develop later on. Unexpectedly, the third eye, which granted immense power to the previous Demon Kings, wasn’t a unique item, as there are two more available at a mysterious store selling strange, status-altering consumables called medi-bugs, sky seeds, etc. There was no explanation about where the eyes come from and why they grant someone that much power.

Even so, the ending was wholesome, and there’s no guarantee that there will be a sequel. Furthermore, Dragon Ball Super is still on indefinite hiatus, even though it released a single chapter in February 2025. The series went on hiatus in March 2024, the same month Toriyama died. Toyotaro, the author of the spin-off manga Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission and the illustrator of Dragon Ball Super, will be taking the helm as he will now be working on both the story and art. However, it’s still unclear when the manga will return to its usual schedule. Dragon Ball is one of the most iconic anime and manga franchises in history, so Toei and Shonen Jump won’t let it end with Daima.

H/T: @Herms98 on X

The post Dragon Ball Daima’s Biggest Secret May Have an Answer After All appeared first on ComicBook.com.

With Dragon Ball Daima ending and Super on hiatus, the franchise’s future still remains uncertain. Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama died at the age of 68 in March 2024, with Daima being his final project. He wrote the story and was responsible for the character designs in this 20-episode anime series. Furthermore, Toriyama was also writing Dragon Ball Super’s story, with Toyotaro working as the illustrator. The Dragon Ball Super manga has been on hiatus since March 2024. Although it returned with a single chapter in February 2025, the release date of the upcoming chapter is still unconfirmed. Toyotaro is expected to take over the helm with the manga’s return.

The Dragon Ball manga debuted in 1984, and the anime first aired in 1986. The franchise is relatively old, and its legacy is unparalleled. However, with the latest advancements in technology, the animation quality of Dragon Ball and its sequel, Dragon Ball Z, has long been outdated. Since the franchise doesn’t have more canon materials, Toei can still work on movies and special episodes. However, fans wouldn’t mind a remake of their favorite anime with the best quality character design, original soundtrack, and, of course, animation. One of the oldest Dragon Ball animators, Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, shares his thoughts on the series remake.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Was Great, But It Could’ve Been Better With One More Scene]

Dragon Ball Animator Believes a Remake Will Happen One Day

Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru is an animator and character designer who has been a part of the Dragon Ball franchise for decades. He worked as the character designer for the later parts of Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and the Dragon Ball Z films, as well as a key animator for the 1997 remake of Dr. Slump. Nakatsuru also designed the first Super Saiyan 4 transformation in Dragon Ball GT, which was later slightly changed by Toriyama in Daima.

In a recent interview with the @db_times, a popular YouTube channel dedicated solely to Dragon Ball, Nakatsuru sheds light on his involvement in Daima and the older series. He also confirms that it was indeed Toriyama who designed Super Saiyan 4 in Daima in a way that made it the “Super Saiyan 4 of Daima“. The interview was translated by @Venixys on X, a Dragon Ball fan account. When asked if he would like to participate in a remake, he shares, “If I could contribute something and be useful in some way, I would love to. But if we were to start again from the Dragon Ball manga, perhaps younger people would want to completely re-adapt it.”

The original manga alone has 520 chapters, with several sequels. Hence, it will take years of work to even come up with a plan for a complete remake. Nakatsuru thinks that it will happen someday, however, he didn’t guarantee that the remake is already decided by Toei. He believes the original work will offer new possibilities for the younger generation, helping people enjoy Toiyama’s work as long as possible. Not only that, but these new ideas can even create something beyond Toriyama’s imagination.

H/T: @Venixys on X

The post Dragon Ball Animator on What to Expect For a Series Remake appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Following the conclusion of Dragon Ball Daima, shonen fans have wondered what is next for the Z-Fighter franchise. Dragon Ball Super released its first new chapter in some time earlier this year but the manga has yet to announce when new installments will arrive, to say nothing of a return date for the anime. In a recent interview, Daima animator Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru reflected on the arrival of this surprising sequel series. During the interview, Nakatsuru also reflected on the idea of starting from the beginning with a Dragon Ball Remake.

In the recent interview, Katsuyoshi dove right into the topic of whether he would be a part of a remake were he given the opportunity, “If I could contribute something and be useful in some way, I would love to, but if we were to start again from the Dragon Ball manga, perhaps younger people would want to completely re-adapt it. This would probably offer new possibilities. Perhaps younger people would want to completely re-adapt it. In any case, the original work exists, and from there, there are multiple ways to create a new series. Since I think it will happen one day, I also think that whether I participate or not is not that important.”

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Reveals Akira Toriyama’s Changes to Super Saiyan 4 Goku]

Nakatsuru Rocks The Dragon

The Dragon Ball animator continued, “Perhaps what matters most is that everyone can enjoy the franchise for as long as possible. And maybe, in this way, some will be inspired by Toriyama-sensei’s work and we could ever see a creation that goes beyond even Toriyama-sensei’s imagination and still, perhaps, enjoy it.”

As it stands, creators behind the shonen franchise have teased the idea that the story of Dragon Ball could continue for decades into the future even after Toriyama’s tragic passing. Most likely, for Dragon Ball Super, artist Toyotaro would take the reins of the series and follow-up on some major plotlines that have yet to be resolved, such as Frieza’s new ultimate transformation.

Dragon Ball Daima’s Future

Earlier this year, the twentieth episode of Dragon Ball Daima was released, seeing the Z-Fighters return to their normal, adult selves while also having them leave the Demon Realm after spending the majority of the anime there. Since this series was created thanks to a heavy influence from creator Akira Toriyama, the chances of a second season seem unlikely at this point especially considering the fact that the anime which gave us a canon Super Saiyan 4 takes place before the events of Super.

Still, with the many new characters and transformations that were introduced in Dragon Ball Daima, it seems likely that we’ll see some of them make a comeback in Dragon Ball Super’s future. The idea of never revisiting Super Saiyan 4 following Goku revealing that he can access this transformation at will seems unbelievable, and fingers crossed that we see the form return sooner rather than later.

Want to keep tabs on Goku and the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on all things Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Animator Talks Series Reboot appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima had shocked fans when the final episodes revealed a brand new version of Super Saiyan 4, and it turns out that original creator Akira Toriyama wanted to be sure this new version would be definitive to the anime. Dragon Ball Daima kicked off a new adventure in the official Dragon Ball timeline as Goku and the Supreme Kai headed out on a trip into the Demon Realm. This anime featured a new story from Akira Toriyama himself, and added some major changes to the canon with each new reveal about the Demon Relam itself. But those weren’t the only notable changes.

Along with many of the other smaller reveals about the Demon Realm and its ties to the multiverse we would see later in Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Daima had added a significant retcon that Goku also was secretly training to achieve the Super Saiyan 4 form and even revealed a new version of it in the final battle against Gomah. But as explained by Dragon Ball Daima animator Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru in a recent interview with DBTimes, it turns out that Akira Toriyama himself also designed this new version of Super Saiyan 4 but changed it for the new anime.

Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama Designed New SSJ4 Goku

When asked about whether or not he was behind the new Super Saiyan 4 Goku design (as spotted by @Venixys on X), Nakatsuru explained that it was actually Toriyama himself behind it. Settling that debate among fans once and for all with, “No, this time…in Daima...it was Toriyama-sensei who also designed Super Saiyan 4. He drew it in a way that made it ‘the Super Saiyan 4 of Daima.‘” So while Nakatsuru had helped with bringing the designs to life in the anime, it was Toriyama himself that ultimately designed this new version of Super Saiyan 4.

This helps to settle a debate among fans as Super Saiyan 4 is now not only firmly within the overall Dragon Ball canon, but has a new design from Toriyama himself specifically for the new anime. This helps to further differentiate Dragon Ball Daima‘s version of the form than the one seen in Dragon Ball GT, and even helps to tie into the transformations Goku would unlock in Dragon Ball Super later thanks to the deeper reds seen within this new version of the form.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Is One Step Closer to Making Super Saiyan 5 Official

What Does This Mean for Super Saiyan 4?

Now that it has been confirmed that Toriyama designed this new version of the form, it’s on the table for any potential future releases. Because one of the issues fans had about the debut of the form in general is when it’s supposed to be taking place. As Dragon Ball Daima is set after the events of the Majin Buu arc but before the Battle of Gods arc that helps to kick off Dragon Ball Super, it had seemed like Goku had unlocked this form but never decided to use it in any future fights for whatever reason.

But if Dragon Ball ever returns for either new Dragon Ball Super stories or an entirely new Dragon Ball anime project altogether, then this new (and definitive) version of Super Saiyan 4 can make a proper comeback. This also means that like with Vegeta also unlocking Super Saiyan 3 within Dragon Ball Daima, then there’s potential for Vegeta to also get his own version of the Super Saiyan 4 form as well now that Toriyama has left a blueprint behind. And that’s an exciting prospect heading into the future.

HT – DBTimes, @Venixys on X

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Dragon Ball Super is currently in the middle of a hiatus with no announced plans to return, but the manga should come back for a final arc to help resolve the massive Black Frieza cliffhanger to help end it all officially. Dragon Ball Super has been on a hiatus since the passing of franchise creator Akira Toriyama last year. The final chapter of this run wrapped up the epilogue for the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc, so it seemed like a fitting conclusion at the time should the series never return. But unfortunately, there’s still one lingering cliffhanger that’s too juicy to pass up.

Dragon Ball Super has teased that while it might be on a hiatus for now, there’s still interest from series artist Toyotaro (and publisher Shueisha) that it could continue with new material in the future. There was a brand new one-shot that showcased more of Goten and Trunks’ side of the story before the events of the Super Hero arc, so that could be the first sign of continuing with even more. It’s going to be a dangerous tightrope to walk for the series’ future, so maybe the best option is to come back for one final arc to bring it to a proper ending.

Dragon Ball Super Needs an Official Ending

The unfortunate nature of Dragon Ball Super’s limbo is the fact that the series still needs a proper ending. While it’s taking place before the end of Dragon Ball Z‘s final time skip years into the future, there was still plenty of room to explore with new stories. It’s what had interested fans about Dragon Ball Super in the first place. Because while Toriyama was not directly crafting the manga or anime releases, the creator was offering new ideas and stories to expand on the Dragon Ball universe in new ways never seen before. So while it was set before the time skip, it was also a fitting sequel.

It’s something that really drew fans to Dragon Ball Daima‘s anime release as well. This anime picked up right after the events of the Majin Buu arc and before Beerus and Whis arrived during Battle of Gods, and helped to expand the Dragon Ball world in some notable ways. While the end of the series did create some unusual trouble for fans’ understanding of the overall timeline, it did get to have a proper ending at the end of the day. It’s something that has eluded Dragon Ball Super as it was continuing to open up the multiverse in some wild new ways.

Dragon Ball Super had a lot more room to play with in the timeline as there’s still many years between where the series is at the end of Super Hero and at the end of Dragon Ball Z. With so many new additions to the lore with the multiverse alone, it really seemed like Dragon Ball Super was primed to go on for a very long time with new stories to continue for multiple years to come. But since we’re no longer in a place where that could happen, there’s a fitting place to end with a full circle villain that has been a thorn in Goku and the Z Fighters’ side since the earliest arcs of the series.

Black Frieza Is a Perfect Final Dragon Ball Villain

Dragon Ball Super opened up the franchise to a potential multiverse of new stories, but we’re in a much different world for the series now. Without Akira Toriyama overseeing the project, it’s likely going to be tough for Toyotaro to properly continue the series in the way fans are hoping for. The best middle ground in all of this is for Dragon Ball Super to get its final arc and have a proper ending to the story. It’s not going to be what fans might want considering the potential, but Dragon Ball Super (and Dragon Ball as a whole) is not going to be the same either way without Toriyama around. Especially because the entire “canon” of the series will no longer be as concretely defined in any potential future releases.

To get around this, the best way to go is for one final Dragon Ball Super arc to fully explore that final massive cliffhanger. At the end of the Granolah the Survivor arc, it was revealed that Frieza had become the new strongest warrior in Universe 7 after stumbling on a Hyperbolic Time Chamber out in space and training for ten years of time within it. This gave Frieza a brand new form, Black Frieza, and with it he took out both Goku and Vegeta with a single punch. Also being sure to defeat the seemingly immortal villain Gas in the process (after Goku and Vegeta struggled for an entire arc to deal any damage to). Ever since, fans have been obsessed with this idea.

The Dragon Ball Super manga then continued with an adaptation of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero feature film that had an additional prologue and epilogue that included brand new story bits. It was revealed that Goku and Vegeta had taken Broly to train on Beerus’ planet in the hopes of catching up to Frieza. By the end of the arc, they also had Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo who had reached strong enough forms to fight against Frieza on what could be an even playing field. Now it’s just a matter of bringing this fight to the page.

The question from that point on would then be whether or not this would be a satisfying final battle for the series. Frieza has been the most recurring villain in the franchise, and has survived death multiple times to provide new threats in some of the biggest arcs in Dragon Ball Super overall. Playing key roles in the Resurrection F, Tournament of Power, and Granolah the Survivor Arcs, there’s really no villain who’s going to be a bigger and more notable threat than Frieza at this point. Which is now even more true thanks to his new form.

If Dragon Ball Super’s Manga Ends, The Anime Can Return

Facing down Frieza in this way with a fully mastered Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego would allow Dragon Ball to have a thematically fitting end as they finally bring down the foe that’s been giving them the most trouble all this time. More importantly, if Dragon Ball Super has a proper ending with a Black Frieza arc then it’s likely that the anime can make a full comeback of its own. Dragon Ball Super’s anime release has also been in a state of limbo since it ended its run back in 2018. While the stories had continued with Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (and in the manga), it’s a far cry from the hopeful return of the TV anime.

A potential new Dragon Ball Super anime would pick up from where it left off with new adaptations of the Galactic Patrol Prisoner and Granolah the Survivor arcs, but it would then face the issue of not having a proper climax like seen before. The Tournament of Power was a fitting place to end the original anime series because it was an explosive arc filled with many episodes worth of fights, and got to end with that surprise team up between Goku, Frieza and Android 17. So a new anime needs that kind of ending too. It couldn’t just end with Frieza’s return in this new form.

Giving Black Frieza the final Dragon Ball Super arc would then leave room for a potential return for the anime. It can adapt the manga’s three remaining arcs to screen, and come to an end with a potentially explosive finale between Goku and Frieza once more. Frieza’s new force will likely be much stronger as a result of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber as well, and this will give all the other fighters something to do as it ends. But ultimately, it will allow a new Dragon Ball Super anime enough room to explore a proper comeback rather than returning to adapt an (as of now) incomplete series.

Because that would be the worst aspect of a new Dragon Ball Super TV anime at the moment. For as much as fans want to see a new series (especially after seeing how big of a deal Dragon Ball Daima turned out to be), Dragon Ball Super‘s return would be premature before settling its manga’s future. It would only adapt the two new arcs available, and then comes to an end with a fizzle as fans wait for more. That seems like it would be an even bigger disappointment than not seeing new episodes, so it’s probably best to avoid it before there’s an actual ending. Luckily, there’s one right in Dragon Ball Super‘s already made path.

Do you want to see Dragon Ball Super end with Black Frieza? Do you want to see it continue even further? Let us know all of your thoughts about it in the comments!

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Dragon Ball Super has dropped some cool new art for the series’ next volume, and it has settled the debate over Broly’s new Super Saiyan form. Although Dragon Ball Super’s official manga release skipped over a potential adaptation of the Dragon Ball Super: Broly feature film, the manga has actually included a ton of Broly material despite that. The first look at Broly in the manga, however, had depicted him with blond hair instead of the green hair he’s seen using in the feature film when going Super Saiyan. This opened up a debate between which of the two versions was part of the official canon.

This debate made a lot of sense considering how differently the manga approached events first seen in the anime, but now it can be settled once and for all. Dragon Ball Super has dropped the first look at the cover for Volume 24 of the manga release and with it drops some cool new art from artist Toyotaro. This art depicts Broly in his new state where he’s fully controlling his Super Saiyan power, and now depicts him with the green hair as seen in the anime’s version of the transformation (and settling that debate once and for all). Check it out below as spotted by @DbsHype on X.

What Is Broly’s New Super Saiyan Form?

Before it had gone on its current lengthy hiatus, Dragon Ball Super’s manga adapted the events of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero feature film in a totally new kind of way. While it was directly adapting the film’s events within its pages, the manga went a step further to included a full prologue and epilogue to the arc that added tons of new story materials. This included more of the training between Goku, Vegeta, and Broly that they had been briefly seen doing on Beerus’ planet during the film’s events.

Now with this expanded look at their training, it’s revealed that Goku had wanted to bring Broly along in order to better get him to master his control over the Super Saiyan Full Power transformation. This might be unique to Broly as it’s a transformation fueled by his rage, but in his training on Beerus’ planet, Broly is able to snap out of his berserk state and fully control his Super Saiyan power. This kicks off a new evolution for Broly’s power, and teases a future where he can stand alongside Universe 7’s strongest defenders like seen in this new art.

RELATED: 7 Times Goku Should’ve Used SSJ4 in Dragon Ball But Didn’t (For Some Reason)

Will We See More of This New Broly Form Soon?

Dragon Ball Super has been in the midst of a lengthy hiatus following Akira Toriyama’s passing last year, and it has yet to be revealed if their are any extended plans to bring the manga back as of the time of this publication. There is some hope in this manner as Dragon Ball Super returned last month with a brand new chapter exploring more of Trunks and Goten before the events of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc. So there’s at least some forward momentum in some form.

There’s still a lingering cliffhanger following the Super Hero arc too as it was revealed that Frieza is now the strongest warrior in Universe 7 with a brand new form to boot. And with the recent end of the Dragon Ball Daima anime series (which had a ton of surprises that could further tie into Dragon Ball Super‘s future), there’s now more hope than ever before that we’ll get to see new Dragon Ball Super stories in the future.

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Dragon Ball Daima might be over but this doesn’t mean that the shonen franchise has ended but this doesn’t mean that the Z-Fighters are on their way out. Dragon Ball Super recently released a new chapter that focused on Goten and Trunks learning to be costumed crime fighters in a special one-shot. While the shonen franchise has yet to confirm what the future holds for its anime adaptation or its manga, the new cover art is going viral thanks to bringing together the absolute strongest beings on the heroic side of the aisle.

The art in question is for the 24th volume of Dragon Ball Super’s manga, collecting the latest individual chapters of the series into one collection. On the cover, the shonen series sees Ultra Instinct Goku, Super Saiyan Broly, Ultra Ego Vegeta, Gohan Beast, and Orange Piccolo side-by-side. While the final chapters from Akira Toriyama did focus on Gohan Beast testing out his power against Goku, Vegeta, and Broly, we have yet to see all of these characters in their strongest forms standing next to one another. With Frieza still the strongest being in the universe thanks to attaining his new transformation, Black Frieza, seeing this team-up take place in the Z-Fighters’ story seems inevitable.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Might Be Hinting at The Anime’s Return With New Update]

The Strongest Z-Fighters Assemble

For those who need a refresher for when Gohan Beast took on Ultra Instinct Goku, Ultra Ego Vegeta, and Broly, the fight took place following the events of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. While readers didn’t get a definitive answer as to which of these Z-Fighters is currently the strongest, it’s clear that the Saiyans have hit a wild new level of power thanks to recent events. Whenever Dragon Ball Super’s manga does return following the 104th chapter, it’s sure to be quite the event in the anime world and we would expect to see Goku and company at their strongest. Fans can expect this volume to hit the stands on April 4th in Japan.

What Daima Means For Super’s Future

Following Dragon Ball Daima’s recent finale, many shonen fans are left wondering what this might mean for the future of the series. While Son Goku never unleashed the power of Super Saiyan 4, and Vegeta never relied on Super Saiyan 3, in Dragon Ball Super, there’s a strong possibility that we can officially see these transformations debut in the manga. Since the Demon Realm is now ruled by the benevolent Majin Kuu, peace has seemingly come to the underworld though this can always change.

Following Akira Toriyama’s tragic passing last year, it will be interesting to see where the manga will go moving forward. Will Toyotaro, the current Super artist, be leading the charge or will a new writer hop aboard to work with the mangaka? Only time will tell.

Want to see what the future holds for the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Super and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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Dragon Ball Daima has officially come to an end, so now is the best time to look back on it all and figure out whether or not it was a great entry in the anime franchise. Dragon Ball Daima released as part of the celebration for the 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s original Dragon Ball manga release, and saw Goku and the Supreme Kai go on a brand new adventure through the Demon Realm. This was a brand new story crafted by the late Akira Toriyama, and ended up being a fitting tribute to the creator following his passing last year.

Although it was later revealed by those behind the scenes that Dragon Ball Daima was not crafted as a 40th anniversary celebration, and only happened to line up with it upon release, Dragon Ball Daima still felt like the perfect encapsulation of those 40 years of history. At times nostalgic, but still had plenty of fresh ideas of its own, Dragon Ball Daima is now firmly within the overall timeline of the Dragon Ball anime’s history. But at the end of the day, was it actually a good anime? The answer might be different depending on who you’d ask, but ultimately it was good because it exists.

Dragon Ball Daima Took a While to Get Going

Dragon Ball Daima had a promising opening as the first episode was an extended runtime premiere that acted as a bridge between the events of Dragon Ball Z and the new adventure coming ahead. The anime teased fans about the kind of show that would be coming ahead, but ended with Goku and the others being turned into children. This was something that had been receiving a mixed response ever since promotional materials were first revealed, but the premiere featured enough of a makeover for nostalgic events that it was ultimately received well.

It just took a while to really get going from that point, unfortunately. Because as Goku and the others were working their way into the Demon Realm, the episodic nature of the series meant that fans were going to be taken on a much slower paced adventure than the first episode had promised. This took some getting used to for fans who had been hoping for more, but it was just an adjustment period. Those hoping for something like Dragon Ball Super might have been disappointed, but ultimately these smaller adventures were reminiscent of classic Dragon Ball or even Dragon Ball GT episodes (which was a very intentional move by the staff).

For a 20 episode series, Dragon Ball Daima took a while to really kick in its full adventure. The series made sure to really shine in moments where Goku Mini was able to unleash the full slate of his abilities, so it’s a complicated matter. Without the smaller adventure moments, these brief fights would not have been as impressive by comparison. But if there were fewer episodes spending time with these smaller moments, then there might have been more time that could have been used for more prominent fights. It really just depends on what you’re looking for in Dragon Ball, but it’s hard to deny that this was a slow burn.

RELATED: 7 Times Goku Should’ve Used SSJ4 in Dragon Ball But Didn’t (For Some Reason)

Dragon Ball Daima Changed the Canon Forever, Good and Bad

Dragon Ball Daima’s core appeal wasn’t the fights, however, it was all of the new information about the Dragon Ball franchise. Dragon Ball Daima was stuck in a precarious position within the overall timeline as it was set after the events of the Majin Buu arc but before Beerus and Whis arrived at the start of Dragon Ball Super. This was a period of time left unexplored, but it also meant that for much of the anime’s run fans wouldn’t get any massive shake ups. Instead, these shake ups came from our understanding of the characters.

With every new detail of the Demon Realm, Dragon Ball fans were treated to major expansions of the lore. It was here that Namekians were confirmed to be demons (along with every other being with pointy ears), the Demon Realm created the multiverse and sent the Kais to watch over each one, and Majin Buu was created by someone other than Bibidi (and thus could be replicated further). Each of these reveals were the major treats instead of the action sequences, so it was a reward for long time fans. Soon enough, things exploded.

Dragon Ball Daima then threw all of that into chaos as it was coming to an end. While it took its time before, the final third of the series was especially quick in how it progressed and a little more reckless with the timeline. Goku debuted Super Saiyan 4 officially, Vegeta revealed his take on Super Saiyan 3, and they just had them the entire time without a regard for any of the potential developments we would see in Dragon Ball Super‘s future events. It’s just unfortunate that it ended up feeling a bit haphazard compared to how much care was paid to the first half of the series.

That’s why Dragon Ball Daima‘s finale didn’t quite hit the mark as well as fans might have hoped in the end. It was told in an uneven way across its 20 episodes, and really stacked it more at the beginning and the end. If there was a better balance each week then fans might have had a better overall time. But at the end of day, it’s still a good show. Not only is it brand new Dragon Ball, but it’s likely the final new story we’ll get from the late Akira Toriyama. And that’s reason enough for this to be good.

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Dragon Ball Daima officially came to an end last month, and one prominent DC Comics artist is celebrating the finale with a cool new tribute to Super Saiyan 4 Goku. Dragon Ball Daima had some massive reveals for fans as with it being set after the events of the Majin Buu arc, the new story following Goku through the Demon Realm came with a number of major changes to the Dragon Ball timeline. The biggest shake up came towards the end of the series as it was revealed that Goku now had access to a brand new version of Super Saiyan 4.

This form was previously exclusive to the non-canonical events of the Dragon Ball GT anime, and is thus now an official part of the Dragon Ball canon as overseen by late series creator Akira Toriyama. This new version of the form also came with a brand new look for the famous transformation as well as seen in Dragon Ball Daima‘s final episodes. Now this new Super Saiyan 4 Goku has gotten a whole new makeover as shared by Dan Mora, who won ComicBook.com’s Golden Issue Award for Best Cover Artist last year. Check it out below.

What’s New About Super Saiyan 4?

With this new take on the Super Saiyan 4 transformation, Dragon Ball Daima has unfortunately divided fans. While it was confirmed by Goku to also be named Super Saiyan 4 within the official Dragon Ball timeline, it was then revealed that it was brought about through normal training. Goku had been secretly training to access the form after fighting Majin Buu, but was unsure of whether or not he could pull it off. So while it seemed like Neva’s magic helped to awaken this latent power within him, Goku himself was already on the verge of unlocking the transformation naturally.

This has raised some unfortunate questions about Goku in the future of the series too. Because Dragon Ball Daima takes place after the fight with Majin Buu, but before Beerus and Whis arrive, Goku has apparently had this transformation within him but never decided to use it regardless of the situation. It’s an unfortunate retcon for the Dragon Ball Super series as now it seems like Goku just never decided to use this form despite how powerful it seems within the Dragon Ball Daima finale. It’s led to some debates that fans will likely have for years to come.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima’s Post-Credits Scene Has One Underrated One Piece Animator Behind It

Will We See Super Saiyan 4 Goku Again?

At the same time, while Goku has never used Super Saiyan 4 within Dragon Ball Super, there’s still a potential to see the form in action again in the series’ future. Dragon Ball Super is currently on hiatus with no manga or anime releases on the horizon as of the time of this publication, but there’s a chance that the series will return. Dragon Ball Super‘s manga already returned earlier this Spring with a new story from artist Toyotaro without Akira Toriyama’s oversight, so there is a precedent set for the franchise to continue.

Dragon Ball producer Akio Iyoku has also expressed a desire to continue the Dragon Ball anime with new stories following Dragon Ball Daima, so there’s a chance fans will see Super Saiyan 4 in action in some form someday. With all of the advancements Goku makes later in the timeline, we might even see some new advancements for the Super Saiyan 4 form too much like how the god forms brought out Super Saiyan transformations in new kinds of ways.

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It turns out that Dragon Ball Daima and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have a lot more in common than you’d expect as the post-credits scene from the finale mirrors one big reveal in Marvel’s Loki series on Disney+. Dragon Ball Daima has officially come to an end, and fans are now working through all of the changes it has made to the official Dragon Ball canon so far. But while it made some massive reveals changing the franchise forever, the series ended on a final joke that only series creator Akira Toriyama could have thought of as a new legendary item is revealed to not really be that rare at all.

Dragon Ball Daima had been focusing its final fight on taking down the Supreme Demon King Gomah, who had been powered up to a whole new level thanks to using the Evil Third Eye. But as the anime revealed with its final post-credits scene, the Evil Third Eye wasn’t as special as Goku and the others had thought. Which really mirrors a scene in Loki where he finds out that the Infinity Stones that had been at the center of an entire saga really amounted to no more than trinkets in a desk.

How Does Dragon Ball Daima?

In the final scene of Dragon Ball Daima, Goku and the others head back to the Third Demon World shop where they had bought the Medi Bugs in the hopes of bringing them back to Earth. It’s here that they search through more of the shop, and suddenly find a jar with two eyes in it. It’s here the shopkeeper then reveals that these are Tertian Oculuses, the very same Third Eyes that the Demon King just used to boost his power. The shopkeeper then explains how she sold one long ago, but hasn’t been able to move any in the years since.

It’s a reveal that’s one final gag from Akira Toriyama as it explains that these powerful objects were actually quite common in the Demon Realm. These highly sought after and powerful relics were just hiding out in a random shop, and Gomah (or any other Demon King) could have gotten them at any time. Yet, they’ve been hiding under their noses the entire time. It’s the kind of realization that Loki had during his Disney+ series as well as he soon realized how small his universe’s troubles have been within the grand scheme of the multiverse.

RELATED: 7 Times Goku Should’ve Used SSJ4 in Dragon Ball But Didn’t (For Some Reason)

How This Is In Common With Loki

In Disney+’s Loki series, Loki is trapped within the TVA and discovers that he’s just one being in one timeline in a massive web of other universes and timelines. It’s a lot for the god to take in as he’s been thinking so highly of himself the entire time, but the real reality of the scope kicks in when he finds a drawer filled with many different Infinity Stones. In his universe, these Infinity Stones completely warped reality and changes many lives. But to the TVA, they’re basically just paper weights.

It’s a joke of a reveal to not only highlight how small Loki is within the multiverse, but also showcases that these once thought powerful items really aren’t that important either. It’s the same treatment that the Third Eyes get at the end of Dragon Ball Daima, and it’s appropriate given that it’s not long after these events that Goku and the others find out that they are a part of a wider multiverse in Dragon Ball Super too.

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Akira Toriyama’s final work Dragon Ball Daima has finally reached its conclusion around the same time as his first death anniversary. The author worked on the story and character design before supervising the anime’s production. Needless to say, the show was well-received by fans. The series follows Goku and his friends in a new adventure as they navigate the Demon World in hopes of finding the Dragon Balls. After getting turned into children by Gomah, who also kidnapped Dende, their only hope now is the Demon World. However, the Dragon Balls in the Demon World are guarded by powerful warriors known as Tamagami.

With their bodies turned into children, venturing into an unknown world is nothing to scoff at. While Goku heads there with Gomah and Supreme Kai, Vegeta and the others soon follow suit. The group reunites after Goku acquires one of the three Dragon Balls by defeating the Tamagami Number 3. Meanwhile, Vegeta defeated the Tamagami from the second world. He also surprises fans with a never-before-seen transformation, with fans quickly pointing out an amusing callback in how Vegeta names it, to Trunks’ name for that same form in Dragon Ball Z.

[RELATED: “No More Paradoxes”: Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama Continued the Series Under One Condition]

Vegeta and Trunks Thought of Similar Names for Their New Super Saiyan Forms in Dragon Ball

The series also includes several memorable moments giving Vegeta the much-deserved spotlight. Fans witness his Super Saiyan 3 form for the first time. Dragon Ball Z introduced this transformation in the Majin Buu Saga, where Goku takes on this form to distract the villain. While taking on this form gives the user a massive power boost, it also drains a lot of energy. However, Goku thought it’d be the best way to stall Buu long enough for Trunks to find the Dragon Radar. Goku achieved his transformation during his extensive training in the afterlife.

However, Dragon Ball Z never gave Vegeta that phenomenal form. The story continued later on in Dragon Ball Super, which included Super Saiyan Blue and Ultra Instinct, making SSJ3 a thing of the past. Compared to Goku, who didn’t have any limitations for the past seven years in the afterlife, Vegeta just couldn’t reach that level in DBZ. However, he must have secretly trained again, considering how in Dragon Ball Daima, he uses this form to fight against Tamagami Number 2.

Funnily enough, he refuses to call it Super Saiyan 3. In the heat of the moment, Vegeta names this form “Ultra Vegeta 1.” This isn’t the first time he strayed away from the naming nom. In Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta named his Super Saiyan 2 form “Super Vegeta.” However, naming SSJ3 “Ultra Vegeta 1” could be related to his son, Trunks.

In DBZ, Trunks said SSJ3 is like an “Ultra Super Saiyan.” This adorable similarity shows how the father and son duo are similar in Dragon Ball Daima. Despite having seemingly different personalities, the show often includes subtle proofs of how these two indeed share the same blood. Outwardly, Trunks is more similar to his mother, Bulma. They both are kinder and strategic as compared to the brash and aggressive Vegeta. However, beneath the surface, it becomes more apparent that they are two sides of the same coin.

H/T: Herms98 on X

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Akira Toriyama’s last project, Dragon Ball Daima, officially reached its conclusion on the same time as the author’s first death anniversary. From writing an original story to creating the character design, Toriyama was a major part of the show and supervised everything during the production. Although Executive Director Akio Ino said it was a coincidence, Dragon Ball Daima’s release in the same year as the manga’s 40th anniversary gathered a lot of attention. The story takes place in the Demon Realm, where Goku and his friends arrive in hopes of obtaining the dragon balls and getting back to their normal age.

However, for the majority of the series, the struggle revolves around the position of the Demon King. After Dabura’s death during the Majin Buu Saga, Gomah takes over as the new king. Still, Supreme Kai’s siblings, Degesu and Arinsu, are also after that role. The Demon Realm is vast, and it’s not surprising others would want to reign over the land. With Gomah’s defeat in the Dragon Ball Daima finale, the Demon Realm got a new king, and he’s one of the series’ most underrated characters, Majin Kuu, who may be perfect for the role.

[RELATED: “No More Paradoxes”: Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama Continued the Series Under One Condition]

Majin Kuu Becomes the New Demon King in Dragon Ball Daima

Majin Kuu is an underrated character in the show, created by the witch Marba under the direction of Dr. Arinsu. Marba is the same witch who successfully created Majin Buu. Majin Kuu is a fusion of a Saibaman seed and the essence of Majin Buu, resulting in a being that embodies traits from both species. However, although he is quite strong, he is unable to defeat the Tamagami, leading Arinsu to request Marba to create another Majin instead.

Even so, Kuu has proven to be useful to her on multiple occasions, especially with the second test given by the Tamagami of the first Demon World. Instead of insane offensive and defensive powers, Majin Kuu exhibits superhuman intelligence, capable of rapid learning and quick comprehension of complex information. In the finale, while Goku is fighting Gomah, Kuu smacks the villain on his head, leading to the third eye coming loose.

This ultimately resulted in Gomah’s defeat, making Kuu the victor of the battle. Also, there’s a rule that the one who defeats the Demon King will become the new ruler. Kuu wins by pure luck, but it turns out well. The elder Namek, Neva realizes that Kuu will make a great king, unlike his predecessor. Kuu also asks Arinsu to help him make the Demon Realm a scary but good place to live. He even declares her the Vice-Supreme Demon King.

Draon Ball Daima has highlighted the poor state of the world on multiple occasions, but that’s about to change with a new benevolent king. With a new and trustworthy leader and capable allies on his side, tyranny has ended in the Demon Realm. It will take a while to improve the living conditions of the citizens, end discrimination, etc., but Kuu has set his mind on it. The series ends on a happy note, with Goku and his friends turning back to normal and returning to their homes.

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Akira Toriyama’s last project, Dragon Ball Daima, concluded at the same time as his first death anniversary. Daima aired in the same year as the franchise’s 40th anniversary, winning the hearts of fans worldwide. The new adventure brings Goku and his friends to the Demon World, where they try to gather the dragon balls and get back to normal. However, as if navigating through an unknown world wasn’t difficult enough, they are turned into children, making them less powerful than before. The anime ends on a happy note, turning Goku and the others back to their normal age and changing the status quo of the Demon World.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for the Dragon Ball Daima Finale!

King Gomah is the main antagonist of the show, and the anime concludes with his defeat. Majin Kuu becomes the new Demon King, promising to make the Demon World a scary yet good place to live in. He makes Arinsu the Vice Supreme Demon King and asks her for help to fulfill his goal. Goku and his friends head back to Earth as the Demon World tries to settle in with the change in monarchy. Additionally, the anime also featured Goku’s Super Saiyan 4, which is slightly different from Dragon Ball GT. The transformation unpacks some serious power, as displayed in Goku’s powerful Kamehameha.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Producer Explains Why Goku & Friends Were Turned Into Kids]

Goku’s Kamehameha Is a Callback to King Piccolo’s Defeat in Dragon Ball

King Piccolo, also known as the Great Demon King, was a major antagonist in the original Dragon Ball series. Goku defeated the villain with one of his most iconic moves—the Reverse Kamehameha-propelled aerial attack punching a clean hole through the demon king. Before dying, King Piccolo spat out an egg, ensuring his reincarnation as Piccolo Jr. However, the Namek would later become Goku’s rival and ally in Dragon Ball Z. In Daima, Goku used his Ultra Kamehameha to punch a hole through Gomah’s chest, even tearing rifts through to each of the other worlds in the Demon Realm.

While the new attack is incredibly powerful, it still reminds us of how the young fighter defeated the “other” Demon King. Whether it’s villains or heroes, characters getting punched a hole is common in Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball fights, especially in Z and beyond, emphasize over-the-top powers. A simple punch is never enough, so the characters need to suffer devastating injuries to highlight how powerful their opponents are. A hole through the chest is one of the most brutal wounds, often meant to convey their fatal implications.

In Dragon Ball Z, Goku held Raditz in place while Piccolo used a Full-Nelson Special Beam Cannon to kill both of them in one shot. Meanwhile, this attack also gave Piccolo a chance to shine in the Dragon Ball Daima finale’s battle. Although Piccolo didn’t get much limelight throughout the series, he was quick to act after seeing Gomah getting injured. The only way to take out the third eye is by striking the back of his head three times. Piccolo struck Gomah twice but, unfortunately, failed in his third attempt. Gomah was able to regenerate after the second strike, which made things difficult. Majin Kuu later got an opening to get the job done.

H/T: @Herms98 on X

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Dragon Ball Daima has wrapped and with its grand finale, shonen fans are left with mulling over one of the final works of Akira Toriyama. The anime series did throw some major curveballs at fans as many were not expecting Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta to make an appearance, let alone a Super Saiyan 4 Goku. This legendary anime form first appeared in Dragon Ball GT and most Z-Fighter fans believed that it would never make its way to the canon universe. Unfortunately, the fourth Super Saiyan level had one major caveat in its origin story, or perhaps lack thereof.

If you weren’t aware of Super Saiyan 4’s origin in Dragon Ball Daima, the finale reveals that Goku was able to achieve the level through off-screen training. While he first debuted the transformation as a child in the fight against Gomah thanks to Neva the Namekian, Goku apparently already knew he had the power within him the whole time. Son just needed a little push when it came to making sure he could access it in his “mini” body and the elder Namekian was more than happy to oblige. This new origin raises quite a few questions and ultimately falls flat when it comes to the form’s potential.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima’s Finale Explains Super Saiyan 4’s Origin (And Fans Might Not Like It)]

Super Saiyan Misfire

Goku learning a new form off-camera is nothing new for the Dragon Ball series, as past examples have included Super Saiyan 3 and Super Saiyan Blue. For Super Saiyan 4 however, it feels like a giant missed opportunity for what could have been a major story beat in Daima. Son achieving this form via training simply leads to so many questions and seeing him achieve it, even via a flashback, would have helped to give anime fans a major scene.

Some of Dragon Ball’s best moments have come from new transformations making their debut. Goku achieving Super Saiyan thanks to Krillin’s death was an emotional gut punch, with the same perhaps being far more true for Gohan reaching Super Saiyan 2 while fighting Cell. Here, the transformation holds little emotion behind its origin, seeming almost like a throwaway concept that might be good “fan service” but fails to truly give an emotional impact.

Super Saiyan 4 Leads To Many Questions

For some time, Dragon Ball Daima has been touted as being a part of the overall main storyline, taking place before the events of Dragon Ball Super. Since this is the case, Goku’s refusal to ever use Super Saiyan 4 when fighting leads to continuity issues, especially when he initially fought Beerus. Of course, at the time of Super’s creation, they didn’t know that Super Saiyan 4 would be introduced to the main universe, but the frustration remains. Super Saiyan 4’s absence could have had an easy enough workaround in that perhaps the fourth level could only be used in the Demon Realm or could only be used in the proximity of Neva or even that the Z-Fighters’ memories could have been wiped. It’s a missed opportunity for sure and it helps to make the legendary form feel far more surface-level than it should.

Comparing this new origin to Dragon Ball GT’s debut makes it all the more shaky in the present, as the Grand Tour, despite its flaws, did introduce Super Saiyan 4 quite well. Kid Goku transforming into a giant golden oozaru, only to be brought back from the brink by Pan and achieving this new level felt earned, especially in the face of the villainous Baby. On the flip side, Vegeta taking a “shortcut” to do the same worked well for the character, showing how the Saiyan Prince was more than willing to take an “easy route” if it meant narrowing the gap between him and his eternal rival. Of course, Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta was the icing on the cake in this sequel series.

We don’t know if Super Saiyan 4 will make a comeback in Dragon Ball Super, since the manga is already planning a comeback but we hope that the printed story, and perhaps eventual anime, are able to learn from Daima and mend some fences. Dragon Ball might have its fair share of amazing battles and dazzling transformations, but all those hit that much harder if they have an emotional impact backing them up.

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Dragon Ball Daima is the final work of Akira Toriyama, one of the greatest mangakas of all time. Released in the same year as Dragon Ball’s 40th anniversary and concluded around the same time as Toriyama’s first death anniversary, the anime touched the hearts of many. The story takes place one year after the Majin Buu Saga, as Goku and his friends live their normal day-to-day lives, unaware of the trouble looming over their heads. Far away in the Demon World, Dabura’s successor, King Gomah, is astonished by the unparalleled power that Goku and his friends possess.

Thanks to Degesu’s help, Gomah successfully turned them into children using Earth’s dragon balls. Hence, Goku and the others head to the Demon World on a new adventure. As the story continues, we learn more about Demon World and the problem faced by the people due to incapable rulers. Luckily, King Gomah’s defeat results in Majin Kuu taking over as the new ruler. Neva states that Kuu becoming the new Demon King may be a good thing. The story ends with Goku and his friends heading back to Earth while Kuu, Arinsu, and the others strive to make the Demon World a better place.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima’s Ending Was Happy Even for Its Most Evil Villains]

Dragon Ball Daima Exec Claimed the Episode Titles Have a Special Message

During the New Year’s “All Night Nippon – Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary Special,” Dragon Ball Daima’s Executive Producer, Akio Iyoku, talked about the series. The 20-minute long show was shared on Radiko’s official website. Since the original version is in Japanese,  @peraperayume on X translated and shared some important bits from it. The producer reveals that the episode titles have some kind of meaning, which will be revealed after the season ends. Iyoku refused to go into the details since it was supposed to be an important part of the show.

@Herms98 shared on X, “Each Daima episode title is a single Japanese word with one katakana letter in red. The Executive Producer of the show, Akio Iyoku, hints that these have some meaning but can’t say more yet. The red letters so far: ボグダべジヅビガゾバデヂズ (bo gu da be ji zu bi ga zo ba de ji zu).”

The user also claims that the letters don’t form a proper message yet, and it might make sense once all the episodes are out. The letters form a pattern, and probably a Japanese native speaker can figure out the secret message. However, since the series is globally available, a majority of the fans don’t know what message Iyoku talked about. The anime also has reached its conclusion, and it’s unclear if there will ever be a revelation about it.

It’s possible that Iyoku might reveal it in another interview, or a fan will try to decipher it later. Even though we didn’t find out the answer to this mystery, the anime had one of the most heartwarming endings ever. Dragon Ball Daima ends with a post-credit scene, leaving room for the story’s continuation, but that doesn’t seem likely yet.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Still Needs to Solve Its Greatest Mystery appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Prince of All Saiyans did what many anime fans thought would be impossible in Dragon Ball Daima when he unveiled his Super Saiyan 3 transformation. In taking on one of the Demon Realm’s Tamagami, Vegeta revealed that he had attained the form following the fight against Majin Buu thanks to some serious training. With the former villain using the power against Gomah, the Dragon Ball Daima finale doesn’t feature the Saiyan Prince using Super Saiyan 3 but it does see Vegeta giving it a hilarious new name perfect for the anime royalty.

Warning. If you have yet to watch Dragon Ball Daima’s series finale, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory. Thanks to Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 and a last-minute assist from Majin Kuu, Gomah is defeated and loses the power of the Evil Third Eye. In picking up the pieces from the Demon Realm adventure, Kuu is made the new king and the Z-Fighters are able to return to their world. Before leaving the underworld locale, Vegeta and Goku butt heads in a hilarious fashion wherein the former is able to rename Super Saiyan 3 in a way that only the Saiyan Prince could.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Has a Post-Credits Scene (And It’s a Can’t Miss)]

Super Saiyan Bargain Sale

After the two pure-blooded Saiyans argue over Goku keeping Super Saiyan 4 a secret, Son admonishes Vegeta for using Super Saiyan 3 in a similar fashion. Not thrilled with how Goku describes the transformation, Vegeta claims that it should be dubbed “Ultra Vegeta 1,” giving it a title that no anime fan would have thought of. Not that Vegeta has used the power of Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball Daima, it will be interesting to see if he employs the form in Dragon Ball Super’s future.

Of course, “Ultra Vegeta 1” isn’t the only time that the Saiyan Prince has gone “Ultra.” During Dragon Ball Super’s Granolah The Survivor Arc, Vegeta manages to discover a new transformation thanks to training with Beerus the God of Destruction. Dubbed “Ultra Ego,” the form gives Vegeta purple hair and a visage that makes him look somewhat like his Super Saiyan 3 aesthetic. Despite appearing in the manga, Ultra Ego has yet to be animated so shonen fans are still waiting to see Vegeta’s ultimate form arrive on the small screen.

Where Will “Ultra Vegeta 1” Return?

While the shonen manga and its anime adaptation don’t have plans to focus on Vegeta’s Super Saiyan 3 transformation, gamers will have the chance to jump into this form in the near future. Vegeta’s latest form is coming to Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, which shonen fans might be surprised to see considering the game was initially released in 2017. Despite almost being ten years old, the action-rpg still has plenty of gas in the tank.

Want to see what future transformations might be lying in wait for the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

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