With the demise of Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama on March 1, the world of Manga lost one of its founding fathers. Toriyama, who died at the age of 68, had created the much loved Dragon Ball series.
Bird Studio, the manga company that Toriyama founded in 1983, confirmed his death in a statement on Instagram and said, “It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve.”
Toriyama’s first brush with the manga industry came when, at the age of 23, he participated in a contest run by a weekly manga magazine. Though he didn’t win that contest, he began sending his drawings to the Weekly Shōnen Jump.
In 1984, he created Dragon Ball which went on to become a global phenomenon and one of the best-selling series of all times. With his boundless creativity, captivating storytelling, and unforgettable characters, Toriyama has left an indelible mark on the world of Manga – a sentiment echoed by Bird Studio in its statement where it said, “He has left many manga titles and works of art to this world”. Through his legendary creation, Dragon Ball, we pay homage to the iconic author. Such was the creation that it was soon converted into a TV series called Dragon Ball Z, more than 20 different films and many video games.
Dragon Ball was inspired by “Journey to the West” and other Hong Kong Martial Art films and became more than a simple comedy. The Manga is a story of an action-packed adventure to continue along a series that would capture audiences across generations.
Here’s a look at his most famous Dragon Ball series, the Dragon Ball Complete Box Set:
Volume 1: The Adventure Begins
Volume One introduces us to Goku, the young boy with superhuman strength and a monkey tail embarking on a quest to find the mystical Dragon Orbs that would raise the almighty dragon God who would grant one wish to its collector. As the story progresses, he encounters Bulma, an intelligent scientist with questionable morals, and together they begin their epic journey of exploring the world and finding these 7 Dragon Orbs.
Volume 2-4: The Search for the Dragon Balls
On their journey together, they form powerful alliances. From the shape-shifting pig to the fearsome Emperor Pilaf, each encounter brings them closer to their destination, testing their will and strength.
Volume 5-8: Tournament Saga
The humor and adventure from the first volumes now shift to the martial arts, where Goku faces formidable opponents during the tournaments that hone their skills. Goku’s journey of self-discovery continues as he forms more alliances and rivalries with some cunning masterminds.
Volume 9-12: The Red Ribbon Army Arc
As the adventures in the series escalate, so does the danger. He finds himself pitted against the nefarious Red Ribbon Army in the battle for the Dragon Balls. With each volume and encounter, the stakes are higher than ever and Goku must push himself to new limits and confront powerful adversaries to emerge victorious.
Volume 13-16: The Demon King Piccolo Saga
In the climactic saga, Goku faces the biggest challenge in the form of the most malevolent Demon King Piccolo. As the chaos descends, putting the world at stake, Goku must bring together his allies and harness their inner strength to defeat the ancient evil and restore peace to the land.
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is a cultural phenomenon that continues to inspire the world with its timeless themes of friendship, courage, and perseverance. For this, we are forever grateful to the mastermind behind the DragonBall Universe.
Pick up the complete Dragon Ball Box Set from any Kunzum store or WhatsApp +91.8800200280 to order. Buy the book(s) and the coffee’s on us.