Toyotarou, the artist officially associated with Dragon Ball Super, recently shared a fresh illustration as part of his ongoing “Toyotarou Tries to Draw” series. This particular piece serves as a heartfelt homage to Akira Toriyama, spotlighting the late creator’s favorite character from his body of work.
The Dragon Ball official website highlights that Toyotarou’s drawing centers on COWA, a manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump over a brief 14-chapter run between 1997 and 1998.
The series stars Mako Maruyama, a distinctive figure and former sumo wrestler, who takes on a leading role among the narrative’s core characters.
While Goku’s fame far exceeds that of Maruyama, the latter remains a cherished creation for Toriyama. Toyotarou’s illustration also features Maruyama’s mischievous companions, Paifu and Jose, bringing further vibrancy to the tribute. Readers can explore the artwork below.
A Fresh Look at Toriyama’s Picture Book-Style Approach
COWA diverged from Toriyama’s earlier works by adopting a storytelling style reminiscent of picture books, as noted by the Dragon Ball website. Its opening chapter stood out for being fully colored, an uncommon choice for serialized manga.
The narrative reveals in a fantastical setting where humans coexist with ghosts and monsters. The plot revolves around “Monster Flu,” a mysterious disease, and Paifu, a half-vampire, half-werekoala boy, who ventures to find a cure. This remedy lies with a witch dwelling on Horned-Owl Mountain.
Joining Paifu on this quest are his friends Jose and Arpon, along with Maruyama, who becomes involved after being convinced to help. Maruyama’s backstory includes his fall from grace as a sumo wrestler after an accidental death during a match.
Though initially misled by a false promise of one million yen, Maruyama remains loyal to the group, assisting them through their journey.
Excitement Builds for Upcoming Dragon Ball Super Projects
Since March 2024, Toyotarou has limited new releases for Dragon Ball manga, focusing mainly on teasers and spinoff illustrations. However, fans can look forward to fresh material soon.
Jump Festa 2025 has announced the release of a one-shot featuring Goten, Trunks, and the lesser-known Clean God, slated for February 20. While this development hints at more to come for Dragon Ball Super, there is no confirmation yet from V-Jump regarding the series’ return to regular monthly chapters.