The art of Goku gets some style advice from Ichigo. As part of a three-year commemorative project, the mangaka of Bleach has remastered a volume of Dragon Ball. This is the second of forty-two total covers that are getting artistic remasters from other manga creators.
Dragon Ball was created by Akira Toriyama and first began publishing in 1984. It is one of the best-selling manga series in history and has spawned several sequel series and animes, including Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. It has also had a few spin-off series, including That One Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, and Neko Majin Z. Bleach began publishing in 2001 and is another highly popular manga series. Though it hasn't had any spin-offs, it recently returned with a new chapter celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Now, the latest cover in the Dragon Ball Super Gallery has been revealed. Illustrated by Tite Kubo, the creator of Bleach, it revisits Dragon Ball Vol. 27. Goku, Piccolo, and Frieza have all received a makeover, making them look like they could the Soul Society. This is the next cover in Dragon Ball's build-up to its 40th anniversary in 2024. Kubo's style, like Toriyama's, is highly recognizable and both their manga series have the achievement of being in the list of top fifteen best-selling manga of all-time.
The twenty-seventh volume of Dragon Ball is also the eleventh volume of Dragon Ball Z. This is one of the most important volumes in the series, as it includes Goku's very first Super Saiyan transformation. It is also part of the Frieza Saga, featuring Goku's first fight against this planet conquering foe. This is arguably one of the best Sagas in Dragon Ball history and a great way to continue the early momentum for this three-year celebration. Kubo's take on this volume adds some motion to Goku's iconic Turtle School Uniform with his belt. His hair is more vertical and his characterization makes him almost look like he has a fusion with Bleach's Ichigo. Piccolo looks incredible with a slightly elongated, thinner - and sharper - frame. Frieza, featured on this volume in his True Form, is particularly menacing with the presence of far more shadows on him. His purple gem plate is largely absent from this homage in favor of placing more emphasis on his shadowed body.
Goku's first major transformation that made him a legend in not only his own world, but also amongst readers and watchers of the series for many generations. With two covers in the Dragon Ball Super Gallery released, one can only hope that the next forty artistic transformations will take notes from Goku and hit Super Saiyan levels in execution.
