In an homage to the legacy of Akira Toriyama, who tragically passed away in March 2024, Kōhei Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia, published a touching tribute illustration exactly one month later. This revealing detail is found within a newly released artbook dedicated to the series.
Debuted on June 4, 2025, in Japan, “My Hero Academia Ultra Artworks” is a compilation of 240 pages showcasing official artwork by series creator Horikoshi, which has been unveiled over time. Unlike previous collections, this latest artbook offers more than just a printed gathering, as it incorporates commentary from Horikoshi about the creative journey behind his most impactful works. One piece in particular – a color illustration for Chapter 419 – served as a heartfelt homage to Toriyama’s iconic series. This special colored page was previously published in Weekly Shonen Jump in April 2024, following the release of Chapter 419 by one month.
Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama Was Honored in My Hero Academia Chapter 419 Color Page
Audrey Lamsam, CEO and founder of Aitai Japan’s online store, disclosed intriguing insights about Horikoshi’s creative methods from the book My Hero Academia Ultra Artworks. On her previous platform (originally Twitter), Lamsam mentioned that the color page for My Hero Academia in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 19 of 2024 was a deliberate tribute to Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series. In recognition of Dragon Ball and its creator, Horikoshi depicted the students of Class 1-A setting off on an epic journey accompanied by diverse dragons as a way of paying homage.
On the hue-designated page for Chapter 419, the youthful band of superheroes from the series “My Hero Academia” don creative flying outfits and leap onto their designated dragon. Ochaco Uraraka, who possesses the ability to alter gravity with her power, is depicted strolling effortlessly above ground. In contrast, ex-Pro Hero Keigo Takami (also known as Wing Hero: Hawks) is observed gliding through the heavens using a homemade flying device. The scene’s focal point, however, is the imposing green dragon that towers in the background, reminiscent of Shenron from “Dragon Ball“. This colossal reptile stands out against the smaller characters, who are primarily colored red and positioned in the foreground.
On different occasions, Horikoshi has shown homage to the famous manga “Dragon Ball”. The illustration where All Might confronts a younger version of All For One, bears resemblance to the cover artwork of “Dragon Ball” Chapter 309, which showcases Goku and Frieza. Both pieces emphasize the contrast in physicality and power between their characters.
I’m absolutely thrilled to share that the continuation of my beloved anime TV series, “My Hero Academia,” is scheduled to premiere in October 2025! This follows its heartwarming conclusion back in August 2024. Additionally, a captivating spinoff, titled “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes,” can be found streaming fresh episodes on Crunchyroll right now. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for these heroes!
You can easily access the entire “My Hero Academia” manga digitally through Viz Media and Manga Plus applications. The synopsis for this series goes: “Izuku, a boy who’s always dreamt of becoming a hero, faces an uphill battle given that he has no superpowers in a world where most people do. Born ordinary amidst the extraordinary, Izuku still aspires to attend one of the world’s top hero academies.
Read More
- CRK Boss Rush guide – Best cookies for each stage of the event
- Glenn Greenwald Sex Tape Leak: Journalist Cites “Maliciously Political” Motives
- Fortress Saga tier list – Ranking every hero
- Mini Heroes Magic Throne tier list
- Castle Duels tier list – Best Legendary and Epic cards
- Grimguard Tactics tier list – Ranking the main classes
- How to Prepare and Dominate the Awakened Hollyberry Cookie Update
- Cookie Run Kingdom Town Square Vault password
- Overwatch Stadium Tier List: All Heroes Ranked
- Seven Deadly Sins Idle tier list and a reroll guide
2025-06-04 21:38