Nobuhiro Watsuki Infuses Rurouni Kenshin Aesthetic into New Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project

On October 29, 2024, X (previously known as Twitter) and the reputable manga news outlet @WSJ_manga revealed an unofficial sneak peek of Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project, featuring an entry by Nobuhiro Watsuki, the acclaimed creator of Rurouni Kenshin. This revelation comes just ahead of the official publication of the artwork in the next edition of Shueisha’s V Jump magazine.

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project celebrates the 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s iconic manga series, which initiated the beloved global franchise.

Each month invites a new mangaka to reinterpret one of the 42 volume covers, with Watsuki being the latest and 40th participant. Noteworthy contributors also include Masashi Kishimoto, Kohei Horikoshi, Tite Kubo, and several others.

Nobuhiro Watsuki’s heartfelt tribute in the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project

For his entry, Watsuki has creatively redrawn the cover of volume 30 in his signature style. While it retains a distinct flair compared to his well-known series, Watsuki’s characteristic art is still evident. Beyond the stylistic differences, the essence of the image remains largely unchanged, with the addition of some text.

The newly included text features the word “forever,”presented in both English and Japanese. This message is strategically positioned below the “thank you”inscribed on the original cover, suggesting that Watsuki is expressing “thank you forever”to Toriyama, a poignant homage following the beloved mangaka’s passing in March 2024.

Additionally, Watsuki has included a personal message with his contribution, which has yet to be officially translated. However, fan interpretations suggest that Watsuki reflects on his connection with Toriyama as a fellow creator and offers his condolences in light of Toriyama’s death.

A tragic loss, Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024, due to an acute subdural hematoma, with the news confirmed a week later via various official channels, including the Dragon Ball franchise’s X account. His original manga first appeared in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in November 1984, concluding its run in June 1995.

Watsuki’s Rurouni Kenshin also enjoyed a run in Weekly Shonen Jump, from April 1994 to September 1999. Since then, a number of sequel mangas have been launched, including the ongoing arc known as The Hokkaido Arc. Additionally, the manga was adapted into an anime series beginning in 1999, which aired until 2000. In 2023, Liden Films commenced a new adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin, which is set to continue with a sequel in the Fall 2024 season.

Source