Dragon Ball turned 40 on November 20, 2024, and to celebrate, a brand new box set for the legendary manga was announced by Shueisha. This set includes the entire original Dragon Ball manga series and brings something never seen before for longtime fans and collectors. The celebration honors the influence Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball had on the world of anime and manga, offering a unique look back with a modern touch. With contributions from top shonen creators and a treasure trove of collector’s items inside, this release has quickly become a landmark moment for the franchise and its dedicated fanbase.

History of Dragon Ball’s Manga Legacy

Since first appearing in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1984, Dragon Ball quickly transformed the landscape for action manga. Akira Toriyama’s story about Goku’s adventures started as a comedic, sometimes light-hearted journey and grew into one of the most intense, action-packed, and creative universes in manga history. The manga ran for 519 chapters, compiled into 42 volumes, and inspired countless adaptations across anime, movies, and games.

Toriyama’s ability to blend humor, adventure, and martial arts set a new standard. The series transitioned from the “Journey to the West” inspiration in the original arcs to the more familiar tournament and battle sagas that defined shonen for decades. Dragon Ball also gave rise to iconic transformations like Super Saiyan and introduced generations worldwide to Japanese manga. Many of today’s shonen leaders, from One Piece to My Hero Academia, cite Dragon Ball as a major influence.

The global reach started with the anime’s syndication and only grew stronger as merchandise, video games, and movies reached new generations. By its 40th year, Dragon Ball remains a pillar of the shonen genre and an introduction to anime culture for millions around the world.

Even after the manga’s end, Dragon Ball’s legacy continues with new projects and references in pop culture. Its themes, art style, and characters remain instantly recognizable, illustrating how enduring Toriyama’s creation is after four decades.

Details of the 40th Anniversary Box Set

Shueisha’s 40th Anniversary Box Set stands out for both its comprehensiveness and its creative additions. The set compiles all 42 volumes of the original Dragon Ball series, but that’s just the beginning. Each volume includes the original cover artwork by Akira Toriyama, along with newly created alternative covers from some of today’s most influential manga artists.

The box set is organized across four separate cases, and the boxes themselves can be lined up to recreate the spine illustrations from both historical Jump Comics editions and the Dragon Ball Complete Edition. This detail is a nod to long-term collectors who have followed the series through every official release. Collectors will appreciate the “fantastic, double-cover versions” of each volume, offering two cover options between Toriyama’s classics and the new art sleeves. This careful packaging highlights the manga’s history and also pushes the celebration into the present day, connecting fans old and new.

Extras in the set include eight original dividers and a double-sided set of 42 postcards, each one featuring both the original covers and the alternative ones, making it an all-in-one tribute box for Dragon Ball’s massive 42-volume run.

New Cover Art By Renowned Shonen Manga Creators

One of the features that sets this anniversary box set apart is the alternative cover art and sleeves, created by star shonen manga artists. These guest artists provide their own take on each Dragon Ball volume, creating an anthology of styles and tributes from across the shonen landscape.

Artists participating in the project include some of the most recognized names in manga today:

• Eiichiro Oda of One Piece
• Gege Akutami of Jujutsu Kaisen
• Tatsuki Fujimoto of Chainsaw Man
• Tite Kubo of Bleach

Adding their styles to each cover creates a fusion of Dragon Ball’s history and the modern face of manga.

This collaboration was first showcased in Saikyo Jump’s “Dragon Ball Super Gallery,” where new alternative cover art was released monthly starting with the magazine’s September 2021 issue. By combining Toriyama’s vision with modern interpretations, the sleeves offer a fresh look at Dragon Ball’s original art with an all-star lineup.

The full list of contributing artists and their cover assignments can be found on Dragon Ball’s official website, providing a deep dive for those who want to see how each artist celebrated Toriyama’s work.

What’s Inside the Collector’s Edition

The 40th Anniversary Box Set is designed not just as a reprint, but as a comprehensive celebration package for fans. Besides the dual covers for each volume, collectors also get a set of eight dividers that can help organize the volumes into the four grouped cases.

Another unique addition is the double-sided 42-card postcard set, featuring both the original and new artwork. This adds value for fans who collect not just the books, but all types of Dragon Ball memorabilia. The postcards can be displayed, traded, or kept as keepsakes, offering a tangible way to admire the evolving artwork and enduring legacy of the franchise.

Each book is produced to high collector standards, combining classic quality printing with the lush color and premium feel expected from anniversary memorabilia. The inclusion of both classic and new artwork is a thoughtful touch, appealing to those who love the nostalgia of Toriyama’s covers as well as fans interested in fresh artistic perspectives from current manga superstars.

Saikyo Jump’s Super Gallery Collaboration

The fresh cover art that defines the 40th anniversary box set was originally created as part of Saikyo Jump’s “Dragon Ball Super Gallery” project. Starting in September 2021, Saikyo Jump released one newly drawn alternative cover art piece for Dragon Ball each month, with the project spanning years and resulting in a comprehensive gallery from the wider shonen community.

This gallery collaboration brought even more attention to the anniversary, generating buzz each month as fans anticipated the next artist’s reveal. The variety of styles collected over this period offers a timeline not just of Dragon Ball’s legacy but the shifting trends and talents in shonen manga today.

By bringing together Saikyo Jump and Shueisha, the Super Gallery project highlights the close ties between legacy manga and the new generation, reflecting just how deeply Dragon Ball runs in the industry’s DNA.

Release Plans and Pre-Order Information

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Pre-orders for the 40th anniversary box set opened in Japan after the official announcement on the Dragon Ball English Twitter account. Although a Japanese release is underway, the box set does not yet have a confirmed English release date. This detail has left international fans eager for updates.

Fans looking to secure their copy can follow updates through the official Dragon Ball website. As of May 2025, all official details and a complete artist list are available online, helping collectors plan their purchases and learn exactly what’s in the box before ordering.

Due to high demand for Dragon Ball memorabilia globally, it’s common for Japanese releases to sell out quickly, raising anticipation for any possible English edition and expanded distribution outside Japan. Staying tuned to official sources is highly recommended for up-to-the-minute news on the international launch.

Global Impact and Influence on Modern Manga

Dragon Ball’s shonen formula changed the blueprint for manga and anime worldwide. Series like One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach all drew on Akira Toriyama’s blend of humor, heartfelt storylines, and spectacular battles. The 40th anniversary brings new attention to how Goku’s journey set the mold for many heroes who followed.

Dragon Ball’s fight choreography, unique humor, and transformation arcs became touchpoints in manga design. Many artists participating in the anniversary set have openly credited Toriyama as inspiration for their work. With decades of continued adaptations, Dragon Ball remains an ever-present influence in modern manga and global pop culture.

Major anime and manga events in 2025 are spotlighting Toriyama’s franchise, reflecting its record-breaking achievements, and celebrating its stature as a foundation for ongoing series and franchises. Dragon Ball’s influence is especially visible in the way power scaling, rivalries, and tournament arcs are now ingrained in the shonen genre, inspiring a new generation of artists and writers each year.

Celebrating Akira Toriyama’s Artistic Legacy

Akira Toriyama’s style remains iconic and instantly recognizable. His simple yet expressive art, comedic timing, and knack for character design set him apart early in his career. Over 40 years, his work on Dragon Ball has sparked creativity and launched many careers in both manga and anime industries.

Toriyama’s legacy continues in every new shonen series that takes cues from his approach to action, pacing, and humor. The inclusion of his original covers in the box set is a direct tribute, allowing fans new and old to see his evolving style throughout decades of publication.

By inviting star artists to reinterpret his work, the anniversary box set doubles as a tribute to Toriyama’s influence over the next generation of creators. This sets a precedent for how long-running series can engage both history and renewal, making Toriyama’s contributions central to the future of manga as well.

Connection to Recent and Upcoming Dragon Ball Projects

2025 is a big year for Dragon Ball, not just because of the anniversary box set. The franchise continues to make headlines with new projects, such as the anime series Dragon Ball Daima and ambitious video games like Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. These releases keep Dragon Ball in the spotlight and introduce it to an ever-growing global audience.

There are strong connections between these new projects and the original manga volumes featured in the box set. The art, themes, and even character designs in current series reference Toriyama’s originals, impressing both new and longtime fans. Producers and artists working on the 2025 anime have spoken openly about their homage to the classic series, reinforcing its ongoing importance.

This synergy between old and new helps the franchise celebrate its roots while looking confidently to the future, keeping interest in the box set high among collectors and new fans alike.

Fan Reception and Community Reaction

Dragon Ball’s 40th anniversary box set announcement set off a wave of excitement in the global anime and manga community. Fans quickly started sharing their favorite volumes, artwork, and memories online, with many praising the decision to include both Toriyama’s and guest artists’ covers.

Collectors noted the quality and comprehensiveness of the box set, expressing anticipation for its arrival and hoping for an English edition. The involvement of star artists from other popular franchises made the box even more appealing, as it became a showcase for the entire shonen genre’s interconnectedness.

Communities on social media, forums, and fan sites have spent months speculating about which artists would draw which covers, sharing the Saikyo Jump “Super Gallery” pieces as they appeared. With the box set’s release, Dragon Ball continues to unite new and old fans, proving the timelessness of Toriyama’s work and the franchise’s cultural power.