Full-time comic artist

"I'm so happy that Toriyama-sensei has released a new work!" Oda exclaimed.

No matter what the work is, as long as Akira Toriyama continues to serialize it, he will be satisfied.

What's more, now that they can compete together in Jump, he's so happy he could fly.

Hibiki Higashino watched the TV program introducing "COWA!" and clenched his fists tighter and tighter.

In order to win first place in the game, he went against his principles and changed the pace of "Hikaru no Go".

Now, can I use "Slam Dunk" to win first place in front of Toriyama-sensei?

"I need to work harder at drawing comics!" he sighed.

"It would be too embarrassing to slack off in front of Toriyama-sensei."

……

Did you know? Akira Toriyama has released a new work.

"Of course, I only have one name: COWA!"

The previous era belonged to Akira Toriyama, and not only current Jump readers, but even those who had abandoned Jump, immediately began to look forward to it.

In mid-October, Hibiki Higashino arrived at the classroom and was immediately surrounded by a group of people.

"Tori Akino-sensei, is Toriyama-sensei really going to release a new work?"

Hibiki Higashino felt Akira Toriyama's influence once again when he saw everyone looking at him expectantly.

I'm still a long way from achieving the same level of success.

Even though the TV station had reported it on the news, they still inquired cautiously, afraid of being disappointed.

Higashino nodded.

"Long live!"

"The god of comics has returned!"

They're looking for another Kakarot, wanting to experience a new adventure!

Now, no matter where or where people gather, they will talk about Akira Toriyama.

Millions of people are patiently waiting!

Weekly Shonen Jump issue #47 is now available.

……

Hibiki Higashino received the sample copy early, and he saw "COWA!" on the cover and in the color pages at the beginning.

The art style is cartoonish and childlike, and the characters have the beauty of "Ding Zhen".

With innocent eyes and a wide grin.

"The Horror Story 1: Bove's Shopping Spree."

This is the title of the first episode.

After reading the contents, Higashino Hibiki felt a sense of loss.

"Akira Toriyama knows what readers like to read."

The new work has an unexpectedly strange style; it's just a fairy tale.

This is what children's adventures are like.

This is destined to be unpopular with the public.

"If Toriyama-sensei had just kept drawing the same formula as Dragon Ball, people would have liked it, but he didn't."

He really only draws what he wants to draw.

Higashino Hibiki's idea of ​​competing with Kosei for first place also vanished instantly.

……

on Monday.

Eiichiro Oda looked at "COWA!" with a smile on his lips.

As a loyal fan, he was very satisfied to be able to see Akira Toriyama's new comics.

After the series began, he gradually came to understand.

As the author of a shonen manga, if you keep using the same formulas, the passion will eventually be worn away.

Toriyama-sensei was the same way.

He has persisted for over a decade, and now:

"Can't I enjoy myself?"

It seems that Oda heard what Akira Toriyama was thinking.

"Let's leave it at that."

At this time, someone called him from the Akira Toriyama Fan Club, whom he had met at an exhibition of Akira Toriyama's works years ago.

His name was Masashi Kishimoto, and the two of them had a very pleasant conversation.

After that, Masashi Kishimoto also submitted his work to the Manga Taisho Award.

Hibiki Higashino's opinion of his novel "Robot" is alright.

It can be described as mediocre, but the basic skills are good, showing an academic foundation.

"Hello, Oda-sensei, this is Masashi Kishimoto."

The other party said very politely that when Oda became the serial author, a thick barrier was formed between the two of them.

"Kishimoto, it's been a long time since we last talked," Oda complained.

I feel like I've drifted apart from this friend with whom I have so much in common.

“I am thinking about serialization,” Kishimoto explained, “but I don’t have enough experience yet, and I’m still working on it.”

“Actually, you should have started as a manga artist’s assistant,” Oda earnestly advised. “I learned a lot from Akino-sensei. Without that experience, I would never be able to serialize a manga now.”

“Hmm, I’m considering it,” Kishimoto said.

He is in contact with the editor and is working on two different directions.

Magical manga has masterpieces like Diablo and Berserk, while swordsman manga has illustrious predecessors like Rurouni Kenshin and Blade of the Immortal.

The two directions he most wanted to draw were both blocked.

"You won't let me draw anything!" Kishimoto was very distressed.

The predecessors were so capable that the readers' threshold was raised, making it difficult for successors to create something new, let alone gain recognition.

Kishimoto no longer knows what his goal is, let alone which direction to strive towards.

When you're feeling lost, you're more likely to get stuck in a dead end.

So at this moment, he only gave vague answers and did not agree to Oda's request.

He changed the subject, "I called you to discuss Toriyama-sensei's 'COWA!'"

“That’s quite a coincidence,” Oda laughed heartily as he put down his paintbrush. “Toriyama-sensei can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Toriyama-sensei’s work is clearly not here to steal first place.”

“That’s what I think too,” Kishimoto said with a complicated expression. “By abandoning its strongest point, this manga seems a bit boring to me, but…”

"We can see Toriyama-sensei enjoying drawing manga again," Oda quickly replied.

“That’s right,” Kishimoto said. “Perhaps when I reach Toriyama’s level and finish a world-class work, I will also turn back and draw the works that I want to draw now but dare not.”

……

Weekly Shonen Jump broke records; in just one day, 500 million copies of the manga magazine were sold out.

Faced with pressure from distributors across the country, they had no choice but to reprint the book as soon as possible.

Torishima Kazuhiko understood that this was merely a ripple caused by Toriyama Akira's return.

This ripple will subside as more and more people read CIWA!

Therefore, he did not intend to take this opportunity to increase the number of comics published.

"Akira Toriyama, Akira Toriyama, with such popularity, it's such a shame you don't draw shonen manga!"

He sighed repeatedly.

"However, this episode of Slam Dunk is really scary!"

The final match between Shohoku and Hainan.

"In the preliminary report, COWA! is only 35 votes behind."

This was something Torishima Kazuhiko hadn't anticipated.

……

In the latest episode of "Slam Dunk," unlike Akira Toriyama who "tanks," Mirai Toriyama is truly working hard.

Everyone who has read it has been moved by it.

This is the final moment of the match.

Shohoku is down by four points with four minutes left in the game.

Facing the formidable Hainan, the entire Xiangbei team was exhausted, yet they still managed to create a powerful and inspiring hymn of struggle.

"If Hainan widens the gap to six points, Xiangbei will immediately respond and close the gap to four points. As soon as Xiangbei closes the gap to four points, Hainan will immediately widen it to six points as well. The two sides will not give an inch in the four-point and six-point gap."

"But there isn't much time left."

Kanda Takehito licked his lips. This quarter was an insurmountable barrier, and he was extremely nervous.

There are only two minutes left.

"Go Shohoku!"

Having worked so hard, Takenori Akagi continued the competition despite his foot injury, while the others also struggled to keep going, unwilling to admit defeat.

We absolutely have to win!

He looked at the comic and cheered for Shohoku.