Akira Toriyama is one of the most beloved and well-known mangaka ever. Bursting into the popular consciousness with Dr. Slump in 1980, Toriyama achieved legendary status when he released Dragon Ball in 1984, spawning a massive franchise that is still going strong today. He has done much more than these series, however, and Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater shows how talented the legendary mangaka truly is.
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater collects many of his shorter series and one-shots into an anthology, making these otherwise rare stories easier to find. It was released in three volumes in Japan: volume one landed in 1983, volume two arrived on shelves in 1988, and the third and final one released in 1997. Then in 2003 and 2004, these books were re-released with slight changes as Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater Kai.
However, the series did not have a proper release in North America until recently. In December 2021, Viz Media published a collection that combines all three volumes into one book, making now the perfect time to dive into these works that cover the early years of Toriyama's manga career and show how he and his style have changed and evolved over time.
The collection contains 20 different stories -- including Toriyama's debut manga, Wonder Island and Wonder Island 2, which launched in 1978. The first chapter follows Petty Officer 2nd-Class Furusu, who crashed his plane during World War 2 only to wake up on a strange island called Wonder Island -- which would later appear in Toriyama's breakout series Dr. Slump. Wonder Island 2, meanwhile, is a reference-packed romp full of pop-culture parodies.
Also included in Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater is Go! Go! Ackman from 1993. This story follows Ackman, a young demon who wakes up after a 50-year sleep. Ackman's parents inform him that they need to kill people so they can sell the souls to their Dark Lord. However, this plan isn't as easy as it first seems, as Ackman's old foe Tenshi is still around.
Another highlight is 1982's Pink, which famously became an anime film called Pink: Water Bandit, Rain Bandit in 1990. The story follows Pink, a girl who steals water from Silver Company, an evil corporation profiting from a year-long drought. However, the company soon sets its sights on the titular lead, forcing her to work harder to solve the mystery behind the situation.
The best part is, all this is merely scratching the surface of the collection's contents. There are loads of great stories across the three volumes, all of them retaining Toriyama's special charm along with his trademark sense of humor and adventure. This means longtime Dragon Ball fans will find the collection an easy and enjoyable read.
Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater is a fantastic release that re-emphasizes how talented Toriyama is. While it might seem strange to say that a legendary name like Toriyama is overlooked, this collection proves there is far more to him than Dragon Ball. In fact, it displays how much range Toriyama has as he can create fascinating worlds and memorable characters within a few short pages. With a few months to wait until Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero hits screens, now is the perfect time to dive into Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater and appreciate just how talented the legendary creator is.