After Over a Year on Hiatus, the Dragon Ball Super Manga Is About to Make Its Comeback
If you’ve been following the Dragon Ball universe lately, you already know 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest year for the franchise in decades. But the one thing fans have been desperately waiting for is the return of the Dragon Ball Super manga — and now, for the first time in over a year, the signs are undeniable. The manga is coming back, and the evidence is everywhere if you know where to look.
The Hiatus That Had Fans Waiting
For those who’ve lost track: Dragon Ball Super Chapter 104 dropped in March 2025, and then… silence. Toyotarou, the manga’s artist, quietly put the series on hiatus and has yet to deliver a new chapter. The anime got a remake announcement, a sequel was confirmed, and video game projects kept coming — but the manga, the backbone of the entire franchise’s modern storyline, just sat there.
Month after month, V-Jump magazine gave fans the same frustrating update: “The latest chapter of Dragon Ball is on break.” No timeline. No explanation. Just the same line repeated across multiple issues. But the June 2026 V-Jump issue? Something changed — or at least, the context around it did.
5 Signs the Dragon Ball Super Manga Is Returning Soon
Here’s why fans and industry watchers believe the return is imminent:
1. Toyotarou’s Cryptic X Bio Update
Back in March, Toyotarou updated his X (formerly Twitter) bio with a single line that sent the community into a frenzy: “Everything is for the return of the series.” This isn’t a throwaway line. It’s an explicit confirmation that he’s actively working on the manga’s next saga. Artists don’t update their bios like this unless something significant is happening.
2. Leaked Volume 25 Spine Art
Perhaps the most concrete evidence: new spine art for Dragon Ball Super Volume 25 leaked last month. Here’s why this matters — each volume collects exactly four chapters. Volume 24 ends at Chapter 104. That means Volume 25 requires Chapters 105 through 108 to exist. Toyotarou wouldn’t draw spine art for a volume that doesn’t have content ready. The chapters are done, or very close to it.
3. The Official Cover Poll and August Livestream
The Official Dragon Ball Site is currently running a fan poll for the best Dragon Ball Super manga cover. It runs through August, and here’s the kicker: Toyotarou himself will host an official livestream to announce the winner and draw a brand-new cover for the manga. Why go through all that effort unless you have something major to announce? An August return, right alongside the livestream, would be the perfect setup.
4. V-Jump’s June Issue Carries Hidden Signals
On the surface, the June V-Jump issue repeats the same “on break” message fans have seen for months. But industry observers point out that the placement and framing have shifted — and historically, Shueisha uses this exact pattern in the months before a major series returns. It’s the “quiet before the storm” approach they used before My Hero Academia‘s major arcs and Jujutsu Kaisen‘s comebacks.
5. 2026 Is Dragon Ball’s Biggest Year Since 2015
Think about everything happening: a Dragon Ball Super anime remake, a confirmed sequel series, multiple new games, and now what looks like a manga return. Shueisha and Toei Animation don’t coordinate a year this massive by accident. The manga’s return is the missing piece of a carefully orchestrated franchise revival.
What Could the New Saga Be About?
Based on what we know from the ongoing anime developments, the manga’s return likely picks up with — or leads directly into — the Galactic Patrol storyline. The Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol arc has been officially confirmed as introducing a villain stronger than the Gods themselves, which means Goku and Vegeta are about to face a threat that makes even Beerus and Whis look manageable.
This is huge for the franchise. The “stronger than the Gods” angle suggests a completely new tier of power scaling, something that hasn’t been introduced since the Tournament of Power. Fans can expect:
- New transformation forms for Goku and Vegeta that go beyond Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego
- Galactic Patrol characters getting deeper integration into the main storyline
- A villain with god-level or higher power who forces Goku and Vegeta to push past their known limits
- Potential crossover elements between the manga and the upcoming anime remake
How This Compares to Previous Comebacks
Dragon Ball has a history of long hiatuses followed by explosive returns. The original manga took breaks that lasted months. The Dragon Ball Super manga itself has had shorter pauses between arcs, but nothing this extended — until now. The fact that this is the longest break in the series’ modern history makes the return feel even more significant.
Consider this: the last time Dragon Ball Super returned from a break, it delivered the Granolah the Survivor arc, which many fans consider the best manga arc the series has ever produced. If Toyotarou has been using this time to craft something even more ambitious, the comeback could be absolutely massive.
What Fans Should Expect in the Coming Weeks
Based on the timeline of evidence, here’s the most likely scenario:
- June-July 2026: V-Jump teasers increase. The official poll continues building hype.
- August 2026: Toyotarou’s livestream drops. New cover art is revealed. And the manga return date is officially announced.
- Late 2026: Chapter 105 publishes, kicking off the next saga of Dragon Ball Super.
Of course, this is all educated speculation. But when you stack up the leaked Volume 25 art, the X bio, the cover poll, the livestream, and the broader franchise momentum — it’s hard to imagine any other outcome.
The Dragon Ball Franchise Is Back — and It’s Not Slowing Down
Whether you’re a manga reader, an anime watcher, or a gamer who’s been riding the Dragon Ball wave for decades, 2026 is the year that proves this franchise is far from finished. The manga’s return isn’t just about getting new chapters — it’s about the entire Dragon Ball universe leveling up at the same time.
One question remains: when Chapter 105 finally drops, will it live up to over a year of anticipation? Based on everything we’ve seen so far, there’s every reason to believe the answer is yes.
What do you think the new Dragon Ball Super saga will be about? Drop your theories in the comments — and don’t forget to check out our coverage of the Nintendo Direct that broke the internet, the biggest Summer Game Fest 2026 announcements, and everything we know about the Chainsaw Man June 19 reveal.
