Akira Toriyama
This is something that's being written off the cuff. I literally just read the news as I was revamping a chapter to be posted. Akira Toriyama has died. And, I'm genuinely gutted by the news.
I have tried to type this sentence at least ten times now, because I have no idea what to say. In terms of popular culture, Toriyama practically raised me in a sense. One of my earliest memories of television is watching Oozaru Vegeta rampage around and try to stomp on Goku. Every birthday from Age 4 to Age 12 was Dragon Ball themed. I bought every toy I could find, every VHS, every card and book and unofficial magazine. Budokai was my first game on the GameCube. The costume I wore to my kindergarten Halloween party was Goku.
I'm staring right now at a shelf full of manga, Figuarts, Pop Figures, and assorted brick-a-brack and I'm just at a loss.
Of course, I've never met Akira Toriyama personally, but it's a terrible feeling. From the humor of Dr. Slump to the action of Dragon Ball, to even smaller projects such as Cowa!, Sand Land, and the Manga Theater release, he's been my go-to for humor and for writing. I aspire to be able to put as much talent and skill into my writing as he did in drawing one panel of a despairing Goku staring down at the raging Namekian seas.
Suffice it to say, when people try to say in review for this story of mine that I'm doing things better than Toriyama or anything like that, I appreciate the hyperbole. But I respectfully disagree.
In my humble opinion, there is not a better writer than Akira Toriyama. His stories changed my life. I wouldn't be the person I am, for better and for worse, without Dragon Ball. And Dragon Ball wouldn't exist without Toriyama.
So, yeah, sorry to just post a stupid little ramble, but I had to get it off of my chest. I'm sad that one of my real-life heroes is gone. More new chapters tomorrow.
Rest in peace, Toriyama, and thank you for everything that you've ever done for me.