American sprint king Noah Lyles is among those who have paid tributes to departed creator of popular Japanese comic Dragon Ball which has influenced many around the world.
American sprint king Noah Lyles has paid glowing tribute to the creator of Dragon Ball, one of the most influential and best-selling Japanese comics of all time, who died aged 68.
Akira Toriyama suffered an acute subdural hematoma, a type of bleeding near the brain, his studio said Friday.
Dragon Ball is hugely popular around the world and the comic series has also spawned cartoon and film versions.
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The Dragon Ball comic series debuted in 1984. It follows a boy named Son Goku in his quest to collect magical dragon balls to defend Earth against alien humanoids called Saiyans.
Fans have paid tribute to Toriyama for creating characters that have become a part of their childhood and Lyles is one of them.
“So sad to lose a legend Akira Toriyama. Ik his work has forever affected my life,” Lyles posted on social media about Toriyama, who had uncompleted works at the time of his death.
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Toriyama died on March 1 and only his family and very few friends attended his funeral, according to a statement from the Dragon Ball website.
"He would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world," his studio said.
"We hope that Akira Toriyama's unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”
Lyles is a huge fan of both manga (comic books) and anime (animation).
At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Lyles stepped out onto the track with silver hair in tribute to Goku from Dragon Ball Z.
"In Dragon Ball Z, Goku's final stage, or form, is Ultra Instinct. His hair turns silver/grey. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to make the team. I'm in my highest state,” Lyles told the Washington Post at the time.
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Born in Nagoya, Japan in 1955, Toriyama broke into the comic book world in the early 1980s with Dr Slump, which tells the story of a little girl robot Arale and her scientist creator.
But Dragon Ball was his most famous work. To many fans, Son Goku's journey from a kid who fumbles his martial arts training to a high-flying hero who can shoot bolts of electricity from his hands mirrors their own struggles against self-doubt as they grew into adulthood.
Dragon Ball inspired fan fiction writers and cosplayers who style their hair like the characters' sharp and pointed locks.
More information from BBC
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