Since the death of Kentaro Miura, creator of the legendary Furious Franchise, the incomplete opus of the artist was managed by his longtime friend and partner, Koji Mori (Holyland,, Taiga Genesis). However, Mori recently revealed that his latest project, D.diverwould not exist in its current form without the influence of his late colleague.
D.diver is a supernatural-mystery manga that has been launched for the first time in Young animal Magazine on May 26, 2023. In a recent interview with Natalie comic stripMori explained how he developed the concept for D.diver With the help of Miura, who has often “consulted” about their respective projects. “I had drawn manga with my late friend, the artist Manga Kentaro Miura, from our teenagers …[he] I kept saying to myself: “You should create a transforming hero who is beating evil. You should definitely shoot this, “he said. These conversations have encouraged Mori to start doing online research on real crimes and to arouse more interest in the idea of creating a “revenge research hero” which does justice in cases where the law cannot.
The creator of Berserk Kentaro Miura was crucial to design the new series “Revenge-Reseing Hero”
As of August 29, 2025, four volumes of D.diver were released in Japan. The series revolves around Kagura, a student who aspires to become a lawyer. He is also in the grip of dreams which sometimes seem to be indistinguishable from reality. One day, after falling asleep during a trial for murder, he discovers that the criminals he fights in his dreams feel the effects of his actions in real life. Invigorated by her newly discovered power, Kagura turns into a “black hero” who faces criminals in the dream field. However, this “transformation” is not shown before volume 3 – another creative suggestion of Miura. “”[He] Said to me: “If you do not fully grasp the representation of immersing him in dreams and in search of evil at the beginning, then the meaning of the fight in dreams will not be clear, then take place before the volume three”, “Mori remembers that Miura told him.
Shortly after Mori began to develop the story of D.diverMiura encouraged him to combine it with the ability of “dream diving” that he had thought about another project. “The idea of a hero in search of revenge has been represented in many ways so far. Then, Miura saw a protagonist that I had in mind for another manga that travels dreams and he said:` `Using this … ” and that’s how D.diver came, “said Mori. In addition, Miura also helped to design the demonic armor that Kagura carries in history.” He designed the shoulder armor part on the back to the stomach, “said Mori.” At first, it was a design that looked exactly like a demon, but he made it look more like armor. So this work is like a memory for me, really. “”
In particular, some of the ideas present D.diverlike dream diving, are also used in Furious. “Miura actually used the idea of” first crossing a dream. (Laughs) … There is a scene where a heroine named Casca, who lost her head, crosses her dream and brings her senses, “said Mori.” Miura asked me: “Can I use this first?” Manga artists are very concerned about the overlapping ideas. [she] does not transform and does not defeat evil. You have mainly found half of the idea. Go for it. “” This exchange indicates close artistic camaraderie between the two creators who existed during the life of Miura.
Before her death, Miura told Mori the task of supervising Furiousis the completion at Studio Gaga. In August 2025, 40 additional chapters in the series were published in Hakusensha Young animal review. Mori is also deeply passionate about D.diver Which, as a precious memory of his friend, also believes he is managed with great care. “… it’s really like a memory, and I desperately draw it. From now on, the events that can only occur in dreams … where delusions and fears have manifested themselves directly, start seriously … It’s really just the beginning … With the transformation finally happen, but that’s all the fault of Miura (laughs).”