Dragon Ball Releases OG Goku Artwork That "Perfectly Encapsulates" Its Pre-Anime Promotion
The April 4, 2024, edition of the Akira Toriyama Archive gave fans another detailed look at the rich history of Dragon Ball. This time, a chapter illustration of Kid Goku revealed more about the state of the franchise at the time than fans may think.
As shared by the official Dragon Ball website, the illustration in question, seen below, came from Chapter 9 of the original Dragon Ball manga, initially released in 1985. In the story, titled "Dragon Balls in Danger!!", Goku, Bulma and Oolong spend the night inside the Capsule Corp. camper, unaware that Yamcha the Desert Bandit is right on their trail. Oolong, frustrated by Bulma's bossiness and intrigued by the wish-granting power of Goku's Dragon Balls, tricks them into drinking a sleeping tonic.
Chapter 9 of the manga continues when the shape-shifting Puar tries to lure the gang out so that Yamcha can steal the Dragon Balls, and Oolong is forced to play the hero by disguising himself as Bulma. Yamcha, who thinks he's found the Dragon Ball under a towel, comes to the shocking realization that it was actually Bulma asleep... fresh from the shower. Overwhelmed by his own impure thoughts, Yamcha retreats, and the Dragon Balls are saved.
For fans used to the more dramatic and action-oriented storylines of Dragon Ball Z, this comedic and slightly risqué episode of Dragon Ball may seem out of the ordinary. However, the late Akira Toriyama was primarily a gag manga artist, as seen in his early work like Dr. Slump and Go! Go! Ackman. As stated by the official Dragon Ball website, the Chapter 9 illustration "perfectly encapsulates what Dragon Ball was at the time" with its fantastical imagery of Kid Goku wielding his Power Pole as a magnificent dragon flies behind him (amusingly, Bulma is pictured at the bottom right with a firearm). According to the website, this illustration of Kid Goku became the basis for promotional artwork for the anime series, which was first released a year later in 1986.
While Dragon Ball fans have experienced more stories with Goku as an adult than a child, the development process of designing adult Goku was anything but smooth. For those wanting to relive the early days of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Daima will transform the main cast, like Goku and Vegeta, back into children. Meanwhile, parents who want to share their love of anime with their children can purchase baby clothes modeled after Goku's famous martial arts uniform.