Dragon Ball Unearths Rare 37-Year-Old Art Showcasing Original Gohan Design

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Gohan is right up there with Goku as one of the most recognizable characters in the whole series. He’s gone through so many transformations over the years, most fans have probably seen them all.

He’s best known for his appearance during the “Saiyan Saga” of Dragon Ball Z, a story most fans are familiar with. However, very few have seen early sketches of the character created by Akira Toriyama while the manga was still being made.

In 1989, Akira Toriyama created a rare drawing of young Gohan that most current Dragon Ball fans haven’t seen. It shows 5-year-old Gohan wearing the first training outfit Piccolo gave him. This artwork appeared in issue No. 18 of Weekly Shonen Jump, which was released on April 4, 1989. You can view both the magazine cover and the art itself below.

Newly Revealed Official Dragon Ball Art Showcases Gohan From Saiyan Saga

The latest issue of Dragon Ball features a draft cover with Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo, boldly proclaiming, ‘You better bring it! I’m taking you out!’. According to the official website, this draft is particularly interesting because it depicts Gohan as brave and determined – a contrast to his paralyzed state during the story’s crucial battle. Unlike the final cover, this draft shows Gohan’s full figure, likely building excitement for what was to come.

The cover appeared in the Japanese magazine Weekly Shonen Jump, but the initial sketch of Gohan showed him by himself, with no other images or text overlapping him.

Many Dragon Ball fans believe Toriyama’s art style during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament Saga and the beginning of the following arc was his peak, and this design perfectly captures that iconic look.

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2026-01-16 02:38