The official Dragon Ball website’s Toriyama Archives is a constant source of the franchise’s rich history, releasing hard-to-find artworks and images straight from the late creator’s desk. This time, the archives has fished out a rare draft of Gohan’s illustration from the Majin Buu Saga.
The newly released draft depicts Gohan during the time he was intensely training in the Sacred World of the Kai to gain the power necessary to defeat Majin Buu. In the illustration, he is seen wearing the traditional robes of the Supreme Kai and wielding the legendary Z-Sword, a weapon he famously pulled out and later broke to inadvertently release the Elder Kai.
The illustration also captures the physical strain of the training. This period was crucial for Gohan, as it eventually led to the Elder Kai unlocking his hidden potential, allowing him to achieve the Ultimate form, though its effectiveness is still questioned by fans.
Dragon Ball Reveals 32-Year-Old Gohan Artwork in Rare Outfit
Gohan in Kai costume wielding Z-SwordImage via Shueisha
This rare look at Gohan in his Kai costume is bound to be a significant find for fans, as color illustrations of this specific outfit are scarce. The illustration was created for the cover of Weekly Shonen Jump 1994 No. 28, which was officially released on June 14, 1994, in Japan. This particular issue of the magazine itself is iconic in its own right because it published Chapter 474 of the Dragon Ball manga, which introduced the Super Saiyan 3 transformation for the first time.
In the chapter, Goku unlocks the new form in order to stall Majin Buu and Babidi, buying enough time for Trunks to retrieve the Dragon Radar from West City. The newly released illustration and the final magazine cover have minor color variations, which the official website urged fans to appreciate. While the artwork focuses on Gohan, the final published cover also includes the young duo of Goten and Trunks.
This is not the first time that Toriyama Archives has released rare Gohan artwork. Earlier this month, the website unveiled an illustration of Gohan from the Saiyan Saga. Despite the heavy buildup of Gohan as the series’ next protagonist throughout the Cell and Buu sagas, the mantle of lead character never permanently passed to him. Goku has continued to serve as the main protagonist throughout the Dragon Ball Super series, though Gohan has seen a resurgence in popularity following the events of the Super Hero film.
The Dragon Ball franchise is currently preparing for a major return to television. Toei Animation recently confirmed that a brand-new anime project titled Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is in production, which will finally adapt the “Galactic Patrol Prisoner” arc from the manga. Additionally, a television remake titled Dragon Ball Super: Beerus is scheduled for release in late 2026, which aims to enhance the visuals and storytelling of the original “Battle of Gods” storyline to better align with modern production standards.
Author
Akira Toriyama
Artist
Akira Toriyama
Release Date
November 20, 1984
Chapters
519
Volumes
42
