Every week, the Akira Toriyama Archive reveals rare gems from the legendary Dragon Ball creator’s art collection. The latest treasure uncovered is an illustration drawn by Toriyama himself to celebrate two major milestones in Dragon Ball history, featuring a rarely seen “unique” look for Goku.
Dragon Ball Shares Original Goku Artwork for Shonen Jump and Anime Anniversary
The official Dragon Ball website recently showcased a draft cover for Dragon Ball Chapter 62: “The Ninja Split.” This chapter originally appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 12, released in 1986. As shown in the illustration, Goku is depicted behind the wheel of a yellow off-road vehicle, wearing a serious expression.
The cover also shows him dressed in a “modern style” outfit instead of his usual orange gi. To mark the one-year anniversary of Dragon Ball’s debut and the launch of the anime adaptation, Weekly Shonen Jump used this cover design for its front page.
The Story Behind the Illustration: Ninja Murasaki and Android 8
“The Ninja Split” takes place during the famous Red Ribbon Army Saga in Dragon Ball. In this chapter, Goku faces off against Murasaki, a ninja from the Red Ribbon Army who appears to have the ability to split into five identical copies. It is later revealed that Murasaki actually has four identical brothers who worked together to deceive their opponent.
Furious at being defeated, Murasaki orders one of the army’s androids to eliminate Goku. However, Android 8, whom Goku nicknames “Eighter,” is a pacifist and refuses to obey the order. When Murasaki tries to detonate a bomb hidden inside the android, Goku quickly defeats him.
Why Toriyama Chose This Image
Toriyama’s choice to illustrate Goku driving a car for the cover is less about the Chapter 62 storyline and more about the creator’s love of cars. While Dragon Ball features many creatively designed vehicles, cars often take center stage, especially when used for comedic effect.
Goku famously believed Bulma’s car was a monster and attacked it in the very first chapter of Dragon Ball. Beyond the manga, Toriyama frequently includes Goku and his friends with both real and fictional vehicles. Notably, the cover of Dragon Ball Volume 15 depicts Goku and Gohan together in a sports car inspired by Bugatti.