Before becoming the official successor to the late Akira Toriyama, artist Toyotaro was a true fanboy known for his incredible Super Saiyan 4 illustrations of Gohan.
The journey from fan artist to legacy bearer
Few know that before leading the art for Dragon Ball Super, Toyotaro gained fame in the fan community under the name “Toyble.” He was the creator of the legendary fan manga Dragon Ball AF, an unofficial project that had a huge impact since the 2000s.
The Super Saiyan 4 Gohan drawing Toyotaro made in 2014 is more than just art, it marks a historic milestone. It was the last piece he signed as Toyble before being “called up” to work alongside the legendary Akira Toriyama. His captivating depictions of incredible transformations in Dragon Ball AF helped him secure the role of official artist for the main series.
Why did Super Saiyan 4 Gohan captivate fans so much?
In Dragon Ball GT, the iconic Super Saiyan 4 form was reserved only for Goku, Vegeta, and their fusion Gogeta. Potential characters like Gohan and Trunks were left out, much to fans’ disappointment.
As a fan manga, Toyotaro brought that dream to life in Dragon Ball AF. Gohan’s Super Saiyan 4 form, with fiery red fur and wild long black hair, not only looks incredibly cool but perfectly captures the proud spirit of a pure-blood Saiyan warrior.
Could Super Saiyan 4 Gohan ever become official?
Many fans wonder this after seeing the success of Gohan’s Beast form. However, the chances of SSJ4 Gohan appearing in the official Dragon Ball Super storyline are very slim for several reasons.
The Beast form debuted just over three years ago and is still fresh in the official story. Introducing another new form now could dilute Gohan’s power progression.
Additionally, with Toriyama’s departure, the future of the Dragon Ball Super manga remains uncertain, limiting Toyotaro’s opportunities to add personal ideas.
Still, hope flickers as the recent Dragon Ball Daima project subtly acknowledges forms similar to SSJ4. While unlikely, in the Dragon Ball universe, anything is possible.