Toriyama Archives just unearthed peak 1989 beach Goku and nobody was ready

The official Dragon Ball website's Toriyama Archives dropped a draft illustration by the late Akira Toriyama titled "Epic Jump Hero Battle! Watermelon Cutting Contest!", originally made for Weekly Shōnen Jump No. 36 back in 1989. The art has Bulma blindfolding Goku for the contest while Master Roshi, Yamcha, Gohan and Puar watch, and Krillin sits buried in the sand scowling with half a watermelon balanced on his head. The caption accompanying the re-release notes the characters are drawn in swimwear with slight tans, something rarely seen, and that the piece was originally printed in only two colors, making this the first time fans get to see it in full color.

This isn't the archive's first deep pull lately: it recently republished a young Goku bundled in winter gear from the Volume 5 title page of the original manga, right as the Red Ribbon Army arc kicked off, plus a wild 1988 title page showing Goku riding a motorbike covered in corporate logos with a halo over his head, a jab at his death at Raditz's hands. Meanwhile the franchise isn't just looking backward — Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, a remaster and partial remake of the first Super saga, is locked in to premiere October 11.

Sponsored