Toriyama Archives Unveils 1989 Dragon Ball Z Promo Art Featuring Classic Lineup
The Toriyama Archives released a rare 1989 illustration by Akira Toriyama, originally created for the Jump Summer Festival. The artwork, titled "Epic Jump Hero Battle! Watermelon Cutting Contest!", depicts Bulma blindfolding Goku as he prepares to strike Krillin with the Power Pole, while Yamcha, Puar, Roshi, and Gohan watch. This piece is notable for featuring the original Z-Fighters before the Saiyan Saga drastically changed the roster.
The illustration dates to a pivotal moment in the manga's serialization, appearing in the same Weekly Shonen Jump issue that carried Dragon Ball Chapter 236, where Gohan, Krillin, and Yajirobe confronted Vegeta. That issue also debuted the final arc of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, making it a historically dense installment for the magazine. The artwork captures the original Dragon Team lineup—Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, and Roshi—alongside young Gohan, a roster that would be drastically reduced after the Saiyan Saga's casualties. Notably, Oolong and Launch are absent from the piece, though the remaining core cast is fully represented.
This archival release may resonate strongly with longtime Dragon Ball fans who grew up with the pre-Saiyan Saga cast, offering a nostalgic glimpse of characters like Yamcha and Roshi who have been sidelined in modern iterations. It could also spark renewed interest in the franchise's early storytelling and prompt discussions about character legacy, potentially influencing how newer audiences discover the series' foundational era.