‘Dragon Ball’ Reveals Rare Piece of Official Art Featuring Goku, Bulma and Oolong

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If you remember the early days of Dragon Ball, you’ll know Goku and Bulma’s first adventures involved plenty of Capsule Corp. tech. Now, a nearly 40-year-old illustration has resurfaced, giving us a nostalgic look at those moments.

The Dragon Ball official site recently shared a rare piece of artwork originally printed in a 1986 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump. It was part of the magazine’s yearly calendar and shows Bulma behind the wheel of a retro-style mini-car, with Goku and Oolong looking completely startled as they hold on for dear life.

Fans of the original series will recognize this as a throwback to the days before Goku had his Flying Nimbus. Back then, he even mistook Bulma’s car for a monster and tried to destroy it:

In those early chapters, Goku and Bulma’s journey to find the seven Dragon Balls was filled with chaos, humor, and plenty of wild inventions. While Goku eventually learned to fly, Bulma’s genius continued to shape the story.

Her Capsule Corp. creations grew more advanced over time, leading up to her biggest achievement—the time machine that allowed Trunks to travel back and warn everyone of the Android threat.

Even though Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama passed away last year, the franchise is still moving forward. Toyotarou, his successor, is working on Dragon Ball Super, which has been on break since March 2024.

However, a special one-shot focused on Goten and Trunks will be released in the April 2025 issue of V-Jump, hitting shelves on February 20. The story follows the half-Saiyan duo teaming up with an eccentric superhero called Clean God.

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