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Dragon Ball enthusiasts have been treated to an exclusive glimpse into a cherished narrative arc, viewed in its raw, unfinished form.
In a recent installment of the Toriyama Archives on the official Dragon Ball website, fans were presented with a draft page from the original Dragon Ball manga’s Great Saiyaman Arc. This draft, showcasing partially completed text, was initially created for Dragon Ball: Tale 452, featured in 1994’s Weekly Shonen Jump No. 3/4 Double Issue. Eager readers can now explore this unique piece.
The draft page was accompanied by a caption from the Toriyama Archives, stating, “This is a one-of-a-kind draft that has yet to have the dialogue added. Here you can clearly see both Babidi and the interior of his spaceship, plus Gohan in his Great Saiyaman outfit in full color!”
Dragon Ball Releases Rare Akira Toriyama Art of Great Saiyaman Gohan in Full Color
Image via Shueisha
The Dragon Ball draft page was shared with a caption from the Toriyama Archives, noting, “This is a one-of-a-kind draft that has yet to have the dialogue added. Here you can clearly see both Babidi and the interior of his spaceship, plus Gohan in his Great Saiyaman outfit in full color!”
The Great Saiyaman is Gohan’s alter ego, which was introduced in Chapter 421 of the original Dragon Ball manga. The alter ego was originally created by Bulma, who Gohan approached about crafting him a costume so that he could use his powers to do good and stop crime without putting his personal life or loved ones at risk. Notably, Gohan was already operating under another superhero moniker, the Golden Fighter, which he unwittingly acquired after going Super Saiyan to stop a bank robbery.
Not only did Gohan establish himself as a tried-and-true superhero as the Great Saiyaman, but he also inspired an in-universe multimedia franchise based around the character. Unfortunately, the production of the Great Saiyaman vs. Mr. Satan was faced with a whole host of issues, not the least of which was its leading star being possessed by the alien fugitive known as Watagash.
The mantle of the Great Saiyaman has also been picked up by Videl, the daughter of Mr. Satan and the late Miguel, who managed to figure out Gohan’s secret identity all on her own before tricking the hero into revealing it for himself. For a short time, Videl fought right alongside Gohan as the second Saiyaman, or Saiyawoman — a key plot element of 1995’s Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon.
While fans of the classic Dragon Ball manga can regularly enjoy throwback artwork and special sneak peeks courtesy of the Toriyama Archives, current readers have been left wanting for the next chapter of their favorite series. In early March, it was announced that the Dragon Ball Super manga would continue its hiatus for the upcoming V Jump April 2026 special issue.
Fortunately, there is still plenty more Dragon Ball that fans can look forward to across a wide range of mediums. When it comes to the realm of anime, multiple Dragon Ball Super productions are on the way. Among the most hotly anticipated of these is the upcoming Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol series, which will adapt the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga from the manga.
- Author
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Akira Toriyama
- Artist
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Akira Toriyama
- Release Date
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November 20, 1984
- Chapters
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519
- Volumes
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42