Dragon Ball Unveils the Original ‘Three Strongest Super Saiyans’ in Official Draft Design

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Fans can now view artwork of what Akira Toriyama, the beloved creator, considered to be the three most powerful Super Saiyans.

Recently, the Toriyama Archives shared a draft illustration by Akira Toriyama featuring Goku, Vegeta, and Trunks. This artwork was initially created for a special poster that appeared in issue #16 of Weekly Shonen Jump back in 1992.

I saw this artwork with a caption explaining it showed Goku, Vegeta, and Trunks – considered the three most powerful Super Saiyans at that point. They were all dedicated to pushing beyond their current limits and becoming even stronger. The illustration itself was really cool, showing them posed like they were bravely confronting a foe, and it even included smaller images of what they looked like before they transformed.

Akira Toriyama Confirms the Top 3 Strongest Super Saiyans in Rare DBZ Artwork

The central story revolves around Goku, originally named Kakarot. Sent to Earth as a baby from the planet Vegeta, he was intended to conquer and destroy the world. However, he grew up embracing Earth as his home and became one of its most powerful protectors.

Vegeta, now a central figure in the Dragon Ball series, didn’t appear until chapter 204 of the original Dragon Ball manga in 1989, with the story arc titled “Sayonara, Son Goku.” He became the first major villain in Dragon Ball Z, originally seeking the Dragon Balls to achieve immortality for himself.

Vegeta started as a villain, but he’s evolved into more of a reluctant hero. Even though he’s now on the side of good, he still has a strong rivalry with Goku and will do almost anything to win their battles.

Trunks first appeared in the Dragon Ball manga in 1991, in chapter 331 titled “The Young Boy of Mystery.” This was actually a future version of the character. As the son of Vegeta and Bulma, he traveled back in time to alert the heroes of the incredibly powerful Androids created by the Red Ribbon Army.

For over thirty years, Trunks has consistently demonstrated his incredible strength, even when he first appeared as a young character. Many consider him a prime example of Akira Toriyama’s skill as a storyteller, largely because his unusual introduction and later appearance as a child allowed him to be a fascinating contrast to his future self.

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2026-01-04 21:39