Dragon Ball may have a small connection to the Marvel Comics universe, thanks to an illustration created by Akira Toriyama himself.
The official website of Dragon Ball recently released one of the regular illustrations from the “Toriyama Files,” shocking fans with the unexpected crossover of these stories, although it is clearly unofficial.
Both Dragon Ball and Marvel Comics boast millions of fans worldwide. The passionate fans of each franchise often pit characters from the two series against each other to determine who would win in a hypothetical battle.
Who would have thought that Akira Toriyama—almost by accident—merged the two universes through his love for vehicles? One of the iconic illustrations by the late artist, which is also part of the promotional images for Dragon Ball, introduced a completely unique Goku.
The illustration shows Goku wearing a yellow jacket featuring the Capsule Corporation logo, along with the Dragon Ball and Bird Studio logos. He carries the Power Pole on his back and sports a baseball cap. He also wears brown leather gloves suitable for riding a motorcycle.
However, the standout feature is the motorcycle Goku is riding. It’s a 1942 Harley-Davidson WLA “Liberator,” the same bike used by Captain America in one of his early appearances in Marvel comics. This motorcycle was later reimagined in the Marvel Cinematic Universe created by Kevin Feige.
The Toriyama archive is a collection of materials filled with illustrations by Akira Toriyama, which had gathered dust after his passing. Shueisha and the official Dragon Ball website publish a design by the Japanese mangaka every 48 hours, showcasing designs that have not been released to fans or are very difficult to obtain.
Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024, the same year that marked the 40th anniversary of his greatest work. This left a void in the hearts of Dragon Ball fans, who strive to fill the loss with the artwork of the late artist.
