Dragon Ball has revealed a stunning manga cover from nearly 40 years ago that introduces Kid Goku, the shapeshifter OG Oolong and an iconic nod to Akira Toriyama's vehicle designs that the author created. very famous.
The official Dragon Ball website recently unearthed the cover of Dragon Ball Volume 11, which was first released nearly 40 years ago on February 15, 1985. The cover features Goku and Oolong rushing on a in Toriyama's trademark cars and unearthed as part of the regular Toriyama Archives Series, where the legendary creator's old and often rare artworks are reissued for 24 hours only. Readers can see the illustration below.
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The illustration of Goku and Oolong comes with the following description: “While Oolong doesn't appear much in this part of the story, he certainly makes a grand entrance on the cover of this Dragon Ball volume!! The powerful designs of the Oolong mech and Goku riding a horse are also pretty cool!”
Dragon Ball's Oolong is likely partially inspired by George Orwell's Animal Farm
Readers of George Orwell's Animal Farm will see a clear inspiration behind Oolong's design. Early design sketches depicted the character as a farmer before he was pictured in Chinese communist army garb, similar to Animal Farm's Napoleon. The CBR feature highlights how several Dragon Ball characters are also inspired by the Chinese epic Journey to the West, including Goku and Oolong. While the first character's role in the larger story cannot be underestimated, Oolong's role largely diminishes as the series progresses. Aside from the events of Battle of Gods, his role in Super is very minor. However, he will always be the first named character to use Dragon Balls.
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The Dragon Ball manga is licensed in North America by VIZ. It describes Episode 11, in which Goku and Oolong are introduced above: ” The Tenka'ichi Budôkai is heating up and there can only be one winner! The previous tournament's champion Jackie Chan faces off against the three-eyed kung fu master “Long Hac” Tenshinhan! Then it's the long-awaited showdown between former classmates Goku and Kuririn–and guess who's up to some tricks! But Tenshinhan doesn't just fight to win, he also carries out a deadly grudge–to avenge his master, Hermit Crane, whose brother was killed by Goku, all of which comes to an end. eventually to the point where the brutal battlefield itself may not be left intact – let alone the audience!”
Source: Dragon Ball official website