Dragon Ball Reveals "The Sort of Bulma That Toriyama Wouldn't" in Retro Art

Bulma takes center stage in a collection of '80s promotional artwork by manga artist Gaku Miyao originally geared toward Dragon Ball's female fans.

Dragon Ball has unveiled a series of retro illustrations spotlighting Goku's beloved companion since the series' earliest conception, Bulma.

X (formerly Twitter) user Todd Blankenship (@Herms98) recently showcased a series of vibrant promotional pics from the franchise's early years. According to the post, these pictures were not drawn by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama but by another manga artist named Gaku Miyao, who is now known for their Kazan series. However, the illustrations adorned the covers of Showa's line of Dragon Ball-themed notebooks, which were designed to appeal to the franchise's female fans. Therefore, Miyao made Bulma a centerpiece of the campaign, including her in every illustration alongside Son Goku.

Bulma has been a staple of Toriyama's iconic shonen title since the very beginning, as she is the one who famously stumbles across Goku in Dragon Ball's debut chapter. What Bulma lacks in strength, she makes up for with a genius technology-savvy intellect that allows her to create impressive inventions like the Dragon Radar, a device designed to track down the legendary dragon balls. After befriending Goku, she invites him on a quest to collect the dragon balls so she can summon the Eternal Dragon and ask for a wish. This journey ultimately causes Goku to abandon his solitary life and pursue studies in martial arts under the tutelage of Master Roshi.

Even in subsequent installments, Bulma retains a strong presence in the franchise, frequently using her technical know-how to aid the Z Fighters. Her son, Trunks, also serves as a critical player for major sagas in both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. In Super, much of the series' humor is derived from Bulma's interactions with Vegeta, who marries her at some point after DBZ's "Cell Saga." Although Vegeta typically acts emotionally aloof, his love for Bulma is highlighted during a fan-favorite moment from Super, where he refers to her as "My Bulma!" in a fit of blind rage. The Dragon Ball Super manga later recreated this iconic moment with Gohan and his daughter Pan.