While Dragon Ball Super understandably continues its hiatus after the passing of creator Akira Toriyama last March, the series’ artist Toyotarou stayed in touch with fans through the periodical publication of new original artwork inspired by the series. In his most recent artwork drop, Toyotarou draws fandom’s attention to the next generation of Saiyan strength and power: Goten and Trunks.

The artwork, which appears in the August 2024 issue of V-Jump‘s Dragon Ball Super Interval Special – Volume 3, shows Goten and Trunks as fans saw them in the three-chapter “High School Saga” story arc (Super Hero Arc Prequel Chapters). Those chapters not only reveal Goten’s and Trunks’ attempt to use their powers for good – as masked heroes, but also their transition from child to teenager and all the physical, mental, and societal changes that process brings.

Toyotarou’s new artwork shows both those key aspects of the story. In the foreground, Trunks is shown wearing his Blue Hal High School uniform as he sits on what might be the wall of the school’s campus. In the background, Goten is shown in his Saiyaman X-2 uniform carrying what looks to be a criminal. Notably, he has dropped the helmet used in the first outings of their superhero personas, marking that this scene takes place after the Super Hero arc.

Goten and Trunks Are Growing Up To Follow Their Fathers’ Footsteps

The Power Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree With Goku’s and Vegeta’s Sons

While the artwork retains some of the playfulness that Goten and Trunks exhibited in the manga chapters, Trunks’ gaze suggests a more serious undertone. Indeed, the new artwork suggests that Toyotarou will continue exploring Goten’s and Trunks’ maturation, with the focus being on their transition from boys to men. The story has already touched on some aspects of this process. In Dragon Ball Super Chapter #97, the boys show exceptional courage and skill fighting Cell Max, while Gohan, Piccolo, and the Gamma androids are incapacitated.

Later in Dragon Ball Super Chapter #102, Goten and Trunks hold their own against Gohan in his Super Saiyan form. While Gohan eventually defeats them, it’s not before they force him to power up to his “ultimate” form. Indeed, they might have been able to continue pressing Gohan if they could have effectively completed their fusion dance and transformed into the full Gotenks form.

Not bad at all you two, it’s clear you’ve been training. – Gohan to Trunks and Goten in Dragon Ball Super chapter #102

Above all, what truly matters is that Goten and Trunks show their dedication and willingness to put in the effort and make sacrifices to improve through the competition. Toyotarou’s new art says that fans are likely to see a more purposeful – and less playful – Goten and Trunks from now on, maybe showing a vibe somewhere between Goku’s nonchalance and Vegeta’s sternness.

Goten’s And Trunks’ School Days Were Inspired By An Earlier Fan Favorite Arc

Toyotarou’s exploration of Goten and Trunks as teenagers is not random. As mentioned in the notes that accompanied the illustration, Toyotarou admits to getting the idea from Dragon Ball Z’s “Gohan High School Arc”. Like more than a few Dragon Ball fans, Toyotarou admits to liking the story of Gohan’s days as a student. Just as Toriyama focused on Gohan in the original story arc, Toyotarou aimed to give a spotlight to Goten and Trunks in the Dragon Ball Super Hero prequel chapters.

I kinda wanted to throw Trunks and Goten into a similar set of circumstances. – Toyotarou

Indeed, Toyotarou goes on to say how careful he was, in Trunks’ case, to show a different side of what fans know of Future Trunks and “kid” Trunks – but in a way that makes sense. As his new art suggests, Toyotarou will have more to say about an adolescent Goten and Trunks when Dragon Ball Super eventually makes its return.