Dragon Ball franchise mastermind Akira Toriyama has an interesting take on one of his most iconic characters. Vegeta, originally introduced as the main antagonist during the Saiyan Saga after the death of Raditz, embarked on a journey to seize the Dragon Balls along with Nappa. This important journey is briefly depicted in chapter 204 of the series.
The fans embraced Vegeta’s arrogant personality and his dominance over the likes of Goku, Piccolo, and Yamcha. But here’s the surprising twist: the Saiyan Prince wasn’t exactly Toriyama’s favorite creature.
According to an interview published in Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 2: Story Guide, Toriyama originally planned to write Vegeta out after the Saiyan arc. However, the popularity of the character increased as readers adored his stark contrast with Goku.
Akira Toriyama Planned on Leaving Vegeta Dead
Dragon Ball wouldn’t be the same without the iconic rivalry between Goku and Vegeta. But did you know Vegeta almost met his permanent end after the Saiyan Saga? Despite Vegeta’s prominence, Akira Toriyama envisioned the storyline primarily focusing on Goku as the central protagonist. This led to his initial plans of eliminating Vegeta following the culmination of the Saiyan saga.
Recently, an image has resurfaced on X, showcasing Toriyama’s original storyboard where he depicts a scene where Vegeta was supposed to meet his demise at the hands of Goku.
“You were supposed to get killed by Goku.”
Remember when Toriyama draw a page just to cook himself 😭#DragonBall pic.twitter.com/FxYpqhGlYK
— Animelover (@BhdAnkur) March 30, 2024
Vegeta’s rivalry with Goku has been a cornerstone of the series, and the prospect of Vegeta remaining deceased presents an intriguing alternate narrative trajectory for Dragon Ball.
Despite Toriyama’s initial reservations, Vegeta’s popularity soared. He evolved from a villain to a complex character, eventually becoming a mainstay in Dragon Ball Super. We saw him team up with Goku on planet Cereal, only to be met by a powerful Frieza!
Akira Toriyama Never Liked the Character of Vegeta
In a revealing interview documented in the 1995 Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 2: Story Guide guidebook and translated by Kanzenshuu, Akira Toriyama provided insights into his creative process and shared his personal preferences regarding the characters he crafted.
When queried about his favorite character from the Dragon Ball universe, Toriyama surprised many by favoring Piccolo over the series’ main characters, Goku and Vegeta.
“Yeah, I guess I like Piccolo the most after all. Out of all the enemies, Demon King Piccolo is the one I like most, and even after that, I like Piccolo the most. I like Piccolo about the same as I like Goku. With Vegeta, well, I don’t like him all that much, but he was extremely helpful to have around. For the recent stuff, it was fun drawing Satan. When I first brought him out, I didn’t think that I would end up making Satan that important of a character. I thought he’d just be a one-shot character.”
Piccolo’s significance goes beyond Toriyama’s personal preference. He’s been a constant presence since Dragon Ball‘s inception, undergoing a remarkable transformation. While Goku and Vegeta often steal the show, Piccolo’s unwavering loyalty and growth make him an indispensable pillar of the franchise.
