Goku did not get Super Saiyan 5 in official Dragon Ball canon. The familiar “SSJ5 Goku” image comes from fan-made Dragon Ball AF art. Its artist, David Montiel, later clarified that the character was Tablos and the form was called Spirit Killer—not Super Saiyan 5.
Why do people think Goku has SSJ5?
An image from a fan-made Dragon Ball AF story circulated online as if it showed Goku in a new transformation. The rumor helped make “SSJ5 Goku” a familiar fan concept, but the image was not evidence of an official continuation.
In a 2018 interview republished by The Dao of Dragon Ball, artist David Montiel said his Dragon Ball AF illustration appeared in Hobby Consolas issue 92 in 1999. He described “AF” as “Alternative Future,” an alternate future connected to Trunks. [The Dao of Dragon Ball interview]
Who is the character in the original image?
Montiel identified the character as Tablos, a Saiyan with a close relationship to Goku—not Goku himself. He also said the transformation was named Spirit Killer (SK). In his words: “the character in my illustration is neither Goku nor the supposed Super Saiyan 5 transformation. He is Tablos, a Saiyan who has a close relationship with Goku. His transformation is called Spirit Killer (SK).”
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That clarification explains the mix-up: an image associated with Dragon Ball AF was widely relabeled as “SSJ5 Goku,” while Montiel’s own account identifies a different character and a different form.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Super Saiyan 5 canon?
No. SSJ5 is a fan-made transformation, not an official Goku form established in Dragon Ball canon. A secondary explainer addressing the question likewise describes SSJ5 as fan-made. [Sportskeeda’s explainer]
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Dragon Ball AF also inspired separate fan-manga works, including those by Toyble and Young Jijii. They are fan creations, and their stories may treat characters and transformations differently. There is no single shared AF continuity that makes one version of SSJ5 definitive or official. [The Dao of Dragon Ball interview]
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What to remember about “SSJ5 Goku”
- Goku did not officially achieve Super Saiyan 5.
- The image behind the familiar claim was identified by its artist as Tablos in the Spirit Killer form.
- Dragon Ball AF and its related manga are fan-made stories, not proof of an official transformation.
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