Dragon Ballhas taken many shapes and forms over the decades since Goku first debuted in the pages ofWeekly Shōnen Jump. From TV anime to film and games, and evena horribly misguided live-action adaptation, the series has remainedDragon Ballso long as the iconic leading Saiyan is in the driver’s seat. Other characters have shoved their way into the spotlight, like Gohan during the Cell and Buu Sagas,but Goku has always returned to claim his rightful role as protagonist.
Though there was a time when Akira Toriyama claimed he would have liked to see someone else take over the series.Dragon Ball’s cast of characters is iconic, and several of its fighters are more than well-equipped to carry out an adventure on their own. Gohan has done it, as has Piccolo in 2022’sDragon Ball Super: Super Hero. However,according to a 1995 interviewconducted just after the completion of Akira Toriyama’s original manga,the creator revealed that he wanted Hercule, of all characters, to be the protagonist.
Akira Toriyama Wanted a Dragon Ball With Hercule in the Starring Role
Dragon Ball’s Comedic Relief Character Almost Found Himself Leading the Series
It wasn’t often that Akira Toriyama expressed a desire for moreDragon Ball. After he finished work on his iconic manga series, he became largely uninvolved with the franchise, allowing others to spearhead anime projects likeDragon Ball GT. It wasn’t until the failed 2009 live-actionDragonball Evolutionthat he was inspired to return, and took on a major role in the series' mid-2010s revival. However, just after his manga finished serialization, Toriyama sat down to discuss his series and the 11 years he spent working on it.
When asked who the protagonist would be if he ever decided to draw anotherDragon Ballseries,Toriyama shockingly responded by saying he would like to see Hercule in the starring role. The self-proclaimed champ did eventually become a fan-favorite character, and played a major role during the Majin Buu Saga after contributing a clutch throw during the Cell Games. Whether he would work well as a protagonist, however, is a mystery, but the answer showcases just how important comedic relief was to Akira Toriyama.
Dragon Ball’s Comedy Was Always Underrated
Toriyama Never Lost Touch With His Gag Manga Roots
Dragon Ballis most fondly remembered for its intense, high-stakes action and some of the most iconic moves in anime and manga. In its serious moments, few series could compare,but Akira Toriyama always kept its lighthearted spirit intact. The creator got his start inShōnen Jumpwith 1980’sDr. Slump, a gag manga which often prioritized surreal humor over a coherent ongoing narrative. ThoughDragon Ballwas a heavy departure into action, Toriyama never lost sight of his gag manga roots.
This was most apparent inthe Majin Buu Saga, where characters like Gotenks were given extra shine to show off nonsensical moves like the Kamikaze Ghost Attack. Hercule also played his most important role during the arc, and was at the center of the conflict,comedically doing his best to both survive and keep Buu at bay. Whenever Toriyama got the chance, he would make sure to throw a joke or two into his series, and though it may sound ridiculous, a Hercule-led series might just work.
A Hercule Spin-Off Might Just Work
The Champ Would Likely Be at the Center of Dragon Ball’s Funniest Story
If Hercule were to take over as protagonist,it’s likely that a focus on action wouldn’t really work. He’s one of the stronger humans in the series, butDragon Ballfans might be too used to flashy action to enjoy small-scale hand-to-hand combat. Instead, a comedy-heavy series following the everyday lives of Hercule and Majin Buu could work well, offering quite a few gags and building on the dynamic that was so entertaining during the Buu Saga.
Dragon Ballhasn’t been afraid to get weird over the past four decades and counting, but a sequel in which Hercule takes the role of protagonist might be the strangest idea Toriyama had up to that point. With him at the helm, however, it could have worked. Unfortunately, that sequel never came, but the series' legendary creator returned forthe ongoingDragon Ball Super,and fans are more than likely grateful for what they were given.
Source:Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 4 (translation by Kanzenshuu)
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
