There is arguably no anime protagonist as recognizable or lasting asDragon Ball’s Son Goku. Over the forty-plus years the franchise has been active, Goku has transformed from a small, mysterious tailed boy from the mountains, into one of the strongest characters to ever comefrom the legendaryWeekly Shōnen Jumpmagazine.
His stylish power-ups and shouted attacks are timeless, and their influence on the world of anime and manga cannot be understated. However, for the first time maybe ever, he isn’t head and shoulders more powerful than the rest ofDragon Ball’s main cast of fighters,and the series is better off that way.
A New Dream Team Has Emerged In Dragon Ball
Goku Isn’t Dragon Ball’s Undisputed Strongest Fighter
The release of 2022’sDragon Ball Super: Super Herochanged the landscape of the series in a variety of ways. Not only did the filmreturn Gohan and Piccolo to relevance, but it established a sort of dream team of fightersDragon Ballhas never really seen before.Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo, and the newly-recruited Broly all boast a similar level of power.
TheDragon Ball Supermanga, just before entering its lengthy hiatus,brought Gohan to Beerus' planet, where he and Goku sparred in their most powerful forms. The two were evenly matched, before Gohan was tasked with helping to train Broly. Before long, Vegeta got antsy and jumped in the fight as well, joined by Goten, Trunks, and Goku. Together, they brawled until they could no longer stand.
Chapter #103, “A Legacy Toward the Future”,is one ofDragon Ball’s most emotional, having been released in the weeks following Akira Toriyama’s passing, while focusing on the generations which would follow in the footsteps of the series' main heroes. Toriyama’s favorite character, Piccolo, is the last featured before the chapter ends.
Dragon Ballis in relatively uncharted territory with a main cast of characters all sharing a similar level of power, and any upcoming events will offer the rare opportunity to showcase each of their talents.
Goku has never been the singlestrongest character inDragon Balland never will be, but among the main cast, he’s generally always been more than a few steps ahead of the rest. Now, asDragon Ball Super’s final arc looms in the distance, waiting for the series to return, there are several characters capable of going toe-to-toe with Goku,and it’s time the Saiyan shares the spotlight.
Dragon Ball’s Future Is More Than Just Goku
Dragon Ball Super’s Return Should Focus On Its Newest Team of Fighters
Now thatDragon Ballboasts as strong a roster as it does, it would be a shame for the series to once again allow one of its characters to reach a new level of strength. The usual formula allows for one fighter, usually Goku, to break his own limits,leaving the rest of the cast scrambling to attempt to catch up. WithUltra Instinct being the peak of what the body can allow, there shouldn’t be much advancement from that point.
The best way for the series to avoid having characters like Gohan and Piccolo fall behind is tohave the next confrontation focus more on teamwork, rather than one character gaining yet another flashy power-up. Fans have waited decades for a true side-by-side Goku and Gohan team-up, or to see Broly play a major role on the side of the heroes.
Withthe threat of Black Friezahanging over whereverDragon Ball Supergoes next, it seems the raw and limitless power of Broly’s rage will be needed. The iconic villain’s last appearance in the manga included him embarrassing both Goku and Vegeta,knocking them out of Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego with a single blow. Frieza has reached such an incredible level of strength that more than the efforts of one fighter will be needed.
Dragon Ballis in relatively uncharted territory with a main cast of characters all sharing a similar level of power, and any upcoming events will offer the rare opportunity to showcase each of their talents. Goku will always be the series' protagonist, andDragon Ballis at its best with him in that role. However, with so much exciting raw strength at its disposal, the series would be better off making use of it.
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.
