Dragon Ballboasts some of the most iconic heroes in anime. From Earth’s most unlikely humans to its near-invincible Saiyans, each of its instantly recognizable heroes has had their moments to shine, and are adored by the series' ever-growing fan base. One hero, however,has not been awarded the same adoration the rest of his companions enjoy, despite having a few major achievements under his belt. The eternal target of theDragon Ballcommunity’s jokes,Yamcha, deserves far better from fans.
Arriving on the scene as a desert bandit,Yamcha is one ofDragon Ball’s longest-tenured characters, and one of its earliest examples of the series' favorite villain-turned-hero trope. Few remember the days when Yamcha was considered Goku’s number one rival, though there was a time when he and the young tailed-boy could trade evenly devastating blows. ModernDragon Ballhasn’t been overly kind to the talented martial artist, but his accomplishments can stand alongside those of Earth’s other greatest heroes.
Yamcha’s Accomplishments In Battle Speak For Themselves
The Desert Bandit Martial Artist Deserves Credit For His Accomplishments
Yamcha doesn’t have any major victories under his belt. He hasn’t been the fighter to land the final blow against a main villain, and hasn’t ever really been the cause of a battle tilting towards the heroes' favor.However, no other non-Saiyan cast member has any of these feats under their belt, either. Unfortunately, Yamcha has become an everlasting meme within the anime community because he had arguably the most embarrassing defeat inDragon Ball.
After becoming the first fighter to face-off against the Saibamen in Saiyan Saga, Yamcha was grabbed by one of the evil little green gremlins,and blown up in a sacrificial explosion. His position on the ground has since been replicated in countless references in other shows, and even in an episode of 2015’sDragon Ball Super. However, aside fromhis most embarrassing moment, Yamcha has been present for some strenuous battles.
Most impressively, Yamcha was able to fight a Cell Jr during the Cell Saga and hold his own,while those same miniature terrors gave the likes of Goku and Vegeta a tough time. He’s been able to do whatDragon Ball’s other Earthlings have done and has kept up with his peers, but he also has one accomplishment under his belt that no other hero has matched. Yamcha handed Goku his first loss in battle, sort of. InDragon Ball’s earliest moments, the two squared off in an intense and somewhat comedic fight.
After being punched straight through the border of a manga panel, Yamcha regained himself for more combat, and Goku just about collapsed out of hunger,technically leaving Yamcha the victor of the short-lived battle. Others have taken wins off of Goku throughout the course ofDragon Ball, but to be the first, even on a technicality, is impressive from Yamcha.
Yamcha Has Proved Himself Invaluable Away From the Battlefield
Some of Yamcha’s Biggest Accomplishments Have Come When He Wasn’t Fighting
Yamcha might not be the favorite fighter of manyDragon Ballfans,but he has been incredibly valuable outside of battle. Following the victory over Demon King Piccolo, he made the wish to restore the lives of all the people killed by the villain and his clan. At this point in the series, whether Yamcha was truly a hero was still up for question, but he proved it with one selfless act. He later made a similar wish following the completin of the Cell Games.
It might be popular for anime fans to rip on Yamcha, and he might have been at the center of some embarrassing moments throughoutDragon Ball, but there should be no doubt thathe’s an integral member of the series' main cast. His accomplishments on and off the battlefield are impressive, and even after being long surpassed by the Saiyans, he remains one of Earth’s strongest humans. His iconic death pose might be a popular meme,but without him,Dragon Ballwouldn’t be the same.
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.
