Many enthusiasts of the Dragon Ball franchise deem Gohan’s story arc to be one of its most disappointing features. After achieving the highest level of power at the conclusion of the Cell Games, Gohan was once again the most powerful fighter during the Majin Buu saga through his use of Mystic Gohan. However, in Dragon Ball Super, he has taken a back seat to Goku and Vegeta, instead of training, he has opted to pursue a scholarly path and spend time with his family.
The release of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero might seem like a step back for Gohan, as it gives him a new transformation and encourages him to continue his training with Piccolo. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case, and there could be other ways to keep Gohan involved in the franchise’s narrative without putting him back in the heat of battle. Instead of a return to fighting, Gohan could take on other roles, such as a mentor or advisor, allowing him to remain a part of the story while avoiding the need to re-enter active combat.
Going Over the Rough Trail of Gohan While Battling in Dragon Ball Z and Super
After being taken by the malevolent Raditz, the then five-year-old Gohan was snatched up again by Piccolo and pressed into spending a year of hard training to draw out his inner potential. He then made a near-fatal stand against Vegeta and Nappa, before being dispatched to Namek where he came close to death no fewer than six times due to his clashes with Frieza and his henchmen. After two years of tranquility on Earth, Gohan had to go back to training to be ready for the Androids; he then spent numerous weeks battling them and, eventually, conquering Cell on his own, being the first to ever unlock Super Saiyan 2.
Gohan was taken hostage by his uncle Raditz, and then kidnapped by Piccolo, who subjected him to intense training for a year to unleash his hidden power. When he fought Vegeta and Nappa, his life was endangered, and again on Namek where he barely escaped death from Frieza and his allies. Following two years of peace, Gohan was pushed to train again for the Androids, fighting them for weeks and eventually unlocking Super Saiyan 2 to overpower Cell; it was the first time anyone had accomplished this.
So far, Dragon Ball Super has mostly depicted Gohan as a supporting fighter, often taking a beating from major villains to speed up the process for Goku to appear. Despite this, he had a significant role in the “Tournament of Power” arc. In the latest movie, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Gohan has again achieved a higher level of power and asserts the importance of working hard and staying strong to protect those he loves. Nevertheless, this is not the best way for him to progress.
Why Gohan from Dragon Ball Super Is Deserving of Becoming Scholar
Gohan’s attitude towards fighting is distinct from that of other Saiyans like Goku and Vegeta. As a child, Gohan was often called upon to use his formidable power to fight in battles he had no interest in. Though he may not have a love of fighting, he is still capable of showing enthusiasm for martial arts such as when he trained for the 25th World Tournament and chose to fight Dabura before his father and Vegeta.
Nonetheless, Gohan prefers not to inflict harm upon others or fight to get stronger. He only puts on his gi when his family is in peril or someone is at risk. Consequently, his reasons more closely resemble those of a traditional superhero, rather than a combative shonen protagonist like Goku.
Future Trunks recognizes that Gohan has endured a great deal of trauma and suffering throughout his life, and that he should be able to enjoy a peaceful and content life. He notes how Gohan is now much happier teaching at university and spending time with Videl and Pan, although he is no longer as powerful as he once was. Trunks acknowledges that Gohan has transformed from a scared child unable to protect himself, to someone who is willing to step up and help the vulnerable. After all the death and destruction he has witnessed, it is only fitting that Gohan finds peace in retreating from the battles of his past and focusing on his passions.
The Role of Gohan in the Primary Story of Dragon Ball Super
Gohan has a duty to maintain his strength, being the most powerful on Earth, as Goku and Vegeta are often preoccupied with other battles. This has been Gohan’s challenge since the Majin Buu saga, when Vegeta scolded him for his lack of power. This problem was brought up again during the arc of Resurrection of F, where Gohan had to become powerful in order to defend the planet in the absence of Goku and Vegeta. Even after Super Hero, this pattern of understanding followed by inaction is likely to continue, as Gohan’s character cannot bring himself to become the strongest.
There is no space in the story for Gohan to attempt to keep pace with Goku and Vegeta. Goku is driven by his ambition for power, and Vegeta is motivated by his ambition to surpass Goku. Both have clear objectives that fit in with the plot of Dragon Ball Super, which continuously presents new challenges for the two Saiyans to confront. Although Gohan could be encouraged to stay powerful in order to defend his family, this reason is not sufficiently stimulating for the audience to stay engaged. Goku and Vegeta’s training is mostly done outside of Earth, while Gohan’s reason for training is linked to Earth. It makes sense for Goku and Vegeta to go off to Whis for extended periods of time to train, however, it would not be feasible for Gohan to do the same.
Dragon Ball Super does not provide a place for Gohan to be the main character. The main focus is on Goku and Vegeta’s story, Gohan’s journey of getting stronger to protect doesn’t fit in with the main plot, which is why he often gets sidelined. When he is required to rejoin the fight, he cannot dedicate the same amount of time to training as Vegeta and Goku can, thus the story has to suddenly give him a new form, like Gohan Beast, in order to keep him up to par in terms of power.
Gohan appears to have no enthusiasm for gaining strength and does not appear to be motivated to work for it. Having him try to fit into the narrative as a fighter only results in a sense of disconnect between him and Goku and Vegeta’s motivations. If Dragon Ball Super wishes to make Gohan more pertinent to the story, he should be given the opportunity to employ his real capabilities. This could include delving into his higher intelligence or constructing a stronger bond with his family instead of forcing him to take after Goku — something he is not interested in doing.
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