Several retcons have occurred in the Dragon Ball franchise throughout the years, many of which have proven to be for the better.
Dragon Ball is a popular anime series featuring a plethora of backstory and plot threads. Given the length, it’s understandable that some of these aspects might be overwritten or overlooked. Author Akira Toriyama, on the other hand, may have felt like subverting established aspects with one of his distinctive genre-bending twists.
Whatever the case, Dragon Ball has seen its fair share of retcons over the years. These, however, do not always detract from the story. They can help the tale in some circumstances. When it comes to Dragon Ball, this happens all the time.
7/7
Erasing GT
Fans thought the gloomy Dragon Ball GT was unworthy of the series’ reputation. It’s not based on a Toriyama manga, which shows in how the characters’ progress appears to be stagnant. That is, if they appear at all, as the plot sidelines many favorites in favor of new characters such as the ever-unlikable Pan. By no means is GT without merit, but most people prefer the alternative.
Toriyama returned to the franchise years later with Dragon Ball Super. Continuing from where DBZ left off, this is a more adventurous and joyful story that offers longstanding characters more chance to shine while still progressing the paths of stalwarts. To be sure, the animation is inconsistent, and the show may be overly comical at times. Overall, Super is more faithful to the tone that Toriyama’s work has always strove for.
6/7
Super Saiyans
When fans first learn about this transformation, Vegeta describes it as a legendary state that can only be attained by a really gifted Saiyan. Goku achieves this state during his confrontation with Frieza, implying that he is the only one. This infuriates Vegeta, who has always believed that he is the most deserving of the prophesy.
Source: Andy Jame
Fortunately, he gets his chance in the following epic when he changes into a Super Saiyan. Any Saiyan can now acquire this form by mastering their talents and emotions. It serves as a tangible marker in their development, fostering the martial arts discipline that is evident throughout the series.
5/7
Broly The Great Ape
Broly’s “Legendary Super Saiyan” form has always stood out. It stands out from other Super Saiyans not only because of its green hue, but also because of its unrestrained wrath and impenetrable size. However, spectators are never given any information, which only adds to the confusion when Kale channels the same force in the Tournament of Power. When Broly was introduced into the mainline canon, Toriyama and crew provided an explanation.
In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Paragus believes his kid is channeling the volatile power of the Saiyans’ Oozaru form. This ape-like state offers the warrior enormous strength and bulk while increasing the warrior’s destructive abilities. In sum, it’s the ideal in-universe foundation for Broly’s incredible talents. With his damaged mentality and limited emotional maturity, he’d find it easier to connect into his primal side.
4/7
Androids: Evil Or Not?
Trunks warns about androids set on devouring the Earth and slaying its inhabitants when he first comes from his horrific future. As a result, the heroes prepare for the fight of their lives for three years. When the titular cyborgs do emerge, they are far from the killing machines that Trunks described. They are not insane; they are simply bored. The characters speculate that earlier time travel adventures impacted events in unexpected ways.
Whatever the reason, this prepares the stage for what is perhaps the best DBZ story. Toriyama excels at subversion, as evidenced by the robots’ altered temperament. It also means that Android 18 will be a dryly amusing member of the team. Furthermore, the appearance of Cell as the true adversary introduces a slew of fresh twists and turns. Something exciting constantly happens in the story involving one or more people. By the end, the story had progressed much beyond its predicted beginning.
3/7
Elder Kai Emerges
To counter Majin Buu’s menace, Supreme Kai transports Gohan to his home planet and assigns the Saiyan the duty of extracting a mythical sword from a stone. This will allegedly provide him unfathomable power. The setup is as cliched as they come. Worst of all, it doesn’t even work. Because the sword provides no increase in strength, Gohan swings the heavy blade about for a while to hone his physique the old-fashioned manner. This unwittingly reveals its true identity.
Gohan inadvertently smashes the sword, freeing a Supreme Kai from a previous age who was bound inside. The old coot then employs his mystical expertise to gradually awaken the Saiyan’s dormant potential. Sure, it’s a rehash of the “elderly mentor” theme (complete with a perverse side worthy of Master Roshi), but it’s more interesting than the aforementioned King Arthur cliché. Not to mention that Elder Kai’s intelligence is significantly superior than that of his younger descendant. That’s not much of a compliment, but the point remains.
2/7
Gohan’s Redemption
It’s paradoxical that one of the series’ best warriors dislikes combat. Gohan is a calm spirit who tries to be a scholar, primarily at the insistence of his mother. At the end of Dragon Ball Z, he fulfills that aim by foregoing training in favor of studies. As a result, his following appearances, as a pencil-neck in a tracksuit and glasses, are played for laughs. Many people thought this was a step back from the multifaceted character he was as a child.
Super forces Gohan back into action in response to these complaints. The young Saiyan want the strength to defend his new family, so he returns to Piccolo’s training. This restores some much-needed dignity as he overcomes his personal shortcomings while armed with the sharpness he’s gained through his education. It all comes to a climax in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, as he takes center stage as the primary protagonist for the first time. As a result, Gohan’s redemption completes the circle.
1/7
Majin Two?
Majin Buu has surely evolved in an unusual manner. He begins as a tiny monster produced by the magician Bibidi. After defeating the Supreme Kais, he is stopped by their grand elder, Daikaioh. Unfortunately, he absorbs the benevolent leader, assuming a chubby appearance and a childish demeanor. He eventually overcomes his evil side and joins the heroes.
Dragon Ball Super introduces the pink blob into the fight against Moro. Daikaioh fought the demonic enemy in the past, so the characters revive him from within Buu. He appears to have been contentedly living within the pink dunce for years, and the two may now freely exchange control of their bodies. Buu’s presence was likely a persistent reminder of a previous loss for the series’ resident Supreme Kai prior to this. The erstwhile villain appeared to be wearing his friend’s face as a skinsuit. This twist removes the unsettling connotation while also preserving Buu’s innocence.
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