Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is right around the corner and so far trailers and posters have been indicating that Gohan will take the lead for this film. What’s more is that several concept arts have more than hinted at the possibility of Gohan’s old-time villain, Cell, making a return.
It’s a big event for Gohan fans, but one they aren’t unfamiliar with. Gohan was once originally intended to replace his father, Goku as the main character of the franchise. This replacement originally began in the Cell Games, with heavy foreshadowing and parallels to the past that set Gohan up in this way.
Gohan’s Lack of a Role
Gohan never faded to the background like other characters, so the idea that he had something bigger in the story seemed evident. Unlike Krillin, who slowly fell behind, Gohan was progressively getting stronger more quickly and even was able to keep up with top-tier fighters at times.
With Piccolo, Vegeta, and Future Trunks already giving their best shots against Cell, it seemed possible that Gohan was going to have a chance as well. Especially after training with Goku and attaining the Super Saiyan form at last.
Cell’s Embodiment
Cell was a remarkable villain and arguably the best villain in the entirety of the franchise. This character was a perfect set-up as Gohan’s antagonist as he embodied all of the antagonists prior to that point, as well as some of the protagonists.
He was created by the Red Ribbon Army, bears the cells of Goku’s past enemies, and possesses strong resemblances and parallels to King Piccolo. These parallels are perfectly placed and foreshadow Gohan’s rise to the hero.
Cell’s Announcement
Cell’s announcement parallels King Piccolo’s announcement that he has conquered the world. Cell declares the best tournament in the series–the Cell Games, a perfect battlefield that is based on the World Martial Arts Tournament (which makes for an excellent battle zone for Gohan, as it reflects some of Goku’s greatest trials in Dragon Ball).
The games will decide the fate of the Earth, much like how King Piccolo plays a game via raffle tickets where he will destroy one sector of Planet Earth every year. While in Dragon Ball it was more obvious that Goku would rise as the hero, in-universe it didn’t seem possible. The most likely outcome was Tien, however, once he was defeated all seemed lost until Tien appeared. With Cell’s setup being remarkably similar to King Piccolo’s, it brings the question of who will stand against him this time around? The answer, Gohan.
King Furry’s Reappearance
It’s no accident that in this arc for the first time since the King Piccolo Saga that King Furry and his King’s Castle troops make a reappearance. There is a constant reflection about the events of King Piccolo in this segment and how King Furry wishes another hero like back then would come to defeat Cell.
Goku’s heroism had faded from the Earth and it seemed very few actually remembered his deeds. However, King Furry does note the strong resemblance that Goku had to himself as a child, as well as Piccolo’s resemblance to King Piccolo. Goku’s fading from the background of the story and Earth’s history was perfectly leaving an empty position for the new hero of Earth.
Goku’s Relax
Goku’s relaxed attitude prior to the Cell Games is possibly the biggest indicator that he will step down and Gohan will rise as the main character. He clearly has a secret, but one that doesn’t indicate he has a secret power of his own.
Readers and watchers are in fact given confirmation that Goku is indeed weaker than Cell when he has Korin sense his power for him. The stepping down from Kami’s Lookout to Korin’s Tower is also a nice reflection of Goku descending from his position as the protagonist. In the King Piccolo Saga, he ascended up to Kami’s Lookout after his victory, reaching the top of the world and the hero of Earth. But now, he is descending, heading down to Earth for his final battle. Goku’s removal as the main character leaves only one other character available for this position and that is Gohan.
Goku vs Cell
An invigorating fight with some of the most rewatchable action in the series where fans likely knew Gohan would have a chance to fight when Goku stepped up to fight Cell first. With the Cell Games boasting to be a tournament, it seemed likely that a few other characters would fight Cell before Goku, but that isn’t the case.
Toriyama never leaves the main character for the first event and it’s been a common theme in Dragon Ball for Goku to arrive late to the battle. So when Goku fought first and eventually surrendered, it became all but obvious that Gohan would be the final act. In the Buu Saga, there is also a nice parallel Gohan shares with Goku similar to this when he arrives late to the battle, saving Goten, Trunks, and Piccolo. He also arrives wearing Goku’s clothes, a clear note that he is now the primary defender of Earth (even though this plan is later changed by Toriyama).
Gohan’s Pacifism
Gohan at some point seemed to have developed a lack of desire to fight. Prior to these events, he had no issues with fighting or in some cases even killing his opponents. But at this point, he completely contrasts with Goku, giving fans a fighter who doesn’t want to fight or hurt his enemy.
What’s more than this, is Gohan doesn’t want to let loose. He’s scared of his own power and what he’s capable of. A fear that is well founded and foreshadows the death of his father.
Gohan’s Awakening
Gohan’s ascension to Super Saiyan 2 happens at the death of Android 16. His transformation is one of two in the series that is attained through loss and rage. The transformation perfectly resembles Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation against Frieza, while maintaining its uniqueness to Gohan.
Constantly Gohan has had rage snapping moments where he gains large bursts of power against his opponents and this is the result of all of that being unleashed. Time after time Gohan had been hinted at having this hidden power and at last, it is all seen. A moment that had been foreshadowed since the early moments of Dragon Ball Z, all unleashed at one moment. The moment Gohan officially takes charge as the new main character.
Recognition of Flaws
While Gohan seemed a softer individual than Gohan prior to his transformation, afterward he became even harder than Goku. Goku talked coldly, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to kill Frieza. Gohan on the other hand has every intention of killing Cell.
However, rather than finishing him off quickly, he wants to make Cell suffer and pay for what he’s done. Gohan’s power goes to his head and because of this, both Goku and Future Trunks end up dead. But with this said, Gohan was able to recognize his flaws and own up to them; something Goku never really did. Despite many of Gohan’s insecurities, this opens fans up to a very different new main character that is able to separate himself from Goku.
Father-Son Kamehameha
In what is probably the most beautiful and symbolic moment of Dragon Ball, Gohan carries on Goku’s will as he kills Cell. Gohan parallels Goku’s state from the King Piccolo Saga as both of them were brutally injured with only one arm left to fight. With a final attack with that arm, they are able to obliterate their foe and become the hero. Goku has a massive Great Ape silhouette behind him when he defeats Piccolo, showing where his power comes from.
The same with Gohan, he has a silhouette of his father behind him, showing that his power comes from his father. What’s more, is that this moment nicely shows Goku handing off the baton to Gohan as the defender of the Earth.
