There is no shortage of androids in the Dragon Ball universe, from villain-turned-hero androids like 17 and 18 to the purely villainous bio-android Cell. However, only one android stands above the rest as not only being the most monstrous while also being the most heroic right from the start.
The most notable organization within Dragon Ball responsible for producing fully autonomous robots is the Red Ribbon Army–an organization hellbent on taking over the world under its fascist regime. Within that organization, two scientists were primarily responsible for creating these androids: Dr. Flappe and Dr. Gero, with the latter being responsible for creating the initially villainous Androids 17 and 18 as well as the infamously terrifying Cell himself. However, Dr. Flappe is credited for bringing to life some of the earlier androids for the Red Ribbon Army, including this particular android in question who looks as though he was based on an iconic horror movie monster.
In Dragon Ball Chapter 63 by Akira Toriyama, Goku has broken into a Red Ribbon Army base of operations after he learned of the organization’s villainous nature. While inside one of its headquarters, he battles a ninja appropriately named the Purple Ninja who proves to not be a match for Goku. So, the Purple Ninja decides to release one of the army’s androids to finish off the Saiyan child once and for all: Android 8.
On the surface, Android 8 looks incredibly intimidating as his physical appearance is that of Frankenstein’s monster complete with the imposing physique and stitching scars holding his skin together. However, when the Purple Ninja unleashes the seemingly monstrous android, Goku and readers alike learn that he is actually a pacifist who urged both warriors to stop fighting one another. Seeing Android 8’s sensitive disposition as weakness, the Purple Ninja tries to attack Goku and Android 8 with one final move that he thought was sure to incapacitate both of them. However, Goku was too quick and knocked the Purple Ninja out cold, allowing he and Android 8 to continue on the mission Goku launched against the Red Ribbon Army. In fact, Android 8 proves himself to be incredibly useful as the entire floor they were on within the base was something of a labyrinth that only members of the army knew how to navigate. So, Android 8 leads Goku through the confusing area to the commander of the base and helps him wipe the Red Ribbon Army’s evil from the land.
Not only is Android 8 not a monster as his physical appearance might suggest, but he’s actually incredibly heroic by turning against his violent masters and helping Goku who would have otherwise been trapped without him. While Android 8’s help pales in comparison to what the reformed Android 17 and 18 have done for the world since they were freed from their lives of villainy, they weren’t initially good and actually helped cause the destruction of the Earth in Trunks’ alternate future, whereas Android 8 was a good guy from the start–proving that Dragon Ball’s most monstrous android (as he was seemingly based on a literal movie monster) is also the series’ most heroic.
