Overview of Future Gohan
- Future Gohan embodies a melancholic representation of Gohan, known for his reluctance to accept the mantle of a warrior.
- This version of Gohan parallels what many fans envisioned for his character, illustrating a trajectory he would never genuinely select.
- Originally intended to take center stage post-Cell Saga, Gohan’s narrative shifted when Toriyama opted to maintain Goku as the lead character.
Navigating Content
Following the Cell Saga, many fans anticipated Gohan to transition into the principal character of Dragon Ball. This ambition was initially supported by Toriyama, who later reversed his decision, maintaining Goku’s role as the series’ main protagonist.
In the Cell Saga, we encounter Future Gohan, an alternative iteration of Gohan compelled to become a fighter. While some enthusiasts view him as the “ultimate”version of Gohan, Future Gohan poignantly represents a tragic interpretation of a character who never aspired to be the warrior everyone expected him to become.
Understanding Future Gohan in Dragon Ball Z
Future Gohan serves as the counterpart to Gohan, hailing from the alternate timeline of Future Trunks. By the time Future Trunks travels back in time, Gohan is already 23 years old and has taken on the role of Trunks’ mentor. Remarkably marked by scars, he also bears the burden of having lost his left arm in his ongoing battle against formidable adversaries.
In this apocalyptic timeline, Goku succumbs to a heart virus years before, rendering him irretrievable via the Dragon Balls due to the nature of his death. Tragically, the androids annihilate much of the Dragon Team, leaving Gohan as the solitary hope for humanity.
Under the weight of necessity, Future Gohan trains Trunks, nurturing hopes that Trunks will one day aid him in defeating the androids. Notably, Goten is absent in this timeline, suggesting he was conceived in the interlude preceding the Cell Games.
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The TV special Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks delves deeper into Future Gohan’s struggles against the androids, chronicling his journey from childhood to his heart-wrenching demise. The disturbing image of his own lifeless body spurs Future Trunks to unlock his Super Saiyan transformation, indicating the heavy toll Gohan’s choices impose on his friends and family.
Insights from Dragon Ball Super on Future Gohan
In Dragon Ball Super, audiences gain further insights into Future Gohan’s life through a bonus story in Volume 2 titled “The Winning Universe is Decided.”
This narrative reveals a young Future Gohan navigating challenges following the androids’ onslaught and Goku’s death. He embarks on a quest to locate the Dragon Balls, only to learn from Bulma about Pilaf’s wish to regain his youth, unintentionally transforming him and his associates into infants. Consequently, the Dragon Balls become inert after signaling the untimely demise of Piccolo and Kami.
Ultimately, this timeline is erased by Future Zeno to eliminate the threat posed by Infinite Zamasu, reflecting the series’ ongoing evolution and the turbulence of time manipulation.
Future Gohan: The Ideal Gohan Fans Desired in DBZ
As Future Gohan traverses his warrior path, many fans perceive him as the portrayal Gohan should have embodied throughout the series. Notably, Toriyama originally envisioned Gohan as the series protagonist, which explains his prominent role during the Cell Saga. However, a shift in vision led Toriyama to decide against this notion.
“I initially aimed to position Gohan in the leading role, but it didn’t come to fruition. I realized he wasn’t ultimately fit to be compared to Goku,”
— Akira Toriyama, as referenced in an interview.
This evolution left fans disillusioned, particularly when Gohan diverted away from combat training to embrace roles like the Great Saiyaman or pursuing academic endeavors. To some, Future Gohan embodies the “most legitimate”version of Gohan based on his circumstances and choices.
The Somber Reality of Future Gohan
While many fans expected Future Gohan to evolve significantly post-Cell Saga, he starkly contrasts with Gohan’s true nature. Historically, Gohan favored academics over battle, illustrating a profound reluctance to pursue a warrior’s path.
The Cell Saga reveals that while Gohan might become a warrior, it would be a reluctant choice rooted in necessity rather than desire. Consequently, Future Gohan is arguably a tragic representation of Gohan, showcasing what can transpire when he is stripped of the agency to follow his true aspirations. This underscores why Future Gohan fails to realize the immense potential displayed by “normal”Gohan; instead of triumph, he meets defeat.
When free from the oppressive demands of relentless conflict, Gohan achieves transformations like Ultimate and Beast. Remarkably, Beast stands as one of the series’ most formidable non-divine transformations. Gohan’s intrinsic nature leans toward being “defensive,” as he unlocks his true potential primarily when those he cherishes are in peril.
The inability of Future Gohan to harness enough power to vanquish the androids further indicates that Gohan’s mindset is crucial for unleashing his limits—his true strength surfaces through anger rather than despair. There’s a compelling irony in Gohan’s potential to be the strongest individual in the universe, constrained by his unwillingness to fully embrace his capabilities.
Ultimately, Future Gohan stands as a solitary warrior burdened with the responsibility of safeguarding Earth. His acceptance of this fate arises from necessity rather than desire; he is compelled into a role that neither excites nor fulfills him, starkly diverging from Gohan’s true character—one that never wished to become the warrior he was forced to be.
For those curious about the latest developments in the series, Dragon Ball Super can be accessed through MANGA Plus in English and Spanish. While several chapters can be accessed for free, a subscription is required to unlock the complete chapter archive.