Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball Super is the culmination of nearly four decades of inspirational and entertaining storytelling. Dragon Ball has evolved in drastic ways since its humble origins, and what started as Goku's adventure has gradually become a generational saga of heroism. Dragon Ball Super's manga, by Toriyama and Toyotarou, has gone far beyond the events of the anime's Tournament of Power. Dragon Ball Super's manga is full of new villains and fresh transformations, but it also finds ways to redeem some of the series' more neglected characters, like Gohan. Gohan remains Dragon Ball Super's most frustrating case of wasted potential after hundreds of episodes of character development are cast aside in favor of more Goku-led victories. Dragon Ball Super has finally decided to rethink this strategy and celebrate the series' diverse roster.
In the past, there's been a firm separation between Dragon Ball's feature films and its manga, with only the latter considered proper canon. Dragon Ball Super breaks this tradition; the manga's current story arc adapts the latest feature film's events, albeit with an even greater level of detail. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is a satisfying return to form for Gohan and Piccolo, two characters who were long overdue for upgrades. The movie successfully presents Gohan in an intimidating new light. However, Chapter 94, "Get Your Head in the Game, Son Gohan!," gives Gohan some of his best moments in years, one of which rivals a popular Vegeta moment.
Pan's Mock Kidnapping Awakens Gohan's Killer Instinct
Dragon Ball Super's manga initially threw audiences a major curveball when it was revealed that Goku and Vegeta would be stepping out of the spotlight for an extended period. Goten and Trunks fill this absence in Chapter 91, leading to a playful change of pace reminiscent of the original Dragon Ball. Goten and Trunks' story actually functions as a prologue to the events of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero through the introduction of Dr. Hedo and his Android reinforcements. As of Chapter 94, Dragon Ball Super's manga has entered the movie's inciting incident where Gamma 1 and 2 test the heroes' strength. Chapter 94, as its title suggests, is Gohan's time to shine. However, this proves harder than Piccolo expects due to Gohan's relaxed lifestyle. Piccolo needs to stoop to nefarious tactics in order to reawaken the deadly warrior who defeated Cell and held his own against Frieza and Majin Buu.
The secretly revived Red Ribbon Army requires Gohan's power to test their greatest creations. Gohan has done a good job at turning martial arts into a passive hobby instead of an overbearing lifestyle, but the threat of his daughter is too great to ignore. Dragon Ball has previously put young children in harm's way, but Pan's kidnapping is actually a carefully calculated act of protection from Piccolo. Piccolo dons the guise of a random Red Ribbon lackey, which fools Commander Magenta. However, Pan quickly recognizes Piccolo and his ki signature and knows she's in good hands. To Pan, this is all some elaborate training exercise. Pan cooperates with Piccolo and acts as helpless as possible in order to bait Gohan back into business. Pan's abilities in this area are so strong that she could have a future career as an actor if martial arts doesn't work out for her. Gohan falls for their trap and begins to see red.
The Manga's Version Of Events Builds Upon A Fan-Favorite Vegeta Sequence
Dragon Ball Super's manga glosses over the events of Dragon Ball Super: Broly through a few succinct splash panels, yet Super Hero's story arc is set to last for months. Until this point, the manga has only embellished upon Super Hero's events and given them greater context rather than contradicting anything from the movie. In the feature film, Piccolo still masterminds Pan's transportation to Red Ribbon headquarters, but Gohan's attack is fairly direct before he faces off against Gamma 1.
Chapter 94 of the Dragon Ball Super manga makes Gohan's confrontation with Red Ribbon a lot more comedic. He toys with Red Ribbon's grunt worker and effortlessly disposes of his weapon in a very Saiyaman-like manner. These light-hearted antics only make Gohan's abrupt shift to rage all the more effective. This duality is crucial to Gohan's character, but his family knows they can depend on him when danger strikes — even if he's a little rusty. Gohan's exaggerated showmanship in the manga also extends to a brand-new line that's destined to become a classic quote.
Gohan's demeanor instantly changes when he sees pictures of Pan in peril. Before an explosion of power, Gohan screams, "What'd you do to my Pan?" It's a direct question that doesn't necessarily seem important, but it's actually a callback to a similar moment of aggression that Vegeta experiences. "That's my Bulma!" has become a highly memed moment that pushes Vegeta out of his comfort zone. Vegeta bends over backward to be subservient and respectful to God of Destruction, Beerus, which is all forgotten after he slaps his wife. Gohan is present for this moment between Vegeta, Beerus, and Bulma, meaning he likely stores it away in his subconscious whether he's aware of it or not.
Dragon Ball loves to highlight how Gohan is similar to Goku, but this echoed outburst is a helpful reminder that he and Vegeta aren't that different. After Gohan's "My Pan" moment, it's even possible that Dragon Ball Super turns this into a running tradition for its Saiyans. It may only be a matter of time until Goku gets his "My Chi-Chi" moment or Future Trunks declares, "My Mai!" The later Dragon Ball Super manga chapters continue to reexamine Saiyan lore in rewarding ways. Bardock's backstory has been heavily rewritten to better accentuate the similarities between Goku and his estranged father.
Gohan's "My Pan" Moment Could Similarly Inspire His Daughter
This compulsion to connect disparate Saiyan generations through their primal emotions is natural territory to take not only Gohan but also Pan. It's satisfying to watch Gohan's character arc come full circle as his actions echo his warrior past. However, Dragon Ball Super's manga could create some powerful symmetry by seeding the same emotional fury in Gohan's daughter. A simple sequence where Pan commands Gamma 1 to let go of "My Gohan" or "My Piccolo" would simultaneously unite several generations of heroes in a single phrase.
To go one step further, this call-and-response exchange would also be a sublime circumstance for Pan to finally turn into a Super Saiyan. Pan beats up a whole army in the cinematic version of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. However, fans were disappointed that the popular character has yet to experience this milestone. Dragon Ball Super's manga could follow through on this unfulfilled wish and use Pan's fear over her father's safety as her belated Super Saiyan debut. Female Super Saiyans are no longer an anomaly, and Pan deserves this honor. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero thoroughly salutes Gohan and Piccolo, but Pan is the other unofficial lead of this story, and that shouldn't be diminished.
Gohan Has A History Of Empathetic Rage
Any doubt that Gohan is still the same warrior who saved the Earth from Cell is put to rest after his passionate "My Pan!" explosion of power. Even Piccolo is surprised at how quickly Gohan is able to get his act together when he sees that his daughter is in danger. Gohan, much like his father, is always willing to selflessly help the hopeless and heroically do what's right. However, this specific incident is special because Gohan is one of Dragon Ball's most considerate characters. Not only does Gohan get emotional over others, but this empathy is often intrinsically linked to a terrifying rage that gets the better of him. Gohan's "My Pan!" outburst is grandiose to properly juxtapose it against Vegeta's own emotional display. At the same time, this demonstration is the culmination of a lifetime of raw emotions. Violent outbursts have marked Gohan's development as a martial artist more so than any other Dragon Ball character.
Dragon Ball Z introduces Gohan to audiences when he's only 4 years old — a year older than Pan during this whole Red Ribbon debacle — and one of his first major acts is overpowered rage. Unbelievable power surges out of infant Gohan when he witnesses Raditz hurting his father. Whether this experience should be viewed as fate or merely the catalyst to what follows, it establishes a helpful precedent. The best way to channel Gohan's dormant strength is to make him angry. Toriyama continues to develop this premise through a handful of similar situations, whether it's Piccolo's death by Nappa's mouth blast, Cargo's demise on Namek, or Videl's vicious beatdown by the Majin-manipulated Spopovich. There's a clear progression behind each of these emotional moments, and it's satisfying that Toriyama and Toyotarou have further developed one of Gohan's most compelling characteristics.
Gohan's Strongest Moments Come From Others' Losses
Anger is the key to Gohan's hidden potential, but it's not just any type of rage that motivates the Saiyan. The endangerment of friends and family is what makes Gohan the angriest, and his most powerful transformations correlate with the few times that he's actually lost loved ones. Saiyans are emotional individuals; this ability to viscerally tap into and acknowledge these feelings is typically the catalyst for transformation. Goku and Vegeta demonstrate this during their adult years. However, this understanding of one's emotions is a process that Gohan begins during his youth and further develops throughout his entire life.
Alternatively, Vegeta's inaugural Super Saiyan transformation is triggered through petty vengeance and insecurity, while Goku's Super Saiyan 3 milestones and beyond are more the result of convenient plotting than cathartic trauma. These Saiyans have found healthier ways to transcend their limits, while Gohan's greatest breakthroughs all involve him believing that he's lost a loved one. Goku and Android 16's deaths were necessary casualties for Gohan to grow. Similarly, the only reason that Gohan taps into the cryptic heights of his new Beast transformation is that he thinks Cell Max has killed Piccolo. It's only natural that his daughter's endangerment would evoke similar feelings.
Could Another New Transformation Be On The Way?
Dragon Ball fans who have seen Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero already know that Red Ribbon's rampaging Cell Max is defeated by Gohan's new Beast transformation. Gohan and Piccolo both experience powerful new transformations that will hopefully play major roles in Dragon Ball Super's future. Perpetual upgrades for Goku and Vegeta have made it challenging for other characters to match their accomplishments. Audiences know to expect Gohan Beast during the conclusion of the manga's Super Hero story arc. However, Gohan's explosive rage in Chapter 94 in relation to his "My Pan" moment could also mean that the manga sneaks in another mid-stage Saiyan transformation. The manga contains some intense transformation panels that seem to go beyond the standard Super Saiyan limits. Chapter 94 even concludes with Gohan attaining an eerie calm that brings Ultra Instinct to mind.
Vegeta and Future Trunks have temporarily tapped into the Super Saiyan Rage form as a stop-gap between new official transformation tiers. Dragon Ball Super's manga may take the same approach with Gohan and give him an unofficial transformation stage before he fully ascends into Gohan Beast. Gohan's tendency to get taken over by his emotions, like rage, is an established aspect of his character. In some respects, it makes even more sense for him to master Super Saiyan Rage than any other Saiyan. New transformation or not, Gohan's powerful proclamation about his daughter means that it should be a long time until anybody messes with Pan again.