GohanfromDragon Ballis a universally beloved character, rarely sparking debate among the fandom due to his undeniable charm and likability. Introduced as an adorable child, Gohan immediately captivated fans with his innocence and cuteness. Over time,he evolved into one of the franchise’s most powerful characters, even holding the title of the strongest at various points. If not forDragon Ball’s tendency to resurrect characters, Gohan might have solidified that position indefinitely.
Gohan still holds the potential to become one of the strongest mortalsif not the strongest in theDragon Ballfranchise, especially after his recent transformation into Gohan Beast. However, none of this would have been possible without one key event that set him on the path to unlocking his true potential. Gohan’s miraculous transformations and his journey toward discovering his immense strengthweren’t sparked by Goku or Piccolo but by his uncle, Raditz.
Gohan’s Uncle, Raditz, Is Secretly Responsible For Gohan’s Incredible Strength
Raditz Traumatized and Forced Gohan To Realize That Strength Was Crucial To Protect His Loved Ones
From the very first episode ofDragon Ball Z, it was clear that Gohan’s path to becoming a warrior was inevitable. Raditz created the opportunity for Gohan to begin this journey, albeit through traumatic events, forcing the adorable young boy into a world of battles and power that ultimately shaped his destiny.
InDragon Ball ZEpisode #1, titled"The Arrival of Raditz", the franchise confirms that Goku is not a human, but analien from a warrior race called the Saiyans. This revelation comes when Raditz, Goku’s big brother, arrives at Earth and drops a bombshell that Goku was originally sent to Earth with the mission to destroy the planet. When Goku rejects Raditz’s order to aid him in destroying other planets,Raditz kidnaps Goku’s young son, Gohan, and issues an ultimatum: kill humans or never see his son again.
Firmly refusing to cooperate with Raditz’s cruel demands, Goku teams up with his former enemy Piccolo in a desperate attempt to rescue Gohan. However, Raditz, whose power far surpasses both Goku and Piccolo, dominates the battle and comes dangerously close to killing Goku. Upon seeing his father almost die,Gohan breaks free from the capsule where Raditz had imprisoned him. In a burst of rage, the four-year-old unleashes an astonishing power level of over a thousand, far higher than both Goku and Piccolo at the time, and delivers a headbutt to Raditz’s chest.
If it wasn’t for the Saiyan armor, Raditz could have taken even more damage, possibly paving the way for the victory. This moment highlights that Gohan’s latent strength is not merely unlocked by training with Goku or Piccolo later in the series, but rather, it is his uncle Raditz who first awakens his potential.
Thetrauma and fear Gohan experiences at the hands of Raditzare the catalysts that first unlock his untapped potential. Had it not been for Raditz’s actions, Gohan might have continued down a peaceful path, solely focused on becoming a scholar like his mother, Chi-Chi, had always envisioned and not the Saiyan warrior that he turned out to be. However, solely crediting Raditz for Gohan’s incredible strength would be incomplete. Another crucial aspect of Gohan sets him apart from other Saiyans. Unlike the rest of his race,Gohan’s transformations have always been distinct, reflecting more than just his Saiyan heritage.
Gohan Being Half-Human Is a Testament to His Ability To Achieve Strength That Even Goku and Vegeta Couldn’t
Vegeta, the Saiyan Prince, has often remarked that Saiyans grow stronger after recovering from near-death injuries. As long as something doesn’t kill them, a Saiyan will grow stronger. Through this hack and rigorous training, Vegeta achieved the Super Saiyan form. Goku, however,unlocked this state through sheer emotional turmoil, specifically after witnessing the death of his best friend. This suggests another crucial factor, human emotions, is at play. Unlike Vegeta, who epitomizes the Saiyan warrior with a singular focus on combat, Goku was raised by humans, highlighting that he is just as influenced by human emotions as any Earthling.
Every Gohan Form in Dragon Ball History Ranked From Weakest to Strongest
Gohan is Goku’s beloved son, introduced in Dragon Ball Z, and he’s so strong that even his base forms eclipses the talents of other characters.
However, as a pure Saiyan, Goku has always embodied the warrior instinct, with his power gains often being a natural result of his Saiyan heritage. In contrast, Gohan, as a half-human, takes this mixture of races to another level. One of the most iconic examples of Gohan’s unique potential is his transformation into Ultimate Gohan. This form reveals theraw power of his human side, as reflected in his appearance during this state. This hints that the series' creator, the late Akira Toriyama, never depicted an Ultimate Goku or Vegeta because they didn’t have human blood to unlock this potential.
This was confirmed much laterwhen Gohan’s Beast form was explained inDragon Ball Super, making it a result of his unique heritage andthe decision to grow as a human, and not as a Saiyan. All these factors highlight thatGohanis one of the most well-crafted characters from theDragon Ballfranchise, but none of this would have been possible without Raditz’s initial trauma that forced Gohan to unlock his incredible strength.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
