Summary
A fascinating interview withDragon Ball ZauthorAkira Toriyamarevealed the creators' thoughts on who thestrongest characterin the series was after the manga’s completion. WithDragon Ball’s popularitycontinuing to grow worldwide, fans consistently debate on which character is stronger and who could defeat whom in an all-out battle, sometimes even pitting characters from other franchises against Toriyama’s beloved cast. But the legendary mangaka put speculation to rest onwho the strongest and coolestDragon Ball Zcharacter was.
Goku’s adventures have pitted him against increasingly challenging foes that have each forcedDragon Ball’s main character to surpass his limits to save the day. And after he defeated Kid Buu at the end ofDragon Ball Z, the author declared in an interview that Goku “the always pure, (is the) strongest in the universe”.
In the interview found inDragon Ball Daizenshuu 4: World Guide, and translated onkanzenshuu.com, Akira Toriyama was asked “Out of all your characters, which one is the most cool?” His answer was Goku before going on to definitively state thatGoku was the strongest in the universe, which was true untilDragon Ball Super.
DBZ Ended Like Dragon Ball, With Goku Being The Strongest
The Original Dragon Ball Manga Also Included The Events Of DBZ In Its 519 Chapters
DespiteToriyama’s original desire to kill Gokupermanently and pass the torch to Gohan to beDBZ’s main character, it did not prove easy to move Goku out of the spotlight. The Majin Buu arc contained some fan-favorite moments and others that left a sour taste with readers, but it did a fantastic job of raising the stakes with the final battle between Vegeta, Goku, and Kid Buu that felt like an all-out brawl of the strongest creatures in the universe.
Even though Kid Buu was technically weaker than the version of himself that had absorbed Gohan and Gotenks, his power level was still that of a cosmic threat. After losing those he absorbed, Buu became a chaotic wrecking ball capable of destroying multiple planets quickly and without tiring. When he finally came face to face with Vegeta and Goku on the Sacred Words of the Kais, it wasa battle of the universe’s strongest and ended with Goku on top. Years later,Dragon Ball Superchanged everything by introducing the God of Destruction, Beerus, and his angel attendant Whis.
Dragon Ball Super Changed The Hierarchy Of Power
Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of GodsReleased Nearly Eighteen Years AfterDragon Ball’s Manga Ended
Dragon Ball Superintroduced many of the strongest characters in the universe, each representing a new level of strength for Goku and Vegeta to attain. The introduction to characters like Beerus and the King of All, Grand Zeno,undid Toriyama’s original claim of Goku being the strongestin the universe, but it also helped expand the franchise and provide several exciting arcs for fans to enjoy. Despite the tragic loss of Akira Toriyama in March 2024, theDragon Ball Supermanga will continue, but it’s unlikely that Goku will be considered the strongest once the latest series ends.
The God of Destruction,Beerus, revealed that he’d been training Goku and Vegetain the hopes of finding a replacement for his job so that he could retire from the position he’s held for millions of years. However, after the Super Hero arc, characters like Frieza, Broly, and Gohan all proved to have levels of power that may make them worthy of the title of God of Destruction.
Frieza Can Kill Beerus - Dragon Ball Super’s Next Arc Has a Big Opportunity It Shouldn’t Pass
After unlocking Black Frieza, the beloved Dragon Ball villain can shake up the Dragon Ball Super story by ending the God of Destruction Beerus.
Chapter #103 of theDBSmanga featured an incrediblesparring match between Beast Gohan and Ultra Instinct Gokuthat saw Gohan get the better of his father. Broly also seems to be gaining better control of his strength, which previously overwhelmed Goku’s Super Saiyan God forms. Still, fans anxiously await to see what happens to Goku and his already considerable powers in the final arc ofDragon Ball Superwhen the manga returns.
Goku Doesn’t Have To Be The Strongest For A Satisfying Ending To The DBS Story
The Final Arc Of TheDragon Ball SuperManga Will Be Written and Illustrated By Toriyama’s Successor: Toyotarou
When Beerus was introduced in the first arc ofDBS, he created a hurdle that fans are excited to see Goku surpass. But even if he does reach that point, there will still be charactersstronger than Goku inDragon Ball’s universe. Grand Zeno, his bodyguards, and especially his main attendant, the Grand Priest, have been presented as cosmic deities who wield unfathomable levels of power that mortals could never hope to achieve, even beyond what the Gods of Destruction are capable of.
With the Grand Priest being the strongest of the (so far) untouchable angels and the King of All wielding the power to erase universes with a mere thought, Toriyama’s comment about Goku being the strongest afterDragon Ball Zis no longer true. However, many fans around the world still call him the coolest.
Dragon Ball Z
Cast
Dragon Ball Z follows Goku, who lives a peaceful life with his family until the arrival of Raditz, a mysterious warrior claiming to be Goku’s brother. This revelation unveils their true heritage as Saiyans, a formidable warrior race known for conquering planets.
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.
Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball Super is an anime series set after Majin Buu’s defeat. It follows Son Goku, now a radish farmer, as peace prevails until Beerus, the God of Destruction, appears. Seeking to challenge a legendary warrior, the series revisits events from two Dragon Ball Z films before exploring alternate universes.
