Hello, I’m KENTA, a Japanese manga enthusiast! One of the most exciting aspects of Dragon Ball is the intense battles against increasingly powerful foes. However, with each new formidable character, past characters often find themselves overshadowed. In this article, we’ll shine a spotlight on those talented characters who were swallowed by the wave of inflation and couldn’t fully demonstrate their true abilities. We’ll examine how they fell victim to this inflation and explore what their true potential might have been.
The First Victim: The Warrior of Namek, Nail
First up is Nail, the warrior of Namek. Appearing during the Namek Saga, he was the strongest among the warrior-type Namekians and served as the bodyguard to Grand Elder Guru. His power level was measured at 42,000, far surpassing that of Vegeta during the Saiyan Saga. This number suggests that he could have fought on par with the likes of Recoome or even members of the Ginyu Force.
However, in the main story, his role was reduced to nothing more than buying time against Frieza’s first form. Nail inflicted no damage on Frieza, was severely injured in the battle, and ultimately fused with Piccolo, ending his journey. Had he shown his full strength earlier, he might have helped alleviate the sense of despair during the battle with the Ginyu Force. Nail’s departure is a classic example of a “talented character who never got to shine” in Dragon Ball.
A Power Greater Than Frieza? The Strength of King Cold
Next, we focus on King Cold, the father of Frieza. His power, according to Vegeta, surpassed even that of Frieza. When King Cold arrived on Earth with the cybernetically enhanced Frieza, he brought immense dread to the Z Fighters. However, this fear was short-lived as both were swiftly defeated by Trunks, who had come from the future.
Though King Cold may have had strength greater than Frieza, his battle scenes completely failed to convey any sense of his might. He fell into Trunks’ obvious provocations and was quickly killed, leaving a disappointing conclusion to his character. Whether King Cold was truly stronger than Frieza, or just unlucky, remains a matter of debate, but there’s no doubt he was a character whose potential was left unrealized.
The Inept Among Gods: Supreme Kai
Supreme Kai, who appeared during the Buu Saga, is another character who never reached his full potential. As a high-ranking deity in the universe, his power was supposed to be immense. In fact, he was said to be capable of defeating Frieza with a single blow. However, as the story progressed, his opportunities to demonstrate this strength dwindled, and instead, his incompetence became more apparent.
Though he made a grand entrance early in the Buu Saga, Supreme Kai quickly fell into a pattern of relying on others after repeatedly raising flags of impending doom. This led to his becoming a bit of a joke character, loved by fans for his earnestness but also ridiculed for his ineffectiveness. If he had appeared during the Frieza or Cell Sagas, his reputation might have been entirely different.
The Tragedy of the Demon King Dabura
Next is the Demon King Dabura, who ruled the Demon Realm. Introduced in the Buu Saga, he was portrayed as a fearsome enemy, even terrifying Supreme Kai. His power was said to rival that of Cell, and his presence was formidable. Yet, as the story continued, he too became a casualty of inflation.
Dabura initially fought evenly with Gohan, but was quickly defeated and turned into a cookie by Majin Buu. Moreover, his Demon Realm background was barely explored in the main series. While Dabura later reappeared in games and side stories, showing his strength, his treatment in the original manga was disappointing.
The Frustration of Ultimate Gohan Absorbed Majin Buu
Finally, we look at Majin Buu after absorbing Ultimate Gohan, also known as Buuhan. After absorbing the overwhelming power of Gohan, Majin Buu became the ultimate force. However, he was given little chance to showcase this power, as he was completely dominated by Vegito.
Not only was Buuhan utterly outclassed by Vegito, but he also failed to demonstrate his full power in battles against Goku and Vegeta. Had Buuhan shown his true strength earlier, the story might have taken a different turn, but instead, he too was swept away by the tide of inflation.
Conclusion
The inflation in Dragon Ball was essential to keep the story exciting, but it left many talented characters behind, unable to fully demonstrate their abilities. The characters we’ve discussed could have shone brighter, but poor timing and unfortunate opponents kept them from realizing their potential. Many fans may wish to see these characters in action again, showing what they’re truly capable of.
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