Dragon Ball stands out as a legendary anime that has captured the hearts and imaginations of fans across generations and around the world. With its epic battles, unforgettable transformations, and memorable, inspiring characters, the franchise has redefined the shōnen landscape and cemented its place in anime history as an iconic presence that many still look to today.

Yet, as with all things, Dragon Ball isn’t without its imperfections and missteps. The series has had uneven stretches and moments that spark debate among fans, but none more so than the mishandling of one central character. In a pre-release Q&A for Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Akira Toriyama himself acknowledged Gohan’s diminishing role throughout the series.

Akira Toriyama Knew Gohan Wasn’t Handled With Care

Dragon Ball has always thrived on its memorable heroes, with each of them earning defining moments throughout the franchise that helped shape the series’ identity. Some, like Goku and Vegeta, naturally dominate the spotlight; others tend to drift between central and supporting roles depending on the story, and there are a few that have been relegated to the sidelines.

However, one character stands out from the rest due to his sheer amount of potential and narrative significance that sets him up to be the series’ next hero. Many fans waited for Gohan to take on the central role of Earth’s protector, and while he did after Dragon Ball’s epic Cell Saga, it was short-lived.

Since then, Gohan has been steadily pushed to the background, particularly in the sequel series, Dragon Ball Super. In a resurfaced Q&A with Akira Toriyama, he addressed his character’s diminished role, sharing, “Gohan is actually stronger than anyone… or so it’s said, but lately, he hasn’t really gotten a chance to shine.”

Gohan’s underutilization has been strikingly apparent throughout Super, often switching between brief, powerful appearances and long stretches of sidelining. It wasn’t until Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero that Gohan had the opportunity to shine again and step into his role as the character with the most potential.

Gohan Deserves a Larger Role When Dragon Ball Super Returns

Despite his occasional appearances in battle, Gohan’s presence has largely been a shadow of what it once was. While other characters evolved with new forms or expressed a drive to continue training, Gohan has remained relatively passive and reactive, only stepping up when he had little other choice but to do so.

It wasn’t until Super Hero that Gohan gained a long-overdue transformation, positioning him once again as a central character, capable and deserving of the title as the hero with the most potential. With his intelligence, leadership, and combat skills, Gohan could finally fulfill the role fans had been promised since his introduction to the franchise.

Looking ahead, this renewed focus on Gohan could mark a significant turning point for his character. Fans may even finally witness Gohan stepping up as the dominating hero in the next arc, rekindling the same energy audiences felt during the Cell Games. Dragon Ball Super may have pushed Gohan to the sidelines, but its return could restore his prominence.