When Dragon Ball Super first aired, it was met with a whirlwind of pleasure. After almost twenty years, the return of Goku, Vegeta, and different beloved characters sparked waves of nostalgia, significantly for followers who adopted the unique Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. After all, this pleasure was additionally accompanied by a substantial quantity of skepticism relating to the brand new sequence’ capacity to dwell as much as, or surpass, the unique.
These doubts solely grew after the discharge of the primary few chapters and episodes, which largely rehashed outdated tales. Moreover, its placement within the Dragon Ball timeline raised various eyebrows. Nevertheless, because the sequence progressed, it started to enhance. Arcs just like the “Tournament of Power” supplied a much-needed jolt that revitalized the fandom. Then got here the “Tremendous Hero Arc,” which served as a stark reminder of the sequence’ shortcomings —it is pacing, narrative selections, and total objective felt off. However with the debut of Dragon Ball DAIMA final 12 months, the “Tremendous Hero Arc” immediately didn’t appear so unhealthy in any case.
Dragon Ball Tremendous’s Tremendous Hero Saga Was Sluggish, However It Did As Greatest As a Prequel May
Sticking Inside Its Pointers To Not Break Established Canon
It was by no means going to be straightforward for the Dragon Ball Tremendous sequence. With the Dragon Ball saga formally concluding with Goku flying off to coach Uub —the reincarnation of Child Buu— within the last chapter and episode of Dragon Ball Z, the brand new sequence confronted a major problem: sustaining concord with the in depth Dragon Ball lore that had collected over the many years since its debut in 1986. Certainly, Tremendous needed to stroll a superb line, serving as each a prequel and a supplemental sequence that aimed so as to add depth to the unique Dragon Ball Z story with out contradicting or overwriting it.
Dragon Ball Tremendous succeeded on a number of ranges, significantly in exploring the connection between Goten and Trunks and offering a extra full introduction to Gohan’s daughter, Pan.
Contemplating the occasions in Dragon Ball Z, the plot of Dragon Ball Super’s “Tremendous Hero Arc” initially appeared slightly suspect. It felt as if creator Akira Toriyama and artist Toyotarou had been merely pandering to followers, particularly given the popularity of superhero-themed titles like My Hero Academia. Nevertheless, regardless of understanding that it’s a story Dragon Ball Z didn’t inform — however was nonetheless worthy of being advised — the premise felt like a retelling of a mash-up of Dragon Ball‘s Crimson Ribbon Military Arc with Dragon Ball Z‘s Cell Arc, together with a touch of the “Nice Saiyaman Arc”.
Regardless of the plot missing narrative pressure, it succeeded on a number of ranges, significantly in exploring the connection between Goten and Trunks and offering a extra full introduction to Gohan’s daughter, Pan. Extra importantly, as a prequel, it prevented introducing weird characters or occasions that might disrupt the official Dragon Ball Z timeline. That is very true of the manga’s “Tremendous Hero Arc” adaptation prequel (Dragon Ball Tremendous Chapters #88-90) and sequel (Dragon Ball Tremendous Chapter #104), each of which align seamlessly with the occasions of the Dragon Ball Tremendous: Tremendous Hero film.
Dragon Ball Daima Is Breaking All of the Guidelines of What a Prequel Ought to Be In a position To Do
Introducing New Ideas, However Not Exploring Them Additional
Dragon Ball Tremendous‘s profitable integration of the “Tremendous Hero Arc” into the official timeline, throughout each its movie and manga diversifications, stands in stark distinction to the strategy taken by the brand new Dragon Ball DAIMA sequence. Simply as with Tremendous, the primary episode of DAIMA establishes that it happens instantly after Goku and Vegeta’s victory over Kid Buu in Dragon Ball Z. Accordingly, DAIMA is about properly earlier than the occasions of Dragon Ball Tremendous. In different phrases, whereas already restricted by occurring throughout the Dragon Ball Z timeline, it additionally should take note of the occasions of the Dragon Ball Tremendous sequence.
Starting on a powerful observe, DAIMA respects the established future storyline acquainted to followers. The idea of a beforehand unseen villain reworking Goku, Vegeta, and others into kids, prompting a quest to uncover the rationale behind this assault and discover a treatment, echoes the adventurous and fantastical spirit of earlier Dragon Ball narratives. This ensemble-driven strategy, harking back to basic Dragon Ball, is a refreshingly nostalgic depiction that diverges from the extra targeted, character-centric motion tales of later Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Tremendous sequence. Consequently, DAIMA reveals higher promise than the “Tremendous Hero Arc” from the outset.
Sadly, DAIMA fails to remain true to the course it initially units for itself, introducing parts that battle with later occasions in Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Tremendous. That is most evident when Goku attains a “power-up” he had by no means formally achieved earlier than. Within the last episode of its inaugural season, whereas battling Big Gomah, Goku reaches Super Saiyan 4 — a change he had beforehand solely attained in Dragon Ball GT, which is broadly thought-about a separate continuity. Nevertheless, after DAIMA, not solely does he expertise this manner throughout the official timeline, however he additionally achieves it a lot sooner than he would have if Dragon Ball GT had been a part of the primary canon.
Dragon Ball Tremendous: Tremendous Hero Makes Dragon Ball Saga Higher
Saving The Collection From Continuity Errors And Unresolved Plots
So, regardless of initially believing that the “Tremendous Hero Arc” was one of many extra lackluster sagas of the Dragon Ball Tremendous story—a sequence already constrained by its placement throughout the Dragon Ball Z timeline — the brand new DAIMA sequence revealed simply how thoughtfully crafted it actually was. With out considerably disrupting the broader Dragon Ball Z narrative, the arc accomplishes precisely what it units out to do: including depth and complexity to a narrative whose ending followers already know. As an example, it helps clarify why Goku feels so snug flying away with Uub, as he is aware of Earth’s protection is in succesful arms.
However, Dragon Ball DAIMA —assuming it’s a prequel, although that will not essentially be the case— breaks a basic rule of prequels by introducing parts that don’t exist within the major narrative or are usually not referenced later within the story. Naturally, this disrupts continuity and raises quite a few questions on what constitutes the official storyline. These are points that may undoubtedly be debated because the franchise strikes ahead, particularly with the potential return of the Dragon Ball Tremendous sequence sooner or later sooner or later.
In relation to the “Tremendous Hero Arc”, Dragon Ball DAIMA supplies a helpful level of comparability. This comparability highlights why, regardless of criticism for being a considerably boring story arc, the “Tremendous Hero Arc” is definitely well-structured and contributes meaningfully to the overarching Dragon Ball narrative.
