Despite being the series' iconic protagonist, Goku is largely absent from many of the main events in Dragon Ball's middle sections. From the moment Raditz arrives on Earth, the leading Saiyan and his then rival, Piccolo, are forced to fight the mysterious space-traveling warrior. Goku sacrifices himself in the battle, and then travels along Snake Way to King Kai's Planet, while Gohan and Piccolo train for Nappa and Vegeta's arrival.

As all Dragon Ball fans know, Goku returns for the major showdown against the Saiyans, and is eventually victorious. This moment, however, is the beginning of a pattern that persisted in the major arcs to follow: Goku's absence from the rest of the cast until it's time for the final battle. He arrived late on Namek, and was out of commission for quite some time, was bedridden for much of the Cell Saga, and dead for a majority of the Majin Buu Saga. In the meantime, much of the action centered on Gohan.

With his quiet rage and seemingly infinite potential being a recurring plot point, the Cell Saga wrapped up with the triumphant Father Son Kamehameha, and the title of Earth's greatest hero was officially ed to Gohan. The Buu Saga opened, and the stage was set for a Gohan-centered story, until, quite abruptly, he was stripped of his role as protagonist. The arc features some of my all-time favorite moments in all of Dragon Ball, but the Gohan fan in me will never be fully satisfied with it.

Dragon Ball's Buu Saga Didn't Go the Way It Was Planned

Akira Toriyama Wasn't Comfortable With Gohan In the Main Character Role

In an interview conducted just after the completion of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga, the creator touched on the many storytelling decisions he made throughout the series. One question was about the Buu Saga, to which he responded, "I intended to put Gohan into the leading role," before adding, "I felt that, compared to Goku, he was ultimately not suited for the part." After a brief section following Gohan's high school life, the plot was quickly pulled away and refocused onto Buu, Goku, Vegeta, and fusion.

The series, from his first appearance to the victory over Cell, was building towards Gohan inheriting the title of Earth's savior. There was one rather large problem, though. Gohan didn't like to fight. To replace Goku with a character who wasn't active in seeking out or bringing the conflict to him wouldn't exactly work in a series like Dragon Ball, and after spending time with Gohan during his peaceful high school days, Toriyama realized this.

As much as it may pain Gohan fans around the world, Dragon Ball is Goku's story, and operates at its best when written as such. Even still, much of the Majin Buu Saga is tinged with disappointment for fans like myself, who wished to see Gohan in the leading role. Many understand why Goku needed to be the series' focal point, but the Buu Saga is also somewhat disappointing for another reason. From the moment he was sidelined in favor of his father, Gohan was sent on a long downward spiral into irrelevance.

The Buu Saga Was the Beginning of Gohan's Steep Fall-Off

The One-Time Candidate for Main Character Became the Series' Punch Line

Even after Gohan's short-lived reign as Dragon Ball's protagonist, fans of the character could be satisfied knowing that he was similar to Goku in strength even at the very end of the Majin Buu Saga. What followed, however, during the series' 2010s revival, was a disservice to the character. No one but Goku truly got an extended chance to face-off with Beerus, but Gohan's presence in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' was simply cruel. Embarrassingly out of shape, the character who once sured all when he was a child could barely manage to turn Super Saiyan.

The fall from grace was difficult to watch, regardless of Gohan's desire to become a scholar. His journey of learning that strength is necessary to protect those he loves, which was treated as an afterthought in Dragon Ball Super, was an excellent sentiment, but also one that was already addressed during his fight with Cell. Beginning with the Buu Saga, Gohan was consistently thrown to the side, until he filled a role similar to the Earthlings who were left behind once the opponents became too strong. Fortunately, that has changed in recent times.

Dragon Ball Super Has Redeemed Gohan, For Now

The Fighter Has Returned to a Level Similar to Goku and Vegeta

Gohan was elevated back into a prominent role in 2022's Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, which once again reinforced the theme that strength is necessary in order to protect loved ones. His reemergence as one of Earth's greatest fighters, and eventual transformation into his all-new Beast form, was cathartic to watch as a long-time fan of the character, even if it wasn't really explained in detail. However, it was only the first step towards a full return to form for Gohan.

Dragon Ball Super's manga, which continued after the events of the film, until Akira Toriyama's ing caused the series to enter an indefinite hiatus, put Gohan in with Broly. The two trained together on Beerus' planet, and Gohan's Beast form actually allowed Broly to understand how to control his own unstable Super Saiyan transformation. It has yet to be confirmed if or when the manga will continue, but it seems the series was set up for both Gohan and Broly to play prominent roles going forward.

For Gohan, it would be his first in a major arc since Dragon Ball's Buu Saga removed him from the spotlight. It's likely the long-running series would not have worked without its iconic protagonist leading the way, though the dismissal of the once highly important character that followed was disappointing to Gohan fans around the world. Until Dragon Ball Super returns to build upon his character, fans can only hope he won't be doomed to fade to the background once more.

Source: Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 2 (translation by Kanzenshuu)