Putting aside the series’ periodic breaks, Goku hasn’t actually held the primary protagonist role in the Dragon Ball Super manga for quite some time, paving the way for Dragon Ball Super 2 to officially step away from him as the central lead. Ever since Chapter 88, the manga has adapted the events of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, relegating both Goku and Vegeta to supporting roles in the background. While Piccolo drives the majority of the narrative in that storyline—with Gohan stepping in to anchor the climactic battle—the manga expanded the scope by introducing fresh prologue chapters dedicated entirely to Goten and Trunks.
The shift doesn’t stop there. The publication also featured an epilogue arc running from Chapters 101 to 103 that cemented Gohan as the clear focal point, immediately followed by Chapter 104, which dialed the clock back for a prequel chapter putting Goten and Trunks back in the driver’s seat. In fact, the last time Goku and Vegeta anchored the narrative as the definitive main characters was way back in Chapter 87, published in 2022. Consequently, Dragon Ball Super 2 is poised to take the franchise into uncharted territory, proving the property can thrive without keeping Goku front and center at all times.
Dragon Ball Super 2’s Sagas Will Progressively Phase Goku & Vegeta Out
Goku and Vegeta certainly receive plenty of character growth and compelling arcs during the Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol storylines, but they continually share the stage—such as with Merus, the Galactic Patrol Agent who acts as the emotional core of the Moro Saga. This trend continues in the Granolah the Survivor Saga, where Granolah takes center stage as the true driving force of the plot. While our classic Saiyan duo undergoes significant development, Granolah ultimately emerges as the star of that arc.
Shifting the spotlight away from Goku is hardly unprecedented in modern Dragon Ball. Future Trunks carried the emotional weight of the Goku Black Saga, while Broly took the spotlight in Dragon Ball Super: Broly. While the upcoming anime adaptation will naturally need to build its own version of the Super Hero arc to account for the manga’s unique additions—such as the heavy emphasis on alternative leads—the pattern is clear.
Piccolo, Gohan, Goten, & Trunks Will Become the Main Characters in the Super Hero Saga Remake
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero smartly shifted its focus to Piccolo and Gohan over Goku and Vegeta, a choice the manga fully embraced. Even though Goku and Vegeta briefly pop in, Toyotarou’s lead-up chapters specifically prioritized Trunks and Goten, establishing their importance while fleshing out characters like Dr. Hedo.
Remarkably, the manga has kept treating the younger generation as genuine leads. Goten and Trunks drove the action in recent chapters and even entered the fray during massive battle royales where classic characters took a backseat. Even when Goku and Vegeta re-enter the main plot, they aren’t necessarily the definitive focal point; that distinction continues to rest on Gohan as the narrative presses forward.
Dragon Ball is Finally Passing the Torch Onto the Next Generation
Whether intentional or part of a grander design, elevating Piccolo, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks above Goku and Vegeta aligns perfectly with one of the franchise’s most enduring motifs: passing the torch to the rising generation. The idea that newcomers will eventually surpass their mentors has been a cornerstone of the universe since the original series, famously highlighted when Master Roshi entered the World Tournament undercover to ensure Goku and Krillin wouldn’t become complacent.
Throughout Dragon Ball Z, this philosophy resurfaced with Gohan during the Cell Games and Uub during the Peaceful World Saga. It is also easy to overlook that Piccolo is vastly younger than Goku—only four years older than Gohan himself. This firmly links Piccolo to the younger bracket of fighters gradually taking over the mantle in Dragon Ball Super. While upcoming storylines like the Black Frieza Saga will undeniably grant Goku and Vegeta more panel time, the era of them strictly monopolizing the lead roles may be permanently behind us.
- TV Show(s)
- Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball DAIMA
- First TV Show
- Dragon Ball
- Created by
- Akira Toriyama
- Latest TV Show
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
- Upcoming TV Shows
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
- First Episode Air Date
- February 26, 1986