Goku may actually face some real competition from Gohan for the title of the franchise’s strongest Z-Warrior in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. It’s been a long time since Goku’s oldest son was on top, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for it to happen again, especially after everything Gohan has experienced in recent Dragon Ball outings.
Gohan’s strength and how he compares to the rest of the Z-Warriors has changed a great deal since the Cell Saga, when he surpassed Goku and unlocked the Super Saiyan 2 transformation. Following the time skip in the Buu Saga, it was revealed that Gohan lost interest in fighting. As a result, he was no longer at the same level as Goku and Vegeta. Dragon Ball Super continued this trend, with Gohan spending most of the anime as a secondary character with an inferior power level to the two main characters. It wasn’t until the Tournament of Power and a sparring session with Piccolo that Gohan finally demonstrated that he was making some significant gains. However, he’s still a long way from being in a similar league to Goku or Vegeta.
Gohan can close the gap in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Not unlike the case with Dragon Ball‘s Krillin, Gohan didn’t have that much time to deliver on his promise to be a better fighter ahead of the Tournament of Power, but Super Hero’s time jump will grant him the opportunity he needs to make some real progress. Artwork of Pan in a kindergarten uniform for Super Hero indicates the movie will take place three or four years after Dragon Ball Super’s ending. Gohan going from being weaker than Piccolo to being Super Saiyan Blue-level in a matter of days is a sign of what he’s capable of accomplishing in the Dragon Ball universe.
Gohan getting that strong that fast shows that if he applies himself, he should be able to catch up to his father, regardless of the amount of time he’s spent inactive as a fighter. At one point, it appeared that Gohan’s slump lasted so long that it may not be feasible for him to be relevant again, but his performance in Dragon Ball Super‘s Tournament of Power suggests otherwise. Also, Gohan defeating Perfect Cell in Dragon Ball Z proved to everyone (including Goku and Vegeta) that he has the potential to be the best of them. What’s not clear, though, is if Gohan will maintain the motivation he had just prior to the Tournament of Power.
Unless Gohan falls back into another rut, his training with Piccolo should be able to boost him higher than ever, and possibly above the level that Goku was on when he fought Universe 11’s Jiren in the tournament’s final minutes. Depending on just how serious Gohan is about getting stronger, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero could redefine Gohan’s power level and where he stands in the Dragon Ball franchise.
