Is Bulma believeable as a scientific genius?

[precita]

We're introduced to Bulma as a teen who wants nothing more than "the perfect boyfriend" and will go about it by any means necessary, such as shooting a kid with a handgun in the head, showing her panties to anyone if it will get her what she wants, being a flirt in general, etc. She was also arrogant and hot-headed, sometimes annoying and selfish, and did what she wanted.

However Bulma is also incredibly intelligent, caring, friendly, willing to lend a a hand, means well, and a mother. Do you think these two sides of Bulma can co-exist? She's shown to work on the time machine, Android 16, the Dragon radar, all sorts of electronic devices at capsule corp, etc.

I've often wondered why Toriyama shifted Bulma from being "the eye candy and funny/whiny female" to, "intelligent and supportive genius," etc. Do you think these two sides of Bulma can co-exist?

[ABED]

We're introduced to Bulma as a teen who wants nothing more than "the perfect boyfriend" and will go about it by any means necessary, such as shooting a kid with a handgun in the head, showing her panties to anyone if it will get her what she wants, being a flirt in general, etc. She was also arrogant and hot-headed, sometimes annoying and selfish, and did what she wanted.

However Bulma is also incredibly intelligent, caring, friendly, willing to lend a a hand, means well, and a mother. Do you think these two sides of Bulma can co-exist? She's shown to work on the time machine, Android 16, the Dragon radar, all sorts of electronic devices at capsule corp, etc.

I've often wondered why Toriyama shifted Bulma from being "the eye candy and funny/whiny female" to, "intelligent and supportive genius," etc. Do you think these two sides of Bulma can co-exist?

She didn't shoot some random kid, she shot a kid who she accidentally hit with her car after he declared his intention on hurting her because he thought she was a monster. Can you blame her? And yes, I do think those two sides can coexist within a character.

[RandomGuy96]

I've often wondered why Toriyama shifted Bulma from being "the eye candy and funny/whiny female" to, "intelligent and supportive genius," etc. Do you think these two sides of Bulma can co-exist?

I think you're implying that geniuses can't be borderline dysfunctional outside of their area of expertise, which is totally not true.

[Herms]

If your question is can someone be very good at science and engineering while also being "a flirt in general", then the answer is a pretty definitive "yes".

[B]

Are we absolutely certain that Bulma is caring, friendly, and willing to lend a hand?

[MarcFBR]

We're introduced to Bulma as a teen who wants nothing more than "the perfect boyfriend" and will go about it by any means necessary, such as shooting a kid with a handgun in the head, showing her panties to anyone if it will get her what she wants, being a flirt in general, etc. She was also arrogant and hot-headed, sometimes annoying and selfish, and did what she wanted.

However Bulma is also incredibly intelligent, caring, friendly, willing to lend a a hand, means well, and a mother. Do you think these two sides of Bulma can co-exist? She's shown to work on the time machine, Android 16, the Dragon radar, all sorts of electronic devices at capsule corp, etc.

There's also the fact that most people in general mature as they get out of their teens.

Your first paragraph basically describes a teenager, while the second describes an adult.


Seeing as how she started off as a teenager, I find it perfectly believable, especially in the context of an action/comedy comic.

[MozillaVulpix]

On Namek, she was both at the same time.

[Polyphase Avatron]

Bulma's characterization changed as she got older which makes sense.