Thoughts on Great Saiyaman

[Dotogam]

I personally love it when Gohan becomes Great Saiyaman. He actually uses his powers for good and defending people from crime instead of supernatural threats.
I've heard people openly dislike The Great Saiyaman and I wanted to get everyone's opinion.

[Doctor.]

His Boo arc self is the only time I actually liked Gohan, so that should give you something about what my opinion on him is.

[dbgtFO]

I always liked that part of the story and was annoyed, his stint was cut short so soon, at least in the anime he had a few more episodes devoted to his high school and Saiyaman shenanigans.
If you're interested in reading a fancomic about it, head over to the fan-works forum and look for Michsi's Who wants to be a Superhero thread or find it in the stickied DB fancomic recommendations thread.

[Dotogam]

His Boo arc self is the only time I actually liked Gohan, so that should give you something about what my opinion on him is.

Ha ha! Yeah. I thought GS Gohan was the best representation of Gohan (I am considering going as Great Saiyaman for Halloween).

[SSJ God Gogeta]

I always found Great Saiyaman hijinks enjoyable. His early Boo arc self is the only time I actually took an interest in the character. I'd say more Great Saiyaman is needed.

[Dotogam]

I always found Great Saiyaman hijinks enjoyable. His early Boo arc self is the only time I actually took an interest in the character. I'd say more Great Saiyaman is needed.

Definitely. I think Toriyama could make a spin off based off of him.

[NitroEX]

It's a nice idea in theory and it does have a certain charm to it when combined with Gohan's naievety (especially in the anime) but it never quite jived with me. I remember having to constantly remind myself that "this is Gohan" whenever he would start posing and acting oblivious to how silly he looked. I understand that people change over time but it just felt like a lot of that added personality came out of nowhere especially when you look at the heroic figures he actually grew up with. Gohan wouldn't have been influenced to be that way from hanging around Goku or Piccolo so to me it all just felt a little sudden.

In the end I think it set Gohan's story off to a bad start mainly because it was a little alienating but I wouldn't go as far as to say it it wasn't salvageable. Because nothing further was done with it (like a lot of things in the Buu arc..) it just felt like a pointless addition that was made for the sake of comic relief. That's not totally a bad thing, especially since we know Toriyama likes to incorporate comedy, but I just wish there was more of a story driven reason for the silliness as well as at least one callback to it later down the line.

[Dotogam]

It's a nice idea in theory and it does have a certain charm to it when combined with Gohan's naievety (especially in the anime) but it never quite jived with me. I remember having to constantly remind myself that "this is Gohan" whenever he would start posing and acting oblivious to how silly he looked. I understand that people change over time but it just felt like a lot of that added personality came out of nowhere especially when you look at the heroic figures he actually grew up with. Gohan wouldn't have been influenced to be that way from hanging around Goku or Piccolo so to me it all just felt a little sudden.

In the end I think it set Gohan's story off to a bad start mainly because it was a little alienating but I wouldn't go as far as to say it it wasn't salvageable. Because nothing further was done with it (like a lot of things in the Buu arc..) it just felt like a pointless addition that was made for the sake of comic relief. That's not totally a bad thing, especially since we know Toriyama likes to incorporate comedy, but I just wish there was more of a story driven reason for the silliness as well as at least one callback to it later down the line.

Maybe Great Saiyaman is where people started calling Gohan wuss? I mean Gohan was acting quite ridiculous (and I loved it).

[Gyt Kaliba]

His Saiyaman antics and his more laid back personality, before all the shit starts to hit the fan, is easily the best times for Gohan as a character, at least as far as I'm concerned, so I'd definitely love to see more Saiyaman someday.

[Lord Beerus]

I loved every moment of Gohan's Great Saiyaman schtick. It was brilliantly entertaining and it so wonderfully unique seeing Gohan interact with the general public in such a way. The only shame is that it didn't last longer in the manga.

[LuckyCat]

I really enjoyed the Great Saiyaman (it used to be my handle back when IRC was a thing!) as well as Toei's Great Saiyaman 2. I know it's a gag character, but I hope something story-related comes from it. It would also be funny if Pan took up the role one day.

[Gyt Kaliba]

I really enjoyed the Great Saiyaman (it used to be my handle back when IRC was a thing!) as well as Toei's Great Saiyaman 2. I know it's a gag character, but I hope something story-related comes from it. It would also be funny if Pan took up the role one day.

For some reason, all I can imagine now is Gohan dressing up baby Pan in a Saiyaman outfit and holding her out in pride, going 'Guys look! It's the Great SaiyaPan! ...Get it? SAIYAPAN!' while Goku, Chi Chi, Goten, Videl, Mr. Satan, and Piccolo all stand there in varied states of amusement and 'dear god why'.

[Dotogam]

I really enjoyed the Great Saiyaman (it used to be my handle back when IRC was a thing!) as well as Toei's Great Saiyaman 2. I know it's a gag character, but I hope something story-related comes from it. It would also be funny if Pan took up the role one day.

For some reason, all I can imagine now is Gohan dressing up baby Pan in a Saiyaman outfit and holding her out in pride, going 'Guys look! It's the Great SaiyaPan! ...Get it? SAIYAPAN!' while Goku, Chi Chi, Goten, Videl, Mr. Satan, and Piccolo all stand there in varied states of amusement and 'dear god why'.

Now I can't get that Image out of my head...

[Cipher]

Gohan is never more likable than during the early Boo arc.

Hell, the entire cast is never more likable than during the early Boo arc.

[Dotogam]

Gohan is never more likable than during the early Boo arc.

Hell, the entire cast is never more likable than during the early Boo arc.

Definitely. It all went downhill for me after/during the Tenkaichi Budokai.

[Cipher]

Definitely. It all went downhill for me after/during the Tenkaichi Budokai.

It doesn't really go downhill for me; I love the Boo arc as a whole. But the pre-Tenkaichi Budokai stuff is this bizarre little portion of the series where, for the first time ever, everyone is completely likable, before their flaws start driving the insanity of the supervillain plot that begins at the tournament.

[precita]

How do the characters become less likeable as the Buu arc progresses? All the characters personalities pretty much stay the same from the start, except for Vegeta during his Majin Vegeta phase, and that's it.

What I also like is Gohan as a big brother to Goten. This is swept under the rug as Goten is always paired with Trunks as little kids...and we don't see much of "big brother Gohan" later in the saga. I loved the idea of Gohan taking care of a little brother.

[Cipher]

How do the characters become less likeable as the Buu arc progresses? All the characters personalities pretty much stay the same from the start, except for Vegeta during his Majin Vegeta phase, and that's it.

It's mostly that Goku and Vegeta's vices start to drive the plot (which completely makes sense) and Goten and Trunks get a chance to ... act like a cosmically powerful eight-year-old, basically.

[TheUltimateVegito]

It was fantastic, especially in the anime. It's great to see Gohan being a goofy comic relief in a way that suits his character, it really added to the idea that Gohan could be the new main protagonist.

[FoolsGil]

I hated the idea immensely. It was a total genre shift, and there was no supervillain so what was the point?