Black Goku Backlash!!?

[Neo-Makaiōshin]

What if Goku Black/Black Goku is just a dark silhouette that happens to look like Goku?

Spoiler:

Or a shadow figure?

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

[Raditz]

I think it will be literally Black Goku: some kind of shadow version of Goku, much like Dark/Shadow Link in The Legend of Zelda series. And I think Toriyama mentioned that the next villain would have white hair, so I can only think of Goku with a reversed pallete, haha.

Toriyama did say it would be "exactly what it sounds like," right?

So, what if, and hear me out--

Two loyal Red Ribbon soldiers stealthily gather the Dragon Balls and wish for the revival of their last commander, Black.

Vowing vengeance on Goku, but realizing he's gotten much stronger since their battle, Black trains for four months. Newly super-powered, Black names himself "Goku" in an effort to mock his opponent.

Lol, we can only hope that this becomes true, hahaha.

[DragonBallLove]

I remind you that western culture is irrelevant to Toriyama and Toei, even considering that the international market are vital for the franchise. Culturally, the Japanese are like ostriches with their heads stick in their own holes.

I'm white and if they came out with a White Uub I wouldn't cry over it.

This is probably the single weirdest post I've ever seen on these forums.

...And that's why? Because being white is the norm?

Other thing; it's safe to assume Dragon Ball cultures and races are stereotypes of the ones in the real world and again, although no offense intended, if one taken they could care less.

And, about the topic, I guess Evil Goku. A la Tullece.

[Gyt Kaliba]

What if Goku Black/Black Goku is just a dark silhouette that happens to look like Goku? Or a shadow figure?

I doubt it, but I think I'd actually be okay with that. It sorta reminds me of the vaguely humanoid shaped blob guys that they used to showcase the Androids when Trunks was talking about them, before we actually had their looks revealed in the anime.

As for the topic at hand, I could see there being some backlash simply because there just about always is, especially if the design really is basically Goku with darker skin, even if it's not a black skin tone per say. Beyond that though, I don't think it'll be anything horrifyingly offensive enough to actually cause a major problem. Even with Japan's questionable at times portrayals of other cultures they're not as familiar with, I can't imagine that we'll literally be seeing a 'black' Goku in that manner, especially not with the lip design that Toriyama has often used in the past applied to him. The 'Black' in Black Goku is almost definitely more akin to 'Dark', 'Evil', or 'Shadow' or whatever, not a racial thing.

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

I am hoping Black Goku is just a Dark/Evil Goku and the name would have nothing to do with the color of his skin. If it's turns out to be literally "Da Black Goku", I wouldn't mind that either, specially if this new Goku is from another universe so making him physically opposed to U7 Goku is understandable.

I hope Funimation just calls him "Dark Goku" if he is a possessed or evil incarnation, just to further lean the implication in the right context, but we have to wait and see if its visually implied.

[Luke Groundwalker]

Guys, this won't be an African Goku, lol. I mean it's possible, but very unlikely. It isn't "Black Goku" it's "Goku Black." Importance is the emphasis of it being a variant or evil version of Goku rather than a reference to his race. Even if Goku Black has black skin (like a shadow) it's highly unlikely it'll be reminiscent of an African heritage by any means. Japanese also use the term "BLACK" as a naming convention in tokusatsu shows like Kamen Rider Black and the various Black sentai heroes.

Basing things on Toriyama's comments about white hair and an alternate universe being combined with what we now know as another Trunks' storyline, I'm willing to speculate that Goku Black is likely an inverted looking Goku more similar to Reverse Flash rather than those Black Goku fanarts online.

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

Basing things on Toriyama's comments about white hair and an alternate universe being combined with what we now know as another Trunks' storyline, I'm willing to speculate that Goku Black is likely an inverted looking Goku more similar to Reverse Flash rather than those Black Goku fanarts online.

Sounds likely, it could be a yin-yang thing too.

[shinmaru]

Nothing racist in Goku black, but it's possible that it is a black Goku with Afro, who knows.
Toriyama nailed it again in making people guessing and speculating about things the most enoyible thing in DB, at least for me

[Luke Groundwalker]

Basing things on Toriyama's comments about white hair and an alternate universe being combined with what we now know as another Trunks' storyline, I'm willing to speculate that Goku Black is likely an inverted looking Goku more similar to Reverse Flash rather than those Black Goku fanarts online.

Sounds likely, it could be a yin-yang thing too.

Yep. I mean would it really surprise anyone if Goku Black looks like this:



Or like Turles, lol.

[Adamant]

I am hoping Black Goku is just a Dark/Evil Goku and the name would have nothing to do with the color of his skin. If it's turns out to be literally "Da Black Goku", I wouldn't mind that either, specially if this new Goku is from another universe so making him physically opposed to U7 Goku is understandable.

I hope Funimation just calls him "Dark Goku" if he is a possessed or evil incarnation, just to further lean the implication in the right context, but we have to wait and see if its visually implied.

Which is exactly what they did with Black Pit from Kid Icarus. Did people rage about him being racist or whatever back when they first heard his name, too?

This is really just people being angry about their own bizarre interpretations of a name.

[Protege]

Nothing racist in Goku black, but it's possible that it is a black Goku with Afro, who knows.
Toriyama nailed it again in making people guessing and speculating about things the most enoyible thing in DB, at least for me

The concept of Black Goku who happens to look Afro is not racist, what would be considered racist is making him evil because it would negatively stereotype all african people as evil and barbaric and thats what I'm trying to say.

Do you think it would cause a backlash then?

[Lord Beerus]

I literally believe Black Goku/Goku Black is going to be nothing but just a evil/dark version of Goku, and I pray to God that I'm wrong, because the concept just doesn't really interest me as we've been down that road already with Turles, Ginyu, Cell and Majin Boo.

One theory I have is that Black Goku/Goku Black is an anagram for the real name of the new villain. Now that would be a lovely twist.

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

I am hoping Black Goku is just a Dark/Evil Goku and the name would have nothing to do with the color of his skin. If it's turns out to be literally "Da Black Goku", I wouldn't mind that either, specially if this new Goku is from another universe so making him physically opposed to U7 Goku is understandable.

I hope Funimation just calls him "Dark Goku" if he is a possessed or evil incarnation, just to further lean the implication in the right context, but we have to wait and see if its visually implied.

Which is exactly what they did with Black Pit from Kid Icarus. Did people rage about him being racist or whatever back when they first heard his name, too?
This is really just people being angry about their own bizarre interpretations of a name.

Well I'm glad people dropped their pitch-forks after Pokemon "Black and White" came out. The story seemed to have straightened that mess out too. (yes there were videos of people taking sides on youtube.)

Nothing racist in Goku black, but it's possible that it is a black Goku with Afro, who knows.
Toriyama nailed it again in making people guessing and speculating about things the most enoyible thing in DB, at least for me

The concept of Black Goku who happens to look Afro is not racist, what would be considered racist is making him evil because it would negatively stereotype all african people as evil and barbaric and thats what I'm trying to say.
Do you think it would cause a backlash then?

I really don't think its going to go that far. Most people really don't know what Mr. Popo is, outside of just being the character, I don't think DB really gives people that type of propaganda, because its not where people who already believe that get their sources from. Though, they would still be wrong if they thought main-line Goku was "white" in contrast to this vague concept just because of it. In relevance to DB its probably just about his evil aura, because it doesn't make sense to make the "evil racial caricature" the same character as your protagonist unless Goku was the racist.

[eledoremassis02]

Even so. No one cared about upa and bora being sterotypes? Or General Black. But I guess this could become a big issue if he is actually dark skinned? I really don't want another Mr. Popo fiasco... Maybe he's like Turlace?

[Bullza]

Wouldn't it be easier just to wait for all the facts to come out before we make judgement?

I'm white and if they came out with a White Uub I wouldn't cry over it.

This is probably the single weirdest post I've ever seen on these forums.

I too am really confused by this. Could you elaborate?

The threads talking about the possibility of a potential backlash if Black Goku is a black skinned Goku who is also a villain.

Why anyone should give a shit over that I would never know.

If Toriyama took a non white character like Uub and made him white and into a villain and called him White Uub then then there'd be no backlash from me. I wouldn't complain about it, I wouldn't give the tiniest shit. So why should black people have a backlash if Black Goku is indeed a black coloured Goku?

It's a cartoon, a kids cartoon, it is not that serious.

[TheMikado]

As a Person of Color Uub, is so useless I wouldn't mind at all if they changed his skin color.
Nothing of value would be lost and might actually be less of an embarrassment.

[gogeta97]

As a Person of Color

I still have no idea why this term is considered acceptable now.

[VegettoEX]

This is really just people being angry about their own bizarre interpretations of a name.

I don't believe anyone's actually, really, truly super upset. It's just caution. I'm hoping my own sorta-kinda-non-analysis in the latest podcast says all that needs to be said when delivered in the appropriate tone of voice.

As an American, reading a statement that literally says "black" with a sentence that basically reads "lol and you know what THAT means!" very likely has a totally different reading to me than it does for you in Europe.

Like, yeah. We get it. It's Toriyama and it's Japan. But over here? Mmm, maybe better ways to say that. That's it. That's all there is to it. If anyone wants to have a deeper conversation about it, awesome. I personally don't think there's anything else to say, though.

[TheMikado]

As a Person of Color

I still have no idea why this term is considered acceptable now.

It's a term used to as supposedly politically correct. I personally don't like it but I've been told this is now the correct term to use to describe a minority for whatever reason so it was actually attempting to be as non offensive as possible. But let's not make it that kind of discussion I was just saying this for the Lolz although Uub really is useless.

[gogeta97]

As a Person of Color

I still have no idea why this term is considered acceptable now.

It's a term used to as supposedly politically correct. I personally don't like it but I've been told this is now the correct term to use to describe a minority for whatever reason so it was actually attempting to be as non offensive as possible. But let's not make it that kind of discussion I was just saying this for the Lolz although Uub really is useless.

If you don't want to say it you don't have to, but yeah I don't want to start an argument


On the subject of Uub I do wish he would be more useful in Super. GT's treatment of him was ridiculously stupid.