What Would You Have Added/Changed?

[Michsi]

It didn't have to delve deep into that stuff for the difference between Gohan and the others, particulary Goku,to be evident. Whether it was the author's intention or not, Gohan does come off as more of a hero in the comic book traditional sense ,than Goku ever did. A scene I have always thought as noteworthy was Gohan being the only one to take note of the family that was butchered when they were spying on Babidi.

Even if he hated fighting, which I don't believe he does, I think he would hate it even more if he failed to protect and help when he was needed.

If anything, I don't see how anyone could accuse Goku of being selfish for putting his desires first and not do the same with Gohan when he is basically doing the same thing.

Though personally I believe he isn't neglecting his training and that he learned his lesson in the Buu Saga.

[Goten Forever]

It's not irresponsible at all. So Gohan should just have to accept the burden his father wrongfully put on him, rather than focusing on his studies and becoming a scholar like he and his mother always wanted? So Gohan should be doomed to live out the rest of his life doing something he doesn't even like?

What... like being a Scholar? Well, we all knew that that was really his mother's wish, not his own.

So, yeah, when he was younger Gohan was in a lose-lose situation. Become a violent warrior or pursue a career which will bor the life out of you. I think all Gohan wanted to do was just explore, which is why he liked Namek so much.
Of course, with Goku's influence gone from Gohan's teenage years, the scholarship idea actually grew on him. He clearly developed a mind that can absorb the ideas of normal living, politics and economies.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Well, we all knew that that was really his mother's wish, not his own.

No, he himself tells Piccolo that he wants to become a great scholar. Yes, he may've been influenced by Chi-Chi, but that was still his dream job and even in the Boo arc, it looks like Chi-Chi had softened on him, even going as far to train Goten when she'd previously been against it with Gohan.

[matt0044]

Why can't Gohan study AND train? The way people are going at it, it's like Gohan can't have one without the other. Why can't he when other heroes in comics, cartoons Anime, Manga, etc have whether it makes sense or not? I don't mean he should be going after small fry like robbers or speeders when Videl and the police can handle it. I mean, Freeza and Cell-like villains. Though whether he can take them or not, he might not know for sure since he hadn't met them yet.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Refer back to my Daimaou/Cell comparison again. Gokuu, having all but one of his limbs broken, still mustered up the power to propel himself towards Piccolo Daimaou and blast a hole through him. Gohan gave up after Cell broke one arm and Gokuu had to encourage him from the afterlife to continue.

As for whether or not Gohan can study and train, I suppose he can. But he wouldn't be training at the rate that jobless characters like Gokuu, Vegeta and Piccolo, those who actually have the real heart and drive for battle, do. Perhaps he'd have to be concentrated on his education the majority of the time if he wants to become a scholar.

[Saiga]

Yes, but Goku was always confident and a fighter while Gohan wasn't. The reason Gohan gave up is because he just didn't have confidence in himself, but that changes in the Boo arc. Piccolo mentions how he's never seen Gohan so confident, etc.

I really think post-Boo Arc Gohan would be a much better hero. And it doesn't mean he has to give up his studies or anything.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Well, I have nothing more to say on the matter. I understand your points, but I don't necessarily agree with all of them. I personally can't see even post-Boo arc Gohan having the courage that Gokuu displayed during his battle with Piccolo Daimaou.

[NANLIT]

There's a difference between being absolutely confident you can defeat your opponent when you know (or at least believe) you're more powerful than them and having the courage to continue fighting when it seems hopeless that you can win.

[Saiga]

There's a difference between being absolutely confident you can defeat your opponent when you know (or at least believe) you're more powerful than them and having the courage to continue fighting when it seems hopeless that you can win.

He didn't give up against Bootenks though.

[NANLIT]

Yeah, I suppose you're right. He did keep fighting until he got absorbed.

As for whether he's a better hero, it depends. On the one hand, we know Goku's selfish when it comes to fighting and by the Boo arc, you can tell he wants to retire from saving the world (twice he wanted the next generation to defeat the big bad guy) and Gohan's mentality is more of a typical superhero. On the other hand, I don't trust Gohan to train during peacetime since he didn't during those 7 years and 10 years after Boo, he was fully a scholar and had no interst in fighting in the TB when his other family and friends were. I took that to mean that given the choice, he'd rather retire from fighting and in a series like Dragon Ball, I don't think a slacker hero is a good thing at all; at least Goku trains and stays sharp.

[Rocketman]

He also had a time limit with Gotenks-Buu. If he can stay alive for thirty minutes, then Buu is fucked.

[Saiga]

He also had a time limit with Gotenks-Buu. If he can stay alive for thirty minutes, then Buu is fucked.

Shouldn't it be 5 minutes?

[dbgtFO]

Nope it was 30 minutes.
After Buu had deflected Gohan's blast back at him(and through the entire Earth), he said he had 10 minutes left.

[Goten Forever]

He also had a time limit with Gotenks-Buu. If he can stay alive for thirty minutes, then Buu is fucked.

This reminds me of a 'Mr Satan vs. Buu' mission in one of the DB games.

[dbgtFO]

You're probably thinking of the story battles in the Budokai Tenkaichi games, which sometimes had specific conditions like "survive until the time runs out".
I recall they were very hard! Especially if you fought as Mr. Satan, cause his attacks were ineffective.

[Rocketman]

He also had a time limit with Gotenks-Buu. If he can stay alive for thirty minutes, then Buu is fucked.

Shouldn't it be 5 minutes?

It should, but who knows.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Wouldn't the 30 minutes count his entire fusion time, rather than just SS3's 5 minutes? I mean, I guess that would mean that, for the majority of the time, Boo would just have base Gotenks inside him, but perhaps that would still be enough to defeat Gohan, and Gotenks may still be dominant inside Boo if he's stronger than Piccolo. That's if you believe that the stronger absorbee is the dominant or whatever.

[Saiga]

Or maybe the "strain" is on Boo instead of Gotenks, and he can handle it better.

[Goten Forever]

Or maybe the "strain" is on Boo instead of Gotenks, and he can handle it better.

Never thought of that theory. Perhaps that's true - a more powerful user can last for longer.

Scratch DBM's thoughts that an older and more powerful SSJ3 fusion will run out quicker - that's BS in my opinion.
Buu has never seemed to become strained... he has the stamina of wind.

[matt0044]

Let's get this topic back on track.

I honestly would've shown Goten and Trunks EARNING their Super Saiyan powers.