Is King Piccolo in Hell?

[Marco Polo]

(In anime continuity.)

As far as I remember we never saw him, despite constantly seeing Frieza, Cell, etc. in filler/movies/etc.

Does that mean Piccolo Jr. actually has King Piccolo's soul?

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Piccolo has Piccolo Daimao's soul, like Oob has Pure Boo's soul. That's what reincarnation is.

[Herms]

It's really confusing the way the second Piccolo is referred to both as the original Piccolo's son and as his reincarnation. It's apparently supposed to be a mixture of both, but the two's relationship is definitely closer in nature to Boo/Oob than Goku/Goten. After all, Ma Junior carries on the mystic connection between the God of Earth and the original Piccolo, so God doesn't die when the first Piccolo snuffs it, but does later when Ma Junior is killed by Nappa. Then when the two merge in the Cell arc, this is treated as being the rebirth of the original Namekian who had split up into God and Piccolo, the main difference being only how much stronger Piccolo had gotten.

So is the original Piccolo in Hell? Based purely on the main series, I'd say probably not. We're probably supposed to consider him fully reincarnated in the second Piccolo. Even if he does go on talking a bit even after laying that final egg, somehow. Maybe his soul goes into the egg after he explodes? It definitely seems weird, but we're told several times that the second Piccolo is one and the same as the first, so it's hard to reconcile that with the notion of the original being off in Hell while the second is alive and well. And none of the bits of filler and whatnot showing dead villains ever feature him, despite even the RR guys turning up in GT. Surely that can't be unintentional?

Still, the game Supersonic Warriors has a What-If story where Piccolo uses the dragon balls to revive the original Piccolo and merge with him, which is said to make him a really and trully complete Namekian once more (and gives him enough power to fight Boo). So take that for what it's worth, though I hasten to add that the same game also has a what-if story where Kuririn beats Super Saiyan Vegeta.

[90sDBZ]

I've always wondered about this. I'd say King Piccolo still talking after spitting out the egg is a plot-hole. Also the fact that Jr grows to man size in just 3 years supports the theory that they are one in the same. Also Jr has all of King Piccolo's memories and I'm pretty sure at the Tournament he said that he'd gotten a lot stronger since 3 years ago so he's clearly under the impression that they're both one in the same. I've heard people claim that they couldn't be the same. That King Piccolo would never sacrifice his life for Gohan. I say if Vegeta could change then so could King Piccolo.

Another thing that bugs me is that one scene were Jr saves the lives of a mother and child before the Tournament. I'm not sure if it was filler or not but it showed that even then Jr had a good side. I mean even I really find it hard to believe King Piccolo would do something like that so early on. Of course later on he does try blowing up a crowd full of people so I guess it all contradicts itself.

I'd say the fact that Kami doesn't die when King Piccolo does and the fact that Jr is able to merge with Kami to become the original Namek proves they're one in the same.

[TheGmGoken]

Nope. He is Piccolo(Jr). Piccolo(Jr) has all of his memories(Unlike Oob who I think just have nightmares had he stayed longer) and battle experience. He even said "I'm stronger than 3 years ago". So I think perhaps Piccolo J and King Piccolo are the same people in every aspect. Also if I'm correct Piccolo while dying said he was the "GREAT DEMON KING PICCOLO"

[mAcChaos]

King Piccolo reincarnated as Piccolo, but what made him change was that he was a normal Namekian at that point, no longer a pure representation of evil. So he was able to change like a normal person after that.

[Hellspawn28]

What everyone else said, Daimo and Piccolo are the same person now. Super Sonic Warriors had Piccolo wishing back his father, but video game logic is total bullshit seeing that video games are never view as canon to the main series unless it's DBO (which is debatable).

[Pantalones]

From what's been said and shown about it, reincarnation in Dragonball seems to completely wipe away any traces of the original's personality, memories, etc. and replace it with a new person, just using the same "recycled" soul. Like how Uub is definitely not the same guy as Kid Buu in any way other than his potential power carrying over. If whatever Daimao did when spitting up that egg caused his soul to be reincarnated into Piccolo Jr., maybe that's why--he could make sure that his memories, ki, and a few major personality traits were passed on to his "son," but the process of reincarnation by definition results in a new person, so Piccolo Jr. couldn't be just an exact clone of his "dad" even if that's what Daimao wanted.

And maybe aiming for "looks like a Namek, just like dad" rather than "looks like some vague green monster" like Daimao's other egg-spawn might have helped Piccolo Jr. end up not being a "demon" like Daimao was. Daimao got that way because he was literally pure evil, while his other "sons" were twisted away from anything resembling a normal Namekian form (so he could decide what sort of abilities they'd have, I guess?)... but Piccolo Jr. was specifically made to be like his "dad" in form, so he turned out closer to a normal Namekian rather than turning out to be the Demon Clan type.

[TheGmGoken]

" but the process of reincarnation by definition results in a new person, so Piccolo Jr. couldn't be just an exact clone of his "dad" even if that's what Daimao wanted.

Dragonball doesn't exactly follow definitions per say. Not to mention King Piccolo reincarnation process is WAAAY different from Boo's.

[Herms]

Another thing that bugs me is that one scene were Jr saves the lives of a mother and child before the Tournament. I'm not sure if it was filler or not

It's filler.

Also if I'm correct Piccolo while dying said he was the "GREAT DEMON KING PICCOLO"

He does. The second Piccolo goes on using the title Daimaou/"Great Demon King" for himself, and the other characters call him that too, up until...well, really right up until he merges with God, though it becomes a lot less common after the Saiyan arc. Fans and even secondary material like guides and video games often use Daimaou/"Great Demon King" to specifically refer to the original Piccolo, but that's not actually how it's used in the series.

Viz also leaves off the "Great Demon King" title quite often, particularly during the Z era, though I think probably for space-saving concerns more than anything. And the Funi dub can't even bring themselves to call Piccolo a demon at all, the wilting lilies.

[Michsi]

This has always been an interesting question but I don't think we have a right answer for it yet. Are Piccolo Jr. and King Piccolo actually one and the same?
I have stated before, I do see them as separate characters. While the term "reincarnation" has indeed been used when referring to these two, so have "father" and "son". I think King Piccolo himself calls him that before exploding, which would be weird if he knew he was about to be transferred in a new body, memories and everything. And correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Kami, before merging with Piccolo say something like "Me and you or more precisely, me and your father....." meaning there is a difference? I think even Toriyama taks about them as being two different characters.
My attempt at an explanation has been that Piccolo received the memories and the position of being Kami's evil half.
In any case, imo, the story leaves it unclear enough for both interpretations to be correct.