Is Cell a Super Saiyan?

[LuckyCat]

It's not clear because we never see cell can change into giant ape or turning his hair yellow.

But we do know that the computer had sufficiently analyzed the DNA of two Saiyans such that it understood the transformation and could potentially use it. Otherwise, Cell would have been surprised when he encountered Super Saiyans.

[Kamiccolo9]

It's not clear because we never see cell can change into giant ape or turning his hair yellow.

But we do know that the computer had sufficiently analyzed the DNA of two Saiyans such that it understood the transformation and could potentially use it. Otherwise, Cell would have been surprised when he encountered Super Saiyans.

I think it's more likely that Cell found out about Super Saiyans when he killed Trunks in the future. Otherwise Gero would have known about the transformation.

[Doctor.]

Gero didn't know about the transformation because he left the computer working on Cell. If Cell has Freeza's DNA, it's clear that the fly-robot thing encountered a Super Saiyan, too.

[Absolute Ice]

Weird. The fly robot found Freeza and King Cold when they came to Earth, but didn't "find" the Super Saiyan next to them (Trunks, obviously). Because it is stated that the fly robot was with them until the end of Saiyan saga, it didn't follow them to planet Namek, so there couldn't be a way of Maki Gero to know about Super Saiyan there.

[Doctor.]

Weird. The fly robot found Freeza and King Cold when they came to Earth, but didn't "find" the Super Saiyan next to them (Trunks, obviously). Because it is stated that the fly robot was with them until the end of Saiyan saga, it didn't follow them to planet Namek, so there couldn't be a way of Maki Gero to know about Super Saiyan there.

It was stated that the research took too long, so Gero let his computer take care of it. It's implied that Gero watched Goku's battle until the one with Vegeta, then begun constructing the androids while the computer used the spy drone to gather samples for Cell. So, the computer has knowledge of Freeza and the Super Saiyan transformation, but Gero doesn't.

[LuckyCat]

Weird. The fly robot found Freeza and King Cold when they came to Earth, but didn't "find" the Super Saiyan next to them (Trunks, obviously). Because it is stated that the fly robot was with them until the end of Saiyan saga, it didn't follow them to planet Namek, so there couldn't be a way of Maki Gero to know about Super Saiyan there.

It was stated that the research took too long, so Gero let his computer take care of it. It's implied that Gero watched Goku's battle until the one with Vegeta, then begun constructing the androids while the computer used the spy drone to gather samples for Cell. So, the computer has knowledge of Freeza and the Super Saiyan transformation, but Gero doesn't.

Exactly. We know this because the Spy robots were around after Gero died spying on Cell fighting Kamicolo.

Also, it should be pointed out that in Cell's timeline, Goku became a Super Saiyan and killed Freeza/Cold. Since we know the DNA robot got Freeza/Cold's DNA, it had a chance to grab Goku's DNA at that time too.

[Sayo-chan]

Weird. The fly robot found Freeza and King Cold when they came to Earth, but didn't "find" the Super Saiyan next to them (Trunks, obviously). Because it is stated that the fly robot was with them until the end of Saiyan saga, it didn't follow them to planet Namek, so there couldn't be a way of Maki Gero to know about Super Saiyan there.

Cell states the computer could've taken Trunks's cells, but there was already a sufficient collection of Saiyan cells. Considering that and the fact Cell isn't surprised by the transformation itself, the most likely answer is that the information was programmed into him.

[TheUltimateVegito]

Also, it should be pointed out that in Cell's timeline, Goku became a Super Saiyan and killed Freeza/Cold. Since we know the DNA robot got Freeza/Cold's DNA, it had a chance to grab Goku's DNA at that time too.

Wasn't it Trunks who defeated Frieza in Cell's timeline?

[Sayo-chan]

Also, it should be pointed out that in Cell's timeline, Goku became a Super Saiyan and killed Freeza/Cold. Since we know the DNA robot got Freeza/Cold's DNA, it had a chance to grab Goku's DNA at that time too.

Wasn't it Trunks who defeated Freeza in Cell's timeline?

Cell states Trunks was present at the fight, so it logically follows. Daizenshuu 7 also confirms this.

[LuckyCat]

Wasn't it Trunks who defeated Freeza in Cell's timeline?

Impossible. Goku died of a heart virus in Cell's timeline which means there was no medicine from Trunks. (Chapter 364, p.4)

[rereboy]

Wasn't it Trunks who defeated Freeza in Cell's timeline?

Impossible. Goku died of a heart virus in Cell's timeline which means there was no medicine from Trunks. (Chapter 364, p.4)

Cell specifically stated that it was Trunks who defeated Freeza in his timeline when he talks to Piccolo. However, this is a plothole because that doesn't make sense and is surely just an oversight.

[LuckyCat]

Cell specifically stated that it was Trunks who defeated Freeza in his timeline when he talks to Piccolo. However, this is a plothole because that doesn't make sense and is surely just an oversight.

Wrong. It shows that image from stock footage but Cell never says it. Also from Daizenshuu 7:

Spoiler:

History 3, Cell's history, diverges from timeline 2 where Goku dies.

[rereboy]

Wrong. It shows that image from stock footage but Cell never says it. Also from Daizenshuu 7:

Spoiler:

History 3, Cell's history, diverges from timeline 2 where Goku dies.

It showed Freeza and Cold dying exactly like they did when they were killed by Trunks, and Cell states, in that very same panel, that, just like they gathered cells from Freeza and his father, they could have gathered Trunks' cells but they had enough saiyan's cells.

If it had been Goku who killed them they wouldn't have died exactly the same way and there wouldn't be any Trunks to gather Trunks' cells from.

Sorry, but it could hardly be more clear that he is saying that Trunks killed them in his timeline. However, like I stated, that's surely just a plothole.

[LuckyCat]

It showed Freeza and Cold dying exactly like they did when they were killed by Trunks, and Cell states, in that very same panel, that, just like they gathered cells from Freeza nad his father, they could have gathered Trunks' cells but they had enough saiyan's cells.

Cell was referring to Trunks of his own time. Daizenshuu 7 (above) confirms this. Anyhow, there Is
another thread with this exact discussion already going on.

Even if there is a plot hole, and I don't think there is, this simply means the spy robot saw SSJ Trunks and wasn't interested. That implies it already knew about SSJ from Goku/Vegeta.

[rereboy]

Cell was referring to Trunks of his own time. Daizenshuu 7 (above) confirms this. Anyhow, there Is
another thread with this exact discussion already going on.

Even if there is a plot hole, and I don't think there is, this simply means the spy robot saw SSJ Trunks and wasn't interested. That implies they already knew about SSJ from Goku/Vegeta.

Trunks was only a little baby when the androids got loose and starting wrecking the world and didn't exist when Freeza and his father came to Earth. It makes no sense to talk about him within that panel if not to say that Trunks killed Freeza and his father like he did in the main timeline. The intent of the manga is pretty clear, even if it is a plothole.

And the fact that the robot wasn't interested is clear in the text of the manga since it literally says that it didn't pick up Trunks' cells because it had enough saiyan cells already. However, this doesn't imply that he already knew of SSJ. You are suggesting that, somehow, the spy bug would take new samples since he was a SSJ, but it's never mentioned that the spy bug took new samples of Goku or Vegeta once they became SSJs, which tells us that there was no need to take new samples even if Goku and Vegeta got much stronger and unlocked new transformations, like they did. Their genetic make-up and potential of SSJ was already in the old samples even if they hadn't unlocked them at the time. The reason why it didn't take new samples is stated: it already had plenty of saiyan cells. Which is why it just recorded information, which included the SSJ transformation.

In short, this is what happened when Goku defeated Freeza in the future: the spy bug came, recorded the info, registered the evolution of Goku, that included his SSJ, but didn't take new samples because it already plenty of saiyan cells, including his. The new saiyan transformation was irrelevant for the collecting of samples. Trunks wouldn't be different.

[LuckyCat]

I agree with most of what you're saying about the DNA I just prefer Daizenshuu 7's timeline explanation.

[rereboy]

The Daizenshuu just tries to go around the plotholes but since it fails to explain everything regarding the time travels and other stuff, imo, and has very limited involvement of Toriyama in it, I don't put faith in it.

[Sayo-chan]

Wasn't it Trunks who defeated Freeza in Cell's timeline?

Impossible. Goku died of a heart virus in Cell's timeline which means there was no medicine from Trunks. (Chapter 364, p.4)

It's not impossible. A variety of things could've happened. The text is pretty clear by what it means.

トランクスという小僧の細胞も入手してもよかつたのだがサイヤ人はもう充分たつた...
That kid Trunks' cells may have also been obtained, but the Saiyan standing was already sufficient...

[LuckyCat]

トランクスという小僧の細胞も入手してもよかつたのだがサイヤ人はもう充分たつた...
That kid Trunks' cells may have also been obtained, but the Saiyan standing was already sufficient...

May have been obtained, but it doesn't say from where. I know there's an image of Freeza getting sliced there and all that, but it's an old image taken from an earlier chapter. Then later in chapter 364, p. 4., Cell explains Goku shouldn't be alive, which reasonably means Goku died of illness in Cell's time.

[rereboy]

トランクスという小僧の細胞も入手してもよかつたのだがサイヤ人はもう充分たつた...
That kid Trunks' cells may have also been obtained, but the Saiyan standing was already sufficient...

May have been obtained, but it doesn't say from where. I know there's an image of Freeza getting sliced there and all that, but it's an old image taken from an earlier chapter. Then later in chapter 364, p. 4., Cell explains Goku shouldn't be alive, which reasonably means Goku died of illness in Cell's time.

That makes it a plothole, it doesn't change the intent of the manga regarding that panel.