How to make forgotten DB characters relevant again?

[lancerman]

Seriously, this. It worked pretty well for the Garlic Jr. saga. It's a shame we didn't get at least one canon story like it.

I'm willing to bet if you asked this board to rank the anime sagas from DB and DBZ, the Garlic Jr saga would be at the bottom of the majority of lists.

That was more of a problem with execution than idea.

Okay but the one arc that didn’t have Goku is still widely consider the weakest arc, so I don’t know how that is the arc used as proof that a story with Goku “worked pretty well”.

It didn’t, it’s the most consistently least liked arc in the series, is treated like the Cousin Oliver of Dragon Ball, and is comically skipper over in things like DBZ abridged. It’s not a good example that the story works without Goku

[HeroR]

I'm willing to bet if you asked this board to rank the anime sagas from DB and DBZ, the Garlic Jr saga would be at the bottom of the majority of lists.

That was more of a problem with execution than idea.

Okay but the one arc that didn’t have Goku is still widely consider the weakest arc, so I don’t know how that is the arc used as proof that a story with Goku “worked pretty well”.

It didn’t, it’s the most consistently least liked arc in the series, is treated like the Cousin Oliver of Dragon Ball, and is comically skipper over in things like DBZ abridged. It’s not a good example that the story works without Goku

True.

I think the Garlic Sr Saga could have worked story-wise since why Goku and Vegeta weren't around makes perfect sense and didn't feel forced. The problem was the saga was way too long and Garlic wasn't a good enough villain to carry it. But I did like how it kinda foreshadowed Gohan saving the world in the Cell Saga, even if unintentional.

But a better example of an arc carrying without Goku is the early part of Namek, which many considered the best part of the arc.

[Exline]

That was more of a problem with execution than idea.

Okay but the one arc that didn’t have Goku is still widely consider the weakest arc, so I don’t know how that is the arc used as proof that a story with Goku “worked pretty well”.

It didn’t, it’s the most consistently least liked arc in the series, is treated like the Cousin Oliver of Dragon Ball, and is comically skipper over in things like DBZ abridged. It’s not a good example that the story works without Goku

True.

I think the Garlic Sr Saga could have worked story-wise since why Goku and Vegeta weren't around makes perfect sense and didn't feel forced. The problem was the saga was way too long and Garlic wasn't a good enough villain to carry it. But I did like how it kinda foreshadowed Gohan saving the world in the Cell Saga, even if unintentional.

But a better example of an arc carrying without Goku is the early part of Namek, which many considered the best part of the arc.

Yeah that's what I enjoy when Goku goes to train somewhere off-Earth, it gives the other characters time to flesh out as they await his return.

I for one thought the Great Saiyaman Saga was doing great with the characters. It's a bummer that we didn't get a more interesting story involving Gohan as the Great Saiyaman.

[lancerman]

That was more of a problem with execution than idea.

Okay but the one arc that didn’t have Goku is still widely consider the weakest arc, so I don’t know how that is the arc used as proof that a story with Goku “worked pretty well”.

It didn’t, it’s the most consistently least liked arc in the series, is treated like the Cousin Oliver of Dragon Ball, and is comically skipper over in things like DBZ abridged. It’s not a good example that the story works without Goku

True.

I think the Garlic Sr Saga could have worked story-wise since why Goku and Vegeta weren't around makes perfect sense and didn't feel forced. The problem was the saga was way too long and Garlic wasn't a good enough villain to carry it. But I did like how it kinda foreshadowed Gohan saving the world in the Cell Saga, even if unintentional.

But a better example of an arc carrying without Goku is the early part of Namek, which many considered the best part of the arc.

That's fair, but also the arc is still built around the conceit that Goku is coming to save the day.

A good time to do a Goku-less arc would be post Cell saga. Maybe have an arc where Gohan has to save the world on his own and for whatever reason he decides he won't fight anymore.

[HeroR]

Okay but the one arc that didn’t have Goku is still widely consider the weakest arc, so I don’t know how that is the arc used as proof that a story with Goku “worked pretty well”.

It didn’t, it’s the most consistently least liked arc in the series, is treated like the Cousin Oliver of Dragon Ball, and is comically skipper over in things like DBZ abridged. It’s not a good example that the story works without Goku

True.

I think the Garlic Sr Saga could have worked story-wise since why Goku and Vegeta weren't around makes perfect sense and didn't feel forced. The problem was the saga was way too long and Garlic wasn't a good enough villain to carry it. But I did like how it kinda foreshadowed Gohan saving the world in the Cell Saga, even if unintentional.

But a better example of an arc carrying without Goku is the early part of Namek, which many considered the best part of the arc.

That's fair, but also the arc is still built around the conceit that Goku is coming to save the day.

A good time to do a Goku-less arc would be post Cell saga. Maybe have an arc where Gohan has to save the world on his own and for whatever reason he decides he won't fight anymore.

That would have been interesting.

[Basaku]

Write good stories for/around them? Like, duh?

[DragonBallFoodie]

Give them an opportunity for them to come back and shine. EG Mai became Trunks' love interest, 17 was protecting an island and Tien was found teaching at a martial arts dojo.

Me, I'd like to see Lunch come back from wherever - a robbery, a quest - and hang out at Tien's place, or something.