How would you rewrite the ending of the manga?

[Piccolo Daimao]

Now, I know the fandom has pretty mixed feelings about the ending of Dragon Ball. Some people believe it was anti-climactic, others say it was in line with the wacky, abrupt feel of what the series had come to. But we all know about that now. How would you rewrite the ending of the manga?

I'm not talking about whether the Freeza arc or Cell arc would've been the best finale for the series or anything like that. I'm talking about the ending after Boo's death. Would you have the time skip set further into the future? Geezer Goku? Omit Oob entirely? Final battle between Goku and Vegeta?

Personally, I wouldn't have been happy with an ending featuring Geezer Goku. I don't think Goku would be happy about living to be an old man. He's a Saiyan, a battle junkie who's always looking for a new challenge, which is why I think Dragon Ball Online's scenario of Goku and Vegeta dying in a final battle fitted Goku's fate better. Nor do I think Goku fits the "wise old mentor" role well. It's just not his character. He's a Saiyan above all else, who prioritizes battle over guiding the next generation, and he's made stupid mistakes before that you wouldn't see from someone like Kame-sennin.

During Goku and Kuririn's training, Kame-sennin makes it clear that the reason you become a martial artist is for mind, body, health and all that philosophical stuff, but also to fend off beings with undeserved power. He later steps down to let the next generation of warriors take over his role as strongest in the universe and whatnot. When Piccolo Daimao is released, knowing the shit the Earth got into before, he does the right thing and attempts to seal him away with the Mafuuba.

Goku, on the other hand, throws away the opportunity to find and kill Dr. Gero with the DBs in favour of a fight. This results in many innocents being killed. Then there's his misjudging of Gohan at the Cell Games, holding back against Boo, etc. You've probably heard this all before. Goku's not right for the "wise old mentor" role.

Before I get any more off-topic, how would you rewrite the ending of the manga?

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Chop off the Majin Boo arc. 'Nuff said.

[Savage68]

Chop off the Majin Boo arc.

This topic is obviously about the 28th Budokai, since that was the end of the manga.

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Chop off the Majin Boo arc.

This topic is obviously about the 28th Budokai, since that was the end of the manga.

Okay, never mind then.

[TheGreatness25]

I liked all of Dragon Ball/Z and that includes the Majin Boo arc. I liked the idea of the Budokai at the end with Oob also. I guess I wouldn't have ended it with Goku leaving. It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Maybe have Oob fight a tough battle with Goku and be accepted into the group instead of having Goku split from it to go train him for no reason.

When I wrote my fan story as a kid, I had it end with Vegeta dying a noble death in the last fight and Goku basically sacrifice himself and since he had the power of the Dragon Balls in him and was basically like a god, he was had a duty to Other World. So I had that time skip forward towards GT where Goku Jr. and Vegeta Jr. fight and Pan sees him and follows him, but then after a slight monologue from Pan, it kind of faded to an Other World Budokai and the very last thing was Goku and Vegeta dashing at each other and if you're thinking of TV, just like a freeze frame on that.

It might sound like a stupid ending, but I think the ultimate ending should have been a freeze frame on two rivals just charging at each other with smiles on their face.

[TripleRach]

Only rewriting the story after Boo's death? Hmm.

With the way the story played out up until that point, I think the original 28th Budoukai ending works pretty well. It made sense for Vegeta to finally be at peace, for Gohan to finally become a scholar, for Goten and Trunks to end up as slackers, and for Gokuu to be seeking a new challenge against Boo's reincarnation.

But if I were going to change some things, I'd take the Kintoun stuff from the Kanzenban ending, as well as the change in the final narration box (about relying on people instead of the Dragon Balls). I'd also want to show the other characters a little more. Maybe Yamcha finally found a nice girl, maybe Kuririn got his own house for his family, maybe Lunch finally found Tenshinhan, maybe Oolong became a porn tycoon, etc. And I'd show some hints about how the rest of the Budoukai played out. Pan vs Vegeta in the final round?

Most importantly, I'd take a hint from Neko Majin and have Oob living at Gokuu's house instead of the other way around. But I do like the flying away with Kintoun part, so I'd alter it so that they were just going to Oob's house to pick up his stuff.

[the_abberration]

Didn't really flesh this out, but here is a rough draft of my own personal ending.

I would have changed it so that Goku did not return to life. After Gohan returns to Earth, he adopts Goku’s gi style in honor of him. Replace the situation involving Goku, Vegeta, and Vegetto with a back and forth between Gohan and Buu. Gohan gets swallowed and uses his smarts to free the others, showing he actually benefitted from Chi Chi’s pushing to be a scholar.

Fat Buu would replace Vegeta in stalling while Gohan forms the Genki Dama, Goku having showed him how after seeing his son surpass him finally and accepting role as Earth’s new protector. After Earth is saved, we get the following montage; Gohan and Videl continue in the role of Great Saiyaman I and II. Vegeta returns to Earth to have closure with Bulma and Trunks. An angry Goten is at a desk studying, with a stern Chi Chi overlooking. Mr. Satan stares in awe, as a young Pan takes down her opponent. Tien and Chatzou are training alone. Yamcha, Krillin, and Roshi are on his island with #18 and Marron, relaxing.

The narrator informs us that after Buu, peace has returned and all is well. Gohan will be able to handle any threats from now on. As for Goku, he will always be watching over everyone. We see Goku looking down at his friends. He stands up and turns around to see that Vegeta is standing there. Vegeta smirks and powers up. Goku looks at the audience and smiles.

The End.

[Dabooyaka]

I would give vegeta ssj3, and have him and Goku just go all out...last man standing wins...

[DNA]

Allright then *cracks knuckles*. I think I would take a bit from everything.

I'd start the same way, but instead of cutting the Budokai short, I'd continue it, have Goku and Uub have a full fledged battle, Uub can't fly so Goku agrees not to fly to have things fair. Goku wins and bladybla, the tournament continues normally, we have a few cool battles with Pan and Buu antics, eventually we reach the climax with a Goku vs Vegeta, which culminates in a full fledges Super Saiyan 3 battle. The Budokai ends in some way, whoever reaches the champion battle throws the fight to Mr. Satan, the works.

THEN we have Goku going away with Uub, have the Kintoun bit and all, and then use the backstory from that new AF fan comic thingy. First Goku goes to Uub's village and meets the people and stuff, then off to Kame House, but this time he brings Pan with him and both of them start the training, usual Mutenroshi antics but since they're so much stronger than his usual pupils, we go to a world scale thing, like swimming oceans and delivering milk worldwide. We have a bit of Goku training them both and them SURPRISE! Somehow Neko Majin is uncovered, some story happens to introduce him and then he joins Pan and Uub in training. We then have Kami's Palace training with Mr. Popo, Piccolo and then the final training in the Room of Spirit and Time. By this time we'd probably be mid gap between GT, like 5 years had passed or something, about time for a new Budokai maybe and have them fight it out, Goku and Vegeta sit this one out, Trunks and Goten enter again.

This time it can actually be cut off midway because the outcome doesn't really matter, what matters is that we'd have a full extra arc of closure, the future is safe for the next generation and the one after that as well. We'd have Pan, Neko Majin, Uub and possibly Bra trained by Vegeta.

[Zarathustra]

Didn't really flesh this out, but here is a rough draft of my own personal ending.

I would have changed it so that Goku did not return to life. After Gohan returns to Earth, he adopts Goku’s gi style in honor of him. Replace the situation involving Goku, Vegeta, and Vegetto with a back and forth between Gohan and Buu. Gohan gets swallowed and uses his smarts to free the others, showing he actually benefitted from Chi Chi’s pushing to be a scholar.

Fat Buu would replace Vegeta in stalling while Gohan forms the Genki Dama, Goku having showed him how after seeing his son surpass him finally and accepting role as Earth’s new protector. After Earth is saved, we get the following montage; Gohan and Videl continue in the role of Great Saiyaman I and II. Vegeta returns to Earth to have closure with Bulma and Trunks. An angry Goten is at a desk studying, with a stern Chi Chi overlooking. Mr. Satan stares in awe, as a young Pan takes down her opponent. Tenshinhan and Chatzou are training alone. Yamcha, Krillin, and Roshi are on his island with #18 and Marron, relaxing.

The narrator informs us that after Buu, peace has returned and all is well. Gohan will be able to handle any threats from now on. As for Goku, he will always be watching over everyone. We see Goku looking down at his friends. He stands up and turns around to see that Vegeta is standing there. Vegeta smirks and powers up. Goku looks at the audience and smiles.

The End.

I'd be extremely happy with this kind of ending. Nice work.

[kaialone]

I dont really mind the ending,Though I think it shouldnt have been this abrupt.Though I understand why Toriayama rushed it that much.

[Nazi Cola]

Didn't really flesh this out, but here is a rough draft of my own personal ending.

I would have changed it so that Goku did not return to life. After Gohan returns to Earth, he adopts Goku’s gi style in honor of him. Replace the situation involving Goku, Vegeta, and Vegetto with a back and forth between Gohan and Buu. Gohan gets swallowed and uses his smarts to free the others, showing he actually benefitted from Chi Chi’s pushing to be a scholar.

Fat Buu would replace Vegeta in stalling while Gohan forms the Genki Dama, Goku having showed him how after seeing his son surpass him finally and accepting role as Earth’s new protector. After Earth is saved, we get the following montage; Gohan and Videl continue in the role of Great Saiyaman I and II. Vegeta returns to Earth to have closure with Bulma and Trunks. An angry Goten is at a desk studying, with a stern Chi Chi overlooking. Mr. Satan stares in awe, as a young Pan takes down her opponent. Tenshinhan and Chatzou are training alone. Yamcha, Krillin, and Roshi are on his island with #18 and Marron, relaxing.

The narrator informs us that after Buu, peace has returned and all is well. Gohan will be able to handle any threats from now on. As for Goku, he will always be watching over everyone. We see Goku looking down at his friends. He stands up and turns around to see that Vegeta is standing there. Vegeta smirks and powers up. Goku looks at the audience and smiles.

The End.

Yup, I really like this ending. It seems to bring everything full-circle.

[roidrage]

I was fairly satisfied with the ending, but I was a little disappointed in how much Trunks and Goten were billed as the "younger generation" to replace Goku (Goten especially, given his personality), only to have the point become moot with Goku coming back to life and them becoming slackers. I might have had Vegeta and Goku sacrifice themselves to completely defeat Majin Buu, with Trunks and Goten taking their places. The future would be similar, except there would be no Good Buu. While Vegeta and Goku are about to duel in an Other World Tournament, Trunks and Goten would be doing the same thing down on Earth, with a scholarly Gohan and all their friends (including Tenshinhan and Chaozu, who I think should have been in the manga ending, along with maybe a Lunch cameo) looking on in anticipation.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

I'd probably end Z with Gohan's wedding in which Goku ends up trashing the cake..... but seriously, I'll post my actual idea later.

[painfuldeath]

Didn't really flesh this out, but here is a rough draft of my own personal ending.

I would have changed it so that Goku did not return to life. After Gohan returns to Earth, he adopts Goku’s gi style in honor of him. Replace the situation involving Goku, Vegeta, and Vegetto with a back and forth between Gohan and Buu. Gohan gets swallowed and uses his smarts to free the others, showing he actually benefitted from Chi Chi’s pushing to be a scholar.

Fat Buu would replace Vegeta in stalling while Gohan forms the Genki Dama, Goku having showed him how after seeing his son surpass him finally and accepting role as Earth’s new protector. After Earth is saved, we get the following montage; Gohan and Videl continue in the role of Great Saiyaman I and II. Vegeta returns to Earth to have closure with Bulma and Trunks. An angry Goten is at a desk studying, with a stern Chi Chi overlooking. Mr. Satan stares in awe, as a young Pan takes down her opponent. Tenshinhan and Chatzou are training alone. Yamcha, Krillin, and Roshi are on his island with #18 and Marron, relaxing.

The narrator informs us that after Buu, peace has returned and all is well. Gohan will be able to handle any threats from now on. As for Goku, he will always be watching over everyone. We see Goku looking down at his friends. He stands up and turns around to see that Vegeta is standing there. Vegeta smirks and powers up. Goku looks at the audience and smiles.

The End.

Yep, you almost nailed it for me sir. I would, however, increase Mr. Buu's role in this fight by having him sacrifice himself in some form to be able to destroy Buu. To make it more interesting, Gohan should have sustained significant injury so that he could not destroy Buu by himself; just as Goku was unable to push the Genki Dama to destroy Buu without having his power restored, Mr. Buu would have to somehow hold down Buu so that he could not defend against the Genki Dama.

To me having Mr. Buu survive always felt wrong given his previous actions. This would also make for a better pretext for Uub to be born in his place.

[Fox666]

To me having Mr. Buu survive always felt wrong given his previous actions.

Huh, he was like a kid, it wasn't his fault.

Do you think the giant toddler from "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid" (sequel of "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids") should have been destroyed?

[TrunksTrevelyan0064]

I think I would have omitted Uub, and have the 28th Budokai play out so that Goku and Vegeta meet in the finals - then the final panel has them attacking each other - The End.

Oh, and if I'm allowed to, probably have Gohan or Vegetto (or both? o_O) finish Buu off.

[painfuldeath]

To me having Mr. Buu survive always felt wrong given his previous actions.

Huh, he was like a kid, it wasn't his fault.

Do you think the giant toddler from "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid" (sequel of "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids") should have been destroyed?

I guess you could put it that way, but if the good Buu is reborn as Uub then it makes it right. Majin Buu was created to do evil and having him be reborn as a good entity instead would be better than having both Buu and Uub at the same time.

At the same time you could say that a murderer who suffers from a mental disorder isn't guilty because he didn't know any better. That still does not make it right.

[Fox666]

"Right" or "wrong" only apply to these who rationalize (limited by intellect or knowledge) about what they are doing. A bear who kill a human for just watching his young is not acting immoral.

Because of that, I don't feel wrong for Boo surviving. Nor I would feel angry if a man with mental disorder or an animal kill someone.

Pure Boo on the other hand was created for being a sadic creature. So he deserves to be reborn as a good entity.

[Adamant]

We see Goku looking down at his friends. He stands up and turns around to see that Vegeta is standing there. Vegeta smirks and powers up. Goku looks at the audience and smiles.

...but Vegeta didn't keep his body when he died. How would that work?