Warning: SPOILERS for chapter #91 of Dragon Ball SuperThe new story arc of Dragon Ball Super has officially begun, and for the first time, Goku and Vegeta are nowhere to be seen. As fans know, this part of the manga will adapt the movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, in which Gohan and Piccolo have to defend Earth from the latest threat while Goku and Vegeta are away training on Beerus' planet.
The Dragon Ball franchise has one clear protagonist, Son Goku. Since the sequel Dragon Ball Super started, the wish of many fans has come true and Vegeta has taken a more prominent role, becoming a true co-protagonist and even finally matching Goku's strength. However, the same did not happen for many other popular characters, such as Gohan and Piccolo, who have been relegated to the sidelines. With the exception of the Tournament of Power arc, Goku and Vegeta have been the undiscussed protagonists of Dragon Ball Super, solving every crisis and leaving everyone else behind in terms of power, at least until now.
Goku And Vegeta's Absence Makes This New Story Arc Shine
Chapter #91 of Dragon Ball Super introduces the new story arc, with the Red Ribbon Army scheming to take over the world and avenge their previous defeats at the hands of Goku and his friends. They recruit Dr. Gero's nephew, Dr. Hedo, who will further his grandfather's research and build the most powerful androids ever seen. To face this new threat, Gohan and Piccolo will have to step up to the challenge, because Goku and Vegeta have actually been away from Earth for many years, training on Beerus' planet to become strong enough to face the incredibly powerful Frieza Black. This proves to be a boon for the story, as the series needed to shake up its formula and try something new.
In fact, having Gohan as the protagonist is not new for Dragon Ball, as this was tried at the beginning of the Majin Buu Arc. However, this experiment lasted very little, and Goku came back to save the universe. In the Super Hero Arc, however, this won't happen, and the story will develop entirely without the two prominent Saiyan, giving other characters a chance to shine. Besides Gohan, who is known for his limitless but unused potential, Piccolo will also finally get the respect and the power-up he deserves. Chapter #91 already shows significant character development for the Namekian. Piccolo has developed a strong bond with Gohan's daughter Pan, and begins training and caring for the kid, even going as far as scolding Gohan for neglecting his duties as a father.
Gohan And Piccolo Can Be Great Protagonists Too
Gohan will also likely grow up in this arc, finally living up to his potential and also becoming a better father. Overall, it's hard to change a formula that works so well, and Goku and Vegeta will remain Dragon Ball's protagonists for a very long time. However, it's good to see the series shake things up and make better use of its incredible cast of iconic characters. The Super Hero Arc of Dragon Ball Super will be the first to not feature Goku and Vegeta at all, and this is what will make it stand out as the most original in the entire series (for now).
The latest chapter of Dragon Ball Super is available from Viz Media.