The manga version of Dragon Ball Super may have opened the door for Cell to make a long-awaited return to the anime. Cell, a powerful android made up of the DNA of all the Z-Warriors, traveled to Earth from Future Trunks' timeline and absorbed both Android 17 and Android 18 to become Perfect Cell. After challenging Goku and the Z-Warriors to a battle that would determine the fate of the planet, Cell was finally destroyed by Gohan, who annihilated him with a Kamehemeha.

Cell returned in the filler episodes in the Buu Saga as one of many dead villains in Otherworld to attack Goku. Cell teams up with Frieza, King Cold, and the Ginyu Force, but the group are taken down with relative ease by Goku and Pikkon. Cell is seen briefly again in the non-canon Dragon Ball GT. Cell and Frieza try to kill Goku when he ventures into Hell. Cell also cameos at the end of the Buu Saga as a spectator viewing the final battle between Goku and Kid Buu. To this day, Cell is still dead in the Dragon Ball universe.

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A bonus manga chapter of Dragon Ball Super may have provided a way for Cell to be resurrected. The manga chapter took place during the Tournament of Power and showed what happened to Goten and Trunks, after they agreed to protect the animals on Android 17's island. Android 17 forgot to inform the children that some of the Cell Juniors were still alive and on the island. The Cell Juniors were miniature clones created by Cell to fight the Z-Warriors during the Cell Games. They were ultimately killed by Gohan.

Cell and Cell Juniors Dragon Ball Z

The Cell Juniors on Android 17's island regenerated from the nuclei of the defeated Cell Juniors. Since the Cell Juniors were created by Cell and they share his DNA, it's possible that a scientist could use one or more of the Cell Juniors to fully restore Cell. But as powerful as he was in the Cell Saga, he's no longer strong enough to pose a threat to Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, or even Piccolo.

That being said, all that could change thanks to Cell's absorption ability. If he were to sneakily absorb a much more powerful opponent, he could rocket his way back to the top of the list of Dragon Ball's most powerful villains. Also, Cell is the only main Dragon Ball Z villain who hasn't been brought back yet. Vegeta, Frieza, the Androids, and Majin Buu are all still relevant to the anime, while Cell, despite his popularity, has remained dead. So for many fans, it's long past time for Cell to return and take his revenge on Gohan.

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