Summary
Gohan’s use of his Great Saiyaman persona inDragon Ballis an intriguing blend of global superheroes. While it was initially used to hide his role in the fight against Cell, the identity he takes up combines elements of American and Japanese superhero characters. As a result, it opens up discussion for the direction both types of heroes are moving in.
Dragon Ball Officialhosted a discussion with Professor Timothy Takemoto, who studies cultural psychology. The professor talks about the impact Western superhero personas have had on Gohan’s alter ego and the commentary that its presentation reveals about Japan. The Great Saiyaman debuted inDragon Ball ZChapter 229, “A Hero Is Born,” which released in 1993.
Initially using his Super Saiyan form, Gohan quickly realized he would need a better disguise that would fully hide who he is. This led him to seek help from Bulma and gained him an alternate suit, changing up his entire look for fighting crime while avoiding his identity being discovered.
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Dragon Ball Z’s Great Saiyaman Represents Modern Japan
Dragon Ball Z, Great Saiyaman Saga (Akira Toriyama)
Gohan’s Japanese self and his Western-style superhero alter are a combination of cultures, but also a reflection of the way Japan is being more and more influenced by American superheroes.
Within the discussion about Gohan’s Great Saiyaman identity, Professor Takemoto says, “Simply put, he represents modern-day Japan.” He goes on to discuss the costume and how it blends elements of both Japanese and American superheroes. The helmet ishighly reminiscent ofSuper SentaiandUltramanheadwear, but he also has a cape, which is a staple of American heroes like Superman, Batman, and Thor, among others.This design reflects not just the popular heroic stories prevalent in Japan at the time, but also incorporates elements of older Western comic heroes.The blend results in a merger that reflected modern Japan at the time of its writing, continuing to today.
This blend of Western and Eastern comics also plays into the presentation of the Great Saiyaman in terms of how he portrays himself. Takemoto reflects on how both American and Japanese superheroes present an “ideal self,” making the superhero identity an “projection of the desire to escape the mundaneness of your everyday self and transform into an idealized version of yourself.“The limitations of a hero and the desire to be more is a common ground that American and Japanese superheroes share with one another.Gohan embodies thisby trying to maintain his own identity, keeping his personal life, hero life, and Saiyan life separated, without losing an outwardly strong appearance.
The Biggest Differences Between American & Japanese Superheroes
American and Japanese superheroes, though alike in their missions and desire for showing an “ideal self,” have significant differences. These include transformation styles and moral compass perceptions. American heroes, like Superman, hide their transformation and do their best to maintain their secret identities by avoiding the public eye when becoming a hero. Contrarily, Japanese heroes likeSailor Moon publicly transformand draw attention to themselves in stories.While counterintuitive in terms of identity hiding, this trope highlights a major cultural difference in superhero storytelling and self-perception.The Great Saiyaman hides, employing an American superhero tradition to hide his identity effectively.
The limitations of a hero and the desire to be more is a common ground that American and Japanese superheroes share with one another.
Additionally, Takemoto reflects on how Japan is more fluid when it comes to a perceived moral compass compared to America. Western superheroes have often employed a dichotomy of good versus evil that readily defines a majority of hero stories.Contrarily, Japanese heroes frequently face foes who teeter between good and evil, having the option to become allies.This is notable in thecase ofDragon Ball Z’sVegeta, who began his story as a villain before eventually turning into Goku’s primary rival and a great ally. These occurrences are much less common in American superhero stories, though there are occasional outliers, such as in the case of DC’s Harley Quinn within recent years.
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The Truth Behind Gohan’s Great Saiyaman Persona
Gohan’s use of the Great Saiyaman allows him to fulfill hisrole as a hero and a Saiyan independently, while also pushing his goals of developing the strength of his human half. However, it also makes him a cultural blend of comic storytelling that can be humorous in both positive and critical ways.His grandiose poses are reflections of Japanese superhero style as they draw more attention to him within public settings.These would come off very cheesy in American stories and seem over the top. Takemoto draws attention especially to the way that Gohan lectures his enemies, which creates a good versus evil sense of instruction within his adventures.
In a sense, Gohan’s Japanese self and his Western-style superhero alter are a combination of cultures, but also a reflection of the way Japan is being more and more influenced by American superheroes.While this could be seen as a strength within the medium, Takemoto has a different take. He frames Gohan’s Great Saiyaman more intricately, saying the “portrayal is satirizing modern Japanese people who have taken on too many Western characteristics and thus are losing their original self-image.“This is a highly critical take, but one that could be very valid as storytelling continues to create new influences and trends for daily life. While comical and heroic,Dragon Ball Z’sGreat Saiyamancould very well be more than just a persona for Goku’s son to hide behind.
Dragon Ball Z Blends American & Japanese Storytelling to Great Effect
Dragon Ball Zis one of the most influential mangain history, becoming well-known and beloved around the world, while inspiring comic creators and storytellers in many countries. Goku’s story, adaptingJourney to the West, and its expansion to his later family members and allies has facilitated cultural blends. Even if the Great Saiyaman is a satirical take on Western heroes and changes in Japanese society, there’s no question that its presentation of both superhero styles highlights their main differences.While self-image is highly shared between the two, the approaches to transforming, enemy rehabilitation and portrayal, and personal frameworks illustrate a noticeable divide in heroism.
Gohan’s Great Saiyaman presents a major tonal shift within the story. His method of saving the world is significantly different from the way his father, Goku, used to have his own adventures. The shift from martial arts to direct hero and villain confrontation creates a smaller scale conflict. However,theDragon Ballfranchise has excelledat taking big stories and finding ways to still make them compelling even when they wouldn’t typically fit together in a single story. The Great Saiyaman isn’t the most serious person, and he may not follow most American villainy traditions, but he blends both American and Japanese superhero elements to create a belovedDragon Ballhero nonetheless.
Dragon Ball Z
Cast
Dragon Ball Z follows Goku, who lives a peaceful life with his family until the arrival of Raditz, a mysterious warrior claiming to be Goku’s brother. This revelation unveils their true heritage as Saiyans, a formidable warrior race known for conquering planets.
