Dragon Ball Super Is Much Better Than Some Fans Give It Credit For, & the Series' Two Best Characters Are Proof

Dragon Ballhas always boasted two of the best anti-heroes in all of anime and manga: Vegeta and Piccolo. While the two villains turned good guys enjoyed their transformations into heroes over the course ofDragon Ball Z,some of their best moments are found inDragon Ball Super. Piccolo, once the reincarnated great Demon King Piccolo, and Vegeta, the once ruthless prince of Saiyans, are able to both show sides of themselves never seen before inDragon Ball’s most recent anime series.

The main attraction ofDragon Ballhas and will always be action, andSuperoffers some of the most impressively animated fightsin the franchise’s history. While Vegeta owns more of the screen throughout the series, Piccolo has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance of late with his return to the spotlight inDragon Ball Super: Super Hero. But what makes their characters so enjoyable inDragon Ball Superhas little to do with fighting.

Piccolo confusedly using a cell phone.

Dragon Ballhas always been light on the quieter, slice-of-life moments that other shōnen battle stories have come to incorporate and thrive on. Still, many of its characters are so well written that the few introspective scenes throughoutDragon Ball Superleave fans craving for more,and Piccolo and Vegeta are often at the center of these moments.

Dragon Ball Super Makes the Most of “Uncle Piccolo”

Piccolo and Pan Are on Screen for Some of Super’s Best Moments

At one time, Piccolo’s sole goal was to kill Goku and take revenge for what he did to Demon King Piccolo. Vegeta fought for one purpose: to surpass Goku in strength by any means necessary. Currently,both have taken caretaker roles in both a humorous and heartwarming progression of their characters. Once great villains, now helping to raise the next generation of Earth’s heroes.

Piccolo’s shift into his role of “uncle” first began duringDragon Ball Z,when he took Gohan in for trainingbefore the arrival of the Saiyans. InSuper Hero,that role is revisited through his relationship with Pan, the daughter of his original disciple. Though Piccolo’s treatment of Gohan bordered on barbaric, his character development is put on full display when it comes to Pan’s training. Not only is he quite a bit gentler to her, but he also goes out of his way to pick her up from school whenever necessary. Spawn of the Demon King, Piccolo has transformed into the world’s most powerful uncle.

Bulma leaning on Vegeta in Dragon Ball Super.

Dragon Ball Supercontained excellent filler putting Piccolo’s changes at the forefront, butSuper Heroshowed the warrior at his best. Though struggling to hold a cell phone properly, and being showered in plushies that aren’t quite to his taste,Piccolo has adapted to his hero status with ease, integrating himself into the Son family while being a great role model and friend to both Gohan and Pan.

Vegeta Has Become A Family Man

Vegeta’s Kinder Nature Shows How Far He Has Come

When Trunks arrived in the present during the Cell Saga, Vegeta had little interest in him, even after learning that he was his son. Later on, when Trunks is debilitated by a powerful attack from Cell, the Saiyan Prince erupts in a rage over his son, a scene which points in the direction Vegeta’s character would travel throughout the rest ofDragon Ball. And while it took quite a bit longer for Vegeta to become a hero than it did Piccolo,Dragon Ball Superputs his best qualities on display.

The younger Trunks, belonging to the current timeline,is the recipient of much kinder treatment from his fatherthan his future self enjoyed. Not only is the current Vegeta genuinely caring for his family, but he’s even capable of compromise, as seen when he takes his son to an amusement park despite having no desire to visit one. And Trunks isn’t the only member of the family to know a much kinder Vegeta,as Bulma now has a husband who fights to protect her, and is willing to go so far as to challenge Beerus for her sake.

Vegeta, Trunks, Bulma eating ice cream at the amusement park.

Antiheroes, when written well, can be the most compelling characters in fiction, andPiccolo and Vegeta are prime examples. WhileDragon Ball Superoften turns its focus toward combat, its placement inDragon Ball’s timeline allows for the best of its characters to be on full display. As the series continues, thanks to Piccolo’s recent power-up, more wholesome and introspective moments involving Piccolo and Vegeta should be on the horizon.