Dragon Ball Super Codexery

Future Trunks

A warrior from a ruined tomorrow who changed the past to save his future.

Future Trunks is a half-Saiyan half-human character from an alternate future timeline in the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama. He is the son of Vegeta and Bulma. He makes his debut appearance in chapter #331 "The Young Boy of Mystery", first published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on July 2, 1991, as an unidentified young man who traveled back in time to warn Son Goku and his allies of a deadly new enemy, the Androids of the Red Ribbon Army. This alternate future timeline incarnation is usually referred to as "Future Trunks" (未来のトランクス, Mirai no Torankusu; "Trunks of the Future") in media to distinguish him from his present-timeline counterpart.

Quick Facts

Series
Dragon Ball
Creator
Akira Toriyama
First
Dragon Ball chapter #331 The Young Boy of Mystery, 2 July 1991 (Weekly Shōnen Jump 1991)
Species
Saiyan/human hybrid
Voice
  • Japanese:
  • Takeshi Kusao
  • Tsubasa Yonaga (Mini; Dragon Ball Daima)
  • English:
  • See Voice actors

Lore & Background

Future Trunks first appears in chapter #331 The Young Boy of Mystery (謎の少年, Nazo no Shōnen), published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on July 15, 1991. Here he is a mysterious seventeen year old capable of transforming into the Super Saiyan state, who appears and singlehandedly kills Frieza and his father, King Cold. As told in the stand-alone manga side story Trunks: The Story – The Lone Warrior (TRUNKS THE STORY -たったひとりの戦士-, Torankusu za Sutōrī -Tatta Hitori no Senshi-) and chapters #419 and 420, Trunks has traveled from twenty years in the future where the world is in constant ruin due to the terror of the two androids #17 and #18 which were created by Doctor Gero.

By this time, Goku has succumbed to an unknown heart virus, and everyone, except for Goku's son Gohan, has fallen at the hands of the artificial humans. Trunks has been living with Bulma and secretly training with his master Gohan. After an unsuccessful ambush, Gohan is murdered by the Androids. When Trunks finds the body, he becomes engulfed in rage and sadness, awakening his Super Saiyan transformation.

After Gohan's death, Trunks assumes the mantle of Earth's sole protector against the artificial humans for the next three years until Bulma finishes her time machine.

Reader's Guide

Future Trunks is a tragic hero defined by survival and resilience. Born in a timeline where the Z Fighters have fallen, he represents the last hope for humanity against the Androids. He can transform into a Super Saiyan and, after returning to the past, attains Super Saiyan 2. Defining moments include his first trip to the past to warn Goku about the Androids and his later victory over the Androids and Cell of his own timeline. He also plays a crucial role in the Tournament of Power, fighting alongside warriors from other universes.

Did You Know?

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