Gohan

Goku's elder son, whose hidden power is unlocked by rage.

Son Gohan is the elder son of Goku and Chi-Chi. He first appeared in chapter 196, "Kakarrot", in Weekly Shonen Jump on October 8, 1988. Chi-Chi wants him to study rather than fight, but the threats to Earth keep pulling him into battle, and under the training of his father's old enemy Piccolo he becomes one of the strongest fighters in the series thanks to a hidden potential that his anger awakens.

Quick Facts

Franchise

Dragon Ball

First

Dragon Ball chapter #196 "Kakarrot"
October 8
1988 (Weekly Shōnen Jump 1988)

Creator

Akira Toriyama

Voice

Masako Nozawa; Kyle Hebert

Species

Saiyan-human hybrid

Also known as

The Great Saiyaman; The Golden Warrior

Occupation

Entomologist

Spouse

Videl (wife)

A planned successor

Toriyama meant Gohan to take over from Goku as the lead after the Cell arc, but dropped the idea in the manga's final arc, deciding Gohan did not suit the role as well as his father. Critics usually point to his growth up to the defeat of Cell as the high point; his portrayal after that arc has drawn a more mixed response.

Super Hero

Toriyama brought Gohan back as a lead in the film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, built around his bond with Piccolo, which the film presents as driving him even more than Goku does. The film awakens his "Beast" form, the culmination of the rage-fuelled power surges he has had all his life, and one of its main fights, against Gamma 1, takes place in the rain. His return as a family man and scholar-warrior was better received.

Name and voice

His name comes from the Japanese word for cooked rice, continuing Toriyama's food-pun names. Masako Nozawa voices him in Japanese in all animated appearances.