Z Fighters
From Dragon Ball Encyclopedia
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Z Fighters (Z戦士, zetto senshi, also known as the Z Warriors or Earth's Special Forces or even the Gold Fighters by Hercule) are a small group of super warriors located on Earth. Their duty is to defend Earth from major threats and to protect the seven mystical Dragon Balls from the hands of evil. The Z fighters are not officially organized in any way, because it is simply a group of super fighters who all share the same interest of protecting their home. However, they all stand together whenever possible to fight off enemies. Son Goku is the de facto leader of the group due to his incredible success rates against villains in Dragon Ball, victory over the Saiyans, and his victory over Frieza (Kuririn even mentioned in the episode "Upgrade to Super Saiyan" that Son Goku was in command).
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[edit] The evolution of the Z Fighters
[edit] Origins
During the Dragon Ball anime, a similar team existed, but it was called the Dragon Ball Gang. Their original purpose for coming together was not to protect the Dragon Balls, but to use them themselves. Later, however, the members of the Turtle Hermit School trained by Muten-Rôshi, would join together to combat evils such as Emperor Pilaf, the Red Ribbon Army, and The Great Demon King Piccolo, thus this team could be considered an early rendition of the Z Fighters. Its main members consisted of Son Goku, Kuririn, Yamcha, Tenshinhan, Chiaotzu, Yajirobe and their supporters.
The first actual formation of the Z Fighters was out of necessity, brought on when Son Goku was faced with Raditz, who had kidnapped his young son Son Gohan, and wanted to destroy the Earth. Son Goku formed an alliance with his arch rival Piccolo in order to fight for a common cause. The alliance made from necessity is considered the true birth of the Z Fighters.
The term itself is very rarely actually used in the series by anyone other than the narrator. The first being in the Androids Saga, when Future Trunks explains to Son Goku that in the future, "the Earth's Special Forces are gone." The Second character to use the term was Son Gohan when he was training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to defeat Cell. While sleeping he had a dream in which his mother Chi-Chi said she didn't want Son Gohan to be in Son Goku's little gang. Son Gohan then responds that he isn't in a little gang, he's a Z-fighter.
[edit] Formation and conflicts
The battles against the Saiyans, Vegeta and Nappa, is commonly considered the first time Earth's Special Forces engaged enemies together. During the conflict on Namek some months later, Earth's Special Forces would ally with the Namekian race against Frieza and his World Trade Organization, this part of the series would be a crucial moment for the forces, as they now would gain the support of their once enemy Vegeta, and that Piccolo had finally changed completely for the good. This is also the first time in the series in which a character actually refers to the group as the Z Fighters, when Son Gohan pleads with Chi Chi to be allowed to go to Namek with Kuririn and Bulma. He informs her that he too, is a Z Fighter, and must be there to protect his friends.
It was not until the Android conflicts some four years after the conflict on Namek that the team of the Z Fighters came full circle. Son Goku returns from space one year after defeating Frieza, while Future Trunks comes from the future to warn everyone about the Androids that have caused apocalyptic mayhem in his time. (See: Android Saga) After his defeat on Earth and then brief alliance on Namek, Vegeta decides to return and remain on Earth in anticipation for Son Goku's return in the hopes that he would be ready to challenge his rival once again. However, When Trunks reveals the future, Vegeta decides to stay and train for the upcoming conflict with the androids rather then prepare to battle Son Goku. Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha all eventually are wished back to life as well, and they too soon begin training for the fight with the androids. It is evidently around this time that the series refers to the group of warriors as the "Z Fighters". When the androids do arrive, Trunks returns as well, contributing his efforts with the group. With Son Goku, Son Gohan, Piccolo, Trunks, Kuririn, Tenshinhan, Chiaotzu, Yamcha and Vegeta, the group fully forms and it is shown through the opening sequence at this time in the series (the final image is of the aforementioned fighters and Son Goku as he transforms into a Super Saiyan).
It is also worth noting that while this version of the Z Fighters is a prominent one during the series history, it is the only period of time in which the team consists of these certain members. The Android/Cell Saga was a turning point in the series for a number of reasons, one of them being that the roster of fighters was completely changed after the Cell Games. By the end of the Cell Games, Son Goku is dead and Son Gohan has become Earth's primary defender. Trunks returns to his timeline more powerful than ever, thanks to his training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with Vegeta, and proceeds to finally destroy the evil versions of Androids #17 and #18 in his world, as well as his timeline's Cell a while later.
Meanwhile, Tenshinhan bids farewell to the Z Fighters and plans to live in seclusion with his best friend Chiaotzu, realizing he can no longer compete with the powers of the Super Saiyan's. Yamcha retires from fighting for the same reasons as Tien, and never trains seriously again. Kuririn continues to live with Muten-Rôshi, and after a few years, eventually reunites with and later marries Android 18. They soon have a daughter named Marron, and thus Kuririn stops training as well. Piccolo decides to live with Dende and Mr. Popo on Kami's Lookout, partly because there is no longer a reason to train, partly because his pupil Son Gohan has finally surpassed him, and partly because part of him is still Kami and wishes to continue to reside over the Earth. Vegeta however, continues to train hard, hoping to become a Super Saiyan 2 like Son Gohan, but declares that he will never fight again with his only rival, Son Goku, dead. Finally, Son Gohan keeps his promise to his mother Chi-Chi and gives up fighting to study and become a scholar.
[edit] Call to arms once again
By the beginning of the Djinn Boo Saga seven years later, the Z Fighters consists of many "next-gen" type of characters. Son Gohan is eighteen and is the primary hero of Earth, both as a Super Saiyan and his alter ego "Great Saiyaman". The Z-Team is not really continued, per se, based on the fact that their opponent Djinn Boo was so powerful, it mainly called upon one single person to fight him. However, considering the fighters in this time period, it can be said that the "New Z Fighters" consists of the following: Son Goku, Son Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, Trunks, Son Goten, Kuririn, Videl, and Android 18.
Also worth noting is that unlike the Android Saga, the Djinn Boo Saga is when Vegeta voluntarily became a "good guy". He fought for his family, and to save the Earth, even sacrificing himself in an attempt to kill Djinn Boo. He also later came up with the idea of Son Goku using a Super Spirit Bomb that defeated Kid Boo at the very end. Ten years following Boo's defeat, Son Goku leaves to train the monster's reincarnate, a young boy named Oob, whom he hopes will become Earth's protector.
[edit] Later years
During Dragon Ball GT, the main fighters for the most part tend to be Son Goku, Trunks and Son Gohan's daughter, Pan. Oob does fight in the first major arc, the Baby Saga. However, the "Z Fighters" (Or "GT Fighters") do come together in the Super 17 Saga. While Son Goku's trapped in Hell, Android 17 kills Kuririn. This forces the hand of the last major, briefly retired fighters from the end of Dragon Ball Z. The following are the fighters who fought against Super 17: Vegeta, Trunks, Son Goten, Son Gohan, and Oob. When the Shadow Dragons appear, Son Goku defeats the majority, only to finally be outmatched by Syn Shenron, who later becomes "Omega" Shenron. Vegeta arrives and with Bulma's help transforms into a Super Saiyan 4 himself, allowing him and Son Goku to fuse into Gogeta. Their fusion eventually wears off, and Son Goku is nearly killed. The final effort of the warrior team is against Omega, in which Vegeta, Son Gohan, Trunks, and Son Goten attempt to fight him, despite all failing miserably. Son Goku eventually returns and kills Omega with a Universal Spirit Bomb. Son Goku later leaves with Shenron, thus ending the team forever.
[edit] Death of the Z Fighters
Main article: The History of Trunks In Future Trunks' Alternate timeline, Future Son Goku died of a deadly heart virus six months before the arrival of the androids. He could not be wished back, since the Dragon cannot revive anyone who died of natural causes. When the androids did arrive, they proceeded to slaughter Future Piccolo, Future Vegeta, Future Tenshinhan, Future Yamcha, Future Kuririn, Future Chiaotzu, and Future Yajirobe in a horrible battle. Future Son Gohan somehow managed to survive, only to be killed thirteen years later. The only surviving fighter was Trunks, who traveled back in time in an attempt, not to change history, (as the manipulation of the past would only cause that timeline to take a different path, creating an alternate, separate future), but to see if Son Goku could help him find a weakness in the Androids; that way, although he could do nothing for those already dead (with Piccolo gone, so were the Dragon Balls), he could still save those who were still alive. After the defeat of Cell, Trunks returned to his own time and was successful In killing both of the androids and Imperfect Cell, thus finally ending the nightmare.
100 years after the Baby Saga, only Pan has survived. The other Z Fighters have died of unknown causes, while two new warriors, Son Goku Jr. and Vegeta Jr., (the great-great grandsons of the original Z-fighters of the same names) now exist.
[edit] Team members
[edit] Primary members
- Son Goku – The main character who is a co-founder of the Z Team. Son Goku is a Saiyan.
- Son Gohan – The eldest son of Son Goku. He is the first Saiyan/Human hybrid.
- Piccolo – A Namekian. Once Son Goku's arch rival, he becomes one of his greatest allies. He co-founded the team with Son Goku.
- Vegeta – The Saiyan Prince. Son Goku's arch rival.
- Trunks – Vegeta's only son. He is a Saiyan/Human hybrid.
- Son Goten – The second and last son of Son Goku, whose appearance closely resembles his father's. He is a Saiyan/Human hybrid.
- Kuririn – A human, he is Son Goku's best friend and former schoolmate. He has the distinction of being the only human to stay on the "team" after the Cell Games, as Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu all retire. He retired in GT.
- Yamcha – A human, once a fearsome desert bandit. Chronologically, he is Son Goku's first fighting ally. Also retired in GT, and one of the first to be in the group.
- Tenshinhan – A human with a third eye who has hit a peak of enlightenment. He is a former assassin and Son Goku's former rival. He also retires in GT, although he continues to train, unlike Kuririn and Yamcha.
- Chiaotzu – A human who excels in psychic abilities. He is Tien's best friend and former schoolmate. His last fight on the team is against Nappa, as Tien says that Chiaotzu "just can't keep up".
- Yajirobe – A human samurai who never really wants to help Son Goku and the rest of the Z Fighters unless there is food involved. Though, he does help the Z Warriors by delivering senzu beans from Karin. He also played a big part in defeating Vegeta by cutting off his tail.
- Oob – A human reincarnation of the enemy Kid Boo, he becomes Son Goku's pupil at the end of the Dragon Ball Z series.
- Future Trunks – The time-traveling version of Trunks from a devastated future. He is a Saiyan/Human hybrid.
- Future Son Gohan – The bleak future version of Son Gohan who is the sole survivor of the original Z Team. He is a Saiyan/Human hybrid.
[edit] Fused members
- Son Gotenks – A warrior made by Son Goten and Trunks through a special technique called The Fusion Dance.
- Vegito – A warrior made by Son Goku and Vegeta when they use two magical earrings called Potara.
- Gogeta – A warrior made by Son Goku and Vegeta through a special technique called The Fusion Dance.
- Tiencha – Though existing hypothetically only, this warrior is made through a fusion between Tenshinhan and Yamcha after they perform the Fusion Dance.
- Majuub – A warrior made by Oob and Djinn Boo fusing permanently to fight Baby.
- Son Gokule – Though existing hypothetically only, this warrior is made through a fusion between Son Goku and Mr. Satan when they use the Potara earrings.
- Nameless Namek – When Piccolo and Kami refuse, their combined power is an enormous asset to the Z-fighter team.
[edit] Other members
- Android 18 – Once an android built only for evil, she marries Kuririn and changes her ways.
- Mr. Boo – Once an evil magical being, Boo changes his ways (thanks to Hercule) and helps Son Goku and Vegeta fight his evil counterpart, Kid Boo.
- Nail – A powerful Namekian warrior who serves the Great Elder, he helps the Z-Fighters by delaying Frieza and fusing with Piccolo.
- Muten-Rôshi – A turtle hermit, he was Son Goku's second official mentor (after Grandpa Gohan). His fights are limited to movies and Dragon Ball.
- Kami – A Namekian, but The Guardian of Earth and creator of the Dragon Balls, his fights are limited to movies and the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai under the guise of Hero. He ultimately fuses with Piccolo during the Cell saga.
- Pikkon – A deceased warrior of an unknown species from the West Quadrant, he helps Son Goku and Vegeta by holding off Janemba and helps Son Goku in the Great Saiyaman saga to stop the villains in Hell.
- Pan – The granddaughter of Son Goku and the latest member of the Z Fighters. She helps defeat all the villains who escape from Hell in Dragon Ball GT and gather the Black Star Dragon Balls. One hundred years later, she likely finds the new generation of Z fighters (Son Goku Jr., Vegeta Jr.).
- Olibu – An incredibly powerful famed human from the North Quadrant who has many legends based on him. He, too, is seen taunting Kid Boo in the final episodes.
[edit] Supporters
- Bulma – The human wife of Vegeta and Son Goku's long time friend, she is a brilliant scientist and is also the daughter of the richest couple in the world.
- Chi-Chi – The human wife of Son Goku and mother of Son Gohan and Son Goten.
- Dr. Brief and Mrs. Brief - Parents of Bulma, and owners of Capsule Corporation.
- Ox-King – Chi-Chi's father, who lives on top of Fire Mountain.
- Namekians – Allied with the Z Fighters on Namek to combat Frieza and his forces.
- Android 17 – Traitorous android who malfunctioned. Was regarded a failure by Gero. He tries to help Piccolo, 16, and 18 fight against Cell before being absorbed. He maintains a solitary life but eventually helps Son Goku later so he can summon energy for the Spirit Bomb against Boo.
- Android 16 – An android who was originally created to destroy Son Goku. After his first battle with Cell, he turns to the side of good and offers to fight alongside the Z-Fighters at the Cell Games.
- Nuova Shenron – One of the seven Shadow Dragons that appears in Dragon Ball GT, and is the dragon of the Four-Star Dragon Ball. He teams up with Son Goku and Vegeta in an attempt to defeat Omega Shenron, by surrounding himself and Omega Shenron in a Nova Sphere.
- Djinn Boo – Befriended Hercule. Betrayed Bobbidi and battled his evil incarnation, Evil Boo, as well as aided in the conflict against Kid Boo. Later assimilated with Oob to form Majuub.
- Karin – An 800 year old cat that lives below Kami's Lookout at the top of Karin Tower. He supplies the Z Fighters with Senzu beans whenever he is able to.
- King Kai – The king of the northern quadrant of the Milky Way galaxy, he teaches Son Goku techniques such as the Kaioken and Spirit Bomb.
- Kibito – Supreme Kai's personal bodyguard. He can heal people and materialize new clothes for them, and eventually fuses with Supreme Kai, creating Kibito Kai.
- Supreme Kai – An even higher division than King Kai, he is the ruler of the south quadrant of the universe. He eventually fuses with his bodyguard Kibito, creating Kibito Kai.
- Kibito Kai – The result of the fusion of Supreme Kai and his bodyguard Kibito. He can use an enhanced version of the Instant Transmission ability called Instantaneous Movement.
- Elder Kai – An ancient ancestor of the Kaioshin who was trapped inside the Z Sword for eons by a powerful enemy. He performs a ritual that awakens Son Gohan's full power.
- Fortuneteller Baba – The human sister of Muten-Rôshi and a median between Other World and Earth.
- Dende – A Namekian with healing powers, he becomes Kami's replacement as Earth's Guardian.
- Mr. Popo – A genie with eternal life, who is The Kami's assistant and also the caretaker and gardener of Kami's Lookout.
- Bora – A Native American man who resides in a tepee at the base of Karin Tower.
- Upa – A young boy who lives with his father Bora in the area around Karin's Tower.
- Lunch – The girl with dissociative identity disorder who was Muten-Rôshi's housemaid.
- Oolong – Son Goku's shapeshifting pig friend.
- Puar – A shapeshifting cat who is Yamcha's best friend.
- Turtle – The Turtle Hermit's tortoise friend.
- Bee – Mr. Satan's and Djinn Boo's pet dog.
- Giru – A small Machine Mutant that appears in Dragon Ball GT. He accompanies Son Goku, Pan and Trunks on their quest to locate the Black Star Dragon Balls after consuming the Dragon Radar for energy, and the radar integrates into his software.
- Bra – Vegeta and Bulma's daughter and second child. (would be a primary member if she trained)
- Marron – Kuririn and Android 18's daughter. (would be a member if she trained)
- World Martial Arts Tournament announcer – The man who hosts every World Martial Arts Tournament, he becomes an acquaintance with the Z Fighters over the years.
- Mr. Satan – The champion of the World Martial Arts Tournament and Videl's father. He is made a member after helping complete the Spirit Bomb by telling all the people to give their energy to Son Goku in order to defeat Kid Boo.
- Videl – The human wife of Son Gohan and daughter of Mr. Satan/Hercule.
- Tarble – The younger Brother of Vegeta.
- Gure – The wife of Tarble and Vegeta's Sister-In-Law.
[edit] Gallery
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| Z Fighters | ||
| Members | Son Goku • Son Gohan • Son Goten • Trunks • Vegeta • Piccolo • Kuririn • Yamcha • Tien • Chiaotzu • Videl • Djinn Boo • Pan • Android 18 • Oob • Yajirobe • Future Son Gohan • Future Trunks | |
| Fused members | Gogeta • Vegito • Son Gotenks • Tiencha • Son Gokule • Hypothetical Fusion of Son Goku and Dende | |
| Supporters & Allies | Android 16 • Android 17 • Bra • Bulma • Chi-Chi • Dende • Elder Kai • Fortuneteller Baba • Giru • Gure • Kami • Kibito Kai • King Kai • Karin • Lunch • Marron • Muten-Rôshi • Mr. Popo • Mr. Satan • Nail • Nuova Shenron • Olibu • Oolong • Ox-King • Pikkon • Puar • Tapion • Tarble • Turtle | |
| Related articles | Kame House • Kami's Lookout • Capsule Corporation • Turtle School • Dragon Ball Gang • Frieza • Cell • Androids | |
