Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was highly anticipated as Gohan’s return to the forefront of the Dragon Ball franchise. After years of being sidelined, fans were eager to see the character reclaim his place as one of the most powerful fighters in the universe. The movie was marketed as Gohan’s big moment and provided an eye-catching new form for him, but also a chance to take center stage as he did during the Cell Games arc.

However, while Gohan took up the spotlight in the trailers, the movie told a different story. Gohan has his moments in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, but it’s clear that the film belongs to Piccolo rather than Gohan. This shift reflects Akira Toriyama’s ission that he didn’t find Gohan compelling enough to cast him as a lead in the series, which was why he brought Goku back after the Cell Saga. The movie focuses on Piccolo more than Gohan, reinforcing the idea that Toriyama’s instincts were right, and Gohan thrives more as a ing character rather than a lead.

Gohan’s Super Hero Comeback Lacked Impact

He Had Moments to Shine, But the Movie Did Not Belong to Him

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was heavily marketed as Gohan’s long-awaited return as the character with the greatest potential in the series, and in many ways, the movie delivers on that promise. Gohan achieves a powerful new form called Gohan Beast and has a fair amount of screen time. The buildup around his character seemed to position him as reclaiming his status as one of Dragon Ball’s main players.

Yet, as the film progressed, it became clear that Gohan’s role wasn’t quite as impactful as the trailers made it seem. While he steps in during key moments, and his transformation is impressive, the narrative drive of the movie belongs to Piccolo. In the end, his character takes on more of a ing role to Piccolo, proving the idea that Gohan can’t take the spotlight in the same way Goku or Piccolo can.

Piccolo Steals the Spotlight in Gohan's Supposed Movie

Piccolo is the True Star of the Dragon Ball Super Movie

From the beginning of the film, Piccolo is the one who drives the plot forward as he uncovers the Red Ribbon Army’s latest scheme and turns it into an opportunity to push Gohan to step up. As the movie progressed, it was Piccolo that underwent the most significant development, earning a new transformation and playing a central role in the battles. In Super Hero, it is Piccolo who takes on a leadership role and tackles the burden of putting a stop to the Red Ribbon Army.

Gohan may have had his moments in the spotlight, but Piccolo also received a new transformation, Orange Piccolo, which forced Gohan’s Beast form to share the limelight, dulling its impact. Throughout the movie, Piccolo is the one who is shown to uncover all the dangers, infiltrate the Red Ribbon Army, and take steps that ultimately lead to its downfall. Gohan may have been important to the movie, but compared to Piccolo, he felt secondary.

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Proves Gohan Isn’t Suited For Lead Roles

Gohan Shines Best as a ing Character

By all s, it seemed like Super Hero would be Gohan’s movie and provide him a moment to shine. Instead, it proved that Gohan’s true strengths emerge when he takes on the role of a ing character. A clear example of this is in the Buu Saga, where Gohan trains and tries to become powerful enough to take down Buu. However, the narrative still shifts back to Goku when it’s time to save the world. While Gohan was crucial, he was not relied upon to carry the story.

This is seen in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero as his character fits best when he is complementing others, in this case, Piccolo. While Gohan’s bond with Piccolo and Pan are driving factors in the movie, it is still Piccolo’s leadership that takes center stage and Gohan fits perfectly into Piccolo’s story arc. Their dynamic shows that Gohan’s potential comes more organically when he is paired with other powerful characters. Even while Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was supposed to be Gohan’s big movie, it’s clear that he was secondary to Piccolo.