Gohan - “Son Gohan”
Goku and Chi Chi’s first son, named after Goku’s adoptive grandfather Gohan. The name Gohan means rice, which is of course one of Goku’s favorite things (food). Gohan was born in the year 757 AD, and at the start of DBZ, he is 4 years old (contrary to the dub version, which says he is 5). Gohan is raised mainly by his mother during the first four years of his life, and she tutors him in hopes that he would be a great scholar one day. In early DBZ, Gohan is put through events that would traumatize any little kid. In one day, he’s kidnapped by his uncle Radditz, and watches as a furious battle ensues between Goku, Piccolo and Radditz. When things look grim for Goku as Radditz proves his superiority in power, Gohan’s anger explodes and he manages to seriously injure Radditz, which neither Goku nor Piccolo had been able to do. After Goku’s death, Piccolo leaves Gohan in the wilderness to survive on his own for six months to become stronger so that he can stand up to the approaching Saiyans. Gohan is forced to grow up quickly, and by the age of 5 he’s battling to save the Earth. He becomes attached to Piccolo, his teacher, and idolizes him. Gohan is different from all other characters in the first half of DBZ, because he is the only half-human, half-Saiyan. When his Saiyan power becomes mixed with his human emotions, he is able to summon an unbelievable amount of power. This power is released when Gohan becomes extremely angry, and he calls upon his Saiyan rage when battling Radditz, Nappa, Vegeta, the Ginyu Force, Frieza, and Cell. Gohan is the first Saiyan to achieve Super Saiyan 2, which he reaches because he is provoked by Cell repeatedly in order to tap into his power. Finally, when Cell destroys Android 16 and steps on his head, the act becomes a trigger that releases Gohan’s immense Saiyan rage and he goes Super Saiyan 2. With a broken arm, Gohan kills Cell using a one-handed Kamehameha. In the early Buu Saga (Saiyaman Saga), Gohan becomes the main character and the story revolves around him as he goes through high school, and later fights crime and becomes a sort of superhero complete with costume and mask, known as The Great Saiyaman. Gohan is the only Saiyan to become Mystic, which is a special ability granted by Revered Kaioshin that allows Gohan access to his highest power level without having to go Super Saiyan at all. Gohan meets Videl in high school, who suspects that something is fishy about the Great Saiyaman. They become good friends after she catches him in costume without the mask, and he teaches her how to fly. They fall in love, and at the end of DBZ, they have a daughter named Pan. Akira Toriyama originally wanted Gohan to become the main character of the series, but the fans wanted Goku back, so Toriyama drifted away from Gohan to focus more on his father again. After the Buu Saga, Gohan gives up fighting and finally achieves his mother’s dream for him to become a scholar. Throughout GT, he fights from time to time, but he generally remains a glasses-wearing nerd.
