When we first meet Gohan in the opening moments of Dragon Ball Z, he's a sheltered, bookish, shy four year old. Throughout his adventures, he blossoms into a brave warrior with unparalleled potential. That potential hangs over his head throughout Dragon Ball Z, and we get a few glimpses of that power in the Cell and Buu Sagas.

Gohan is really an interesting character, who's actually something of a puzzle to both Goku and Vegeta, the only two pure-blooded Saiyans alive to see him grow. He is born with unlimited potential... even as a young child, he occasionally displays impossible bursts of raw energy that throw any enemy into confusion. And yet, despite the boundless power running in his Saiyan blood, he can't bring himself to be a true warrior. He rejects the song of war in favor of his benign Human blood.

Gohan's power is at first unleashed completely by instinct, and Gohan can't even recall using that power. As an infant, he tore through a mighty tree like tissue paper, walloped Garlic Junior (provided you count the movie "Deadzone" in DBZ continuity), and managed to pummel Radditz with a blow that changed the tide of the battle. It was only after a year of brutal training under Piccolo that Gohan began to understand his power, and use it consciously. But despite all that training, his true might could only be released when he was absolutely furious- not at will.

Gohan spent his youth fighting for his very life. At four, he was harshly pulled away from the protected educational environment his mother created for him, and tossed into a world of life-or-death confrontations. And he spent his tender years on the battlefield, facing Radditz, Vegeta, Frieza, Garlic Junior, and Cell. And it was in the battle against Cell, when his father put total faith in his abilities, that Gohan finally surpassed everyone else.

But after Cell came seven years of peace, and this is when viewers finally got to see the real Gohan. The Gohan that was free to do as he pleased, without the fear of impending doom looming over his head. And it was during these seven years that Gohan blossomed into a straight-A student. He had let his powers atrophy, for he found books more diverting than punching bags.

Still, he is always prepared to return to the battlefield, when duty calls. After his seven-year "retirement," Gohan is eager to help the Z-Senshi face Majin Buu. And in Dragon Ball GT, even after he became a husband, father, and scholar, he still heeded the call to battle.