Any series that accrues Dragon Ball’s level of notoriety is bound to fuel rumors that can take on lives of their own. This had an even higher likelihood of happening during a simpler time in the ‘90s when everyone wasn’t chronically online. Dragon Ball AF initially started as an elaborate April Fool’s prank, but it eventually became a real story – to some extent – when a young Toyotarou (under the pseudonym, Toyble) turned it into an actual fan doujinshi.
Toyotarou/Toyble built upon this infamous fake Dragon Ball AF image, but also introduced plenty of original ideas that teased his early skills as a storyteller and devoted Dragon Ball fan. Ironically, Toyotarou stopped writing Dragon Ball AF when he was offered a job working on an official Dragon Ball manga – Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission – but his old doujinshi stories have taken on a real cult status. As Toyotarou prepares to shepherd Dragon Ball Super’s manga forward without Toriyama’s help, one can’t help but wonder if some of Dragon Ball AF’s ideas could resurface in Dragon Ball Super.
10 Super Saiyan 5 Enters The Mix
Goku Reaches New Saiyan Heights Through His Dedicated Training
Toyotarou/Toyble’s Dragon Ball AF doesn’t undo Dragon Ball GT’s ending, which means that both Goku and the Dragon Balls have been taken out of the equation. Goku may no longer be on Earth and he now exists in a nebulous Sealed World, but that doesn’t mean that he’s going to let his skills lapse. Arduous training on Goku’s part highlights that he’s ascended to Super Saiyan 5 status in the interim period between Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball AF.
It later comes to light that Dragon Ball AF’s central villain, Zaiko, can also reach this momentous milestone. Super Saiyan 5 has a very outlandish and bold design that looks like a wilder hybrid between Super Saiyan 4 and Super Saiyan 3. Dragon Ball Super certainly isn’t lacking when it comes to transformations and it’s yet to even make Super Saiyan 4 canon. Nevertheless, there’s a striking quality to Dragon Ball AF’s Super Saiyan 5 form that could work its way into Dragon Ball Super, perhaps with Broly.
9 Frieza Is Revealed To Be Part Glind
Dragon Ball AF’s Main Story Involves A Villainous, Vengeful Supreme Kai
Supreme Kais have always been revered figures in the Dragon Ball universe, but the franchise has gradually gotten audiences comfortable with the idea of corrupt Supreme Kai who abuse their powers, whether it’s Universe 10’s Zamasu or Dragon Ball DAIMA’s Degesu and Dr. Arinsu. Dragon Ball AF also turns to the wicked Supreme Kai concept, which in its case reveals that the West Supreme Kai actually survived her previous encounter with Buu. The West Supreme Kai has been pulling the strings for some time when it comes to her efforts to create the ultimate warrior.
Dragon Ball AF revealed that the West Supreme Kai met King Cold and that their union is responsible for Frieza’s creation. Frieza was designed to be the West Supreme Kai’s divine tool of destruction, but she sought out a superior fighter upon Frieza’s defeat on Namek. This all indicates that Frieza is actually part Glind. This would be a bombshell revelation for Dragon Ball Super to drop as it heads deeper into its examination of Black Frieza. In fact, divine DNA would make Black Frieza’s attack on Zeno and his desire to become the multiverse’s God Emperor even more plausible. He’d believe that it’s his birthright, on some level.
8 Goten & Uub Become A Crime-Fighting Duo
Goten Carries On His Family’s Great Saiyaman Legacy
Gohan’s Great Saiyaman superhero alter ego is one of Dragon Ball Z’s more playful developments. Dragon Ball AF keeps this idea alive when it reveals that teen Goten helps keep the peace as the Great Saiyaman 3. The fact that he’s the third iteration of this street-level hero means that Videl’s Great Saiyaman 2 persona is also proper canon here. Dragon Ball Super has actually made this idea a reality, more or less, with Goten and Trunks’ Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 alter egos.
However, one extra detail that Dragon Ball AF adds to the equation is that Majuub also helps fight crime in his Papayaman costume from the World Tournament. Any extra material for Uub is always appreciated and this is something that Dragon Ball Super could feature without breaking the timeline’s established continuity with Uub. The luxury of Uub disguised in a costume means that he can appear in a context where Goku and company won’t recognize him later.
7 Tien & Yamcha Gain New Worth Through Fusion
Tiencha Becomes A Reality
It’s not easy to be a human in Dragon Ball and many of these more grounded characters have been pushed into the background as ancillary characters because they just can’t compete with the ever-evolving Saiyan strength. Characters like Tien and Krillin continue to contribute where they can, but it’s clear that they’ll always be reinforcements and never leading the charge in battle. Dragon Ball AF curiously cribs an idea from the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 video game, which features an original fusion between Tien and Yamcha – Tiencha.
Dragon Ball AF indicates that Tien and Yamcha must have turned to this tactic following Dragon Ball GT’s conclusion and decided that they’re better off in this fused state. Many fans have supported fusion as a viable way for Dragon Ball’s neglected characters to become relevant again. Toyotarou owes it to these characters to try to legitimize Tiencha after all these years.
6 Cooler Is Considered To Be Proper Canon
Dragon Ball AF Includes Cooler In Frieza’s Family Tree
Dragon Ball fans were elated when Dragon Ball Super: Broly took one of Dragon Ball Z’s most popular non-canon characters and officially incorporated him into the series. Broly’s success in this capacity quickly had audiences hopeful that Cooler, Frieza’s older brother, would also receive the canonical reboot treatment. Cooler has yet to become canon, but this is a bridge that Dragon Ball AF was willing to cross.
Dragon Ball AF understands Cooler’s appeal and potential, so he’s present in many of the scenes that feature Frieza and King Cold. Frieza is due to re-enter the spotlight in Dragon Ball Super after his Black Frieza transformation. This is the perfect time to make Cooler canon, whether as an ally to Black Frieza or someone who is willing to provide the heroes crucial intel that will insure Frieza’s defeat.
5 Kibito Kai Self-Destructs To Kill West Supreme Kai
A Tragic Sacrifice Helps Emphasize The Dire Stakes At Hand
Dragon Ball clearly has a lot of love for Shin, Universe 7’s Supreme Kai, and Kibito, his attendant. They both have prominent roles in Dragon Ball DAIMA, which once again takes the opportunity to separate Kibito Kai’s Potara Earring fusion and to celebrate these two as unique individuals. The two stay fused together in Dragon Ball GT, which means that this is also how they are in Dragon Ball AF. Kibito Kai is concerned about the West Supreme Kai’s incredible powers and what else she’ll be able to make possible for Zaiko. In a surprise attack, Kibito Kai self-destructs and takes out West Supreme Kai in the process.
Plenty of Dragon Ball characters have sacrificed themselves during the height of battle, both successfully and unsuccessfully, but it’d hit a lot harder to see Shin or Kibito stoop to such extreme measures. A gesture of this magnitude would really resonate in Dragon Ball Super, especially since Shin’s death would also mean the end of Beerus. The two characters’ Life Link could become a crucial plot point as Shin resigns himself to make this impossible decision.
4 Pikkon Is Canon & Goku's Sealed World Training Partner
One Of Dragon Ball Z’s Best Non-Canon Characters Gets Their Due
Dragon Ball GT concludes in a heartwarming manner, but it’s a bittersweet conclusion since Omega Shenron’s defeat is quickly followed by Goku’s own farewell. Dragon Ball GT doesn’t get lost in extraneous exposition, but it explains that both Goku and the Dragon Balls are leaving the world behind. Dragon Ball AF reveals that Goku’s fate is a mysterious Sealed World. Thankfully, Goku isn’t alone here and he’s continued to train with the West Galaxy’s Pikkon, which is what helped him reach Super Saiyan 5 status.
Pikkon’s incorporation in Dragon Ball AF is appreciated since he’s not included in Dragon Ball GT, which happens to spend a good deal of time in Other World. Dragon Ball Super fans wanted Goku to recruit Pikkon for the Tournament of Power so that he could finally become canon. Dragon Ball Super would be smart to follow Dragon Ball AF’s example on this front.
3 Gohan Has An Evil Estranged Brother
Dragon Ball AF’s Main Villain Is An Evil Interloper To Goku’s Family
Dragon Ball loves the idea of an evil double, which has been explored in many different capacities, with the most recent example being Dragon Ball Super’s Duplicate Vegeta and Goku Black. Dragon Ball AF scratches the surface of something quite interesting when it ostensibly puts Gohan in the same position that Goku was in when he first met Raditz at Dragon Ball Z’s start. Gohan leaves that Zaiko – also known as Xicor – is actually his estranged half-brother and Goku’s son.
Goku apparently had some of his genetic material obtained during his time on Yardrat, which the West Supreme Kai was able to manipulate into making the ultimate warrior that she’s been looking for. Zaiko proves to have just as much potential as Goku and he’s the only other character to reach Super Saiyan 5 status. All the details around Zaiko wouldn’t necessarily be appropriate in Dragon Ball Super. However, a villain who has emotional ties and a deeper connection to Gohan would be incredibly rewarding.
2 Tapion & Minotia Are Staples Of Sacred World Of The Kai
Dragon Ball AF Further Breaks Down Barriers With DBZ’s Movies
Dragon Ball Z’s Sacred World of the Kai basically replaces King Kai’s Planet as the Gods’ central hangout spot until Beerus’ Planet comes along in Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball Z makes Shin, Kibito, and Old Kai staples of the Sacred World of the Kai, while Dragon Ball GT adds a playful father-and-son space lemur duo, Sugoro and Shusugoro. Dragon Ball AF keeps this core group of characters around, but it also adds Tapion and Minotia, Konatsians from Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon.
Tapion was an incredibly popular character who fans have wanted to see more of, especially since he’s a fellow hero who is still out there in the galaxy. Dragon Ball AF’s decision to return to these characters and turn them into Supreme Kai cohorts makes a lot of sense. More powerful and unique extraterrestrial allies are never a bad thing for Dragon Ball’s heroes.
1 Gohan Regains His Tail & Attains Super Saiyan 4 Status
Trunks Also Surpasses His Super Saiyan Limits
One of the most frustrating elements in Dragon Ball GT is that powerful Saiyans like Gohan, Goten, and Trunks don’t unlock any new transformations. This largely hasn’t been rectified in Dragon Ball Super, barring Gohan’s Beast mode transformation, which is still a relatively recent development in the franchise’s timeline. Dragon Ball AF isn’t afraid to push these neglected characters to new places. There’s a thrilling moment when Gohan attempts to intimidate Zaiko where he suddenly sprouts a tail and transforms into a Super Saiyan 4.
The return of Gohan’s tail, plus rewarding him with this powerful transformation, helps make him relevant again. The same is true with Trunks, who has risen to Super Saiyan 3 status by the time that Dragon Ball AF begins. New Super Saiyan transformations for Trunks in Dragon Ball Super are long overdue at this point, but it’d also be rewarding if the series found a way to bring back tails, even if Gohan doesn’t become Super Saiyan 4 as a result.
