Most Mysterious Characters in Dragon Ball

Key Takeaways

Mysterious characters like Master Karin and Demon King Dabura have intriguing origins and hidden agendas.
Characters like Launch and Chiaotzu remain enigmatic with unknown pasts and species, adding to the series’ charm.
Characters like Pikkon and The Grand Minister hold dark secrets and potentially sinister roles in the Dragon Ball universe.

It seems we have a veritable cast of enigmatic characters in the expansive world of Dragon Ball! Each with their own air of mystery, they keep viewers guessing and theorizing for years.

The Dragon Ball universe is filled with unique and vibrant characters, dreamt up by Akira Toriyama (and later Toyotarō), and while most of them are well-known, there are some whose backstories remain shrouded in mystery, leaving their origins and motivations within the series somewhat unclear.

It’s possible that certain characters remain enigmatic, with their backgrounds shrouded in mystery. From Goku’s enigmatic (and peculiar) master to the entity observing all creation across the universe, these beings could be the creator’s alter ego or possess qualities beyond our wildest conspiracy theories.

8 Master Karin

One Of Toriyama’s Most Mysterious And Cunning Characters

Most Mysterious Characters in Dragon Ball

Original Name: Karin – Neko Sennin
First Appearance: Dragon Ball Manga #88 Sage of Korin Tower
Age: 800 or more

From the outside, one might merely perceive Master Karin as a large, chatty cat. But for those deeply immersed in the world of Dragon Ball, he transcends such a simple description. He’s not just a mentor to Goku (and other Z Warriors), but also a sage, a mystery wrapped in a furry package. The only character in the Dragon Ball universe who can cultivate Sensu Beans – what is this enigmatic feline with uncharted abilities, advanced age, and elusive origins?

The truth is the creator of this beloved franchise was an animal lover, and he had many pets. Karim’s design was inspired by Toriyama’s cat, and his fur in the Manga was originally blue, but was changed to white to represent purity, and the wisdom that comes with age. The thing is, Karin (or Korin) is a Senbyō, a Spiritual Cat Deity that rules over fortune, wisdom, and prosperity. He has seen the ages and has trained many warriors including Roshi, and allegedly, Goku’s Grandfather: Son Gohan.

7 Grandpa Gohan

Little Is Known About The Man Who Raised Goku

Original Name: Son Gohan
First Appearance: Dragon Bal Manga #103 The Power of Goku
Age: 100 or more

In my gaming world, I was the one who nurtured a wild, untamed creature, transforming it into Earth’s guardian. That’s right, I’m talking about Son Gohan, the one who shaped Goku from an evil Saiyan into a kind-hearted, yet innocent young warrior. Without Gohan’s guidance, the Dragon Ball universe as we know it might never have come to be, shaping an entire generation of heroes in the Shonen realm.

As Goku describes himself, he exhibits kindness, patience, and occasionally has a witty sense of humor. According to Roshi’s account, this man was an incredibly powerful warrior, capable of flattening a mountain with a single stomp. Not much is known about his past, but what is certain is that he possessed immense strength. He demonstrated this power by preventing a rampaging giant ape (at the cost of his own life), and even managed to subdue Goku before any further destruction occurred – a feat that clearly requires extraordinary might.

6 Chiaotzu

Is He A Man? Is He A Demon? Or Is He Something Else?

Original Name: Chaozu
First Appearance: Dragon Ball Manga #113 Return to the Tournament
Age: Around 50.

Toriyama’s affection for peculiarity and alien fiction has spawned a multitude of intriguing characters, some being human, some not, but all inhabiting Earth. This world seems quite unusual, teeming with various species, hybrids, robots, Saiyans, demons, dinosaurs, dragons, and more. Yet, one wonders about the true nature of Chiaotzu, while Oolong is undeniably an anthropomorphic creature, much like many others in this series.

Ten Shin Han’s closest companion and fellow student under Master Shen, doesn’t fit into any known species originating from the vibrant universe created by Toriyama. In essence, he appears to be unique in his kind. So then, who is he? What is his origin? And perhaps most intriguingly: how old is he? Some speculate 50, others suggest older. The truth remains elusive.

5 Launch

Came Out Of Nowhere, And Disappeared Out Of The Blue

Original Name: Lunch (Lunchi)
First Appearance: Dragon Ball Manga #26 Who’s That Girl?
Age: (18) – 26+.

In the Dragon Ball series, the arrival of Launch is just as enigmatic as her vanishing during the Dragon Ball Z’s storyline in the middle arc. She first appeared when Goku and Krillin were assigned an unusual mission: to abduct a woman to aid Master Roshi with his household duties. It turned out she was being pursued by the police due to a bank robbery, but the pair soon discovered she had an odd condition – she would change between good and evil personalities upon sneezing.

In simpler terms, one of Toriyama’s unique Jekyll/Hyde characters found her way into the Dragon Ball universe. Both personas of this girl gained popularity, but suddenly, she developed feelings for Tien Shin Han and that was the end of her storyline. Other underdeveloped characters also faded into obscurity at this time. Some believe this was due to criticism, as the mid-90s saw an increase in political groups criticizing anime. However, the fate of Launch following this is still a mystery, something that Akira Toriyama has kept to himself.

4 Pikkon

Another Of Goku’s Non-Earthling Friends

Original Name: Paikuhan
First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z (Anime) Episode 95 – Warriors of the Dead
Age: Unknown

In simpler terms, Pikkon is often considered an updated version of Piccolo by some, or a character introduced briefly who befriended Goku before disappearing again. During the tournament-like conflict on the Kai Worlds where followers of various Kais clashed, Goku encountered this warrior from another galaxy. Naturally, after an intense fight, they ended up as friends.

As a warrior, Pikkon exhibits a calm demeanor and is less grumpy than Piccolo. However, their striking similarities made it impossible for another green alien to coexist on Earth peacefully. Since there can only be one such character, Goku and Pikkon went their separate ways. Later, this enigmatic figure reappeared during Super Buu’s rampage, narrowly escaping destruction along with Kai Planet.

3 Demon King Dabura

An Evil Ruler From Another World

Original Name: Dabra
First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z (Manga) #446 The Dark Mage Bobiddi
Age: More than a millennium, at least

There isn’t much information about this Demon King, who was once a cruel despot before being controlled by Babidi’s mind spell. He now serves as the wicked sorcerer’s pawn and second-in-command. Due to Toriyama’s extensive fascination with demons from various realms and dimensions, it remains unclear where he originally hails from.

Thanks to Panzy, the princess from Dragon Ball Daima’s, viewers may have gained some insights about the enigmatic character known as Dabura. According to her portrayal, Dabura was a formidable ruler in the demonic realms, though not quite as malevolent as other antagonists within the series. Unfortunately, the circumstances that led to his rule over his own world remain shrouded in mystery.

2 The Grand Minister

An Angel? Or Something Way More Evil?

Original Name: Dai Shinkan
First Appearance: Dragon Ball Super – Episode 55
Age: Unknown.

Even a simple gaze from this perma-smirky guy can twist the guts of Beerus, the God of Destruction. So, what’s worse than a creature that deletes planets for a living? The father of all angels, according to lore, but some things about The Grand Minister (Or Supreme Priest) are not quite right for a being that is theoretically aligned with the “good side.”

For instance, his attitude is less than subservient to the King of All (Xeno Sama) and it is often showcased with a dark line between the eyes. Typical Manga villain, some might think, but what if its even worse than we can imagine? Remember Zamasu? So, what if this guy is actually the Puppeteer, and Zeno Sama is the perfect (and most powerful) of pawns in a big, cosmic, chess game? This guy sure hides something terrible, and perhaps it will take years for it to be finally revealed.

1 Zeno Sama

Some Say It’s Toyotaro’s Self Insert, Others Have a More Sinister Theory

Original Name: Zen-Oh
First Appearance: Dragon Ball Super – Episode 40
Age: Unknown.

Let’s reconsider who exactly Zeno Sama, the Supreme Ruler and Creator deity, is within the Dragon Ball universe. It’s been speculated that fans, given Toriyama’s tendency to incorporate himself into his works through characters like Tori-Bot, have proposed an intriguing theory: Could it be that Zeno Sama is actually Toyotaro, the current author of the Dragon Ball Universe? This idea seems plausible when you consider it.

Reflecting on Zeno’s design, those two striking purple lines framing a tiny, blue visage certainly bring back memories of Bulma’s ingenious inventions, like the Capsules from the classic Dragon Ball series. A closer examination might suggest that this isn’t just Zeno Sama’s physical form, but rather a carefully crafted facade concealing a much more formidable being. Perhaps it’s some sort of creature that the Grand Minister has kept in check, contained within a device to maintain control and harness its immense power at his discretion.

2024-11-18 03:44