The Hidden Clue: Dragon Ball GT's Foreshadowing of Goku's Ultimate Successor!

From the beginning of Dragon Ball Super, many fans of the series have overlooked certain aspects established in the original sequel, Dragon Ball GT. One of these overlooked elements is Goku's true successor, who is now set to play a prominent role in the DBS manga. Goku has always been the main protagonist of Dragon Ball, starting from the very first chapter. We are introduced to Goku as a young child, wandering alone in the woods, ready for adventure. And true enough, adventure finds him when he meets Bulma, a teenage girl who invites him on a journey around the world in search of wish-granting Dragon Balls.

In the initial run of the series, Goku is portrayed as an unbeatable hero, easily taking down crime syndicates, toppling oppressive regimes, and even defeating a demonic overlord. However, it is not until Dragon Ball Z that Goku faces truly powerful foes, pushing him to his limits like never before. This installment also introduces more intriguing fighters who not only challenge Goku physically, but also question his role as the main character. Among these fighters, one stands out as Goku's apparent successor, although this revelation only occurs in Dragon Ball GT.

Trunks is Actually Goku's Successor in Dragon Ball GT

In Dragon Ball GT season 1, episode 7, Pan, Goku, and Trunks find themselves on an alien planet in search of the Black Star Dragon Balls. The villagers on this planet inform the Z-Fighters that they are being terrorized by Zoonama, a villain with the ability to create earthquakes using his whiskers. Zoonama forces the villagers to obey him, even demanding a bride. To defeat Zoonama, Trunks disguises himself as the chosen bride and outsmarts the villain, providing the Z-Fighters with the advantage needed for victory.

Interestingly, this plot line mirrors a previous story in the Dragon Ball canon where Goku, not Trunks, dressed as a bride to defeat a shape-shifting villain named Oolong. In that chapter by Akira Toriyama, Goku's success in this mission marked one of his earliest endeavors. Trunks following in Goku's footsteps suggests that he is destined to become the central protagonist of Dragon Ball moving forward, a notion supported by the current plans for the future of Dragon Ball Super.

Dragon Ball Super's upcoming manga saga will shift the spotlight from Goku and Vegeta to Goten and Trunks. This significant change marks the first time that Goku will not be the central figure in an ongoing storyline, paving the way for Trunks to take on the role of the series' new protagonist. While Goten will also have a share of prominence, it is evident that Trunks will be the primary focus due to his more developed character across the franchise. This includes his involvement in the Future Trunks sagas in both Dragon Ball Z and Super, as well as his prominent role in Dragon Ball GT. Trunks is already a well-known figure in the Dragon Ball universe, and his portrayal in Dragon Ball GT further solidifies him as Goku's true successor, establishing his status long before the advent of Dragon Ball Super.