Dragon Ball Super is renowned for introducing a plethora of new concepts that tie back to the original franchise. The recent addition of Cell Max is a clear testament to this. He serves as a callback to Cell's second form, a highly iconic villain in the series, with the only differences being color variations and a more mindless approach. While Cell Max is directly inspired by a previous antagonist, it remains to be seen if he could potentially reach the level of perfection as the original. This complexity is important for fans to consider when analyzing this character in Dragon Ball Super.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Dragon Ball Super series.
Explaining if Cell Max can become perfect in Dragon Ball Super
The simple answer for Dragon Ball Super fans and anyone curious about this topic is that Cell Max cannot achieve perfection. This being was designed from the start to be the way he is portrayed in the manga and the Super Hero movie. This may be a reflection of how people initially perceived the character.
Cell Max is clearly a nod to one of the franchise's most iconic villains, drawing direct inspiration from the second form of said villain's design. While many fans may believe that Cell Max could achieve perfection, it's important to note that, despite their similarities, they are not identical.
Cell Max is not simply a carbon copy of Cell; while they share similarities, Cell Max does not possess the initial lizard-like form of Cell, nor can he achieve a perfect form. This is due to the original Cell being designed to reach perfection by absorbing Android 17 and 18, a concept that has not been established for the Cell Max variation in either the manga or the movies.
The validity of Cell Max as a villain in Dragon Ball Super
Many fans of Dragon Ball Super have expressed disappointment with the inclusion of Cell Max, feeling that he is a shallow attempt to evoke nostalgia. This sentiment is particularly strong due to the way he was portrayed in the film during his fight with Son Gohan. The conflict closely mirrored Gohan's iconic battle with the original Cell, which divided opinions among fans at the time of the movie's release.
Although the film aimed to bring Gohan and Piccolo back into the spotlight, the execution fell short for many fans. Cell Max was criticized for lacking the depth and charm that made the original Cell one of the best villains in the Dragon Ball franchise.
Final thoughts
To put it simply, Cell Max is unable to reach perfection because it was never intended for him to attain that state. Thus, this form of the creature is final, and there is no indication, in either the movie or the manga, that he can progress beyond it.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Cell Max's introduction in Dragon Ball Super. On the one hand, I appreciate the callback to the original Cell, who was a truly iconic villain. The design of Cell Max is visually striking, and the fight scenes involving him are exciting and well-animated. However, I can't help but feel that Cell Max lacks the depth and complexity of the original Cell. He is essentially a mindless brute, and his motivations are not as well-developed as those of other villains in the series.
Overall, I think Cell Max is a fun addition to Dragon Ball Super, but he doesn't quite live up to the legacy of the original Cell. I would have liked to see more character development and exploration of his motivations. Despite these criticisms, I still enjoyed the movie and the role that Cell Max played in the story.