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WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS forDragon Ball DAIMA.
Dragon Ball Daimasurprised the community in many ways, but the biggest surprise forDragon Ballfans was surelyGoku’s Super Saiyan 4. WhenDaimapremiered last year, no one really imagined that the original anime series would one day make Super Saiyan 4 canon to the mainDragon Balltimeline.
Witnessing Goku’s SSJ4 inDaimahas surely been a treat for fans, but this latest transformation has sparked a series of questions among fans. And, well, the biggest question of all is: If Goku tapped into SSJ4 after the events ofDragon Ball Z, why didn’t he use it in theSuperseries? Of course, everyone thought that the final episode of the anime series would answer this very question for fans. However, even though the finale was everything that we expected in terms of animation and the fight, it didn’t clarify anything about Super Saiyan 4. Instead,DaimamadeDragon Ballcontinuity rather confusing by giving us a bizarre explanation for Goku’s SSJ4.
Goku Trained For Super Saiyan 4 After Defeating Majin Buu
No, It Wasn’t Neva Who Gave Goku This Transformation
Goku transforms into Super Saiyan 4 for the first time when he is in theDemon Realm. At first, everyone thought that it was Neva’s magic that gave Goku this incredible transformation. However, the final episode made it clear Goku trained for SSJ4 beforeDaima, and Nevaonly helpedGoku transform into SSJ4 bysending an energy surge into the Saiyan’s body. That is precisely why, aftergetting back into adulthood, Goku unlocks SSJ4 without any help from Neva.
SSJ4 Goku gives a tough fight to Gomah, and the power of theEvil Third Eyeproves ineffective against the new transformation. Ultimately,Goku unleashes the most iconic Kamehameha that not only pierces a hole in Gomah’s stomach but also breaks the barriers between the three Demon worlds. It was a great fight and surely a treat for every Dragon Ballfan. However, the community was looking for more than just great animation. The loyal fans ofDragon Ballwanted some answers about Super Saiyan 4.
Don’t underestimate us now that we are back to normal - Vegeta to Gomah.
One possible explanation for this phenomenon could have been that Goku was able to unlock this new transformation by using the Demon Realm’s different and harsh atmospheric conditions. So, SSJ4 could have beenGoku’s"Majin" or demonic form, which he could only access in the Demon Realm. Perhaps Goku tried transforming into SSJ4 once he got out of the Demon Realm and realized that he couldn’t access it on Earth or in any other atmosphere except for the Demon Realm.
If not the atmosphere, then the creators could have used Neva to explain why Goku didn’t use this transformation inDragon Ball Super. The idea of Neva putting a binding spell on Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 transformation was totally conceivable. The legendary Namekian was responsible for a lot of things within the Demon Realm, including thecreation of Tamagamiand the Dragon Balls. More than that, he’s a secretive and mischievous individual who doesn’t reveal his motives to anyone. So,he was capable enough to put a simple binding spell on SSJ4, preventing the Saiyan from ever using that form or binding it only to the Demon Realm.
However, instead of using any of the above explanations, Daima decided to give us a rather bizarre reason for Goku’s latest transformation. In the final episode,Goku reveals to Vegeta that he was training for SSJ4 after defeating Majin Buu. He realized that Buu was incredibly strong and there could be more powerful enemies out there, so he wanted to be prepared. He wasn’t sure if the transformation could work, but fortunately, he was able to unlock it during his fight with Gomah. This explanation doesn’t clear any confusion for fans; instead, it brings us back to the same question: why didn’t Goku use SSJ4 inDragon Ball Superif he tapped into it years ago during the events inDaima? What does this mean forDragon Ballcontinuity, and isDaimareally canon toSuper? Well, we may still get an answer to this question ifDragon Ball Daimareturns with a second season.
Dragon Ball DaimaShould Get A Second Season
Maybe Season 2 Could Answer This Burning Question
Toei Animation didn’t officially announce Season 2 ofDaima,but the door is definitely open for a second season. The Demon Realm is vast, and the Saiyans haven’t explored half of it. There could be more powerful enemies in the Demon world, and maybe someone will force Goku and Vegeta to return to the world of Majins. If that happens, the creators will have more opportunities to connectDaima’s story toDragon Ball Supereffectively.
Season 2 CouldStillExplore The ‘Memory Wipe’ Option
Apart from the Binding spell or atmospheric restrictions, thememory wipe is another plausible explanation for why Goku never used Super Saiyan 4 afterDaima.Of course, Season 1 ofDaimadidn’t use this explanation in Season 1. However, this idea may still exist on the table if, of course, the series returns with more seasons.
Neva was clearly surprised to see the powers of Goku and Vegeta, and like Gomah, he might have alsowondered if these Saiyans could ever become a threat to the Demon Realm.However, unlike Gomah, Neva is a kind individual who wants to protect the Demon Realm without harming anyone from the outside world. So, the best way for him to protect the Demon Realm is bykeeping its existence hidden from everyone, including Goku and Vegeta. So, he may use his magic to wipe out everyone’s memory of the Demon Realm in Season 2.
Of course, it could very well be someone else who does the memory wipe. But regardless of how it happens, it would make perfect sense ifGoku inSuperhad no memory of being turned into a kid and achieving Super Saiyan 4.
Dragon Ball Supermanga is ongoing, and so far, the manga series hasn’t even mentioned Super Saiyan 4. But now, since the transformation has appeared inDaima,the creators would obviously want to bring it intoDBS. They clearly can’t write Goku achieving SSJ4 without a proper explanation. However, ifDaimagets further seasons, and they actually go by the memory-wipe explanation, all the writers have to do is write a section where Goku remembers everything that transpired in the Demon Realm. However, if none of this happens,theDragon Ball continuity will forever stay broken, and we’ll be forced to assume that, despite everything that was officially said,Daimais, in fact, a different timeline thanSuper.
Dragon Ball Daimais now streaming onCrunchyroll.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Dragon Ball Daima is the latest anime in Akira Toriyama’s legendary franchise. After being transformed into a child, Goku must travel to a new world to try and turn things around.