Sunday, September 26, 2021

Character Analysis: Goku Black

 Background

Goku Black was the first original villain introduced in Dragon Ball Super. He’s essentially described as this murdering machine that has been attacking Future Trunk’s timeline, forcing said character to flee to Dragonballs Main timeline for help. For much of the Black arc the Z warriors don’t know who Black is supposed to be or where he came from.


In actuality Black’s original identity is that of Zamasu, the northern Kai of universe 10. This Zamasu hails from a slightly more progressed version of the “main” timeline in DBZ and acted as the apprentice of his universe's supreme Kai Gowasu. While being mentored Zamasu became unsatisfied with the cosmic order due to an ingrained belief that mortal beings were unworthy of the guidance and prosperous worlds the gods provided for them. This anti-mortal astigmatism was constantly strengthened by seeing the savagery of mortal species. As well as later on learning of their abuse of time travel, which was considered a sin even for deities. This eventually led to Zamasu gaining a desire to exterminate all mortals from the cosmos.

  • DBS ep 51 17:00 Black explains how he wants to kill all mortals

    • DBS ep 61 17:32 Black states Trunks messing with time is part of the reason why he wanted to get rid of all mortals


In the manga and the anime Zamasu takes an interest in Goku, and decides to switch bodies with him to get control of his strength. In the anime he gains interest after sparring with Goku, while in the manga it’s due to Zamasu watching video recordings of Goku’s performance at the god of destruction universe tournament.



Anyway Zamasu hatches a plan. He learns about the Super Dragon Balls and how they work from a deity named Zuno. As well as where in the future he would be able to find them collected already.


Zamasu then kills his mentor Gowasu and takes the role as Supreme Kai. Afterwards he uses a time traveling device available to supreme Kai called a Time ring to travel to the future and wish on the Super Dragon Balls. This wish is to Switch Bodies with Goku and was when Zamasu officially became Goku Black.


With Goku’s power under his belt Goku Black enacted a plan to wipe out all mortals, but rather than start with his own timeline. He decided to use the time ring to travel to Trunks’s alternate timeline. Essentially Supreme Kai and Gods of destruction have a life link of sorts, and in Future Trunks’s timeline the Supreme Kai Shin was killed during Babdi’s invasion to revive Buu.  This meant that Beerus was dead in this timeline, which gave Black a foothold to enact his plans. Black essentially went across the various universes in Trunks’s timeline, and killed all the Supreme Kai, resulting in the gods of destruction dying by proxy. This allowed Black to mostly rule unopposed.


Anyway, as part of Black’s plans, he enlisted the help of the Zamasu from Trunks’s timeline. This Future Zamasu also made a wish on the Super Dragon Balls to become immortal.


After Trunks enlists the help of Goku and Vegeta they almost fight off Black and Future Zamasu, only for them both to fuse together into a single more powerful being. What happens next differs slightly based on the medium. In the anime Trunks defeats the fused Zamasu, but due to Zamasu’s immortality his spirit persits as an incorperal ether that fuses with the entire timeline. Goku is forced to use a button that summons Dragon Ball Z Strongest god Zeno to the battlefield, and Zeno destroys the timeline. 

  • DBS ep 67 1:49 Trunks defeats fused Zamasu, which causes him to turn into ether and merge with the timeline

  • DBS ep 67 10:12 Goku summons Zeno, who decides to destroy the entire future multiverse with Zamasu in it

In the manga the merged Zamasu de-fuses due to the potara fusion method having a time limit, but it’s revealed Black and Zamasu permanently combined on a cellular level anyway. This gave both immortality and they started to self replicate with no way to put them down. Goku has no options and is forced to call upon Zeno who destroys the timeline.


Misc notes on DBZ Timelines/Blacks creation

Certain aspects of Goku Black’s history doesn’t make sense. Goku Black is specifically stated to be the Zamasu from the “Main” Dragon Ball Timeline. However when Trunks travels to Goku’s timeline he arrives at a point before Zamasu becomes Black. In both the anime and the manga this eventually leads to the Z fighters investigating Zamasu under suspicion of being Black. In the anime Whis uses his time manipulation abilities to observe Zamasu tring to kill his master, and then reverses it with a temporal do over. In the manga Kibito tells the Z warriors Zamasu asked Zuno about the Super Dragon Balls and Shin confirms he’s evil by using a time ring to see his evil actions in the future. In both versions Beerus kills the main timeline Zamasu with Hakai. 



Logically you would think Trunks traveling to Goku’s timeline caused a timeline split of some sort. But the official explanation in both the anime and manga is that Beerus using Hakai on Zamasu itself split the “main” dragon ball timeline into 2. One where Zamasu was destroyed and one where he lived to become Black. This is what both the anime and manga timelines state as well.


In the anime Zamasu gets the idea to become Black due to sparring with Goku, but the spar only happens because they investigate Zamasu due to thinking he has a connection with Black. So it becomes a temporal paradox that doesn’t actually have a beginning or end. The manga is slightly more explainable, but overall needlessly confusing.. People have made long rants on this topic.



Equipment

Time ring

Time rings are a time traveling device that can be used by Supreme Kai. They come in a box that has one silver ring and a multitude of green rings. The green rings represent alternate timelines. When you use the Silver ring you can travel forward in time and then back to the present where you started. You can also use it to travel between your own timeline and any adjacent alternate timelines. Black is able to use his time ring due to having killed the supreme Kai Gowasu and stolen his position as supreme kai after taking his potara earrings.


Time rings can also react in the presence of space/time distortions caused by others, such as Trunks’s time machine. In these cases the ring can open a rift in space to allow Black to follow said people to whatever location in time they’re traveling to. Though Black will be pulled back through the rift to his original starting point after a set amount of time has passed.

  • DBS ep 49 7:04, 20:59 Blacks time ring reacts to the time distortions of the Trunks’s time machine, allowing Black to follow Trunks to his destination in the main DB timeline

    • DBS ep 50 10:26 Black is pulled back into Trunks’s timeline after the time rift the ring allowed him to go through closes

    • DBS ep 50 11:00 Whis explains the Black’s time ring reacted to the space/time warp of Trunks’s time machine, pulling him into the main timeline 


Finally wearing s time ring does protect you from time paradoxes. So altering Black’s past or trying to kill another version of him with a temporal erasure move like Hakai isn’t effective.

  • DBS ep 61 3:41 Goku black says the time ring protects him from changes to time, so the temporal effects of Beerus’s Hakai didn’t affect him


Abilities

Zenkai

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Saiyan_Power

A generic trait of the Sayains. Every time they recover from a near death experience they receive a massive boost in power. Black has this ability due to inhabiting Goku’s body.


Ki

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Ki

A form of metaphysical life energy that exists within all living things. Humanoids and other sapient creatures can harness it to increase their physical strength and durability. As well as channel it for various energy attacks. A large enough outburst of ki can affect the environment, manipulating clouds and causing earthquakes.

It’s mentioned Ki control is needed to increase physical power


God Ki

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Ki

A specialized version of Ki typically utilized by deities. God Ki is more potent than normal ki and normally can’t be sensed by non deities. Zamasu naturally had God Ki due to being a Kai, and his ability to use it transferred to Goku’s body when he became Goku Black.


Sensing God Ki

  • Battle of Gods 19:54 Goku mentions he can’t sense Beerus’s presence and King kai explains that its because you can’t sense the presence of deities

  • DBS ep 5 2:35 Goku mentions he can’t sense Beerus’s god ki


Regeneration

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Regeneration#:~:text=Godly%20ki%20Regeneration,ki%20manifested%20over%20the%20wound.

God Ki can also be used to regenerate minor or major wounds, such as impalement. Since Black is utilizing Goku’s body, he should be able to do the same.

  • DBS ep 11 17:56,20:00 Goku gets punched through the chest. He falls through orbit and into the ocean. His god power regenerates the wound however.


Flight

The ability to manipulate ki to fly or lift oneself into the air. The technique was initially introduced into the series by the crane hermit students. 


Ki blasts

The ability to create small explosive bullets of Ki as a projectile attack. 


Ki Sense

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Ki_Sense

The ability to sense the life essence and aura of other living beings.


Instant transmission

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Instant_Transmission

The ability to instantly teleport to another location via KI. The normal Goku could travel short distances, and long distances ranging from across the universe, the afterlife and the world of the Kai. You typically need some kind of energy beacon to lock onto when you use this ability. Black seemingly inherited the technique due to taking over Goku’s body.


Spirit shot

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Spirit_Shot

A short burst of air, typically used to force an opponent backwards.



Black Kamehameha

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Kamehameha

A powerful Ki attack originally invented by master Roshi. It’s an energy beam released from the user's palms. Black seemingly inherited the ability due to taking over Goku’s body. But his version of the move is corrupted, and takes on a dark coloring.


Black power ball

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Power_Ball 

A powerful yellow energy sphere that can be shot over long distances and explodes on contact.


Divine  retribution

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Divine_Retribution

A more powerful variation of the Black power ball move. This version has a red and black coloring.

  • DBS ep 57 8:31 Black uses the divine retribution attack on Trunks


Invisible eye blast

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Invisible_Eye_Blast

A projectile ki attack projected from the eyes. 


God split cut

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/God_Split_Cut 

An aura of Ki placed around the immediate hand and arm that can cut through opponents or objects.


Alteration Ki

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Alteration-type_ki_manipulation_technique

Alteration Ki is the ability to shape Ki into various energy constructs like weapons or blades. Black has several KI constructs he’s used in Super. Such as


Violent fierce god slicer

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Violent_Fierce_God_Slicer 

A large pink broadsword energy blade.


Azure dragon Sword 

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Azure_Dragon_Sword_Model_Energy_Blade

A larger curved Pink energy sword.

  • DBS ep 61 15:55 Black creates the Azure Dragon energy blade to use as a weapon against Goku


Divine lasso

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Divine_Lasso

Javelin-like projectile energy constructs  that explode after a few seconds after hitting an opponent. Black generally creates them as projectiles flung from his other energy sword weapons.

  • DBS ep 61 16:00 Black creates a myriad of explosive javelin like projectiles from his azure dragon sword


Sickle of sorrow

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Sickle_of_Sorrow

A large energy scythe 

  • DBS ep 64 4:50 Black creates an Ki Energy scythe to use against Goku and Vegeta


The  work of the gods

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/The_Work_of_the_Gods

A tear in space time that can be created by swinging the sickle of sorrow. Black himself isn’t sure where it may lead, saying it could go to the past, future or another timeline. In the xenoverse series it’s implied Black could open a tear like this because of the time ring. In the anime the energy the tear creates  interferes with Goku’s ability to sense Ki and as a result his instant transmission ove.

  • DBS ep 64 6:07, 6:26 Black creates a tear in space using his energy scythe. Black isn’t sure where the hole leads, thinking it may go to another universe, the past or the future.

  • DBS ep 64 12:02 It’s stated that Black’d tear in space is interfering with Goku’s ability to use instant transmission. Mainly by its energy interference

  • DBS ep 64 19:05 Black uses instant transmission to go to Zamasu. His rift in space disappears when he leaves 


Mass replication

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Cloning 

Black can also draw power from the rifts in space he creates. Using its energy to create an almost never ending series of clones of himself. Albeit every individual clone being weaker in durability than the original.

  • DBS ep 64 9:54 Black draws power from his tear in space to create perfect clones of himself. There’s at least 23 Blacks in total on screen at once. Each can be taken down in one good strike.

Thunder shock surprise

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Thunder_Shock_Surprise

A move originally invented by Master Roshi. It traps the opponent in an electric field.


Telekinesis

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Telekinesis

The ability to lift small or large objects from a distance via Ki. 


Energy shield

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Energy_Shield 

An energy barrier composed of Ki



Transformation


Super saiyan

https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Super_Saiyan

A legendary transformation of the Saiyan race that had been forgotten about for centuries until Goku rediscovered it after witnessing the death of his friend Krillen at the hands of Freeza. Official guide books state this form is a 50x power boost, though other multipliers higher and lower have been suggested by other media or Akira himself. Black was able to tap into this transformation due to stealing Goku’s body.


Super Saiyan rose

Super Saiyan rose is essentially Black’s version of Super Saiyan Blue. It combines God Ki with the base SS transformation. It’s likely the color change was due to Zamasu’s Ki being evil in nature.


Feats

Strength


Endurance

Speed


Scaling

Black has fought SSB Goku and SSB Vegeta, ergo he scales to any feats of both characters from episodes prior to the Goku Black arc. Black should be able to match Goku in particular, since the body Black inhabits technically belonged to him. 


Some notable Goku feats are

  • DBS ep 12 6:19 SS god Goku and Beerus creating energy shockwaves that can rip the entire universe apart

  • DBS ep 12 5:51-6:04 SS god Goku and Beerus perform a physical clash that releases a shock wave that travels over earth and to the Kai realm in seconds

    • DBS ep 12 9:06,9:19 Goku and Beerus create more impact waves. The also move in tandem with them when produced

  • DBS ep 39 20:16 Goku’s increasing his speed to make Hits “time skip” infective 

    • DBS ep 40 Hit "apparently" Freezes Goku during his time skip, but Goku overcomes it

    • DBS ep 43 6:47 King Kai says Goku was forcing himself into the future when fighting Hit


Experience

DBS

  • DBS ep 48 5:20 Base Goku Black fights SS Trunks 

  • DBS ep  50 5:28 Base Black fights SS Goku

  • DBS ep  56 18:11 Rose Black fights SSB Vegeta

  • DBS ep 57 7:50 SSB Goku fights Rose Goku black 

  • DBS ep 61 10:05 Rose Black and Future Zamasu fight Trunks, SSB Vegeta and SSB Goku

  • DBS ep 63 8:53 Black uses the god slicer attack in a sword duel with Trunks

  • DBS ep 63 18:00 Rose Black and Zamasu fight SSB Goku and SSB Vegeta


DBSM
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