Gohan

Gohan is the son of the legendary hero, Goku and his wife Chi-Chi his also the older brother of Goten. Most of Gohan's appearances change throughout the series the first Human/Saiyan hybrid because his mother, Chi -Chi is a Human and his father, Goku is a Saiyan. Gohan's name is a pun because his name in Japanese is rice or cooked rice. But he also got his name from Goku's "Grandpa Gohan". Gohan is also best friends with Piccolo and Krillin.

Hidden power
As a child, Gohan is known to have within him a seemingly limitless dormant power, which at first only revealed itself when he experienced fierce rage, and when his rage ended, his power would drop dramatically. The earliest occurrence of this hidden power was when he almost crashed into a tree when his stroller was accidentally released, giving him enough power to plow a hole clean through the trunk to prevent him from being killed by flying into it as an infant.

Appearance
Gohan's appearance changes drastically through Dragon Ball Z, due to the fact that the series starts out with him as a child and ends when he is fully grown, married, and with a child of his own. But Gohan's basic physical appearance pretty much stays the same through the course of the series. Gohan has black hair and black eyes. He has his father's facial features, and also has his mother's light peach complexion rather than his father's light tan.

When Gohan is first introduced, he wears a child's outfit with his family name, 'Son', written on the front and the Four-Star Dragon Ball attached to his hat, the same Dragon Ball in which Goku believed that his grandpa's spirit resided. Before he transforms into Great Ape and mostly appears in the ending theme of the anime, Gohan wears a white tank top and his green pants and black shoes from his child attire.

While training with Piccolo, he wears an outfit similar to Goku's original, with the 'Ma' symbol (魔) King Piccolo wore after he reverted to his human form from his Great Ape form and his tail was removed also by Piccolo until it grows back during his fight against Vegeta. After training with Piccolo, he has a mullet-type haircut and dons a similar attire to the Namek warrior which he continues to wear until the end of the Captain Ginyu Saga, after which he wears Battle Armor given to him by Vegeta. He would continue to wear clothing similar to Piccolo's for the majority of his childhood, but his hair trended closer to his father's wild self-cut style. During the Androids Saga, he now has long hair and retains the same outfit that he wore in the Saiyan Saga and the Frieza Saga, but now wears black kung-fu shoes and white shin guards instead of brown grass shoes. While training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he begins wearing Saiyan training gear. After leaving the Time Chamber, he grows noticeably taller (roughly Krillin's height), and also quite muscularly developed for his age. He reverts to Piccolo's clothing for the Cell Games, with the addition of Piccolo's white cape and weighted shoulder pads. During this time his hair is spiky much like Goku's.

As a teenager, he is similar in height to his father. His hair is much shorter and stands on end in a spiky formation, with a single bang hanging over the right side of his forehead. Having slacked off on his training, he is fairly thinner and his built has become noticeably leaner. He alternates between a school uniform, his Great Saiyaman costume, a blue gi similar to the Piccolo clothing (except larger in size), a replica of the gi his father Goku wore while he was alive. His obi, wrist bands and shin guards are red but in the movie Broly: The Second Coming, His shin guards are reverted to white. During the Buu Saga, he wears Kai clothing given to him by Kibito. In his fight against Super Buu and reuniting with his father and Vegeta after they defeated Kid Buu, Gohan wears an outfit identical to his father, Goku's and his outfit in the movie Bojack Unboundwhich looks exactly like the one Goku wore in the Androids Saga and Majin Buu Saga. At the party for the celebration of the defeat of Kid Buu, he wears a blue suit as part of his formal clothing.

As an adult in the end of Dragon Ball Z, Gohan's hair would be similar to how it was in the Buu Arc minus the bang which resembles Yamcha's hairstyle from the Androids Saga.

In Dragon Ball GT, he retains his hairstyle from the end of Dragon Ball Z with the only difference being it is a little longer and is usually seen dressed as like a professor or a businessman, in a suit and a tie. He also wears eyeglasses, even though he shows no sign of actually needing them, due to the fact that he does not need them to fight. It is possible, however, that these are reading glasses of some kind, as opposed to general corrective glasses. When facing Omega Shenron, Gohan wears a gi resembling that of the ones Goku used to wear throughout Dragon Ball Z.

In the Assault on the Hell Gate Saga, GT Gohan wears a gi identical to Piccolo's, though without the cape and turban.

Personality
As a child, Gohan is a shy and studious intellectual child who lacks the Saiyan fighting spirit, so he had to utilize his incredible half-breed Saiyan potential and emotional reserves to protect those he loves, becoming one of the most powerful Z Fighters. As an adult, he achieves his dream career of becoming a great scholar.

Being only half-Saiyan, Gohan is unusual in his values and personality. These unique values and personality separate him from pure Saiyans; as powerful as he is, he does not like fighting much. However, when he is forced to fight, he shows special interest in protecting his family and friends. Like his father, Gohan has a truly pure and gentle heart, apart of having the typical Saiyan appetite and will eat anything.[2]

Though he claims he does not share the love of fighting Goku has, Gohan does indeed love martial arts and adventures. It is also clearly obvious he greatly enjoys being a hero, though he dislikes receiving the fame and attention that comes with being a hero and prefers to keep a low profile. This is evident when he didn't acknowledge Cell's defeat at his hands to the public after Mr. Satan falsely took credibility for it. During the Zen Exhibition Match, he admitted that his Saiyan half was getting excited from the challenge shown by Toppo of Universe 11, demonstrating that he actually does enjoy fighting. It is possible that he prefers not to fight due to the many gruesome and painful fights he experienced in the past, and because of these battles, Gohan has negative emotions associated with fighting. As commented by Piccolo, after Gohan transforms to his ultimate form to fight Buu is shown to be arrogant, and often to let his guard down.

Besides concerning himself with his family (and his studies), Gohan has a strong attachment with his mentor: his father's former archrival Piccolo. After the death of Goku, Piccolo chose to train Gohan as he sensed the boy's potential power, which would be harnessed to help defend the Earth from the attack of the Saiyans. At first, the relationship with Piccolo is a frightening one, but after just one year, Piccolo admits his change because of the friendship he develops with Gohan and even sacrifices himself to save the boy. Because of this, Piccolo can be considered as a surrogate father for Gohan. Krillin also has influence on Gohan, as almost an uncle/nephew relationship, mainly because Krillin is Goku's closest friend. While Gohan does care about his mother, he like his father has a fear of her temper to the point in Dragon Ball Super he informs his mother that Goku planned to leave to train under Whis, stating that he had to tell her for his own safety, though fortunately Chi-Chi surprisingly calmed down after Goku left with Whis. However Gohan will defy his mother if it is important as he tells his mother off after she refuses to let him go to Namek to revive Piccolo using the Namekian Dragon Balls, due to feeling responsible for Piccolo's death at the hands of Nappa.

After the battle with Cell, Gohan gives up martial arts to focus on his studies and only resumed his training at the behest of his little brother Goten. Although he acknowledged he had fallen out of practice and lacked the fighting expertise of his father and Vegeta, Gohan gave all that he had as he fought Majin Buu and was eager to kill Buu for murdering his family and friends. In the years to come, he continued to train on-and-off while having a career and being a family man. He marries Videl, with whom he fell in love despite her being Mr. Satan's daughter, and has a daughter named Pan. Gohan proves to be a loving husband and doting father who takes delight in lavishing his daughter with attention and affection.

Background
Gohan was born in May of Age 757, about a year after Goku and Chi-Chi married following the conclusion of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. As a newborn, he went on for a time without a name until Goku's grandfather's name was mentioned, which Gohan liked, as opposed to the name his mother chose (Einstein). His early childhood was a pampered one, unlike his father's. His life was relatively well-balanced with a loving family and a nice home. Gohan was well-adjusted and intelligent, but unlike his father as a child, he lacked any affection for fighting and was easily scared at a level that most normal children would be. Goku gave Gohan the four star Dragon Ball and put it into a hat for him to honor his grandpa. Once, Goku and Chi-Chi were walking through a meadow with Gohan on a stroller, but the stroller was accidentally released, causing them to chase after it. Gohan was then sent flying out of the stroller, but his latent powers' brief awakening not only allowed him to survive crashing into a tree, but also plowing a hole through the trunk, amazing Goku at the hidden power of Gohan.[8]

Saiyan SagaEdit
Main article: Vegeta Saga Despite Goku's protests, Chi-Chi home-schools Gohan to be a scholar until he is four, before Goku takes him to Kame Island to introduce him to Master Roshi, Bulma and Krillin. At this time, he is shown as a shy, but very smart boy who also has a tail like Goku once had before it was removed. He is also very sensitive and appears cowardly at some times. While Goku reunites and talks with his old friends, Gohan rides on Turtle's back, and plays Rock-Paper-Scissors with a crab, enjoying himself. After Goku's brother, Raditz, explains his Saiyan origins and attacks Goku with ease, he kidnaps Gohan, putting Goku at a stalemate, that if he does not kill 100 humans by the next day, Raditz will eliminate his nephew. Gohan soon gets locked up in Raditz's space pod, because Raditz cannot stand his constant crying. It is during this time that Raditz discovers that Gohan is potentially far stronger than Goku himself.

During the battle between Goku, Raditz, and Piccolo, Gohan becomes angry and breaks free of the space pod he is being held captive in when he spots Raditz torturing Goku by repeatedly kicking one of Goku's broken ribs. He delivers a devastating blow to Raditz, giving Goku and Piccolo time to kill the evil Saiyan, though Goku dies in the process as well.

After the battle with Raditz, Piccolo, having seen Gohan's power first hand, decides to take Gohan out training in the wilderness. He leaves Gohan alone to survive against dinosaurs and other dangers for six months, though during this time he watches Gohan carefully. During the first six night, while complaining about the sour flavor of the apples Piccolo has given him, Gohan accidentally looks at a full moon and transforms into a Great Ape. Piccolo destroys the moon, causing Gohan to revert into his normal form before Gohan destroys too much of the land. Piccolo yanks his tail off, then reconstitutes his clothing, giving him a uniform similar to Goku's. The difference: it bears the Demon symbol, to symbolize him being Piccolo's student. For the rest of the year, Piccolo shows no mercy as he teaches Gohan how to fight. Soon, Gohan's bright and cheerful nature makes Piccolo protective over the young boy. As the boy grows on Piccolo, the two of them have a few conversations about Piccolo's past and why he did the things he did and Gohan tells Piccolo he thinks he is not as bad as everyone has told him.

Eventually, the time comes for the Z Fighters to take on the remaining two Saiyans, Vegeta and Nappa. Piccolo senses the Saiyans making their approach and tells Gohan to be ready, when he suddenly senses a third ki from another direction. They think it is another Saiyan but soon find out that it is Krillin who joins them to fight the Saiyans. The Saiyans find them and before the fight starts, they decide to test their Saibamen against the Z Fighters. Soon Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzujoin them in the fight. While Yamcha and one Saibaman fight, Gohan cannot keep with their speed through his eyes alone, so Piccolo orders Gohan to concentrate and find them using Ki Sense, which Gohan is eventually able to master quickly. When Nappa begins to fight after Yamcha is killed and the six Saibamen are destroyed, Gohan is able to sometime control his fear but becomes frightened and hides behind rocks at times his age catches up with him. This prevents him from being very effective in the battle, except for short intervals, such as a point when he single-handedly kicks Nappa through a boulder. During one part of the battle, Piccolo hatches a plan for Gohan to blast Nappa after Piccolo has kicked him towards Krillin, and Krillin then will kick Nappa towards Gohan for the attack. The first two thirds of the plan work accordingly, but when it is Gohan's turn, Gohan cowers behind more boulders, botching the plan, resulting in Piccolo calling him a worthless coward. When Vegeta gives the group three hours for Goku to arrive, Piccolo loses all hope in Gohan, and after some bickering, he orders Gohan to go home. However, Gohan refuses and even realizes Nappa would not let him go away.

When the fight continues after Goku fails to arrive on time, Gohan regains his confidence and does his best to amend for his previous cowardice. Piccolo hatches another plan for Gohan to attack Nappa after Krillin distracts him and Piccolo grabs his tail. Though Gohan quickly goes on the assault, the plan fails when Nappa is shown to have overcome his tail's weakness. Eventually, when Nappa fires a lethal energy blast at Gohan, Piccolo throws himself in front of Gohan and takes the impact. Gohan watches his mentor slowly die, and while Piccolo confesses his true bond with Gohan, Gohan's emotions once again take over, starting to cry in extreme anger. Once Piccolo slowly passes on, Gohan in turn fires a powerful Masenko at Nappa, which does only minimal damage to his arm. With that last Masenko consuming all the energy he had left, Gohan decides to give up and meet his fate, despite Krillin's protests for him to run. He is almost squashed by Nappa, but is saved by the Flying Nimbus when the resurrected Goku finally arrives to the battle. After eating a Senzu Bean with Krillin, he watches Goku overpower Nappa. When Vegeta killsNappa, Goku tells Gohan to let him battle Vegeta alone, not wanting Gohan to get hurt again.

Later on, after Vegeta turns into a Great Ape using a Power Ball and injures Goku, Gohan returns to the battle. After Yajirobe chops off Vegeta's tail, making him transform back, Gohan fights Vegeta alone while Krillin and a broken Goku prepare to fire a Spirit Bomb, the last resort. Krillin fires the Spirit Bomb, but misses. Gohan bounces it back, hitting Vegeta, but not killing him. Gohan himself transforms into a Great Ape after looking at Vegeta's Power Ball. He defeats Vegeta by landing on him after Vegeta cuts his tail with a Destructo Disc. Afterwards, Goku lets Vegeta go, hoping to one day face him again.

Frieza Saga
Main articles: Namek Saga, Captain Ginyu Saga, and Frieza Saga

After recovering from his injuries in West City hospital, Wukong Hospital, Gohan chose to go to the planet Namek with Krillin and Bulma to gather the Namekian Dragon Balls to bring back his friends back to life, because Piccolo's death caused Kami's death too, which caused the Earth's Dragon Balls to turn to stone. Gohan was on a personal mission to wish back Piccolo, and went so far as to wear a copy of Piccolo's dōgi to honor him.

After their long trip, with a few sidetracks, they finally make it to Namek, where they find out Vegeta has also come seeking the Dragon Balls, along with his former far more powerful boss, Frieza. While scouting the planet with Krillin, Gohan spots Frieza and his minions, Zarbon and Dodoria, tormenting Namekian villagers. When Gohan sees Dodoria, one of Frieza's top henchmen, attack a little Namekian child named Dende, he goes out and attacks him. Afterwards, Dodoria chases Gohan, Krillin and Dende, but they eventually lose him and Vegeta kills Dodoria. Dende leads Gohan and Krillin to Grand Elder Guru, the ruler of the Namekians, where he unlocks both of their hidden potential. Later, Gohan steals a Dragon Ball that Vegeta has hid in a lake for himself, and even tricks Vegeta who runs into him on his way back from retrieving the ball. Vegeta figures this out eventually and becomes enraged, but the arrival of the Ginyu Force makes Vegeta have to form an alliance with Gohan and Krillin in order to get all the Dragon Balls and put up a fight against Frieza's feared Special Forces. Unfortunately, when they gather all of the Dragon Balls, they are ambushed by the Ginyu Force. The weakest of them, Guldo, is to take on Krillin and Gohan, but fails as Vegeta steps in and decapitates him with his hand.

Then, when Vegeta is fighting a losing battle against Recoome, Krillin and Gohan step in and fight, but it is still not enough. Gohan is on the brink of death until Goku shows up with Senzu Beans. Goku takes on the rest of them, but has his body switched by Captain Ginyu. With Goku completely weak in Captain Ginyu's body, Gohan has to try to fight Captain Ginyu in his father's body (although he is initially reluctant to do so, despite knowing it is not his dad, as he still feels he is injuring his dad by doing so). Captain Ginyu is unable to fully figure out Goku's powers and after a short fight with Gohan, Krillin, and Goku in Ginyu's body, Vegeta kills Jeice and ultimately defeats Ginyu. After Captain Ginyu ends up in a frog's body, Gohan and the others gather the Namekian Dragon Balls and wish for Piccolo to be brought back to life on Namek.

Shortly after, Frieza ambushes them, making them stall for Piccolo to come. In the Z Fighters' battle against Frieza's second form, Krillin is injured by the tyrant and is sent into the depths of the water below. Gohan rushes to save his friend from drowning, but Frieza stops him. Getting angry, Gohan attacks Frieza with a barrage of punches and kicks followed by the Gekiretsu Madan (a massive wave of energy blasts), following up with a Masendan to finish the job, that would bring the tyrant to his knees.

When Piccolo (now greatly powered up after fusing with the Namekian hero Nail) arrives on the battle field, he fights an even battle against Frieza while Gohan and the others watch in amazement. However, Frieza transforms into his third transformation and gains the upper hand against Piccolo. Seeing this, Gohan becomes enraged and attacks Frieza with the Full Power Masenko, hindering Frieza for a few minutes. Eventually, Frieza manages to deflect the attack back at Gohan, who is saved by Piccolo when he destroys the attack with a Ki Blast. Frieza then transforms into his final form, and as his first act, kills Dende, who had been healing the Z Fighters. Frieza then tries to kill Gohan with a Death Beam, but Vegeta saves the young Saiyan by kicking him out of the way of the blast. Gohan, Krillin, and Piccolo watch in horror as Vegeta gets brutally beaten by Frieza until Goku arrives. In the end, Vegeta meets his end at the hands of Frieza, who kills him with a Death Beam.

Gohan and the others are left on the sidelines while Goku fights an even battle against Frieza. However, things turn bad when Frieza powers up to 50% of his power and gains the upper hand against Goku, who desperately attempts to use the Spirit Bomb. In order to buy Goku some time, Gohan and Krillin lend their energy to Piccolo so he can stall Frieza enough for Goku to complete his Large Spirit Bomb. When Frieza prepares to kill Piccolo, Gohan and Krillin summon up the last of their energy and distract the tyrant with a surprise attack, saving the Namekian's life. Goku then fires his completed Spirit Bomb. It proves successful and Frieza is plummeted into the depths of the Spirit Bomb, heavily injuring him.

Believing the tyrant to be dead, the heroes relax and prepare to go back home to Earth, until Frieza appears on top of a boulder and reveals to be alive. Frieza mortally wounds Piccolo (in the anime, Frieza attempted to fire a Death Beam at Goku, but Piccolo pushed him out of the way and got hit by the laser instead, whereas in manga, Frieza intended to fire the attack at Piccolo), overwhelming Gohan with horror and grief at the presumed death of his mentor and friend. Next, Frieza kills Krillin, by telekinetically blowing him up into pieces, which enrages Goku and allows him to transform into a Super Saiyan. He assertively orders Gohan to take Piccolo and retrieve Bulma and take them to the ship that he traveled in and use it to head back to Earth. Reluctantly obeying his father's wishes, Gohan leaves the battle field with the unconscious Piccolo and manages to retrieve Bulma. Later, when he senses that his father is supposedly dead, Gohan returns to the fight to stall Frieza before Namek explodes. However, despite his best efforts, he is unable to stall Frieza as the tyrant taunts him and he is not fighting, in addition to Frieza deducing the real reason Gohan is attempting to fight him. However, Gohan then senses that his father is still alive and powers up. Next, Gohan attacks Frieza with a barrage of punches and kicks, knocking him to the ground and finally blasting him with a Super Masenko. Unfortunately, Frieza appears unaffected by the attack and powers up to full power again, saying that Gohan is a true Saiyan and that is why Frieza must kill him. However, before Frieza can kill Gohan, Goku rises up from the ocean below and tells Gohan to get off Namek. Gohan flies away from the fight and encourages his father to win. As Gohan is flying back to the spaceship, he and the others are later transported to Earth by Porunga while Goku is left finishing the battle with Frieza on the dying planet Namek.

After Goku wins the battle, but is caught in planet Namek's explosion, Gohan and the others mourn the Saiyan warrior's apparent death. Months later, they are allowed to use the Namekian Dragon Balls to wish Goku back to life. However, they are shocked after the Eternal Dragon Porunga refuses the wish that Goku be brought back to life, but everyone rejoices once the Dragon explains that Goku did not die from Namek's explosion. During this time of peace, everyone awaits the arrival of Goku, and Gohan goes back to his studies while Piccolo watches over him and his mother.

Cell Saga
Main articles: Garlic Jr. Saga, Trunks Saga, Androids Saga, Imperfect Cell Saga, Perfect Cell Saga, and Cell Games Saga

Only in the anime, while everyone on Earth is waiting for Goku to come back, Garlic Jr. escapes from the Dead Zone, and enslaves most of humanity with the Black Water Mist. Gohan, who is unaffected due to hiding in a cave with his dragon friend Icarus, is forced to travel to the lookout point to save his mother and friends, together with Piccolo, Krillin, and his new girlfriend Maron, who is left at Korin Tower.

He has to do battle with Garlic Jr.'s henchmen, the Spice Boys, and after killing them, he has to face his friends: Krillin and Piccolo. Luckily, it turns out that these two are only pretending to be evil so they can free Kami and Mr. Popo. While outmatched at first, after a reunion with his friends, Gohan eventually manages to overcome and send Garlic Jr. back to the Dead Zone by blowing up the Makyo Star that is powering the villain. This would be the first time Gohan has saved the world without his father's help.

A year after (two years later in FUNimation dub) Goku defeated Frieza on Namek, Gohan and Chi-Chi still wait for Goku's safe return to Earth. However, things turn bad when the Z Fighters sense Frieza heading towards Earth, along with another powerful being: his father, King Cold. Gohan and the Z Fighters regroup where Frieza and King Cold's spaceship is landing, at Northern Wastelands, but without Goku's help, the Earth appears to be doomed.

However, when Frieza and King Cold land on Earth, they are confronted by a mysterious youth, who transforms into a Super Saiyan and easily destroys Frieza andKing Cold along with their henchmen. After the fight, he tells the others to follow him to when and where Goku will be arriving. After waiting two hours (three in the manga), Goku arrives on Earth and he and the youth have a private talk.

The mysterious youth reveals himself as Trunks, the son of Bulma and Vegeta from 20 years in the future, who has traveled from the future and explained that a pair of deadly Androidswill appear and threaten the Earth in the next three years. Future Trunks then gives Goku an antidote for the heart disease he will soon contract. With the conversation over, Future Trunks departs to his future, but promises to meet them again when the Androids arrive. During the next three years, Gohan trains hard with Goku and Piccolo to prepare for the Android threat. Three years later, the Z Fighters locate the Androids on an island nine miles southwest of South City. However, not wanting to fight in the city in fear of causing more damage after Gero had already destroyed half of the city, they fly to a wasteland so they can fight. Goku transforms into his Super Saiyanform and dominates Android 19, until the Saiyan contracts the heart virusFuture Trunks warned him about three years prior, allowing Android 19 to gain the upper hand and steals some of Goku's energy. Goku, however, is saved by the arrival of Vegeta, who transforms into a Super Saiyan himself and easily destroys Android 19 while the Z Fighters watch in amazement.

With Android 19 destroyed, Android 20 (a.k.a. Dr. Gero) becomes scared and retreats, with the Z Fighters in pursuit. During the search, Piccolo is suddenly ambushed by Android 20, who attempts to steal the Namekian's energy and use it against Vegeta. Luckily, Piccolo telepathically contacts Gohan and tells him to come help him. Gohan soon arrives and knocks Dr. Gero down to the ground, saving Piccolo's life as the Z Fighters gather around. Piccolo then fights Android 20 alone and dominates the android with the strength he achieved from the last three years of intense training, cutting off one of Gero's hands. Future Trunks then comes back from the future and arrives on the battle field with the Z Fighters, only to discover that these Androids are not the ones in his future timeline. However, Android 20 manages to escape and the Z Fighters search for him while Gohan flies Bulma, Trunks, and Yajirobe back home to Capsule Corporation. Dr. Gero makes it back to his lab and activates two of his more powerful creations, Android 17 and Android 18. However, the Androids rebel and kill Dr. Gero and proceeded to activate another android, Android 16, whose sole purpose is to kill Goku. The Z Fighters battle the new Androids, only to be badly beaten as the Androids fly away to find and kill Goku. When the Z Fighters are in an airplane with a weakened Goku, flying away from the Androids, Gohan and Future Trunks leave and meet with Bulma to investigate an old time machine that was used to travel to the past. The time machine is covered in moss and has a large hole at the top. In there, they find a large egg shell split in half, but can not get any conclusions from it. Then, Gohan finds some thing unusual in the distance: the skin of a huge bug (later known as the android, Cell). Bulma takes the shell with her to do some more investigating.

After Goku is cured from the heart virus, he takes Gohan, Future Trunks, and Vegeta up at Kami's Lookout, where they are shown by Mr. Popo a special room up at Kami's Lookout, known as the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, in preparation for a new threat: Cell. In the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Future Trunks and Vegeta both enter the room first for the whole day while Goku and Gohan wait and sense that Piccolo (now fused with Kami and returned to the original nameless Namekian) is fighting against the Androids. Gohan tries to go down to Earth and help Piccolo, but Goku does not let him go and explains he is not strong enough and will only get in Piccolo's way. Goku tells Gohan as soon as they get their training done, they will go down to Earth and help Piccolo. Later, when Piccolo was nearly killed by a powered-up Imperfect Cell, who arrived on the battle field between Piccolo and Android 17, Goku and Gohan sense Piccolo's energy disappear. Believing his mentor to be dead, an enraged Gohan tries to go down to Earth, but is held and calmed down by Goku. Still angered, Gohan flies up into the air and tries to escape from the Lookout, but is punched down to the ground by Goku. As Mr. Popo rushes to help him, he explains to Gohan that Goku is hurting inside too and is even more angry than Gohan about Piccolo's near death. Gohan and Goku apologize to each other for their actions, and Goku promises that he will not let Piccolo's sacrifice be in vain. After Cell absorbs Android 17 and achieved his Semi-Perfect form, he is about to set his sights on Android 18 when Tien Shinhan arrives and attacks Cell with his Neo Tri-Beam, allowing Android 18 and Android 16 (who was injured by Semi-Perfect Cell) to escape. Goku and Gohan sense Tien's energy decreasing and he finally collapses from exhaustion. Just before Semi-Perfect Cell can kill Tien, Goku uses Instant Transmission to appear on the battle field. He grabs the barely alive Tien and Piccolo and teleports back to the Lookout, where they are fully healed with a Senzu Bean. Piccolo explains that despite their best efforts against Semi-Perfect Cell, they proved useless.

At that moment, Mr. Popo interrupts and brings the group to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, where Future Trunks and Vegeta emerge stronger than ever. They are given new Saiyan armor by Bulma (who by this time already arrived) and fly down to the Earth to confront Semi-Perfect Cell. While Vegeta and Future Trunks fight Semi-Perfect Cell, Goku and Gohan enter and train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber while wearing some new Saiyan armor made by Bulma. In the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Gohan struggles to transform into a Super Saiyan. Goku informs him that to become a Super Saiyan, it must come in response to a need, not a desire. Gohan realizes the only way to become a Super Saiyan is for his father to fight him at full power. Hesitantly, Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan and fires a powerful Kamehameha at Gohan. Gohan blocks the attack and thinks about all the other times he was not able to help his friends whenever they were in danger while his friends helped him out if he was in danger. Thinking about this, Gohan becomes overwhelmed with rage, allowing him to transform into a Super Saiyan and fire the Kamehameha back at Goku, who dodges the attack and tells his son to focus his energy, making him return to his base form. Goku tells Gohan they can take a break and even gives his son a haircut.

Later, Gohan again transforms into his Super Saiyan form and trains while Goku sits down and watches his son's training in his Super Saiyan form improve. Gohan gets tired and transforms back into his base form when Goku demonstrates the second and third grade forms (which are the forms that Vegeta and Future Trunks are using against Cell, who by this time had achieved his perfect form by absorbing Android 18).

Seeing this incredible strength and power, Gohan is sure Goku can beat Cell, but Goku says he can not. He explains that because his muscles are now bulky, they slow down his speed, which is obviously important in the fight with Cell. Goku tells Gohan that transforming into a Super Saiyan takes a great deal of energy, but they need all the Super Saiyan energy they can get. Goku comes up with a plan to transform into a Super Saiyan Full Power, so he tells Gohan to try and stay transformed as a Super Saiyan for the whole day when it starts to feel normal.

At some point during their training, Goku prepared to call it a day, but then Gohan then manages to surprise Goku by transforming into an unprecedented Super Saiyan form before collapsing from exhaustion. Although Gohan does not remember it due to the strain of this initial transformation, it ended up being the catalyst that caused Goku to realize that, should Cell achieve his perfect form, Gohan is the only one of the Z-Fighters, including Goku himself, who would stand any chance at defeating Cell in even that state.

With their training finally completed, Gohan and Goku emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber as Super Saiyan Full Powers. As Goku and Gohan are eating food made by Mr. Popo (because they do not really know how to cook when they were in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber), Future Trunks, after being defeated by Perfect Cell along with his father Vegeta, tells them that Perfect Cell is hosting a tournament for the Earth's strongest warriors called the Cell Games, to which Goku thinks of it as an interesting challenge. While Goku wears his trademark orange and blue clothes for the tournament, Gohan asks Piccolo for a copy of his uniform, since he was his first mentor. Piccolo conjures up a uniform similar to his for Gohan, who happily appreciates the new outfit.

Goku pays Perfect Cell a visit using Instant Transmission, and after returning, he claims he is no match for the android. Piccolo suggests they can still go in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for extra training. However, Goku declines and says that he and Gohan can train outside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, greatly surprising everyone. Goku and Gohan leave the Lookout, (after Goku and Gohan show Korinand Yajirobe their new power) and arrive at the Kame House to pick up Chi-Chi so they can go home. Gohan asks his father if they have a chance of beating Cell if they spend the next nine days resting and training outside. Goku laughs and says they do not have to worry about it now, since they have nine days to relax. Gohan and Goku go inside and meet everyone else (at one point, Oolong and Puar even say that Gohan has, "buffed up.") However, when Chi-Chi sees Goku and Gohan, she freaks out and exclaims that Gohan has become a hair-dyeing punk.

In a filler episode, Gohan flies to a village called Chazke Village to run a shopping errand for his mother. He meets Lime and Mr. Lao there, and later encounters one of his father's deadliest enemies in his childhood: Mercenary Tao, rebuilt as a cyborg. Taken over by panic and shock at discovering Gohan is Goku's son, Mercenary Tao flies away on a tree. Goku arrives and he and Gohan are given the groceries by Mr. Lao, who encourages them that they can defeat Cell. Gohan and Goku say their goodbyes to Mr. Lao and Lime and fly back home.

In another filler episode, Gohan has his 11th birthday and all of his other memories are revealed. One of his memories include Goku, Chi-Chi, and the Ox-Kingdiscussing a name for their newborn son. However, when they mention Grandpa Gohan, Goku's deceased adoptive grandfather, they discover the baby laughs at the name, "Gohan." Seeing as the baby likes the name, "Gohan", Goku, Chi-Chi, and Ox-King name the baby, "Gohan." In another flashback Goku, Chi-Chi, and Gohan are walking in the woods when they look up in a tree at a bird family. However, Goku accidentally lets go of Gohan's stroller, causing Gohan to zoom violently down the hill while Goku and Chi-Chi run for their lives after their crying son. The stroller jumps over a ravine and heads for a tree where it crashes and breaks. The crying Gohan is about to smash into the tree, but he stops crying and uses his hidden power to smash through the tree without injury. Goku catches Gohan on the other side of the tree and he laughs, ending the flashback.

Gohan, Goku, and Krillin return home, where they, along with Chi-Chi and Ox-King, celebrate Gohan's 11th birthday. Before he blows out the candles, Gohan makes a wish in his mind. He wishes he would have enough strength to defeat Cell so his family would live in peace. However, when Gohan blows out the candles, he accidentally ends up blowing the cake everywhere on everybody's face. Chi-Chi says a boy would get severely punished for trashing his birthday cake. However, Chi-Chi's mood changes to happy and she says he can not help it because he is Goku's son, to which everyone joyfully laughs. Finally, ten days have passed and the Z Fighters arrive at the Cell Games for the battle against Perfect Cell. Goku is the first Z Fighter to battle against Perfect Cell and matches the monster blow for blow. To everyone's surprise, Goku forfeits the battle against Perfect Cell after using the Instant Kamehameha (a combination of the Instant Transmission and Kamehameha) which left him and Cell drained. Goku then chooses Gohan to fight Perfect Cell in his place. Gohan states Goku and Cell's battle was not hard to keep up with, leading to the conclusion that Gohan was possibly stronger than Goku, who was fighting at full power.

Gohan powers up to the point where his power exceeds even Goku's and reluctantly fights Perfect Cell. As the battle occurs, Gohan does not have the same fighting spirit as his father nor does he have the desire to kill, thus allowing Perfect Cell to gain the upper hand. Gohan tells Cell that once he becomes enraged, his hidden power is unleashed, referring to when he attacked Raditz, when he was in training with Piccolo, and when he was fighting Frieza. Gohan did not wish to see this power unleashed, much to Perfect Cell's chagrin. Believing he could see this hidden power, Perfect Cell began smacking Gohan around to get him angry. Gohan finally gets a little angry and kicks Perfect Cell in the face, giving him a bloody lip and fueling his desire to see Gohan's hidden power. When things start to get dangerous, Android 16 sneaks up behind Perfect Cell and gives him a bear hug, attempting to self-destruct and take the monster with him. However, Krillin reveals to Android 16 that Bulma and her father removed the self-destruct bomb, allowing Perfect Cell to break free and blast Android 16 to bits, much to the horror of the Z Fighters. However, the android's head is left still intact and rolls over to Mr. Satan and his gang, who were hiding and watching the fight. Perfect Cell then creates seven Cell Juniors and has them attack the Z Fighters. Gohan watches in horror and becomes angry as his friends are mercilessly beaten by the Cell Jrs. Meanwhile, the head of Android 16 convinces Mr. Satan to throw his head to where Gohan and Perfect Cell are so that he may help Gohan. Now in Gohan's sight, Android 16 tells Gohan to not be afraid of releasing his anger and that it was okay to fight if he wants to protect the people and world he loved. Finally, 16 said to Gohan to drop his restraints and let it go because he has enough power and strength to defeat Perfect Cell. With Android 16's final words, Perfect Cell crushes Android 16's head, ending the peaceful android's life. Touched by Android 16's final words and enraged by the peaceful android's death, Gohan's rage reaches its limits and transforms him into a new level, Super Saiyan 2.

Now in his new anger-fueled state, Gohan says to Perfect Cell stating that he will never forget what he has done. He approaches the android and quickly snatches the Senzu Beans that Perfect Cell stole from Krillin. Gohan disappears as Cell tries to grab them back and appears in front of a Cell Jr., showing new amounts of speed. The Cell Jr. attempts to strike Gohan, only to be easily killed by the enraged young Saiyan. Gohan moves so fast that it appears that he has teleported to where Krillin is held captive by two of the Cell Jrs., something that Future Trunks realizes about Gohan increasing his strength and power without losing speed. Gohan rescues Krillin and kills another of the Cell Jrs. Seeing this new incredible power that Goku spoke of earlier, Perfect Cell orders all of the Cell Jrs. to take on Gohan all at once; however, Gohan easily kills all of Cell Jrs. without mercy, much to the amazement and shock of everyone, including Perfect Cell. After Gohan gives the stolen Senzu Beans to Future Trunks to heal the Z Fighters, he proceeds to challenge Perfect Cell.

As the Z Fighters are healed by the Senzu Beans and get to a safe distance, Gohan battles Perfect Cell and gains the upper hand against the android. Perfect Cell unleashes his maximum power and punches Gohan hard in the face. However, Gohan is barely fazed by Perfect Cell's blow and counterattacks with two powerful punches to his stomach and face, severely injuring the Android. Perfect Cell fires attacks used by some of the Z Fighters, including the Destructo Disc, Special Beam Cannon, and Scatter Shot at Gohan, who easily brushes through the attacks. Gohan tells Perfect Cell that he should not have pushed him and because of that, he is going to destroy him.

Perfect Cell flies up high into the air and fires a massive Kamehameha down at Gohan in an attempt to destroy the entire Earth. However, just as the huge energy beam is about to hit the Earth, Gohan counterattacks with a bigger and more powerful Kamehameha, overpowering Perfect Cell's Kamehameha and destroying the android's legs, left arm, and the two straight sections on top of his head. Goku yells for Gohan to finish off Cell before he regenerates, but Gohan, still enraged at Perfect Cell's actions, refuses and wants Cell to suffer before he kills him. As Goku predicted, the enraged Cell regenerates and transforms into his Power Weighted form but even with his enormous power, he is unable to hit Gohan, making the same mistake Future Trunks made ten days ago. After Gohan dodges Cell's punches, he delivered two powerful kicks to Perfect Cell's face and stomach, making him regurgitate Android 18 and transform back into his Semi-Perfect form.[9]

In a fit of anger and desperation, Semi-Perfect Cell began a Self Destruction technique, planning to blow himself up along with the Earth. Gohan attempts to attack the self-destructing Semi-Perfect Cell, but the android replies that if he is hit, he will immediately explode. Hearing this, Gohan realizes that there is no way that he can save the Earth and blames himself for not finishing Cell off sooner. However, at the last second, Goku uses instant-transmission to transport in front of Semi-Perfect Cell. Goku tells Gohan how proud he is of his son for putting up a good fight and to look after Chi-Chi. After a heart-felt goodbye to his son, Goku transports Cell away from Earth to King Kai's planet where Semi-Perfect Cell finally explodes, destroying the planet and killing Goku, King Kai, Bubbles, and Gregory in the process. Back on Earth, Gohan and the other Z Fighters mourn Goku's noble sacrifice. Realizing how cocky and arrogant he was, Gohan cries and blames himself for his father's death while Krillin tries to comfort him.[10]

However, unknown to the Z Fighters, Cell survives the explosion, regenerating from a lone cell in his core. Doing this effectively raised his power higher due to the Saiyan genes he absorbed from Goku and Vegeta, and he also learned Goku's Instant Transmission technique, which he used to head back to Earth. As his first act of return, Super Perfect Cell kills Future Trunks with one blast in front of the shocked Z Fighters. Gohan was in fact pleased to see Super Perfect Cell had returned, hoping to defeat the android so he could avenge his father. Enraged by his son's death, Vegeta in a fit of fury and rage, transformed into to a Super Saiyanand attacked Super Perfect Cell with a powerful barrage of energy blasts. However, as the dust clears, Super Perfect Cell emerges from the blast, unharmed, and smacks Vegeta aside to the ground and fires a powerful blast at the Saiyan prince. Gohan jumps in front of the unconscious Vegeta and takes the full-force of Super Perfect Cell's attack, costing him the use of his left arm and most of his power drained.

Wanting to end the conflict, Super Perfect Cell prepares a massive Kamehameha to destroy Gohan, who loses all hope after having his left arm broken and seeing how much more powerful Super Perfect Cell is now. However, at that moment, Goku telepathically contacted Gohan with the help of King Kai and encouraged Gohan to believe in his power. When Gohan tells Goku it was all his fault that this happened, Goku reminds him that not only do things like this happen, but if anyone is to blame for it, it is Super Perfect Cell. With new found hope and confidence, Gohan prepares a one-handed Kamehameha with the assistance from Goku's spirit. With their attacks finally charged and ready, Gohan and Super Perfect Cell fire their Kamehameha attacks at each other, resulting in a huge Beam Struggle that knocks away everyone else.

During the Kamehameha duel between Gohan and Super Perfect Cell, Super Perfect Cell has the upper hand against Gohan. However, Gohan, still aided by his father in Other World, is able to charge more of his power into his Kamehameha, seemingly bringing the energy duel to a standstill. The Z Fighters, except for Vegeta, also help out Gohan by blasting Super Perfect Cell, who retaliates by knocking all of them away with his energy, rendering them unable to help Gohan. However, just as Super Perfect Cell is about to destroy Gohan, Vegeta, after regaining his confidence, aims at Super Perfect Cell's head with a small Big Bang Attack, distracting the android. Seeing this opportunity, Gohan (encouraged by Goku) unleashes all the rest of his power into his Kamehameha, completely destroying every cell in Super Perfect Cell's body, dispatching the android once and for all. Having successfully won, Gohan reverts to his normal state and collapses to the ground, breathing heavily and smiling as Goku in Other World expresses how proud he is of his son for finally defeating Super Perfect Cell and saving the world.

Following Super Perfect Cell's defeat, the Z Fighters and Gohan return to Dende's Lookout, where he is healed by Dende. With the newly recreated Dragon Balls, they summon Shenron and wish for all of Cell's victims to be revived. However, Goku does not come back and telepathically contacts the Z Fighters on the Lookout. Goku tells them not to revive him and explains that he seemed to attract evil villains that were after him, so the Earth would be safer if he was not there. He also said that Gohan had greatly surpassed him and if there were any other threats, Gohan would be there to defend the Earth. With the conversation over, Gohan and the Z Fighters say their goodbyes to Goku and to each other before leaving Kami's Lookout and going their separate ways, leaving the Earth safe once more.[11]

Majin Buu Saga
Main articles: Great Saiyaman Saga, World Tournament Saga, Babidi Saga, Majin Buu Saga, Fusion Saga, Kid Buu Saga, and Peaceful World Saga Seven years after the events of the Cell Games, Gohan lives at home with his mother and his seven-year-old brother named Goten, born just after the Cell Games. His training has taken a backseat to his studies and his strength has decreased overtime, although he can still compete with Goku and Vegeta, who have trained hard in those years. Chi-Chi decides Gohan needs to attend high school in order to pursue higher education, so she sends him to Orange Star High School in Satan City. On his first day in the city, he turns Super Saiyan (in order to conceal his identity) to stop a robbery, and by the time he arrives at Orange Star High tales of the newest hero, "Gold Fighter", have already spread (which name was actually given to him after two previous incidents while going to the school to take entrance exams). In class, he meets another crime-fighter and the most popular girl in school, Videl. She is the daughter of Mr. Satan, who got rich and famous for stealing Gohan's credit over the defeat of Cell. While at school, Gohan also had to be careful not to reveal his true power.

Videl is highly suspicious of Gohan and spies on him to see if he is really the Gold Fighter. Videl confronts Gohan several times to voice her suspicions, but Gohan nervously denies them. Gohan decides to use a disguise when fighting crime and goes to Bulma to make him a costume. He becomes the Great Saiyaman to hide his identity so that the media will not bother his family. However, while trying to convince Videl to let him return a stolen pterodactyl baby to its two pterodactyl parents, he accidentally reveals his identity to Videl, who then blackmails Gohan to compete against her in the newly revived World Martial Arts Tournament in exchange for her silence. Gohan, having no experience with kids his own age, especially girls, is helpless against the confident Videl, who makes him promise to teach her how to fly.

When Gohan tells Bulma about the tournament, Goku, listening in from the Other World, contacts them and tells them he'll compete too, using his one-day pass to the human world. Hearing this, Vegeta also decides to compete. To make it more interesting, and to give them a chance to meet Goku again, Gohan tells all his friends about the tournament, and they all decide to compete. While Gohan trains with Goten, he is shocked to see Goten transform into a Super Saiyan, breaking his record as the youngest Super Saiyan ever, worrying that if he does not train harder, Goten will surpass him.

When Videl shows up at Gohan's home to learn to fly, Gohan learns that she has no knowledge of energy, since her father believes it to be just a trick. Gohan begins training her from scratch, though she picks it up pretty quickly. During his training of Videl as well as his brother Goten, Videl learns more about Gohan and grows closer to him. Also when teaching Videl becomes a great flyer, Gohan had thought that Videl was really something special. Despite the relentless teasing from friends (such as Krillin), Videl and Gohan develop a sweet kind of relationship. As the Z Fighters arrive at the World Tournament, Goku, who had been in Other World training for the last seven years, arrives on Earth and after an emotional greeting by Gohan, meets his second son, Goten. As the tournament occurs, the Z Fighters easily brush through their matches. Later, however, when Videl fights Spopovich, she is nearly beaten to death by the large brute. Gohan watches in anger as his friend horribly suffers at the hands of the ruthless Spopovich. Finally, having seen enough, Gohan turns Super Saiyan and tries to save Videl from Spopovich, but before he can, Yamu interrupts and tells for Spopovich to finish the match because they have much more important things in the matter. Spopovich kicks Videl out of the ring and leaves with Yamu, but not before being told by the angry Gohan that he will win the next time they fight.

After rushing Videl to the hospital and giving her a Senzu Bean to heal, Gohan returned to the tournament and found himself set up to fight Kibito. In order for Shin and Kibito to find Babidi's spaceship, they are forced into tricking Gohan into turning into a Super Saiyan. However, Gohan states that there is a level beyond a Super Saiyan and transforms into his Super Saiyan 2 form, shocking the audience, while revealing that he was the mysterious Gold Fighter. At that moment, Yamuand Spopovich jump into the ring and Shin paralyzes Gohan when he is about to attack. Yamu and Spopovich steal Gohan's energy, reverting him back to his normal state, and fly off, with Shin and the other Z Fighters in pursuit. Kibito heals Gohan, restoring his energy and explains they are going after Spopovich and Yamu to find Babidi's spaceship. Gohan and Kibito, along with Videl, fly away to meet up with the Z Fighters. After flying for a time, Videl gets tired and decides to head back to the World Tournament, seeing as the opponent they are going to face is too powerful for her. However, before leaving, she and Gohan have a conversation about the identity of the Gold Fighter, who is actually Gohan. Figuring this out, Videl comes to the conclusion that seven years ago during the Cell Games, Gohan was the golden-haired boy who had defeated Super Perfect Cell, not Mr. Satan. Gohan and Videl say goodbye to each other and Videl promises that she is not through with him yet, indicating that she has fallen for him.

Gohan and Kibito later catch up with Shin and the Z Fighters at Babidi's spaceship. They hide and secretly watch as Yamu and Spopovich give the energy to the evil wizard Babidi, who retaliates by killing them. Dabura and Babidi realize the Z Fighters are nearby and decide to steal their energy by killing the weaker fighters and luring them into the spaceship. Dabura flies up to the Z Fighters and kills Kibito with a Evil Impulse blast at point blank range. After a brief fight, Dabura spits on Krillin and Piccolo, turning them to stone, and flies back to the spaceship, with Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and a reluctant Shin following behind.