Future arcs of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball Super manga will star Goten and Trunks instead of their superpowered fathers.As reported by Sportskeeda, the series' upcoming arc will focus on Goten and Trunks, ending a decades-long trend of tales revolving around Goku and Vegeta. During an episode of the Tamashii Nation livestream, a series dedicated to the company's anime-themed merchandise, V-Jump magazine editor Victory Uchida showcased illustrations of Goten and Trunks as they will appear in the upcoming arc. The duo, now adolescents, are both shown wearing superhero costumes reminiscent of Gohan's "Great Saiyaman" outfit. According to Uchida, the costumes also come with masks, implying that Goten and Trunks will battle evil while concealing their true identities.
Goku and Vegeta Pass the Torch to Goten and Trunks
The passing of the mantle to Goten and Trunks marks a significant change for the Dragon Ball franchise. After Vegeta's turnaround from villain to hero in Dragon Ball Z, the series' creators typically had the Saiyan Prince fighting alongside Goku against whatever force posed a threat to their world. While Future Trunks occasionally stepped into the spotlight during certain arcs, Goku and Vegeta remained the overall focus. While Goten, young Trunks' best friend, had a minor role in most of Dragon Ball's arcs, he and Trunks got to shine as one in the Majin Buu saga of Dragon Ball Z, where the duo perform the Fusion Dance and transform into the iconic character, Gotenks.
Dragon Ball Super, which went on indefinite hiatus in August, will have the first chapter of its new arc launch on Dec. 21 (Dec. 20 internationally). While Goten and Trunks will be the main stars, it will also focus heavily on Gohan and Piccolo, likely serving as mentors to the young protagonists. The latter duo got to star in the most recent Dragon Ball film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
This movie had Gohan and Piccolo teaming up against the newly revived Red Ribbon Army to defend the planet against the group's powerful new androids, Gamma 1 and Gamma 2. Released in North America on Aug. 19, the film earned over $31 million at the US box office during its opening weekend, beating out the franchise's previous film, Dragon Ball Super: Broly. In Japan, Super Hero earned over two billion yen (equal to about $14.75 million) during its first month in theaters.
The Dragon Ball Super manga is available in English on VIZ Media. The franchise's anime adaptations are available to stream on Hulu.
Sources: Twitter, via Sportskeeda