30 Years Later, Dragon Ball Z Is Still Doing Its Most Underrated Hero Dirty

Dragon Ball is one of the best anime franchises at turning villains into heroes, and two of its biggest characters fit that description perfectly. Arguably the second-most popular character in the franchise, Vegeta, started the series as a brutal villain before transforming into one of Earth's mightiest defenders.

While Vegeta is an amazing character, his growth has overshadowed another character's development massively. There's one other character in the main group of Z Fighters that should get just as much love as Vegeta, if not more, and for some reason, fans forget about him.

Dragon Ball Is a Staple of Shōnen Anime

Dragon Ball might be the single most influential anime series of all time. There are a ton of popular anime series, but there isn't another franchise that can top Akira Toriyama's groundbreaking hit. Dragon Ball brought anime to the West, introducing a new part of the globe to the wonderful world of anime.

After nearly 50 years, Dragon Ball is still running strong. Dragon Ball Super is finally coming back, and it's about to animate one of the most interesting and ambitious arcs in the canon. The Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc is weird, quirky, funny, and action-packed, bringing everything fans like about Dragon Ball back to the screen.

While there's no telling where the future of Dragon Ball is headed after Toriyama's passing, the series is already a monument in the world of anime. Every shōnen series is compared to Dragon Ball in one way or another, and there will never be another franchise like it again.

Vegeta and Piccolo Are Perfect Examples of Reformed Villains

One of the things that Dragon Ball does better than most is reforming characters and giving them exceptional arcs. Vegeta, Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien, the Androids, Broly, and more started the series out as villains before switching sides and fighting alongside the same people they once called an enemy.

Out of every reformed villain, there are no two bigger than Vegeta and Piccolo. Piccolo is essentially Gohan's father and Pan's grandfather, and Vegeta is both Goku's biggest rival and his strongest ally. After the most recent events in Dragon Ball Super, they've also become two of the strongest characters in the entire franchise.

Piccolo was arguably Goku's first major villain. Way back in Dragon Ball, Piccolo was an evil king looking to dominate the world. Now, he's a thoughtful, patient teacher who is a better father than Goku in more ways than one.

Vegeta serves as the first major antagonist in Dragon Ball Z, and even Toriyama didn't think he'd stick around as long as he has. Since then, he's become a father, a husband, and someone the Earth can rely on in its most desperate time. Even though both characters should be equally significant to the series, why doesn't Piccolo get the recognition he deserves?

Vegeta Gets All the Love: Piccolo Gets None

When people think about the most important characters in Dragon Ball, they think of Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan. Trunks and Goten aren't taken seriously, Tien, Krillin, and Yamcha haven't been strong since Dragon Ball Z (even though Tien has the single strongest attack in Dragon Ball), and Broly is still working to become a major factor in the franchise.

Piccolo deserves way more credit. Not only is a reformed villain like Vegeta, but he's way more noble than his Saiyan counterpart. Piccolo has raised Gohan, laid his life down for his former enemy's son, and has recently gotten an upgrade that has made him one of the top 10 strongest characters in all of Universe 7.

Why Doesn't Piccolo Get the Credit He Deserves?

There's no real reason as to why Piccolo doesn't get the love he deserves. If there is a reason, it has to do with the difference between Vegeta's and Piccolo's personalities. Piccolo has always been quiet, reserved, and only willing to fight if he has to. Vegeta is the exact opposite.

Vegeta is the first person to jump into a fight. He can be brash, cocky, and egotistical in a way no other character in Dragon Ball can compare to. Vegeta's strongest form so far is Ultra Ego, a form that literally makes him stronger as he takes more damage.

Even though Vegeta gets more screen time in Dragon Ball, Piccolo deserves an equal amount of credit for his character arc. Hopefully, in the future of Dragon Ball Super, Orange Piccolo gets an opportunity to show off his strength and get his flowers for becoming an absolute titan of a warrior and a hero his friends can rely on.