Akira Toriyama's legendary manga, Dragon Ball, is celebrating its 40th anniversary! To mark the occasion, the official team launched "DRAGON BALL THE ONE," the first-ever global character popularity poll. Out of 212 iconic characters, only one could claim the top spot, with the final stage and its 21 finalists announced back in December.
After voting kicked off in November, the final results were officially revealed today (1/24), and it's no surprise: Goku took home the crown! He held the number one position from the very first stage, proving he's truly the undisputed king. The official announcement also dropped some cool trivia and Easter eggs about the champ from the manga for all the fans.
But before we dive into Goku's secrets, let's check out how the other characters stacked up!
Coming in at #2 is Vegeta, followed by Gohan at #3, Piccolo at #4, and Vegito rounding out the top 5.
Here's the rest of the top 21:
#6: Trunks (Teen)
#7: Bardock
#8: Android 18
#9: Cell
#10: Frieza
#11: Krillin
#12: Yamcha
#13: Bulma
#14: Tien Shinhan
#15: Bulma's black cat
#16: Goten
#17: Chi-Chi
#18: Android 17
#19: Launch
#20: Videl
#21: Raditz
If your faves didn't crack the top 21, don't sweat it! Let's see who got knocked out in the second and third rounds. Characters like Gotenks, Hercule, Chiaotzu, and Master Roshi all fell in the third round. Tough break!
But the champ, Goku, isn't just a popularity king! The official team also dropped some awesome stats and Easter eggs about Goku's special data for the fans.
First up: his battle record in the manga. While Goku has had his fair share of draws, he still boasts a seriously high win rate!
Next, how many times has he had his clothes ripped to shreds in battle? A surprisingly low 19 times! Way less than you'd think, right?
And his most frequent finishing move? Believe it or not, it's a kick! Not the Kamehameha or some other flashy ultimate attack. This makes sense, especially considering many early opponents were all about close-quarters combat.
Ever wonder how many Senzu Beans Goku has scarfed down? A grand total of 11! These magical beans are definitely why he's been able to bounce back from countless brutal battles.
His trusty Power Pole, a staple of young Goku's early adventures, only extended a mere 13 times! It makes sense, given that the early adventure arcs were shorter compared to the Z era and beyond.
Finally, the number of panels Goku has appeared in: a whopping 10,266! But here's a fun fact from the official team: despite being the main protagonist, Goku is actually absent from 99 chapters of the manga. That's a lot more than you'd expect!
