Most Mysterious Characters in Dragon Ball

The Dragon Ball franchise has a surplus of quirky and colorful characters born of the imagination of Akira Toriyama (and later of Toyotarō’s) and though many of them are known to everyone, some are kept under a fog mystery that enshrouds their origins, and even their true goals in the series.

Some might very well be the hidden villains, and some others are so strange that they do not fall into any category be it mythical beings, alien species, or deities. That said, there are some characters that very little is known about. From one of Goku’s wisest (and strangest) masters to the being that surveys all creation in the universe, and might be a self-insert of the current Mangaka, or something way beyond the most crazy conspiracy theories.

8 Master Karin

One Of Toriyama’s Most Mysterious And Cunning Characters

• Original Name: Karin – Neko Sennin
• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Manga #88 Sage of Korin Tower
• Age: 800 or more

When people look at Master Karin, they might only see a big, fluffy, talking cat. But for those who grew up watching Dragon Ball, he is way more than that. He is wise, a mentor for Goku (and other Z Warriors), and the only character in the Dragon Ball universe capable of growing Sensu Beans. Who is this strange feline, who has unknown skills, age, and origin?

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The truth is the creator of this beloved franchise was an animal lover, and he had many pets. Karim’s design was inspired by Toriyama’s cat, and his fur in the Manga was originally blue, but was changed to white to represent purity, and the wisdom that comes with age. The thing is, Karin (or Korin) is a Senbyō, a Spiritual Cat Deity that rules over fortune, wisdom, and prosperity. He has seen the ages and has trained many warriors including Roshi, and allegedly, Goku’s Grandfather: Son Gohan.

7 Grandpa Gohan

Little Is Known About The Man Who Raised Goku

• Original Name: Son Gohan
• First Appearance: Dragon Bal Manga #103 The Power of Goku
• Age: 100 or more

The man who found a wild beast and tamed it, turning him into the protector of Earth. Son Gohan, the man who raised Goku from an evil Saiyan into a kind, yet naive young warrior. The Dragon Ball universe might not exist today without Gohan’s influence on the young protagonist of the Shonen that molded an entire generation.

According to what Goku says, he was kind, patient, and sometimes a wisecraker. According to Roshi, he was a powerful warrior, capable of leveling a mountain with a single stomp. Little is known about this man’s past, but he was definitely powerful. Strong enough to prevent a Giant Ape from rampaging (at the cost of his own life, of course) but still, managed to subdue Goku before the worst could happen, and that requires a lot of might.

6 Chiaotzu

Is He A Man? Is He A Demon? Or Is He Something Else?

• Original Name: Chaozu
• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Manga #113 Return to the Tournament
• Age: Around 50.

Toriyama’s love for quirkiness and xenofiction has given birth to many interesting characters, some are human, some are not, but all of them are residents of Earth. What a strange world this is, with so many species, half-breeds, androids, Saiyans, demons, dinosaurs, dragons, and such. But then again, what is Chiaotzu exactly? Oolong is clearly an anthropomorphic animal, like many others in the show.

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But Ten Shin Han’s best friend and co-disciple of Master Shen’s school, doesn’t fall in any of the categories of species that have spawned from Toriyama’s colorful worldbuilding. In that sense, we might say he is the only of his kind. So then again, who is he? Where did he come from? And most importantly: how old is he? Some say 50, some say more. We might never know.

5 Launch

Came Out Of Nowhere, And Disappeared Out Of The Blue

• Original Name: Lunch (Lunchi)
• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Manga #26 Who’s That Girl?
• Age: (18) – 26+.

The introduction of Launch to the Dragon Ball series is as mysterious as her disappearance during Dragon Ball Z’s mid-Arc. She was introduced as Goku and Krillin were send on a weird task to bring (kidnap) a young woman to help Master Roshi with his chores. She was being chased by the police for robbin a Bank, and Goku and Krillin quickly found out she had a strange disorder: She shifted between a good and bad personality with a sneeze.

Toriyama’s own Jekyll/Hyde character had entered the Dragon Ball universe, and both versions of this girl were quite popular for a while. Then, as mysteriously as she was introduced into the story, she was shown as being fond of Tien Shin Han, and that was the end of it. Alongside other abandoned characters of the series, Toriyama sidelined her into oblivion. Why? Many theorize that it was due to criticism since the mid-90s was a breeding ground for political groups who were against anime for various reasons. Where did Launch go after that? It is a mystery that Akira took with him.

4 Pikkon

Another Of Goku’s Non-Earthling Friends

• Original Name: Paikuhan
• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z (Anime) Episode 95 – Warriors of the Dead
• Age: Unknown

So, Pikkon, a revamped version of Piccolo for some, or a filler character that appeared long enough to befriend Goku and was never seen again. During the Battle in the Kai Worlds where disciples of several Kais face each other in a battle for supremacy, Goku met this warrior from another Galaxy, and of course, after a heated battle, ended up becoming friends with him.

As a warrior, Pikkon is quite cool and collected, and less cranky than Piccolo, but the problem is they’re so alike, that there was no way another green alien was going to settle down on Earth. There can only be one, as they say. So, Goku and Pikkon parted ways, but this mysterious character did another Cameo during Super Buu’s rampage, and was almost annihilated alongside Kai Planet.

3 Demon King Dabura

An Evil Ruler From Another World

• Original Name: Dabra
• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z (Manga) #446 The Dark Mage Bobiddi
• Age: More than a millennium, at least

Little is known about this Demon King, who was an evil tyrant before Babidi’s mind spell bent his will, and became a puppet of the evil wizard and his right-hand man. He is obviously of the Demon Race, but as Toriyama’s obsession with demons from several worlds and universes was quite prolific, viewers might never know exactly where he came from.

But, thanks to Dragon Ball Daima’s character Panzy (princess of the Third Demon World) viewers might have finally learned a thing or two about the “old spitty” guy. According to her, Dabura was a hell of an evil ruler, though not as bad as other villains of the series. As to how this demonic being became the ruler of his own world, that will remain unclear.

2 The Grand Minister

An Angel? Or Something Way More Evil?

• Original Name: Dai Shinkan
• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Super – Episode 55
• Age: Unknown.

Even a simple gaze from this perma-smirky guy can twist the guts of Beerus, the God of Destruction. So, what’s worse than a creature that deletes planets for a living? The father of all angels, according to lore, but some things about The Grand Minister (Or Supreme Priest) are not quite right for a being that is theoretically aligned with the “good side.”

For instance, his attitude is less than subservient to the King of All (Xeno Sama) and it is often showcased with a dark line between the eyes. Typical Manga villain, some might think, but what if its even worse than we can imagine? Remember Zamasu? So, what if this guy is actually the Puppeteer, and Zeno Sama is the perfect (and most powerful) of pawns in a big, cosmic, chess game? This guy sure hides something terrible, and perhaps it will take years for it to be finally revealed.

1 Zeno Sama

Some Say It’s Toyotaro’s Self Insert, Others Have a More Sinister Theory

• Original Name: Zen-Oh
• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Super – Episode 40
• Age: Unknown.

We already discussed The Gran Minister looking as the Orchestrator behind the scenes, but then again: Who is Zeno Sama, the King of All, and God of all creation? Viewers know that Toriyama loved to do some self inserts in the franchise as Tori-Bot, and appeared in several of his works (especially Arale). So, fans have this crazy theory that Zeno Sama is none other than Toyotaro (current torchbearer of the Dragon Ball Universe), and it might make a lot of sense.

But, looking at Zeno’s appearance, the two purple lines sandwiching that small blue face, it does look a lot like one of Bulma’s finest inventions. Remember the Capsules from the original Dragon Ball series? A deeper analysis might indicate that this is not Zeno Sama’s final form and that that small, feeble appearance holds back a dark and powerful monster. Perhaps something that the Grand Minister himself put inside a container, to better control and wield as he pleases.

Dragon Ball

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Created by

Akira Toriyama

First TV Show

Dragon Ball

First Episode Air Date

February 26, 1986

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TV Show(s)

Dragon Ball , Dragon Ball Z , Dragon Ball GT , Dragon Ball Super , Dragon Ball DAIMA