Dragon Ball has always relied on its villains to make for memorable moments. Each arc is only as good as its presiding baddie and the challenge that they present the Z Fighters with. Though fearsome foes like Demon King Piccolo, Frieza, Cell, and Buu are what kept the main series so engaging, plenty of non-cannon foes have been introduced over the years in various Dragon Ball films. None of them have enjoyed the popularity and staying power that Broly has.

Broly made his debut in the 1993 film, Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan, and would appear twice more in the 1994 films, Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming and Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly. This iteration of Broly is typically reserved and unassuming in his base form but indulges in typical Saiyan aggressions when he transforms.

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Broly’s status as the Legendary Super Saiyan put him above his contemporaries, giving him berserker-like strength that made him nearly impossible to take down. This undoubtedly played into his popularity among fans, and though he was never considered a cannon villain, would continue to make appearances via the series’ various video game adaptations.

Broly would gradually be worked into the series canon, first with the introduction of Kale in Dragon Ball Super. The Universe 6 Saiyan served as Broly’s counterpart, though her presence seemed like more of a nod to the character rather than an acknowledgment of his existence.

The New Broly

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Broly would be reintroduced, this time as an official character in the Dragon Ball Super: Broly film. The current iteration of Broly is notably different, though he does share some similarities with his predecessor. The most notable change made to this Broly is the removal of his backstory with Goku, and subsequently his fairly trivial motivation for hating him. Instead, the new Broly is naive and unsociable due to his isolated upbringing.

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As seen in the film, Broly’s fighting prowess isn’t as refined as his predecessor’s. Rather than start off as some unstoppable force, Broly’s technique is raw and unrefined. He learns throughout his battles with Goku and Vegeta, gradually matching them as they power up and test out his skills. By the time he reaches his Legendary Super Saiyan state, the two have to fuse in order to overpower him.

Unlike the original Broly, this new version was kept alive. This, alongside the fact that he’s not a villain, leaves room for him to be included in the franchise going forward. Given his strength and natural talent in battle, it would be a waste for him to not play a significant role in future projects.

What Happens Now?

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Dragon Ball has a long history of sidelining promising characters in favor of giving Goku the spotlight. While Vegeta’s popularity has made him harder to push aside, there are plenty of examples of interesting characters not getting the development they deserve, simply because doing so would lead to a less Goku-centric narrative.

Gohan is probably the one character fans like to bring up the most, but Piccolo, Tien Shinhan, Krillin, Android 18, and plenty others have had their moments in the sun, only to be rendered inconsequential as the series progressed. Given the amount of time and care spent developing the current Broly, it’d be a shame if the same happened to him going forward.

The recently announced Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film remains a mystery. Not much is known about it, and while it’s assumed that Broly will play a role in it, nothing has been confirmed. Broly is a fresh face in a cast of established characters, and delving deeper into his character while figuring out his role within the Z Fighter’s ranks could make for an interesting dynamic. This in turn would keep the series from growing stale, as continually leaving things up to Goku with those around him playing a supporting role has gotten stale over the years.

As of right now, it’s impossible to guess just how Dragon Ball will use Broly in future properties. But the character’s longstanding popularity, incredible power, and potential to shake up the old formula shouldn’t be overlooked.

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