Goku Black is a character from the Dragon Ball Super anime and manga series. He is the antagonist of the “Future” Trunks Saga and is an alternate version of Goku from a different timeline. He exhibits very outstanding combat skills which are similar to Goku’s skills, however, Goku Black has a very sinister nature which makes him a contrast to Goku’s personality.
Being under the influence of Zamasu, he goes into the future timeline to execute his obsession to eliminate all mortals and create a new world order. The possessed Goku Black is hereby seen combining both Zamasu’s and Goku’s traits in this timeline.
Is Goku Black Truly Zamasu?
As for whether Goku is Zamasu, the answer is no. Zamasu is a character from the Dragon Ball Super series who is a god and a former North Kai of Universe 10. He is known for his hatred of mortals and desire to eliminate them from existence.
In the series, it was shown that Zamasu was chosen to train as a Supreme Kai under one of the current Supreme Kais, Gowasu, nevertheless, because of his extraordinary combat ability. He eventually rejected his teachings and went rogue, creating his Project Zero Mortals, due to his ongoing mistrust of mortals and growing astonishment at the Kais’ passive and indirect influence on the evolution of the world.
Zamasu also believes that eradicating all gods and humans from the entirety of existence is a way of transforming the multiverse into a “beautiful utopia,” free of the humans who destroy it and the gods who do nothing to stop them. With this his ultimate objective, Zamasu fused with Goku’s alternate timeline counterpart to become an incredibly powerful villain.
Who Truly is Goku Black?
Goku Black’s existence can be traced to the future timeline where Earth has been ravaged by the evil Androids created by Dr. Gero. In this timeline, a new threat emerges in the form of Zamasu, a Kai from Universe 10 who has become disillusioned with mortals and believes they are unworthy of existence.
As a result of the body switch, Goku’s body is taken over by Zamasu and becomes Goku Black. Goku Black possesses all of Goku’s abilities but is even more ruthless and cruel than his counterpart. Goku is hereby the main character from which Goku Black comes and he is notably the main protagonist of the series and is known for his incredible strength and fighting abilities.
However, the newly created Goku Black is a contrast to Goku as he is the primary antagonist of the “Future” Trunks Saga. In this timeline, Goku was killed by a heart virus, and when the evil Kai, Zamasu, saw the devastation caused by mortals, he used the Super Dragon Balls to switch bodies with Goku and become Goku Black. Goku Black then travels to the future timeline to carry out his plan of exterminating all mortals and creating a new
world order.
Why Is He Called Goku Black?
He is called “Goku Black” because he looks and sounds exactly like Goku, but wears a black version of Goku’s iconic orange and blue outfit. This serves as a reminder that he is not the true Goku, but an imposter who has taken over Goku’s body. Throughout the series, Goku’s allies face off against Goku Black and Zamasu, culminating in a dramatic battle to save the future timeline from their destructive reign.
More so, the possessed Goku Black blames mortals for his crimes and uses Future Trunks’ transgression of time travel to support his morally dubious plan to wipe out all life. He also thinks that the only reason humanity has persisted all this time is because the gods are too arrogant to admit that they were wrong to create mortals.
Goku Black Has a Unique Appearance
Goku Black’s original appearance was that of a slim-built, above-average-height Kai with green skin, and a white Mohawk like that of his future temporal counterpart. However, his original Saiyan body suffered some physical alterations after Goku’s wish to trade bodies with Zamasu from the unaltered main timeline within Universe 7 which was granted by Super Shenron from the unaltered main timeline within Universe 6.
Although Goku Black is still fundamentally the same as Goku in so many physical attributes, it is worth noting that he has a significantly darker complexion, more “defined” eyes, and a leaner, skinnier appearance. There are just four front and three back spikes in his notably dark black hair.
After the body switching, it can also be noticed that his accessories and clothing changed. His Supreme Kai outfit changed to a dark grey vest, a long-sleeved black undershirt with a turtleneck, a red sash, black slacks, and pointy white boots. While still sporting his earring on his left ear, he would go ahead to give his future partner the right Potara earring. He also has a Time Ring on his right index finger in the anime. Moreover, in the manga, he has dark outlines around his eyes that resemble those who were influenced by Babidi’s Manipulation Sorcery.
Goku Black’s Power and Skills
Superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, and the ability to launch energy blasts are just a few of the skills that Goku Black possessed. More so, Goku Black is capable of performing most of Goku’s skills, including his teleportation ability known as Shunkan Id and a variation of his signature move, the Black Kamehameha.
Zamasu got the chance to make use of all Goku’s abilities when he repossessed his body and took on the identity of Goku Black. He also developed the capacity to master the power of his host body and change into Super Saiyan Rosé which is a pink-haired variation of the Super Saiyan Blue form.
Another significant item that enhances Goku Black’s combat skills is the energy sword. However, he is not the original owner of the sword as it is actually Zamasu’s main combat weapon which he passes on to his successors in all of his different incarnations. Due to the Saiyan physiology of the host body, Goku Black is also able to give Zamasu strength which he gains from near-death encounters.
List of Goku Black’s power and skills:
- Flight
- Ki Blast
- Continuous Energy Bullets
- Black Power Ball
- Black Kamehameha
- Super Black Kamehameha
- Instant Transmission
- Ki Sense
- Shockwave
- God Split Cut
- Fierce God Slicer
- Energy Javelin Shots
- Fierce God Slicer (scythe)
- Cloning
- Saiyan Power
- Mimicry
- Meteor Blow
- Break Strike
- Solar Flare (unused)
- Kaio-ken (unused)
