Do you think Cell is the best villain?

[DBZAOTA482]

Not that I necessarily believe so but there are very compelling arguments for so...

1. Challenge

Cell was arguably the Z-Warrior's most difficult opponent and not just because he was strong but also because he was strategic (a rare trait for a Dragon Ball villain). He has the cells of all the Z-Warriors and their enemies (most predominantly Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Freeza) which he can use to his advantage both in fighting abilities and psychologically. Previous and following villains were quickly surpassed in the arcs that succeeded them but in the Majin Boo Saga no one matched let alone surpassed Cell till Majin Boo himself came. He even not only made Goku give up but is the only villain to successfully kill him.

2. Impact

Cell is easily one of the more iconic Dragon Ball villains and his influence reflects that. Despite bein alive for only a couple years he led way for the Saiyans to surpass the SSJ wall and allowed Piccolo to become one with Kami. His defeat also allowed Mr. Satan to go from world champion to world's savior who later went from one-note gag to a greedy yet decent goofball (legit) hero.

3. Personality

Dragon Ball is often perceived as super simplistic never taking any risks with it's story and characters but Cell is a surprisingly complex character. As already mentioned, he has the cells of all the Z-Warriors and as such he shows numerous personality traits of them such as Vegeta's ego, Piccolo's cunning, Freeza's faux politeness (without the sarcasm), Daimao's sadism, and the Saiyan's lust for a challenge. This also ends up being his downfall as he makes the same mistakes he criticized the Z-Warriors for making.



Do you agree with my points? If not, explain why and tells who do you think is the best villain.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

I don't know whether he's the best, but I sure do like him for putting-over Gohan (wrestling term) and being really the only main-villain besides Super-Boo (kind-of) to do so.

 

[Papasmurf]

He's better than Boo but inferior to Freeza. His entire backstory consists of one large asspull that even Toriyama couldn't properly articulate during the time he was actually writing the manga, and repetitiously regenerating while absorbing someone every time he was cornered caused his character to go on a downhill slope the longer he lasted. He's also not really responsible for any great event that happened in his enemies' lives as he was merely Gero's creation, and continued to be so until he killed Goku and Trunks near the end of his arc. The amount of times he was surpassed was absurd as well, with Piccolo, #16, Vegeta, Trunks and Gohan all having been near victorious until some asspull let him live and power up (e.g. his self-destruction).

Whereas Freeza was personally responsible for killing Vegeta's entire race, made him cry tears of frustration as he killed him, and commanded all of the universe's best warriors at the time and was never truly surpassed until Goku transformed at that, already being over 20 times as powerful as Vegeta during his arrival on Namek in his first form. I don't think Cell is that bad, but he isn't the best.

 

[sei'taer]

Furiza or Piccolo were the best villains. They killed more named characters, and had more emotional weight to the fights.

That doesn't mean I don't like cell, he was a great villain, and a great creation.

 

[Tapion]

If it wasn't Cell then Dragon Ball would have ended on Future Saga, so he is relevant as hell.

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

Majin Boo is the only villain to destroy the Earth [Fuk FNF} so he's the best.

 

[Evil Vegeta]

Imperfect Cell was a great villain. He became whack after absorbing the Androids.

 

[Papasmurf]

His arrogance did a fusion dance with 17's when he absorbed the latter

 

[SSJ2]

I think Freeza was a much better villain overall. I think Cell just appeared out of nowhere in the context of the manga, and kind of made the whole Android 19, 20, 17, 18 thing feel overshadowed.

 

[Papasmurf]

Piccolo Daimao and Piccolo Jr. were better villains than Cell as well imo, as they were less asspulled and actually had a real reason for trying to do what they did. Not to mention almost everything that allows Cell to live ends up being an asspull involving his regeneration, like I said

 

[Tapion]

The topic is about the villain Cell, not the asspulls involving him

 

[sei'taer]

The topic is about if cell is the best villain.

Asspulls are definitely valid for not thinking so.

 

[withheldforprivacy]

Not that I necessarily believe so but there are very compelling arguments for so...

1. Challenge

Cell was arguably the Z-Warrior's most difficult opponent and not just because he was strong but also because he was strategic (a rare trait for a Dragon Ball villain). He has the cells of all the Z-Warriors and their enemies (most predominantly Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Freeza) which he can use to his advantage both in fighting abilities and psychologically. Previous and following villains were quickly surpassed in the arcs that succeeded them but in the Majin Boo Saga no one matched let alone surpassed Cell till Majin Boo himself came. He even not only made Goku give up but is the only villain to successfully kill him.

2. Impact

Cell is easily one of the more iconic Dragon Ball villains and his influence reflects that. Despite bein alive for only a couple years he led way for the Saiyans to surpass the SSJ wall and allowed Piccolo to become one with Kami. His defeat also allowed Mr. Satan to go from world champion to world's savior who later went from one-note gag to a greedy yet decent goofball (legit) hero.

3. Personality

Dragon Ball is often perceived as super simplistic never taking any risks with it's story and characters but Cell is a surprisingly complex character. As already mentioned, he has the cells of all the Z-Warriors and as such he shows numerous personality traits of them such as Vegeta's ego, Piccolo's cunning, Freeza's faux politeness (without the sarcasm), Daimao's sadism, and the Saiyan's lust for a challenge. This also ends up being his downfall as he makes the same mistakes he criticized the Z-Warriors for making.



Do you agree with my points? If not, explain why and tells who do you think is the best villain.

Don't forget Cell is the only main villain in the show who does not have a single gag moment. All the other villains have at least one gag
panel:
-Taopaipai: Several gag faces during his second bout with Goku.
-Piccolo Daimaio: His gag face panel when Goku bent the kamehameha blast.
-Freeza: Awkward expression when Ginyu asked whether he wanted to see the dance of joy and a gag face when Goku bit his tail.
-Buu: Pretty much everything.

 

[Zippy]

Frieza is better

 

[Papasmurf]

Don't forget Cell is the only main villain in the show who does not have a single gag moment. All the other villains have at least one gag
panel:
-Taopaipai: Several gag faces during his second bout with Goku.
-Piccolo Daimaio: His gag face panel when Goku bent the kamehameha blast.
-Freeza: Awkward expression when Ginyu asked whether he wanted to see the dance of joy and a gag face when Goku bit his tail.
-Buu: Pretty much everything.

 

[withheldforprivacy]

I'm not sure whether covers and wincing of pain are gags.

 

[Papasmurf]

The cover's a gag page since Cell says he is relishing in becoming perfect at last, but he'll have to lose his "handsome mask" to do so, and we know he looks like a monster in his second form. There's also Cell throwing a tantrum like a 3 year old screaming "If only I could be complete"

 

[kriss-]

Nope, Freeza is the best villain.

Highest shown potential, more powerful, evil and he even has reasons to actually have beef with Goku & Vegeta.