Gamma 1 and 2 always had an clear link to superheroes, but Dragon Ball Super’s latest chapter confirms Dr Hedo’s true inspiration for their design.
The latest manga chapter of Dragon Ball Super definitively confirmed an interesting detail of Gamma 1 and 2’s backstory that wasn’t mentioned in the anime film: they were inspired by Goten and Trunks. More specifically, their designs as superheroes were directly derived from Goten and Trunks’ Great Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 aliases. This is an awesome detail that was built upon a few chapters prior in the lead-up to the cell max arc, and things have finally come full circle.
While this was hinted it at in previous chapters, the actual extent of their influence on the design of the Gamma Androids has been further demonstrated in the alterations made to the story of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero in chapter 97 of the manga. Dr. Hedo is a big fan of superheroes, but the superheroes he admired ended up being Goten and Trunks which gives a new layer of depth to the Gamma androids and their personalities.
Dr. Hedo Was Saiyaman X-1 & X-2’s Biggest Fan
When Goten and Trunks were first revealed as Saiyaman X-1 and X-2, they made their living defeating Hedo’s early android prototypes. After the dynamic duo of Saiyamen took down Hedo’s first operation, he honed in on Trunks as a prime suspect for one of the Great Saiyamen. The main android Hedo put on the case Baytuh, who wasn’t much of a challenge for the two in their Super Saiyan forms, but who at the very least caused them grief in high school.
Even after Baytah was defeated, Hedo now further suspected the true identities of the Saiyamen and began sending his goons to harass Goten and Trunks at every opportunity in order to identify them as the Great Saiyaman superheroes once and for all. Despite viewing the pair as “no more than wicked villains”, Hedo nonetheless admired their awesome hero costumes, and even planned on using Saiyaman X-2’s Red Cape as a starting point for his own design.
This revelation proved to be true when the Gamma Androids acknowledged the similarities between the two young Saiyans and themselves in DBS chapter 97. Gamma 1 and 2 clearly act like Goten and Trunks when viewed in this light, as they have a similar dynamic as the two young Saiyans do as friends. One thing Dr. Hedo always had in common with the two Saiyamen was his love for Cleangod: Hedo’s most prized possession was his Cleangod autographed picture, and the only two times he emerged from hiding was during events where Cleangod made an appearance. Both Goten and Trunks modeled their method of heroism after Cleangod, so it only makes sense that they would have a shared aesthetic with Hedo’s interests.
Gamma 1 Is Goten and Gamma 2 is Trunks
Like Goten, Gamma 1 tends to be the more level-headed, clever one of the pair. He is often the voice of reason, and acts less out of emotion than his counterpart. In terms of his personality, Gamma 2 is undeniably based on Trunks. He’s air-headed, cocky, and loves to make a clever quip, just like Trunks. Kid Trunks’ characteristic overconfidence is also present in Gamma 2, as shown when he lets Piccolo escape during their initial encounter.
As Gamma 2 points out in chapter 97, his appearance is also based on Goten’s as he wears a similar red cape to Great Saiyaman X-2. In fact, both the Gamma Androids seem to have their capes fashioned after Goten’s, though Gamma 2’s cape is a blue that more fits with Trunks’ blue hair. Even the heads of the Gamma Androids seem to correspond with the Great Saiyamen in their Super Saiyan forms. When Goten turns Super Saiyan, his hair stands up straight like Gamma 1’s single horn does, whereas Trunks’ hair parts in the middle like how Gamma 2’s two horns do.
The Gamma Androids carry over even more from the Saiyamen in relation to their movements and mannerisms. The Gamma Androids definitely use very similar heroic poses to Goten and Trunks, and their combat moves are similar as well. Their movements in battle correspond so well that the two groups can synchronize perfectly to pull off the unified attack “Cyclone Style: Tornado Super Hurricane.”
The one noticeable difference between the Gamma Androids and their Saiyan counterparts is the actual numbers they use in their names. Goten is X-2, but corresponds more with Gamma 1, while Trunks has more in common with Gamma 2 despite taking on the Saiyaman X-1 moniker. What’s interesting about this is that Hedo named the Gamma Androids himself, whereas Goten and Trunks had to settle on their names between themselves. Trunks has the more assertive personality of the two and is older, so it makes sense that Trunks would take the X-1 name and Goten would go along with it, even if Goten hoped for otherwise.
Why The Gamma’s Relationship to the Great Saiyamen Wasn’t In The Super Hero Movie
The biggest difference between the Super Hero arc in the manga and the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film is how Trunks and Goten are portrayed during the fight with Cell Max. In the movie, the two appear in their regular street clothes and don’t really participate much in the fight other than as a failed version of their Gotenks fusion. In the manga though, the two show up in their Great Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 outfits and team up to do some heavy damage to the gigantic villain.
Even though it’s such a huge aspect of their backstories, the connection between Goten and Trunks and the Gamma Androids was a detail that wouldn’t have made sense in the Super Hero film because Goten and Trunks weren’t shown as the Saiyamen in the anime yet. Goten and Trunks’ superhero side-gig only made their debut in the manga after the Super Hero film was already released. It was a set-up that required multiple chapters in the manga to pull off sufficiently, and the film just didn’t have that much time. The Super Hero movie already covered a lot of ground in its nearly two-hour run time, and adding more exposition on top of that may have risked running too long for a Dragon Ball film.
Source: CBR.com
