I had actually planned to launch an anime section to my blog with Attack on Titan. After all, my wife and kids have all but begged me to watch that series. However, the passing of Akira Toriyama (April 5, 1955-March 1, 2024) has created an opportunity. I usually do not speak about, let alone write about, the famous and deceased yet I am of the opinion that the modern popularity of anime in the US can be directly attributed to Toriyama-san—especially among black people. (Naruto, I consider to be second-wave.)
In the 90’s, I watched VHS tapes of Akira, Ninja Scroll, and Ghost in the Shell, the holy trinity anime that decade. I did not know a that time that I had started with the best, which is why I gave the likes of Dominion Tank Police and Vampire Hunter D a try, but they failed to appeal to me. After that, I gave up on anime.
Until one day, I came home from football practice and my little brother said that he had started watching a new show, and he thought I should watch it too because it featured a specific character he knew I would like. What is special about this character, I asked. He replied that this character reminds him so much of me.
Oh?
So yeah, I gave it a go. My brother was using our VCR to record episodes on Cartoon Network’s Toonami while we were at football practice. In the first episode I ever witnessed, a sneering character with a deep raspy voice, jet-black hair layered in spikes accented with a prominent widow’s peak, and a penchant for trash talk implodes a purple alien named Cui. My interest piqued, I keep watching. This character then eviscerates an obese pink alien named Dodoria. After a teal narcissist named Zarbon bests him, he impales the beast with an energy blast during a rematch. He decapitates Guldo, saving Krillin and Gohan. (After getting absolutely handled by Recoome), he sends Jeice to the next dimension in one of the most iconic death scenes in anime, with Jeice begging for his life.
Elitist. Conceited. Arrogant. Supercilious. His name is Vegeta, and I like his style. He also has two of the top three songs in the entire DBZ franchise: “Hell’s Bells” and his own SSJ theme.
“My motivation was to be the best…to be the greatest Saiyan alive, as I always have been.”
My introduction to Vegeta takes place during something like a redemption arc for him as I had missed the Saiyan Saga when he arrives on Earth to destroy it. With cunning during the Namek Saga, he systematically eliminates Freiza’s elite, the Ginyu Force, avenging the genocide of his race at their very hands. I could relate to Vegeta’s rage in his violent crusade to liberate himself from his oppressors.
I thank Toriyama-san for creating Vegeta, a fully-manifested version of my inner id. I envied Vegeta during his Majin phase when he laments growing soft in his domestication with Bulma and Trunks on Earth. He wishes to unleash his unbridled power—an embrace of a truer true version of himself. While DBZ as a whole is indeed a (male) power fantasy, Vegeta embraces the chauvanism, the flex. The only thing that matters to him in life is not just being the best, but being better than you. Indeed, part of Vegeta’s character revolves around both an air of superiority while also bullying the inferior. Everyone (but Goku) among the Z Fighters fear him—even Piccolo (secretly).
Because Vegeta is a fictional character, he can get away with his toxic characteristics. But actually he doesn’t! Toriyama humbles Vegeta on a frequent basis, as he has consumed his fair share of knuckle sandwiches. Nevertheless, I envy his freedom to be himself. As my brother said that Vegeta reminds him of me, I have had to change over the years. To be that condescending is to be misanthropic, which would not lead to a successful career or marriage. Nevertheless, I thank Toriyama-san for treating me and so many others to one of my favorite characters in all of fiction
“Welcome to the end of your life. And I promise it’s going to hurt.“
Bonus: Did you know that Toriyama was the lead artist for Chrono Trigger, much of the Dragon Quest series, and the cult classic fighting game, Tobal? The man was TALENTED!
Blerd Beats 