Dragon Ball Super's run lasted from July 2015 to March 2018, covering 131 episodes of action-packed drama, adapted from the ongoing manga of the same name. While the passing of Akira Toriyama hit the anime and manga community by storm, his legend lives on through the continuous work of Toyotarou, Toriyama's successor. While Dragon Ball Super got off to a somewhat slow start, depicting the events of movie titles such as Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' and Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, the story picks up with the start of the Future Trunks saga, a return to one of the most beloved characters in Dragon Ball lore.

The story of the Future Trunks saga is the fourth arc in the anime adaptation and third in the manga, and follows the events of a future timeline involving Future Trunks, Mai, and an unexpected new villain. From episodes 47 to 76, Dragon Ball fans are re-welcomed to Future Trunks, who is now sporting a new hair color and familiar situation that requires immediate attention. Following the Copy-Vegeta arc, one that almost felt like it was more comedic than serious, the Future Trunks Saga elevates the dangerous circumstances tenfold and brings to light a new terror that awaits the Dragon Ball heroes.

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Returning To The Past... Again

The Arrival Of A Different Looking Future Trunks

The return of Future Trunks caught many off guard as the currently-established Trunks in the main timeline was already prominently featured in the main cast. Despite this, Future Trunks makes his way back to the past to once again alert Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of his friends and family of a looming threat. Only this time, the danger was more focused on interdimensional travel rather than something affecting the future. To make matters worse for the entire cast, this Future Trunks is well-trained and has access to many powerful forms, which quickly implies that the enemy ahead is a great deal stronger.

Back in Future Trunks' timeline, the enemy he is dealing with has turned his entire world upside down. Those still alive have managed to find shelter underground while this abomination destroys everything and everyone in sight. Future Trunks has battled with this figure on more than one occasion, too stubborn to realize his own shortcomings yet not powerful enough to overcome any of them. His inability to take down his opposition eventually leads to the death of Future Bulma, his mother, and Future Mai, his partner. Their deaths lead to an enraged Future Trunks charging at his enemy, who bears a striking resemblance to Goku.

Despite not being able to defeat the villain, Future Trunks narrowly escapes his annihilation by escaping in his time-travelling pod, built by Future Bulma, and using the remaining fuel installed into the pod. Present in the current timeline, Future Trunks explains what happened and why he had to escape, much to the disbelief of his father, Vegeta, who expected more out of his son. When Goku arrives, Future Trunks throws a punch at him out of anger, shocking everyone around. The twist that follows was one nobody expected, and to this day remains one of the bigger moments of Dragon Ball Super's run.

The Introduction Of Goku Black

Who Exactly Is Goku Black?

If viewers got a sense of deja-vu with the villain of the Future Trunks Saga, there's a good reason why. Known as Goku Black, the new villain of the arc is actually the body of Goku inhabited by another character with harmful intentions. The audience is introduced to Zamasu, a Kai with incredible fighting intelligence and the subject of Universe 10's Supreme Kai, Gowasu. During his training under the Supreme Kai, the seeds are planted regarding the conflict in his heart, as he fails to purify a tea that can only be done by a heart that is pure. This is a wonderful foreshadowing of events that are to come, as Zamasu has plans that go beyond a Kai's abilities.

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Zamasu comes from a belief system that, in order to stop the fighting on Earth, the accused must be eviscerated. Since this thought process goes against the beliefs of a Kai, Zamasu makes a turn for the worse by assassinating several high-ranking figures to obtain the Super Dragon Balls. With any wish being a possibility, Zamasu wishes to switch bodies with Goku, becoming the powerful Saiyan he once detested and killing the Goku inhabiting his former body. The shock of these circumstances doesn't end there, as Zamasu, now in Goku's body, returns to Earth and kills Chi-Chi and Goten in cold blood.

Back in the main timeline, Goku Black manages to open a rift in the timeline using the Time Ring stolen from Gowasu, where he confronts the escaped Future Trunks and the main cast. The surprising twist catches everyone off guard, as Goku Black's destruction of time and space, along with his appearance and revelation, draws the attention of Goku and Vegeta. While the two manage to battle briefly, the rift forces Goku Black back into his rightful timeline, forcing Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks to concoct a plan to return to Future Trunks' timeline and confront Goku Black.

A Battle Between Fusions

Fusion Zamasu, Vegeto, And Future Trunks' Spirit Sword

Once Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks return to his timeline, the episodes pick up in action and drama. The two Saiyans and the Hybrid Saiyan form a powerful trio to take on Goku Black and Zamasu, who has used the Time Ring once more to allow for himself to be in the same place as his alternate form. Dragon Ball fans are treated to some fantastic moments, like Goku going rage mode after learning about the death of Chi-Chi and Goten, Vegeta gaining the upper hand on Super Saiyan Black Rose, and the fusion of Goku and Vegeta into Vegito. Episode after episode, Dragon Ball Super sent its audience on a roller coaster of emotions.

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While the timeline banter felt, at times, a bit forced and convoluted, fans were quickly distracted by another mesmerizing sequence of action. Sometimes, too much action can take away from a story's plot device, but in this case, Dragon Ball Super manages to keep balance in check. The investment pays off when Zamasu and Goku Black manage a fusion of their own, developing the insanely strong Fusion Zamasu. The two powerful beings create a character worth its orchestra theme and deity-like entrance, and the Saiyan fighters are even shocked by the display of brute force before an attack can even be launched.

This is where Future Trunks is allowed to shine, as Goku and Vegeta's fusion can't hold off Fusion Zamasu. With little to hope for, Future Trunks' sword is shattered and the lives of those he loves holding out for a savior, Future Trunks steps up to the plate. The direction up until this point has led Future Trunks to discover his own Spirit Bomb, but in the form of a destructive sword with the hopes and energy of everyone around him. Much like the Spirit Bomb, Future Trunks' Spirit Sword captures all the energy and forms a sword of light, which he then rushes back into the fight with every intention of using it.

Despite Future Zamasu's near-perfect form, the fusion has an adverse effect. Due to Zamasu being mortal while Goku Black was immortal, the fused form lost its ability to be indestructive. This opened up the door for Future Trunks to swing his sword and slice through Fused Zamasu, cutting the foe in half and destroying the main body. Unfortunately, the ending was not what he, nor the viewers, had hoped for, as Zamasu then fused itself with the universe. Goku eventually saves the day by calling upon Zeno, via remote control, and asking for his assistance to destroy the universe. Though this means Future Trunks' timeline is no more, so too is the existence of Zamasu and Goku Black.

Dragon Ball Super

Action

Adventure

Release Date

July 5, 2015

Studio

Toei Animation

Number of Episodes

131