Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 were completely rejected by most fans in Dragon Ball Super’s prequel to the Super Hero film, but now they’re justified.

Warning: Spoilers for Dragon Ball Super chapter 96May fans consider Dragon Ball Super‘s prequel to the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film to be an unnecessary filler arc in part because Goten and Trunks perplexingly adopt their own version of Gohan’s Saiyaman identity for their own use. However, the manga’s current adaptation of the movie just retconned a critical scene that now completely justifies the prequel’s second generation of the great Saiyaman.

In the original Super Hero film, Goten and Trunks fight the recently awakened Cell Max by fusing into Gotenks. However, in chapter 96 of Dragon Ball Super, Trunks and Goten assume the identities of Saiyaman X-1 and X-2, respectively, and charge Cell Max. This is obviously completely exclusive to the manga since Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 didn’t exist by the time Super Hero was released.

Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 are Satisfying “Book Ends”

Although Gotenks is a fun character (especially when the fusion fails), the decision to have Goten and Trunks assume their superhero secret identities instead of fusing in the Super Hero adaptation has consequently justified their introduction in the prequel arc since both instances now serve as satisfying book ends. If Goten and Trunks just became Gotenks, then their escapades as Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 in the prequel arc would have acted as nothing more than just a cringe-worthy call-out to an unpopular moment from Dragon Ball Z. Luckily, it’s much more than that. This is especially the case because the current arc has mostly been adapting the film with little to no retcons, so any deviation is a welcome development for obvious reasons.

However, even before this latest retcon, Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 haven’t been completely rejected by fans. The fact that Goten and Trunks’ secret identities were influenced by a fictional superhero from their world fittingly complements Dr. Hedo’s appreciation for superheroes and the subsequent creation of his heroic Gamma androids in Super Hero. By incorporating new versions of the Saiyaman superhero into the prequel story of a film aptly called Super Hero, the manga fits quite well with the overall superhero theme.

Saiyaman X-1 and X-2’s Fated Tragic Ending

Of course, it is highly plausible that Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 will lose against Cell Max. In fact, it must. Considering the fact that Gotenks’ failure in the film allows Gohan to achieve his Beast form, there’s no choice except for Goten and Trunks not to beat Cell Max if the manga plans to make Beast Gohan canon.

Their loss, however, will not diminish Saiyaman X-1 and X-2’s role as bookends to the prequel to and actual adaptation of the Super Hero film. In fact, it might even help Goten and Trunks come to the realization that no iteration of Saiyaman is effective, and this should be good news for critics of X-1 and X-2 because that would mean no more antics in Dragon Ball Super.

Source: Screenrant.com