Dragon Ball stands out as one of the most influential anime ever created, inspiring countless fans and creators around the world with its thrilling, epic narrative. The franchise has spawned numerous films, spin-offs, and video games, expanding the series cast and lore across a wide variety of media.
Among this expanded universe, there are many characters that stand out for their unique abilities or overwhelming presence, including certain non-canon Saiyans who could easily become a fan-favorite among audiences. Dragon Ball Super’s next big arc absolutely should be to introduce one menacing, iconic Saiyan.
Dragon Ball Super Is Bringing Fan-Favorite Heroes to Canon Life
The 2018 film, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, marked a turning point for the franchise by officially bringing Broly into the canon after decades as a non-canon fan-favorite character, earning him three films out of Dragon Ball Z’s 15 movies, including Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F.’ The film reimagined his character while offering a deeper backstory on Goku and Vegeta’s origins.
That same film also brought Goku and Vegeta’s fusion, Gogeta, to canonical status. The fusion was first introduced in the 1995 Dragon Ball Z movie Fusion Reborn and was never integrated into the main storyline until Super.
Beyond these introductions, Super also brought Vomi, best known as the woman who served as the blueprint for Android 21, into the official canon during Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Her appearance, albeit brief, was evidence that Super is continuing to mine its expanded universe for characters with significant potential to contribute to the series.
Among these, the wealth of non-canon characters, one Saiyan stands out as a strong candidate for becoming part of the main storyline next. Cumber, introduced in Super Dragon Ball Heroes, stands out for his raw, menacing presence and could easily make a thrilling antagonist for the next Dragon Ball Super arc.
Cumber Is One of the Most Compelling Saiyans in the Franchise
Cumber enters Super Dragon Ball Heroes as an ancient, mysterious Saiyan whose origins are steeped in darkness. He’s known as the “Evil Saiyan” or “God Slayer,” and has a reputation for his overwhelming strength and destructive, intimidating aura.
Unlike traditional Saiyans, Cumber’s abilities include intense, corruptive power. His aura is not only menacing but toxic. Anyone who gets too close would find themselves destabilized, their minds corrupted, causing them to enter into a berserk, animalistic state. Even Goku, best known for his purity and kindhearted, optimistic nature, struggled against the effects of Cumber’s overwhelming aura.
Paired with his relentlessly aggressive personality, Cumber is very closely aligned with how Broly was portrayed in his original Dragon Ball Z films. The rage, power, and unpredictability that define Cumber make him a dangerous threat that can’t be dealt with in the same way as other villains due to his corrupting aura.
Beyond his dangerous presence, Cumber has proven himself to be a dominating force, even when restricted in a straitjacket. He has the power to take on multiple high-level fighters simultaneously, granting him a dangerously unique combination of physical power, corrupting aura, and aggressive instinct.
Cumber Could Redefine Power in Dragon Ball Super
Cumber’s strength represents a new kind of threat in Dragon Ball. Unlike other Saiyans, his power goes beyond raw potential or the ability to transform into new, powerful forms. One of his most jaw-dropping assets is his corrupting aura and influence over those who get too close to him.
As an antagonist, Cumber is a mental and physical threat to anyone who attempts to stand against him, whether up close or from afar, making him a menace that cannot be easily countered.
If one of the heroes dares to get too close, they would become destabilized and turn berserk, becoming an additional threat for their allies to defeat. If even Goku cannot struggle against the corrupting effects, it suggests that Cumber’s presence alone would be enough to turn the tide in battle.
With his aura, Cumber turns proximity into a hazard, forcing the heroes to alter their approach to engage him in battle. As an antagonist, Cumber is a mental and physical threat to anyone who attempts to stand against him, whether up close or from afar, making him a menace that cannot be easily countered.
Cumber Would Be the Saiyan No One Could Easily Beat
Cumber’s uniqueness lies not only in his power and abilities but also in his sheer narrative potential. If he’s brought into the main storyline, Cumber could bring an unpredictable edge to the series, challenging both the heroes and the familiar story structure. His presence would demand inventive strategies, forcing characters to explore new approaches to combat.
Introducing Cumber to canon could transform the stakes of the battles in Dragon Ball Super. His corruptive aura and aggressive instincts are one thing, but Cumber’s presence in the storyline could create tension beyond mere power levels by introducing psychological pressure into the series.
Paired with the fact that Cumber is an ancient Saiyan, his introduction into the series could offer fans a deeper understanding of the Saiyans and their history, possibly even granting insight into the Legendary Super Saiyan, Yamoshi, a canon ancient Saiyan that remains shrouded in mystery.
With all the depth and thrilling potential that Cumber could provide, he stands out among non-canon Dragon Ball characters to be integrated into the canon universe next. When Super ultimately returns, it could create a fresh dynamic through Cumber’s official introduction to the main series.
- Created by
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Akira Toriyama
- Latest TV Show
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Super Dragon Ball Heroes
- First Episode Air Date
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April 26, 1989
