Editing Gohan (section)

==Reception==
[[File:Sakura-Con 2010, Seattle (4489182720).jpg|right|thumb|upright|Cosplayers portraying Gohan (back) and [[Videl]] (front) in their respective Great Saiyaman costumes.]]
In 1993, Gohan placed first in a ''Dragon Ball'' character popularity poll voted on by ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' readers,<ref name="WSJ polls">{{cite book |title=Dragon Ball The Complete Illustrations|date=October 2008|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|isbn=978-1-4215-2566-2|pages=215, 217}}</ref> and was also voted the third most popular character by fans of the series for the 2004 book ''Dragon Ball Forever''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Dragon Ball Forever |year=2004 |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |isbn=4-08-873702-4|language=ja}}</ref> Due to the popularity of Gohan, other merchandise, such as [[action figure]]s, video games, and clothing have featured Gohan in Japan and in various countries around the world.  C.J. A. Glover of ''[[Moviepilot]]'' ranked Gohan his third favorite comic character, admitting Gohan "has always been somewhat of an idol to me" as he related to bottling up his anger and being a gentle person that, when snapping, "would let loose and it would be hard to bottle it back up again." In conclusion, Glover wrote that Gohan was definitely "one of my favorite anime and manga characters ever."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/03/25/my-top-5-favorite-comic-characters--2-2810150?lt_source=external,manual|title=My Top 5 Favorite Comic Characters.|first=CJ A.|last=Glover|date=March 25, 2015|publisher=moviepilot.com|access-date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402190815/http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/03/25/my-top-5-favorite-comic-characters--2-2810150?lt_source=external,manual|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gohan's relationship with mentor Piccolo during the Saiyan arc was praised,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://anime-focus.com/2012/06/23/review-dragon-ball-z-season-1/|title=Review: Dragon Ball Z Season 1|date=June 23, 2012|publisher=Anime Focus|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163824/http://anime-focus.com/2012/06/23/review-dragon-ball-z-season-1/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> being seen as "complex" and "culminating in a truly emotional and inspiring moment that one doesn't often expect from your average animated series."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/54903/dragon-ball-z-kai-season-two/|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season Two|first=Nick|last=Hartel|date=July 25, 2012|publisher=DVD Talk|access-date=March 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402194042/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/54903/dragon-ball-z-kai-season-two/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Tomoko Hiroki from [[Bandai Namco Entertainment|Bandai Namco]] considered Gohan her favorite character from the series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/06/23/dragon-ball-fighterz-producer-creating-core-fighting-game-character-variety/|title=Dragon Ball FighterZ Producer On Creating A Core Fighting Game And Character Variety|first=Al|last=Yang|date=June 23, 2017|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624172738/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/06/23/dragon-ball-fighterz-producer-creating-core-fighting-game-character-variety/|archive-date=June 24, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Gohan victory over Cell.png|thumb|Gohan's victory over [[Cell (Dragon Ball)|Cell]] is generally regarded as a high point for the character and a strong showing of his character development.]] -->
Most of Gohan's praise is derived from his role in the Cell arc of ''Dragon Ball Z''. [[IGN]] writer D. F. Smith liked how during the Cell Games, Gohan has more screen time than Goku, and praised his scenes as one of the biggest moments from said story arc.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://dvd.ign.com/articles/933/933046p2.html|title= Dragon Ball Z - Season Six DVD Review|publisher= IGN|date= November 12, 2007|author= Smith, D.F.|access-date= May 12, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081206103449/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/933/933046p2.html|archive-date= December 6, 2008|url-status= dead}}</ref> Theron Martin from [[Anime News Network]] celebrated Gohan's development in the Cell Games as he had grown up and become stronger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-z/dvd-season-6|title=Dragon Ball Z DVD - Season 6 Box Set (uncut)|author=Martin, Theron|access-date=May 12, 2009|date=November 25, 2008|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429032122/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-z/dvd-season-6|archive-date=April 29, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The character's battles against Cell during the arc and his transformation into a Super Saiyan 2 were positively received as some of the best in the entire series,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://observationdeck.io9.com/rock-the-dragon-the-worst-to-best-dragon-ball-sagas-1688230051|title=Rock The Dragon! The Worst To Best Dragon Ball Sagas|date=February 25, 2015|publisher=Observation Deck|access-date=March 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301162301/http://observationdeck.io9.com/rock-the-dragon-the-worst-to-best-dragon-ball-sagas-1688230051|archive-date=March 1, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="capsulecomputers.com.au">{{cite news|url=http://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/2014/10/dragon-ball-z-season-6-blu-ray-review/|title=Dragon Ball Z Season 6 Blu-Ray Review|date=October 14, 2014|publisher=Capsule Computers|first=Nathan|last=Farrugia|access-date=March 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021004845/http://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/2014/10/dragon-ball-z-season-6-blu-ray-review/|archive-date=October 21, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> the fight additionally being praised for its animation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gamerstemple.com/featured-article/297/dragon-ball-z-season-six-dvd-review|title=Dragon Ball Z: Season Six DVD Review|date=September 19, 2008|publisher=The Gamer's Temple|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402090430/http://www.gamerstemple.com/featured-article/297/dragon-ball-z-season-six-dvd-review|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Both Anime Focus<ref>{{cite news|url=http://anime-focus.com/2013/03/07/review-dragon-ball-z-season-6/|title=Review: Dragon Ball Z Season 6|date=March 7, 2013|access-date=March 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328171013/http://anime-focus.com/2013/03/07/review-dragon-ball-z-season-6/|archive-date=March 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and John Begley believed ''Dragon Ball Z'' could have ended with Gohan's defeat of Cell, the latter reasoning concluding it there would have "provided it a sense of poignancy and closure that retroactively would have provided a greater sense of depth and purpose."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fandompost.com/2015/03/09/dragon-ball-z-season-6-blu-ray-anime-review/|title=Dragon Ball Z Season 6 Blu-ray Anime Review|date=March 9, 2015|first=Josh|last=Begley|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025329/http://www.fandompost.com/2015/03/09/dragon-ball-z-season-6-blu-ray-anime-review/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Luke Ryan Baldock of The Hollywood News felt Gohan's progression was the focus of the Cell Games and that he had begun to match his father Goku in ability, calling their relationship "a fascinating one to watch unfold."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2013/02/27/dragon-ball-z-season-6-dvd-review/|title=Dragon Ball Z Season 6 DVD Review|first=Luke Ryan|last=Baldock|publisher=The Hollywood News|access-date=2015-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094056/http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2013/02/27/dragon-ball-z-season-6-dvd-review/|archive-date=2015-04-02|url-status=live}}</ref> Reviewer Nick Hartel expressed that the "continuing elevation of Gohan" pleased him and the last episodes of the Cell storyline "properly sees this is paid off from a narrative standpoint."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/59610/dragon-ball-z-kai-season-4/|first=Nick|last=Hartel|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season Four: DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video|date=March 25, 2013|access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170625/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/59610/dragon-ball-z-kai-season-4/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Reviewer Todd Douglass Jr. wrote that the series split its focus between Goku and Gohan during the start of the series as they grew on their own, finding it to be "an interesting way to handle the flow of story but also important because it shows Gohan's growth as a person and warrior."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/27404/dragon-ball-z-season-one-vegeta-saga/|title=Dragon Ball Z - Season One - Vegeta Saga|date=April 6, 2007|first=Todd|last=Douglass Jr.|publisher=DVD Talk|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142202/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/27404/dragon-ball-z-season-one-vegeta-saga/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gohan's role and character in the latter part of the series was met with more mixed reviews. Reviewer Michael Zupan wrote of his disappointment with the character, "Gohan was once the most promising warrior in the galaxy, with the potential to even best his father, Goku… and this is where he's at seven years later? Dressing up in a green dress, black tights and a Lost in Space helmet to put the beat down on robbers?"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/66000/dragon-ball-z-season-7/|title=Dragon Ball Z: Season 7 (Blu-ray)|date=September 23, 2014|first=Michael|last=Zupan|publisher=DVD Talk|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324050508/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/66000/dragon-ball-z-season-7/|archive-date=March 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
Anime Focus found humor in his Great Saiyaman guise and his "clumsy but earnest" relationship with Videl, but thought it "mostly uninspired and draggy and feels very flat after the high flying antics of previous arcs."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://anime-focus.com/2013/05/28/review-dragon-ball-z-season-7/|title=Review: Dragon Ball Z Season 7|date=May 28, 2013|publisher=Anime Focus|access-date=2015-03-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310061856/http://anime-focus.com/2013/05/28/review-dragon-ball-z-season-7/|archive-date=2015-03-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reviewer Brad Stephenson argued that the character growing older and becoming more "emotionally complex" provided ''Dragon Ball Z''  "with a true sense of progression and meaning." While controversial, lighthearted and more casual fans of the show tend to enjoy the Saiyaman saga due to its comedic tone and way of portraying larger than life figures in relatable real life situations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://anime.about.com/od/Dragon-Ball-Z-Anime/fl/Dragon-Ball-Z-Season-Seven-Blu-ray-Review.htm|title=Dragon Ball Z Season Seven (Blu-ray) Review|first=Brad|last=Stephenson|publisher=anime.about.com|access-date=2015-03-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095339/http://anime.about.com/od/Dragon-Ball-Z-Anime/fl/Dragon-Ball-Z-Season-Seven-Blu-ray-Review.htm|archive-date=2015-04-02|url-status=live}}</ref> Josh Begley enjoyed Gohan trying to find his place in high school and his role as big brother to Goten, but thought his Great Saiyaman guise was not comedic and became embarrassed on the character's behalf.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fandompost.com/2015/04/04/dragon-ball-z-season-7-blu-ray-anime-review/|title=Dragon Ball Z Season 7 Blu-ray Anime Review|date=April 4, 2015|first=Josh|last=Begley|access-date=April 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025351/http://www.fandompost.com/2015/04/04/dragon-ball-z-season-7-blu-ray-anime-review/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Anime Focus was impressed with his fight against Majin Buu after he was powered up, calling it a "rare chance for him to flex his muscles" by giving Majin Buu "an impressive beatdown".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://anime-focus.com/2013/10/21/review-dragon-ball-z-season-9/|title=Review: Dragon Ball Z Season 9|date=October 21, 2013|publisher=Anime Focus|access-date=2015-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100817/http://anime-focus.com/2013/10/21/review-dragon-ball-z-season-9/|archive-date=2015-04-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Gohan's portrayal in ''Dragon Ball Super'' was the subject of negative response. [[Den of Geek]] noted his lighthearted self was not fit for Trunks' dark storyline and heavily contrasted the previous characterizations of Gohan Trunks used to see.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/dragon-ball-super-episode-52-review-master-and-pupil-reunited-gohan-and-future-trunks/|title=Dragon Ball Super Episode 52 Review: Master and Pupil Reunited – Gohan and 'Future' Trunks|website=Den of Geek|date=25 February 2018 |accessdate=January 17, 2022}}</ref> In a later review, the same site enjoyed how the anime mocked Gohan's heroic persona but had mixed feelings in regards to its handling in gag episode. The site addressed fans' complaints about how Gohan's character was nearly forgotten by the staff members as well as his marriage with Videll.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/dragon-ball-super-episode-73-review-gohans-plight-the-preposterous-great-saiyaman-film-adaptation/|title=Dragon Ball Super Episode 73 Review: Gohan's Plight! The Preposterous Great Saiyaman Film Adaptation?!|website=Den of Geek|date=29 July 2018 |accessdate=January 17, 2022}}</ref> Sam Leach from Anime News Network noted that fans of the series tend to joke Piccolo is a better paternal figure to Gohan than his actual father, Goku, and felt that ''Dragon Ball Super'' emphasized it more when Piccolo started training him again.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-super/episode-90/.116070|title=Dragon Ball Super Episode 90|date=May 14, 2017|publisher=Anime News Network|first=Sam|last=Leach|access-date=May 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517080317/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-super/episode-90/.116070|archive-date=May 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On the other hand, Leach criticized how ''Super'' tries to teach "life lessons" to a mature Gohan. The fact that Piccolo calls him "arrogant", despite Gohan's kindness and humility, was seen as a bad plot point by the reviewer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-super/episode-88/.115488|title=Dragon Ball Super Episode 88|first=Sam|last=Leach|date=April 30, 2017|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=April 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403234952/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-super/episode-88/.115488|archive-date=April 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Mark Sammut of ''TheGamer'' notes that Gohan occasionally performs the [[Dab (dance)|dab]] move (as The Great Saiyaman), decades before it became a popular dance move in [[American popular culture]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Sammut |title=25 Fortnite Emotes And Where They Were Stolen From |url=https://www.thegamer.com/fortnit-dances-emotes-stolen/ |website=TheGamer |access-date=7 April 2019 |date=17 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408165015/https://www.thegamer.com/fortnit-dances-emotes-stolen/ |archive-date=8 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Collider claimed that Gohan was the character with the most character development given in the entire series as the plot of ''Dragon Ball Z'' primarily focused on his coming-of-age history as he faces enemies despite his young age to the point that Toei almost turned the title of the anime into ''Dragon Ball: Gohan's Big Adventure''. However, Gohan was still overshadowed by Goku who still was the main hero in the story arcs even though Gohan was the developed hero. Following Goku's death in the Cell Games, Collider notes that the writers appeared to give Gohan his role as the protagonist definitively especially with how he kills Cell and becomes the focus of the anime's time-skip opening sequence rather than Goku. However, Gohan being once again replaced by his father as the series' hero due Toriyama not finding him equal to Goku for the Buu arc disappointed the writer and thus hopes that the upcoming moving ''Super Hero'' will give him the catharsis he wants as it meant to properly focus on Gohan once again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/dragon-ball-super-super-hero-gohan-what-happened-before/|title=What Happened to Gohan Before 'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero?'|website=Collider|date=25 January 2022 |accessdate=June 5, 2022}}</ref> ''Polygon'' claimed that Piccolo was the best paternal figure to Gohan and it is further demonstrated in ''Super Hero'' due to the two sharing emotional scenes to the point the former goes on a quest to train the latter such as taking care of his daughter which Gohan honors in response.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23191578/dragon-ball-super-super-hero-review-piccolo-gohan | title=The new Dragon Ball Super movie honors anime's best dad ever | website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | date=5 July 2022 }}</ref>