Cell
Cell is a male character that features in Dragon Ball Z.
Contents |
Biography
Cell (Japanese: セル Hepburn: Seru) was a genetically engineered super-warrior from the future, created by Dr. Gero to destroy Goku. Cell's origins lie in the present, where his embryonic form was created using the cells of such warriors as Goku, Vegeta, Nappa, Gohan, Piccolo, Frieza, and King Cold. (The series also suggests that he has cells from Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin as well.)
Cell was intended to eventually replace the rebellious androids 17 and 18- in fact, he was designed to absorb them both to achieve his ultimate, "perfect" form. In Trunks' future, the androids took badly to this idea- they slew Gero and destroyed his lab. However, they were insufficiently thorough, and Gero's computer spent the next 24 years completing the construction of Cell, inputting data on all the Z Warriors' techniques as well as direct instructions from Gero.
Finally, Cell awoke, quickly hatching from his larval stage to become Imperfect Cell. However, while he could drain the bio-extract from as many humans as he desired, maximizing the power of his first form, Cell was unable to find the androids he needed to complete himself. He soon discovered that they had been destroyed by Trunks, and tracked him down instead. Easily killing the young half-Saiyan, Cell next stole Trunks' time machine, reverting to larval form and travelling 27 years into the past, waiting for the androids to appear.
After three years of waiting, Cell awoke once more after 17 and 18 became active. Draining humans of their bio-extract, Imperfect Cell soon came into conflict with Piccolo, to whom he explained his origins before being forced to retreat. It became a race against time, as the Z Warriors fought to stop Cell before he could absorb the lives of more innocents, or capture the Androids. Eventually, after Cell maximized his power, he intervened in the battle between Piccolo and Android 17, defeating Piccolo- however, he was engaged by Android 16. 16 was sufficiently powerful to defeat Imperfect Cell, but through trickery, the creature was able to capture 17 and absorb him.
Cell transformed into his second form, and began hunting down Android 18 (with a brief distraction from Tien), destroying entire islands in his search. Cell was intercepted by Vegeta and Trunks, who had recently emerged from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Eager to test his might against Vegeta, Cell soon found that he was vastly outmatched by the Saiyan prince. He played on Vegeta's pride to get an opportunity to absorb 18, promising him a better battle. Despite Trunks' opposition, Cell was able to capture 18, transforming into Perfect Cell.
In his Perfect form, Cell was able to easily defeat Vegeta, as well as Trunks. Intrigued by the dramatic increase in power the Saiyan prince and his son had received, Cell decided to give them 10 days to train, and then hold the "Cell Games," a competition in the style of the old World Martial Arts Tournament. Cell waited, entertaining himself by training among the solar system's asteroid belt and destroying a human army that attacked him.
When the day of the Cell Games finally came, the villain quickly disposed of a few amateur warriors (such as Mr. Satan) to get to the real battle, the fight he was made for- the battle against Goku. The epic battle that resulted was ferocious, but in the end, Goku conceded. Angry, Cell decided to goad Goku back into fighting by savagely beating his son Gohan (who he had fight in his place). However, Cell changed his mind when he discovered Gohan's true power, and the promise of an even better battle if he made the boy angry.
Releasing his Cell Juniors to attack Gohan's friends, and destroying the kindly Android 16, Cell got the senseless rage he had wanted- but Super Saiyan 2 Gohan was more than Cell, even fully powered, could handle. Cell was beaten so badly that he regurgitated Android 18 and reverted to his second, weaker stage. Driven mad, Cell tried to destroy himself, knowing that the explosion would obliterate Earth as well. However, Goku used his Instant Transmission technique to transport Cell and himself to King Kai's planet, destroying that world (and himself, and King Kai, and Bubbles, and Gregory) instead.
However, Cell was not beaten- the destruction merely activated his Namekian and Saiyan cells, not only recreating him as Perfect Cell, but with enough power to match Gohan. Returning to Earth with his newly-learned Instant Transmission technique, Cell killed Trunks and engaged Gohan in a battle of Kamehameha blasts. Only with the aid of the other Z Warriors (especially Vegeta) was Gohan able to finally destroy Cell, obliterating him entirely.
Cell moved on to the Other World, where King Yemma sent him to Hell (HFIL). There, Cell joined with Frieza, King Cold, and the Ginyu Force in an attempt to escape. However, he was defeated by Pikkon.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
Cell's powers were formidable- he possessed knowledge of all the fighting skills and techniques of Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Frieza (and Tien, Krillin, and Yamcha), as well as the regenerative abilities of the Nameks and the ability of Saiyans to become stronger after reaching near-death. So long as a certain lump of cells in his body remained intact, he could regenerate any damage, making him effectively immortal. His only flaw was his supreme overconfidence.
Notes
- Cell was created as an antagonist by Akira Toriyama where he made his first appearance in the Cell Saga during Dragon Ball Z.
Alternate Versions
- In Trunks' final future timeline (as opposed to the one Cell came from), Cell was destroyed by a vastly better-trained (and forewarned) Trunks. The Cell that was created in the regular timeline was destroyed by Krillin and Trunks, along with Gero's lab.
- In Dragon Ball GT, Cell made an appearance in the alternate setting. Years later, Cell and Frieza battled a more youthful Goku after he was trapped in Hell by the plans of Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu. Despite the training they had undergone in Hell, Goku was still able to defeat them again.
In other media
Video games
Appearances
- Dragon Ball Z:
