As a lifelong fan of both Superman and Dragon Ball Z, I can’t help but feel a thrill of nostalgia when I see the latest trailer for James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film. The similarity between the pose that our new Man of Steel takes upon landing on Earth and Yamcha’s iconic “death” pose from Dragon Ball Z is not lost on me, and it brings a smile to my face.
In a stylish and entertaining manner, James Gunn’s characters always manage to steal the spotlight, such as Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) grooving into combat in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Peacemaker (John Cena) swaying his hips during the intro of his series, or Superman (David Corenswet) making a captivating debut in the trailer for his upcoming film. This approach will undoubtedly bring a chuckle to “Dragon Ball” enthusiasts, and there’s a solid reason behind it.
In the thrilling, attention-grabbing preview for “Superman,” the Steel Man is presented amidst a critical situation – he hurtles towards Earth and lands, battered and bleeding, in a wintry setting. Later, he needs his canine companion, Krypto, to aid him up and guide him to security. The cause of his downfall remains unclear, but it’s hard not to notice the crater he leaves behind and the pose he assumes that mirrors Yamcha’s when killed by Nappa in the “Dragon Ball Z” episode titled “Saibamen Attack!” This iconic pose has become a popular internet meme over recent years. However, this apparent inside joke isn’t the only connection tying the “Dragon Ball” series to a piece of the “Superman” heritage.
Dragon Ball Z was long rumored to be based on Superman
The iconic series “Dragon Ball” and the Richard Donner series of Superman films share a rumored history, primarily in the realm of speculation among fans. For years, there has been curiosity as to whether Akira Toriyama, the late creator of Dragon Ball, drew inspiration for Goku and his powers from the Superman portrayed in those films. This suspicion arises due to their origin stories bearing some resemblance – both characters are sent to Earth from a dying but benevolent alien race, with the intention of saving the planet. Given this shared narrative, it’s easy to understand why viewers have pondered the potential connection between these two iconic characters. In fact, the movie “Dragon Ball Super: Broly” altered Goku’s backstory to make it more akin to Clark Kent’s, as both were raised by loving foster parents following their arrival on Earth.
Toriyama admitted that Goku’s story was inspired by Sun Wukong, a character from the renowned book “Journey to the West.” Both Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee played significant roles in shaping the character. Some viewers see parallels with Superman’s past, while others argue it’s more like the novel. Despite these differences, the remarkable similarities between the two characters have forged an unbreakable bond in popular culture. Now, through the use of the Yamcha meme, their connection has become even stronger than before.
The Yamcha pose has become a huge meme
Over the last few years, the Yamcha pose has turned into a widely recognized meme online, starting in 2010. It initially found traction among artists at the Japanese online community Pixiv, where it symbolized defeat, exhaustion, and other negative feelings among the artists who frequented there. Interestingly enough, it could also be used to praise someone for decisively defeating an opponent in a debate. The meme gained prominence on TVTropes and continues to be used today whenever someone wants to express a feeling of drained disappointment online.
In the world of “Dragon Ball”, the Yamcha pose has been frequently referenced, appearing in “Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi” and the game “Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans”. Notably, an unnamed character killed by Saibaiman during a fight, as well as Yamcha himself after losing a battle, have been depicted performing this pose. This isn’t surprising given that “Dragon Ball” frequently brings back its deceased characters. This shows that sometimes, the cycle of meme history can be a flat loop, ready to be revisited again.
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2024-12-20 04:59