Summary
- "Rampaging Cell Max" focuses on the intense battle against Cell Max.
- Goten and Trunks finally get their redemption story as they showcase their skills and transform into Super Saiyans to fight against Cell Max.
- The four-person alliance between Goten, Trunks, Gamma 1, and Gamma 2 shows promise as they work together to take down Cell Max, but their efforts may not be enough in the end.
The following contains spoilers for Dragon Ball Super Chapter 97, "Rampaging Cell Max," by Akira Toriyama and Toyotarou, Caleb Book, and Brandon Bovia, available in English from Viz Media.
Dragon Ball Super Chapter 97, “Rampaging Cell Max,” delivers pure action as the fight against Red Ribbon’s ultimate creation, Cell Max, intensifies. Dragon Ball Super’s manga has been caught up in an expanded adaptation of the anime’s latest feature film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, since Chapter 88, “Super Heroes are Born.” Chapter 97 highlights that this movie adaptation is still going to last for several more chapters and it’s even likely that Gohan’s upcoming Beast transformation will be used to punctuate the manga’s 100th chapter. Anime fans know that huge changes lie ahead for Dragon Ball Super’s heroes, but “Rampaging Cell Max” focuses on largely new material that should please those who have never experienced this content as well as those who have repeatedly watched Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
In short, “Rampaging Cell Max” continues to detail the all-out assault against the freshly awakened Cell Max. Super’s previous chapter, “Saiyamen, on the Scene!” gets a lot of value out of its use of Piccolo’s upgraded form, Orange Piccolo. Unfortunately, Piccolo is drained of his strength and this exciting transformation doesn’t make a return appearance in “Rampaging Cell Max.” In fact, the majority of this chapter focuses on Goten and Trunks and it nicely blends together the manga’s original material as well as the movie’s events. Piccolo claims that he still has a remaining Senzu Bean (which will surely be vital in the manga’s future chapters), but Goten and Trunks use this opportunity to take over the battlefield while Gohan and Piccolo recover.
Goten & Trunks Put Their Saiyamen Strength To Use
There’s heavy skepticism that surrounds Goten and Trunks’ ability to hold their own against Cell Max. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero includes this duo in its final showdown, but they’re largely a source of comic relief that frustrated some fans. “Rampaging Cell Max” is the long overdue redemption story that Goten and Trunks have deserved. Chapter 97 gives Goten and Trunks a healthy showcase, but it first hedges its bets through some important context that puts these two Saiyans’ skills into perspective. It’s mentioned that Goten and Trunks have been grounded for over half a year, which has seriously impeded their battle skills. In fact, Krillin is the only hero who trusts Goten and Trunks in this regard, but his faith in these teenagers is likely the result of him being terrified to step in himself. “Rampaging Cell Max” makes a few entertaining jokes that Krillin’s most useful purpose in this moment is to babysit Pan and Bulma while everyone else does the heavy lifting. Krillin, unsurprisingly, is content in this low status role. There’s also a helpful reminder that Pan doesn’t yet know how to fly, which is a smart way to foreshadow her upcoming power boost and ascension to the skies.
Gamma 1 and 2 provide colorful commentary on the battle against Cell Max and help illuminate several details regarding the villain’s unstable condition. One essential piece of information is that Cell Max is still getting used to his gargantuan body and deadly powers. Cell Max is strong, but he lacks intelligence and understanding. This makes it the best moment to take out this tyrant before he comes into his own and can use these dangerous skills to his advantage. Goten and Trunks are demonstrably weaker than Gohan, Piccolo, and even the Gamma Androids, but this is their best opportunity to conquer this threat while their allies are in need of aid.
A Super Saiyan Spectacle Gets Gamma 1 & Gamma 2's Attention
The most exciting difference between “Rampaging Cell Max” and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is that Goten and Trunks transform into Super Saiyans to intensify the battle against Cell Max. Dragon Ball Super’s teenage designs for Trunks and Goten are still relatively new, so there’s a lot of value in watching them fight as Super Saiyans. It’s almost eerie how much these stronger versions of the characters resemble Future Trunks and Gohan during the original battle against Cell. Super Saiyan Goten and Trunks put their Saiyaman X-1 and X-2 experience to work and launch an effective attack against Cell Max, even if he’s still largely unharmed from the blows.
Goten and Trunks’ explosive Super Saiyan extravaganza may not do much for Cell Max, but it opens up Gamma 1 and Gamma 2’s eyes. These Androids are actively impressed over these Saiyans’ skills and they volunteer to assist them in this showdown. This is another welcome expansion to the story that’s not present in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. “Rampaging Cell Max” even goes one step further and reveals that Goten and Trunks’ Saiyamen exploits are what explicitly inspired Dr. Hedo to create Gamma 1 and Gamma 2. Their designs and outfits are based off of Goten and Trunks, who repeatedly foiled Hedo’s plans with his less successful Beta Android series. Some of the most exciting panels in “Rampaging Cell Max” are when these four fighters work together and function as a ferocious superhero team. It’s especially satisfying when all four of these fighters engage in their own silly Saiyaman hero poses before they turn to combat.
Four Superheroes Become The Ultimate Strike Team Against Cell Max
This four-person alliance looks like it might actually be able to take out Cell Max before he gets used to his growing strength. Tag team attacks like their Cyclone Style Tornado attack are powerful moments that are absent in Super Hero. The precision between these fighters also makes it seem more likely that Gamma 1 will be an ally to Goten and Trunks following this storyline. Super Hero’s ending teases a reformed Dr. Hedo and Gamma 1, but “Rampaging Cell Max” establishes an easy rapport between Gamma 1 and the Saiyamen. It’s a lot easier to picture Goten and Trunks as relevant characters as Dragon Ball Super moves forward if they also have a superpowered Android friend that joins their cause.
Unfortunately for the heroes, Cell Max does quickly get used to his body and manages to intensify their feud. None of this superpowered teamwork is evidently enough to overwhelm the villain, which is when Goten and Trunks decide to turn to fusion. This decision is when “Rampaging Cell Max” matches its feature film counterpart, but there’s still greater context to justify these decisions. For instance, Goten and Trunks briefly discuss how it’s been a while since they’ve fused and that they might be rusty in this department. It makes their following failed fusion a lot more understandable instead of it purely becoming a cheap gag, which is how it’s presented in Super Hero. Gotenks’ inferior form becomes the impetus to bring everyone into battle, including Android 18, as they make a mad dash to damage Cell Max’s one weak spot.
Gotenks' Return Hits A Rusty Roadblock
Cell Max’s weak spot on his head is addressed in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. However, it’s more naturally revealed in “Rampaging Cell Max” as a volatile safeguard that Dr. Hedo implemented for situations exactly like this one. Cell Max is largely non-verbal through the manga chapter, but Toyotarou truly excels with his illustrations. This chapter properly emphasizes the sheer massive size of Cell Max and Toyotarou provides detailed artwork that shows off his unusual body to a much better degree than what’s present in the animated movie. It’s the best look yet at this obscure threat.
The final pages of “Rampaging Cell Max” allow every hero to contribute in their own way, all of which falls short of Cell Max’s increasingly growing strength. There’s an intimidating moment when Cell Max casually reflects an epic Kamehameha from Super Saiyan Gohan, all while he defends himself against the rest of the heroes. This teamwork does eventually lead to a direct hit of Cell Max’s weak spot, but it merely enrages the enemy instead of the desired shutdown effect. The heroes start to run out of ideas, which is when Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 turn to a bold plan that already solidifies their statuses as altruistic allies. Gamma 2 pledges to finish off Cell Max, which will likely lead to his own destruction in the process, while Gamma 1 turns his efforts to Dr. Hedo’s rescue (who’s evidently alive, but unconscious). Gamma 1 and 2 aren’t happy to part ways, but they understand that it’s necessary to fix this problem and end the damage that they’ve unintentionally caused.
“Rampaging Cell Max” ends with Gamma 2 ready to step up to the plate and make the ultimate sacrifice against Cell Max. This is a somewhat weak cliffhanger to end the chapter on, especially for those who know where all of this is heading, but it’s still a satisfying manga chapter that’s almost purely action. Anime fans are surely anxious to witness Orange Piccolo’s return as well as the manga debut of Gohan Beast, but Dragon Ball Super Chapter 98 is likely to be one final Android showcase before the Saiyan and Namekian steal the spotlight.