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The following article contains spoilers for Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Super.
Dragon Ball Superis still on hiatus, but fans can’t wait to learn what’s next in the story. Chapters 203 and 204 concluded the Super Hero Saga, so the manga will enter a new arc when it finally returns. Fans hope that the series will come back with the Black Frieza arc, the most anticipated arc in the series.
Regardless of whether Black Frieza is the next antagonist, it’s clear thatDragon Ball Superwill focus on this iconic villain at some point. This would be the perfect moment to bring back another fan-favorite antagonist: Cooler. Is there any chance that Cooler will finally make his debut inthe manga?
Dragon Ball Super Can Make Cooler “Canon”
Cooler was first introduced into theDragon Balluniverse in the movieDragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge. He is the eldest son of King Cold and, thus, Frieza’s older brother. While King Cold and Frieza are both “manga-canon,“Cooler is only featured inDragon Ball Zmovies and anime specials,Dragon Ball GT, and the spin-off mangaDragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission(based on theDragon Ball Heroesarcade game).
He is quite a popular antagonist of the series, although not as popular as his “canon” brother. Like the rest of the family, he is cruel and cold, and he was the first to achieve the Fourth Transformation (in the media he appears, of course). However, differently from his family, he had to train hard to achieve his power; inCooler’s Revenge, Goku states that his Final Form is stronger than Frieza’s. While some fans don’t buy the hype, many hope thatCooler will eventually be featured in the “canon” timeline, andDragon Ball Supercould be their last hope.
I am the supreme master of this universe! I am the great destroyer, the taker of life! It is my will that this planet, and everyone on it, be annihilated!
— Cooler in Cooler’s Revenge
Cooler and Frieza are similar in that they are both cruel and ruthless killers. However, Cooler is not usually as arrogant as Frieza in battle and does not quickly underestimate his opponents. Furthermore, he is more “serious” than Frieza and doesn’t brag about accomplishing things he considers easy or childish. His attitude makes him more dangerous than Frieza because he won’t be easily fooled in battle due to an inflated ego or hasty decisions. Cooler also doesn’t mind who he has to kill to accomplish his goals. He may not take pleasure in torturing his victims, but he will kill whoever he needs to.
Cooler Could Join the Black Frieza Arc
With the stage set for apotential Black Frieza Arc, Cooler could finally make his way intoDragon Ball’smanga universe. He could be either a foe or a temporary ally of the Z Fighters. As strange as it sounds, Cooler might help Goku and Vegeta find or defeat Frieza for revenge. In this case, he would then turn against the Dragon Team. While a temporary alliance is possible, it seems more likely that he would be helping Frieza from the beginning, forcing the Z Fighters to fight them both, as inDragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
Some speculate thathe could have trained with Frieza in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, so he could also be massively powerful (inDragon Ball Heroes, they both achieved the Golden Form). Given that Toyotaro wroteDragon Ball Heroesand included Cooler, it’s not far-fetched to expect him to beincluded inDragon Ball Super. Alternatively, he could appear immediately after Frieza is defeated; in this case, he wouldn’t need to be as powerful as Frieza since the Z Fighters would be exhausted and have a hard time dealing with him. Since the movies are not part of theDragon Ball Supercanon, Cooler could join the series at any time.
Is Black Frieza More Powerful than the Z Fighters?
The series has yet to reveal Black Frieza’s true powers, but it’s clear he is on another level when he arrived on Planet Cereal in the Granolah Arc.V-JUMPmagazine later made fans even more hyped when it stated that Black Frieza’s powers cannot even be measured — he is quite likely at the samepower level as the Gods of Destruction.
Everything is set up for Black Frieza to be the most powerful and the most challenging antagonist that the Dragon Team has ever confronted. And since it’s Frieza, he will want nothing less than to conquer the entire universe. Such an iconic villain would require drastic action — a perfect opportunity to bring back the Joining Bugs introduced in Dragon Ball Daima, which would confirm that the two series take place in the same universe. If Cooler helps him, the Black Frieza arc will be spectacular.
When Will Dragon Ball Super Return?
Dragon Ball Superhas been on hiatus since March 2024, with a brief return in February 2025, when Chapter 204 (a special chapter) was out. Since then, there has been no news about the series returning to its regular schedule. However, in a recent interview, Toyotaro teased that he is planning the next stages of the story, so fans can rest assured that the series will return in the future.
Dragon Ball Superis available toread on MANGA Plusin English and Spanish.
