Dragon Ball Super: Who Are Goku, Gohan, and Buu's Opponents?

Later this month, the new story arc of Dragon Ball Super will get an explosive fight match when [...]

By Megan Peters - February 9, 2017 05:00 pm EST

Later this month, the new story arc of Dragon Ball Super will get an explosive fight match when Universe 7 is pitted against Universe 9. With the Omni-Kings presiding over the match, a team of warriors from the universes will take each other on to defend their homes. And, now, fans know more about the characters who Goku, Gohan, and Majin Buu will be fighting.

In the most recent episode of Weekly Shonen Jump, the magazine housed a spread about the show's 79th episode. It was there that the Universe 9 warriors were introduced, and fans will recognize one of the character's from an earlier Dragon Ball Super promo.

The anthropomorphic characters appear to be a gang of muscular wolves from Universe 9. In true Dragon Ball Super fashion, the anime has named the characters after food. Basil, Lavenda, and Bergamo are types of herbs which can spice up a dish - and these wolves will surely bring heat to Dragon Ball Super.

You can read up on the wolfish characters below thanks to Todd Blankenship. The noted anime translator and Dragon Ball fan shared his observations about the character's preview below:

"Basil
(The red one with the torn cape)
バジル/Bajiru
This is flat-out how the herb "basil" is written in Japanese, without any sort of manipulation. Still, expect lots of Kyabe-esque fun as dumb people insist on pointlessly calling him "Bajiru" or "Bajil"

Lavenda
(Slouching one with suspenders)
ラベンダ/Rabenda
A pun on ラベンダー/rabendā, another culinary herb. Note that the final vowel is shortened, changing it from an "er" sound to a simple "a" sound. This is, you may recall, the exact same sort of difference between "freezer" and the name of that short guy who used to boss Vegeta around.

Bergamo
(Tall one with scarf)
ベルガモ/Berugamo
A pun on bergamot (in Japanese ベルガモット/berugamotto), a type of orange used to flavor tea and whatnot. Note how the character's name removes the "t" sound at the end.

The group's collective name is apparently the very Engrish-y "Trio the Dangers" (トリオ · ザ · デンジャーズ/Torio Za Denjāzu), possibly a reference to the arcade classic (?!) Trio the Punch, starring a group of three people who punch other people."

Last weekend, Dragon Ball Super's story arc kicked off the 'Universal Survival' saga. You can check out the brief synopsis for it below:

"At Goku's request, the Omni-Kings' "Tournament of Power" martial arts tournament between universes now begins! …But this also proves to be the beginning of universal destruction. What awaits the victors of this tournament, and the vanquished…?! How will these intense team battles between the elites of each universe turn out…?!"

Notes on the Universe 9 character names, and other things. pic.twitter.com/Bp71zVIKg7
— Todd Blankenship (@Herms98) February 9, 2017

MORE: Dragon Ball Super Toonami Premiere Date Announced / English Dub Sneak Peek Revealed / Voice Cast Announced / Simulcast Confirmed / New Saga Synopsis, Key Visual Released / Here's What Happens To Nappa's Hair When He Goes Super Saiyan

As for the saga's start date, the new arc premiered on February 5, 2017. The "Universal Survival" saga is part of the recent simulcast agreement that sites like Crunchyroll and Funimation have scored. Dragon Ball Super airs on Crunchyroll Saturdays at 7:15 p.m. CST. Toonami will begin airing the English dub on Adult Swim Saturdays at 11:30 p.m.