Dragon Ball: Jiren’s Manga Version Sets a Humorous Tone for Goku’s Character

Despite the numerous powerful characters introduced in the Dragon Ball Super anime, Jiren the Gray stands out as one of the most unexpected additions. Unlike other formidable characters who are typically attributed to their race, Jiren defies this norm by being a self-taught fighter who has surpassed even the strength of the Gods of Destruction.

Despite the dominant portrayal in the anime, the series failed to fully capture the essence of his character. This is due to the fact that although Jiren the Gray was portrayed as a formidable fighter in the anime, he was even more powerful in the manga. Therefore, Jiren in the Dragon Ball Super manga overshadowed Goku right from the beginning.

Please note: This article may contain spoilers from the Dragon Ball Super manga.

Comparison of Strength Between Jiren in Dragon Ball Super Manga and Anime

Jiren as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Despite the intense battle in the Tournament of Power Saga, Jiren’s strength proved too formidable to be overcome. Therefore, it required an unexpected alliance between Son Goku, Frieza, and Android 17, who combined their efforts in a herculean endeavor to defeat him.

After Son Goku’s Mastered Ultra Instinct wore off, the trio had no choice but to work together in order to defeat Jiren. It was clear that without their combined efforts, they would have been defeated by Jiren’s immense strength. This only further solidified the fact that Jiren the Gray was an incredibly powerful opponent.

Son Goku as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Despite what may seem apparent, Jiren’s strength in the Dragon Ball Super manga surpassed even his impressive display in the anime. While Mastered Ultra Instinct Goku was able to defeat him in the anime, it was only due to Goku’s delay in eliminating Jiren that led to his loss in their one-on-one battle.

At that moment, the effects of the Ultra Instinct technique had dissipated. This caused fans to assume that Ultra Instinct Goku was more powerful than Jiren.

In the manga, the events unfold in a slightly different manner. While Goku’s new technique initially overwhelmed Jiren, he gradually adapted to the Ultra Instinct speed as the fight continued. This was noted by Whis, who was impressed by Jiren’s seemingly unlimited potential.

Whis as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Following their battle, Jiren emerged victorious over Son Goku due to his superior strength, causing Goku to lose his Ultra Instinct state. This nearly resulted in the elimination of both Goku and Vegeta by Jiren.

It is clear that Jiren exhibited greater strength in the manga as opposed to the anime.

Despite fans’ perceptions that Toei Animation did not accurately portray Jiren, it is important to note that the anime was released much earlier than the manga adaptation of the same story arc.

Therefore, it can be assumed that the anime adapted the story according to the vision of its creator, Akira Toriyama, at a later time.

Despite the release of the anime, it seems that the creator had a desire to alter the storyline, including the portrayal of Jiren’s power in relation to Son Goku’s Ultra Instinct technique.

Despite the difference in the depiction of Jiren the Gray’s strength between the anime and manga, it can be assumed that he was significantly stronger than Goku in the manga due to its “canon”status.