Tower of God has stuck more closely to its source material in season 2, but that hasn't stopped the series from slightly reconfiguring simple moments like a reference to Dragon Ball Z in season 2, episode #5. The reference in question is a running joke in Japanese entertainment media, mocking the fate of a particularly unlucky character from early in the series. However, a lingering scene will bring back memories of the Saiyan Saga, with Dragon Ball fans quickly catching on to the reference in Tower of God season 2.
Tower of God isn't even the first anime of the summer 2024 season to make this reference. A recent Dragon Ball reference from The Elusive Samurai depicts Yorishige with Goku's hair, pretending to read a Spirit Bomb. It's a sign of The admiration of the anime and manga creative community for Akira Toriyama. With the late mangaka's love of humor, these visual gags are perfect.
But in Tower of God season 2, a classic visual gag depicting one of Yamcha's most infamous moments from Dragon Ball leave a mark in a manhwa adaptation.
Tower of God mentions Yamcha's death in Dragon Ball
A persistent joke from the Saiyan Saga
In Tower of God season 2, episode #5, Edin Dan finds himself doing his best Yamcha impression from Dragon Ball Z's Saiyan Saga after being quickly overpowered during a training exercise. Dan, recruited by Khun, undergoes this sparring session to determine the priorities of a potential tower climbing team, with three members immediately withdrawing, leaving Dan to face off against the top two fighters, Shibisu and Ran the Fisherman. The footage of his instant defeat, lying down posing like Yamcha with the smoke clearing sound effect sounding eerily like the sound effects in Dragon Ballis a great joke for Tower of God viewers.
Episode #25, season 2 of the original Tower of God webtoon shows Edin Dan lying in a crater but in a more generic face-down position, so the Dragon Ball reference in the anime is just an artistic change.
For those unfamiliar with the death pose in Dragon Ball, it refers to Yamcha's tragic end at the hands of an Exploding Saibaman, essentially an alien created from a pod-like substance created by the Saiyans. Each boasted the power of Raditz, and their primary victim in the Saiyan Saga, Yamcha, was left face down in a smoking pit of fire, his right arm under his chest, his left arm bent, and his left leg resting on his right knee. It's so iconic that Tower of God has long since adopted this pose., Because the comedic execution in Dragon Ball is legendary.
Tower of God isn't the first anime to mock Yamcha's death pose
Make way for Akira Slide
Yamcha's death pose is practically a meme among animators and mangaka, with it appearing to some extent in Naruto, Owari Monogatari, Sket Dance, etc. With its comedic timing to convey complete and utter defeat, or in Naruto's case, feigned defeat, it's clear that the creators understand the humor of this Dragon Ball reference and how often fans recognize it. Combining this into Tower of God would make for one of the more beautiful instances of Dragon Ball banter.contributing to an increasingly rich set of references similar to the Akira bike slide.
This, along with The Elusive Samurai and even Deadpool continuing to affectionately mock Dragon Ball, means that every bit of Toriyama's legacy lives on to this day.
This, along with The Elusive Samurai and even Deadpool continuing to lovingly mock Dragon Ball, means that every little bit of Toriyama's legacy lives on in the present, from his love of beautiful art to his sense of humor. With Tower of God season 2 focusing on world-building, it reminds viewers that it doesn't take itself too seriously, like it did in season 1. But one thing's for sure: Edin Dan is much better than Yamcha, arguably leaving him in a smoking but not dead pit of fire in the Tower of God.
