History Manga / DaiNoDaibouken

[[IThoughtThatWas Not to be confused with]] the Konami 3D FightingGame ''LightningLegendDaigoNoDaibouken''.

** The final arc revealed that Aban was playing dumb since his teen years, both to fool his enemies and to avoid awkward comparations with his (vastly inferior) allies. This even gets it's own sub-story where it's explained with lots of details.

!!Provides Examples Of:

* ThatOneAttack: Vearn's "Ten-Chi-Ma-To", an attack that [[spoiler: combines a defensive movement, an armor-piercing attack and a powerful magical spell]] is presented as the biggest obstacle to defeating him in a straight fight. Author notes indicates that this was done specifically as a ShoutOut to the cheap attacks that the FinalBoss usually has in videogames.

* FeedItABomb Pop pulls a particularly brutal variation of this by unleashing a fire ray spell into a dragon's mouth. Its rider was not pleased, [[UnstoppableRage at all]].

** Zaboera's son Zamza's Hyper Demon form has some traits to it reminiscent of Cell, specifically, eating people in order to become stronger, being composed of the traits of numerous types of demons, and even the mouth on his chest somewhat resembles Cell's tail-mouth, being used in the same way.

* ThatOneAttack: Vearn's "TenChiMato", an attack that [[spoiler: combines a defensive movement, an armor-piercing attack and a powerful magical spell]] is presented as the biggest obstacle to defeating him in a straight fight. Author notes indicates that this was done specifically as a ShoutOut to the cheap attacks that the FinalBoss usually has in videogames.

* ThatOneAttack: Vearn's "TenChiMato", an attack that [[spoiler: combines a defensive movement, an armor-piercing attack and a powerful magical spell]] is presented as the biggest obstacle to defeating him in a straight fight. Author notes indicates that this was done specifically as a [[InvokedTrope: call-back to the cheap attacks that the FinalBoss usually has in videogames.]]

* ThatOneAttack: Vearn's "TenChiMato", an attack that [[spoiler: combines a defensive movement, an armor-piercing attack and a powerful magical spell] is presented as the biggest obstacle to defeating him in a straight fight. Author notes indicates that this was done specifically as a [[InvokedTrope: call-back to the cheap attacks that the FinalBoss usually has in videogames.]]

* FridgeBrilliance: Pop [[spoiler: suddenly becomes a Sage just before the final battle.]] The bios show that Pop has an extremely high luck stat, and he serves as the ButtMonkey of the team, similar to the Jester/Gadabout class from the games. [[spoiler: This was the only class that naturally possessed the ability to become a sage without a special item.]]

* FoeYay Hadler's obsession with Aban grows as he becomes a [[WorthyOpponent more honourable villain]] who wants to defeat Dai in a fair fight. So obsessed that he starts lecturing the heroes' team if they don't live up to his image of what Aban's disciples should be and eventually [[spoiler: saves Dai in a spectacular HeelFaceTurn]]. By the same token, he grows obsessed by Dai and gives passionate speeches about how the only thing that excites him and keeps him alive is the idea of fighting Dai. [[{{Squick}} We suggest you don't count at how many levels it's wrong]].

* MoralMyopia: Galdandy of [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad Baran's Dragon Riders]] is as ruthless of a monster as you can expect from the villains. He probably wouldn't care about killing someone close to you, [[BerserkerTears but]] [[UnstoppableRage kill]] [[MoralityPet his dragon]] [[WhatMeasureIsAMook Ruudo]], you're dead... and[[DiscussedTrope pointing out how many people the dragon has killed]] will not help your case, Pop.

**** Later, having regained their composure and finished their respective battles against the Shinei Kidan, Pop [[spoiler: asks Maamu to not worry about him, since he already knew she loved Hyunkel and so he wishes them luck and he will do his best to be worthy of Merle's love.]] Maamu interrupts him, asking Pop for some time to sort her own feelings about him so she could give him an honest answer about accepting his love or not. [[spoiler:In the end, their relationship is left with NoRomanticResolution]]
* ArtEvolution - Starts off looking like a DragonBall doujinshi and eventually evolves into its own distinctive style.

** Also, Hyunkel somehow fitted this trope, as he definitely looked dead in every other arcs, only to be found alive a few chapters later.

* [[ChangedMyMindKid Changed My Mind, Kid]] Pop leaves Dai and Maamu when they go fight the big bad Crocodine, then shows up in the nick of time to help when they're in trouble.

** Played hilariously with Chu the mouse, and the random items he carries with him all the time.

* TheDragon Hadler is a textbook example. Turns out, so is [[spoiler: Myst-Vearn]].

** Hyunkel - TheLancer

** Pop - TheSmartGuy

* GameBreakingInjury After receiving constant injuries and still pushing his body beyond its limits, Hyunkel ends up permanently crippled just BEFORE the final battle. And no, he doesn't get better.

* MeaningfulName "Dai" means "grand", but there is also a variation of his name that means "hero". His original name, [[spoiler: Dino]], was said to mean "strong dragon" in his mother's language. "Leona" means "relating to lions," which may explain her [[{{Tsundere}} 'feline']] [[FilleFatale personality]]. Marm and Pop are probably named so because [[{{GenerationXerox}} they're taking their parents' positions at the Hero's side]].

* MonsterClown Kill-Vearn reaches [[{{HunterXHunter}} Hisoka]] levels.

* OedipusRex Dai's conflictual relationship with Baran. Played for laughs with Pop's [[JerkassFacade brutal blacksmith dad]].
* OneWingedAngel Vearn's final form. Heck, he even ''looks'' like [[FinalFantasyVII Bizarro Sephiroth]].

* PantyShot Maamu's second set of clothes and her last armor makes her a walking panty shot, much to Merle's dismay.

** Dai and Baran's KamehameHadoken. There's even one instance where Dai shoots one, and the recipient of the blast sees the ghostly image of Baran standing behind him in the same pose, a ShoutOut to how Gohan defeated Cell in DragonBallZ.

** But also played straight in the order in which the generals fight Dai, at least at first: Crocodine is a lot weaker than Hyunckel, who gets his ass handed to him by Flazzard, who in turn is a joke compared to Baran.

* WeakButSkilled: Hyunkel. He starts as one of the strongest characters, mainly for his exceptional swordsmanship skill, but quickly becomes relatively average when compared to other characters. Dai is the hero, Pop can use magic, and Maamu is infinitely stronger physically than he is. [[spoiler: Then he starts using his own life as a weapon and [[TookALevelInBadass takes a few levels in badass]]]].

* TheWorfEffect: Happened to Crocodile with the appearance of Baran.

This show provides examples of:

* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove Played brutally straight when ShrinkingViolet Merle, during a decisive battle against Vearn's army [[spoiler: protects Pop from death using her body as a shield. Pop freaks out wondering why someone like her would risk her life to protect a worthless loser like him, which makes Leona finally lose it and brutally reveal (on his face, no less) that Merle has been in love with him since ever and he is worth a lot for her. Of course, Pop gets shocked by this revelation but that's only the beginning, because...]]

* {{Nakama}} the disciples of Aban -- Dai, Pop, Maamu and Hyunkel -- plus Crocodine and Leona.

* BigBad Demon Lord Vearn. Also, [[spoiler: Killvearn is the REAL BigBad]]

* TheDragon Hadler is a textbook example. Later, [[spoiler: Myst-Vearn]]

**** Later, having regained their composure and finished their respective battles against the Shinei Kidan, Pop [[spoiler: asks Maamu to not worry about him, since he already knew she loved Hyunkel and so he wishes them luck and he will do his best to be worthy of Merle's love.]] Maamu interrupts him, asking Pop for some time to sort her own feelings about him so she could give him an honest answer about accepting his love or not. [[spoiler:The manga's finale reveals that both Maamu and Merle ended up living with Pop!]]

* DefrostingIceQueen (Baran.)

* HeroicSacrifice Aban;[[spoiler: Pop to save Dai when Dai lost his memory but he got better]];[[spoiler: Baran]];[[spoiler: Merle]];[[spoiler: Hadler]]; at the very end, [[spoiler: Dai himself, though it's strongly hinted at that he somehow survived since his sword still shines]].

* ImpossiblyCoolClothes - Everybody, but especially the magic armor that Hyunkel has.

* MeaningfulName "Dai" means "grand," among others. His original name, [[spoiler: Dino]], suggests a link with dragons. "Leona" means "relating to lions," which may explain her [[{{Tsundere}} 'feline']] [[FilleFatale personality]]. Marm and Pop are probably named so because [[{{GenerationXerox}} they're taking their parents' positions at the Hero's side]].

* PantyShot Maamu's second set of clothes and her last armor makes her a walking panty shot, much to Merle's dismay.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath Crocodine, mild subversion in that he redeems as he's dying after Dai nearly cleaves him in half with his sword; also, [[spoiler: Baran and Hadler, oh so much]].
** Also [[spoiler: Hadler, who dies in Aban's arms after saving Dai and Pop from Kill-Vearn's trap]].

** But also played straight in the order in which the generals fight Dai, at least at first: Crocodine is a lot weaker than Hyunckel, who gets his ass handed to him by Flazzard, who in turn is a joke compared to Baran. The other two generals (weaker than Baran) are never faced by Dai directly

* TenMinuteRetirement when [[spoiler: Dai freaks out]] and runs away in his pyjamas after [[spoiler: being defeated by Vearn]].

* TheWorfEffect: Thanks to the above mentioned DemotedToExtra, Crocodine starts getting his ass handed to him every time he fights. This effectively makes him the [[{{Bleach}} Sajin Komamura]] of DragonQuest. He doesn't even get stronger like the other protagonists.

* ZettaiRyouiki (Leona.)

* EstrogenBrigadeBait Baran. Also Hyunkel, & [[spoiler: Killvearn.]]

* CuteShotaroBoy Dai starts off as this and, even as he matures, never quite lose his cute shotaro attributes, complete with puppy fat and borderline wishy-washy cuteness. Pop even speculates that his power is "purity" or "innocence."

* SuperpoweredEvilSide Dai's "Dragon Knight personality" isn't evil, but it sure is terrifying and shows a darker, more violent side of his personality than [[CuteShotaroBoy we are used to]].

* HesJustHiding: [[spoiler: Aban]], though he was stuck in some sort of [[BonusLevelOfHell secret dungeon]] for most of the plot. This is also what the main characters think happened to [[spoiler: Dai]] at the end of the series.

* AlasPoorVillain

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation Aban is either a CloudCuckoolander, a GeniusDitz or a case of ObfuscatingStupidity. Perhaps a mix of two or all three.

* CanonSue Soara, who might fall under MarySueExemption due to her status as an archetypal perfect mom -probably idealized in Baran's memories and Dai's dreams.

* ClicheStorm arguably part of the charm of this series: we ''expect'' to see countless RPG cliches from ''DragonQuest'' and how the authors managed to pull them off in the non-playable media of manga and anime.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome A few hundred. Highlights might include:
** The Dragon Rock Castle is finally revealed to be a Humongous Mecha, wreaking havok with its laser eyes, massive strength and hordes of Mooks... until Dai steps in and single-handedly demolishes it.
** Vearn finally meets Avan's disciples, who are at full strength, much younger, furious at the death of one of their most powerful allies, and outnumber him five to one... [[CurbStompBattle HE WIPES THE FLOOR WITH THEM.]]
** Due to him receiving the most CharacterDevelopment in the story, Pop is a mine of these: He makes an epic [[YouShallNotPass one-man stand]] against Baran's Dragon Elite, a Heroic Sacrifice to ''[[TakingYouWithMe explode]]'' against Baran himself (and would've seriously injured him had Baran not chickened out at the last moment), becomes capable of [[WaveMotionGun throwing massive spells]], and stops Vearn's [[ThePhoenix Kaiser Phoenix]] ''[[BeyondTheImpossible with two fingers]]''.
** Fuam playing soccer with Alvinas' [[EnergyBall Thousand Needles]] barrage, before blasting a hole in her chest. [[RuleofCool In the shape of a tiger.]]
** In his final battle, Hyunkel, after being beaten to an inch of his life by a horde of Mooks, is [[ItGotWorse ambushed by eight]] ChromeChampions. He tears them apart [[GoodOldFisticuffs with his bare hands.]]
** The secondary characters ''finally'' get one near the end when, after receiving a beatdown by the Big Bad, [[DarkestHour the heroes cannot stop the imminent apocalypse]]. Realizing what needs to be done, [[YouAreNotAlone all of the friends]] they've made during their journey rush to the pillars and stop them themselves.
** With his [[MiniMecha Hyper Zombie]] defeated, [[SmugSnake Zaboera]] escapes from the battle, only to find [[GentleGiant Crocodin]] waiting for him. Zaboera pleads for mercy, [[BlatantLies promising not to hurt anyone anymore.]] Crocodin lowers his axe... and [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder Zaboera]] [[ISurrenderSuckers attacks]] [[TooDumbtoLive him]] with his poisoned nails. Crocodin [[GenreSavvy points at the handle of his axe,]] [[OhCrap already falling to trap Zaboera's hands.]]
* CrowningMomentOfFunny Matorif sends Dai, Pop, and Maamu in a flying boat towards Baruji island. The boat speeds across the air...
-->'''Dai''': ...How are we going to stop this thing?
-->'''Matorif''': ...Ah, oops.
--> [[GilliganCut *CRASH*]]
** When shopping for weapons, Pop and Dai are disappointed at the local equipment. Fortunately the owner has an ace on the hole: The HAMMER HELM! (ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, a helmet with a hammer embedded into it.)
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming

* FanYay Crocodine has been very conspicuous in the {{Kemono}} {{Bara}} FanYay world.

** Later, Flora asks Leona to join the team as Aban's hypothetical fifth disciple and Crocodine is more or less relegated to the background. [[spoiler:When Aban conveniently reappears, he recognizes her as part of the team and as the disciple he'd have chosen]].

* {{Narm}} when sentimentality meets BeyondTheImpossible. Especially noteworthy are the tearful {{Heel Face Turn}}s, every instance where Crocodine cries, characters sentimentalizing over how great Hyunkel actually is behind his JerkassFacade, and Maamu and Pop's musings about love, their immaturity in love, etc. [[spoiler: Baran's HeroicSacrifice]] is a strange mix of genuinely moving and very {{Narm}}y. On the other hand, [[spoiler: Hadler's death in Aban's arms]] is stupidly contrived.

* {{Squick}} Seriously, Hadler -especially his hyper demon form, aka "the love child of the Hulk and a giant spider in He-Man's underpants." That, and the fact that [[PsychoSupporter Albinasu might be in love with him]].

* WhatAnIdiot Using a fire attack to unblock an obstructed room full of gunpowder?! Really clever Dai. Though, it's highly probable that [[FishOutOfWater he didn't knew any better]] about gunpowder's properties before that incident

* FrankensteinsMonster Fraizzard, one of the six generals; Hadler's Shinei Kidan are created through the same forbidden spell.