History NightmareFuel / DragonBallZ

Anime/DragonBallZ isn't the DarkerAndEdgier version of Manga/DragonBall for nothing. It has some of the vilest villains in the anime, and that's not even getting into the traumatic past of Trunks, the excessive violence or even some traits of the good guys

For Nightmare Fuel in the Abriged Series, go [[NightmareFuel/DragonBallZAbridged here]].

** It also helps to remember that this is a show that is all too pleased to show you the gore of battle...yet it did not let you see what Trunks was seeing. Instead, all you saw was young Trunks looking as if he's about to throw up at the ghastly sight. TakeOurWordForIt indeed...

** It also helps to remember that this is a show that is all too pleased to show you the gore of battle...yet it did not let you see what Trunks was seeing. Instead, all you saw was young Trunks looking as if he's about to throw up by the ghastly sight. TakeOurWordForIt indeed...

** It also helps to remember that this is a show that is all too pleased to show you the gore of battle...and it did not let you see what Trunks was seeing. TakeOurWordForIt indeed...

!!Turles
* When he plants the Tree of Might. It turns the planet [[spoiler: to a desolate wasteland]]
* [[spoiler: When Turles forces Gohan's eyes open to see the moon, going Oozaru.]]

* Most of the {{Family Unfriendly Death}}s[=/=]{{Cruel And Unusual Death}}s in general, while not [[NightmareFuel/{{BarefootGen}} as]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Berserk}} bad]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Hellsing}} as]] [[NightmareFuel/FullMetalAlchemist these]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Bleach}} kinds,]] are pretty uncomforting, such as the picture above, of Dr.Gero killing an ordinary human [[DisproportionateRetribution just because he bothered him.]]

* Super Buu. While Fat Buu was more like an innocent child that didn't know how not to break stuff, Super Buu was, along with Kid Buu, the most deranged. [[http://images.wikia.com/dragonball/images/5/5a/Superbuu6.JPG He has this trademark pose where he's standing straight up, but his long neck is tilted to one side and he's got a Cheshire Cat grin about two sizes too big for his face]].
** His actions in this form don't help. As mentioned before, the other forms just liked StuffBlowingUp. His methods of killing/torturing are extremely sadistic, yes, even worse than Frieza, Cell, or Broly. That include [[spoiler:turning one into a food of choice and eating/stepping on them and liquefying himself and force-feeding his own body down another's throat, then expanding inside them until they burst.]] Once Buu makes this, Mr. Satan is completely horrified.

*** This goes even further in that, for most of the series, the use of 'empty eyes' signifies that a character is either enraged or releasing stupidly high amounts of energy.

* Several things that makes Frieza is NightmareFuel at best. And for a bonus, Frieza is [[HeyItsThatVoice voiced by]] RyuseiNakao, who voiced [[Manga/{{Bleach}} Mayuri Kurotsuchi]].

** His actions in this form don't help. As mentioned before, the other forms just liked StuffBlowingUp. His methods of killing/torturing are extremely sadistic, yes, even worse than Frieza, Cell, or Broly. That include [[spoiler:turning one into a food of choice and eating/stepping on them and liquefying himself and force-feeding his own body down another's throat, then expanding inside them until they burst.]] Once John makes this, Mr. Satan is completely horrified.

*** The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Human Extinction Attack]]. [[spoiler:He launches a continuous stream of energy beams that decimates the entire human population. [[ApocalypseHow Class 3a Apocalypse]]. [[ForTheEvulz For no other reason except the fact that he could.]] ]] Worse, he makes a very PsychothicSmirk.

!! Babadi

** His actions in this form don't help. As mentioned before, the other forms just liked StuffBlowingUp. Some of Super Buu's favorite methods of killing include [[spoiler:turning one into a food of choice and eating/stepping on them and liquefying himself and force-feeding his own body down another's throat, then expanding inside them until they burst.]]
*** The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Human Extinction Attack]]. [[spoiler:He launches a continuous stream of energy beams that decimates the entire human population. [[ApocalypseHow Class 3a Apocalypse]]. [[ForTheEvulz For no other reason except the fact that he could.]] ]]

*** The other thing that made it all the more scary was that even Piccolo was both scared and disgusted at how emotionless Cell was in killing a random civilian.

!! Super Saiyan 2 Gohan
* When Son Gohan achieves the Messianic powers of a Super Saiyan 2, he turns from a [[NiceGuy sensitive and kind-hearted little boy]] into a [[SuperpoweredEvilSide cold blooded and sadistic murderer]] that would make Frieza or Broly proud. Watching the once kind-hearted boy coldly sneer ''"Kill him now? Hmph, not yet Dad. He deserves to suffer much longer!!'' is really uncommon in his personality. This is the same Cell that is ''fueled'' on the lives of thousands, if not millions of people and laughed with glee as he absorbed the two teenagers his creator turned into cyborgs as they screamed for their lives. He also stated he loves seeing the twisted faces of terror in people, and said to Goku that if it wasn't for the tournament he created, [[EarthShatteringKaboom he'd wipe out the earth in one shot]] without batting an eye. Cell even called him "a ''monster''". When Goku called out to Gohan that he should end the fight since Cell, while cornered could become more unpredictable than before, Gohan's response was to glare at him and give his most [[PsychoticSmirk sadistic smirk]] he's ever shown, before giving the line that he'd like to carry on what was effectively '''torture'''. That kid was clearly NotHimself.
** The part of the battle most people remember is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7xKDpJOdtI&feature=related this one]], but one has to watch the entire fight to really get the full impression. The contrast between Gohan before he ascends and afterwards is startlingly dramatic.
** Gohan is right about Cell deserving it, though, considering that Cell [[BodyHorror DRANK 600,000 innocent people]] and intended to kill everyone on Earth just to see the terror on their faces before they die.
*** That may be the case, but the fact that ''[[NiceGuy Gohan]]'' of all people, is torturing Cell for uncontrollable rage is somewhat disturbing. But the sheer freakishness of it goes UpToEleven when you consider this- this SuperPoweredEvilSide has been lurking in him '''''since he was 4 years old'''''.
* The look into Trunks's nightmarish future, coupled with "Mind, Power, KI" gives an idea of how bleak things are under the Androids reign. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewzi45xuuzU

!! Goku Super Saiyan
* Goku's first [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBaM9vp0J_w Super Saiyan transformation]], in the original Japanese version. Other versions have scored the scene to look like something dramatic and awesome is happening, but in the original version, the music gives the impression that not only is there no ''clue'' as to what the hell Goku turned into, but no indication that it's something good, shocking even Frieza. Imagine what the kids who first saw this scene, to see their hero Goku go through that...
** Also remember that the color gold can symbolize [[http://symbolism.wikia.com/wiki/Gold perfection]]. While this means Goku had achieved an ultimate form, it also meant he's the perfect ''Saiyan'' warrior. The first thing he does is order Gohan to leave, meaning he's on the verge of being overwhelmed by bloodlust and can't trust himself with his son.

!! Spocovich

* Commander Black's [[VillainousBreakdown utter meltdown]] near the end of ''Dragon Ball: Path To Power''.
* Slug when growing into a Super Namek
* Broly, a recurring villain in the films.
** Broly's screams when going Legendary Super Saiyan. He sounds like ''a baby crying'' interspersed with maniacal laughter.
** That`s not even close to the scariest part of him. Frieza, Cell, Bojack, Buu... every villian in that series when being fought has taken hits and bled. They always... ALWAYS get a beating here and there. Broly doesn`t get hurt... in fact he only took one hit that affected him in any way and that`s at the end of each movie. He can take everything that you can throw at him and not notice. On top of that, he`s insane. You can`t bargain with him or surrender. You can`t scare him, you can`t team up on him and all he wants to do is kill you... as slowly and painfully as he can. And unlike the other villains, he`s not doing it because you`re in his way or for profit... it`s because he loves it. He`ll hunt you down and go after your children if he has to... or wants to...
** Legendary Super Saiyan Broly. One of the things he's most noted for is his Empty Eyes. This gives him a demonic appearance, on top of the fact that he grows nearly twice as tall as his original self, is bulkier than the Ultra Super Saiyan 2nd state, and destroys a slave race's planet just to see them cry about it. But all you need to realize that he's a bad mofo is to watch one of the many scenes in the first movie where there's a close-up onto his eyes.

Anime/DragonBallZ isn't the DarkerAndEdgier version of Manga/DragonBall for nothing. It has some of the most graphically violent villains in the history of anime, and that's not even getting into the traumatic past of Trunks, the excessive violence or even some traits of the good guys

* When Son Gohan achieves the Messianic powers of a Super Saiyan 2, he turns from a [[NiceGuy sensitive and kind-hearted little boy]] into a [[SuperpoweredEvilSide cold blooded and sadistic murderer]] that took '''pleasure''' in torturing Cell rather than killing him. Watching the once kind-hearted boy coldly sneer ''"Kill him now? Hmph, not yet Dad. He deserves to suffer much longer!!'' sent shivers down my spine.
** This is the same Cell that is ''fueled'' on the lives of thousands, if not millions of people and laughed with glee as he absorbed the two teenagers his creator turned into cyborgs as they screamed for their lives. He also stated he loves seeing the twisted faces of terror in people, and said to Goku that if it wasn't for the tournament he created, [[EarthShatteringKaboom he'd wipe out the earth in one shot]] without batting an eye. And Gohan managed to ''absolutely terrify'' this thing. Cell even called him "a ''monster''". When Goku called out to Gohan that he should end the fight since Cell, while cornered could become more unpredictable than before, Gohan's response was to glare at him and give his most [[PsychoticSmirk sadistic smirk]] he's ever shown, before giving the line that he'd like to carry on what was effectively '''torture'''. That kid was clearly NotHimself.
*** The part of the battle most people remember is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7xKDpJOdtI&feature=related this one]], but one has to watch the entire fight to really get the full impression. The contrast between Gohan before he ascends and afterwards is startlingly dramatic.

*** That may be the case, but the fact that ''[[NiceGuy Gohan]]'' of all people, is torturing someone [[ForTheEvulz for his own sadistic amusement]] and [[RevengeBeforeReason an unquenchable thirst of vengeance above reason]] is more than a bit disturbing. But the sheer freakishness of it goes UpToEleven when you consider this- this SuperPoweredEvilSide has been lurking in him '''''since he was 4 years old'''''.

[[/folder]]

* When Son Gohan achieves the Messianic powers of a Super Saiyan 2, he turns from a [[NiceGuy sensitive and kind-hearted little boy]] into a [[SuperpoweredEvilSide cold blooded and sadistic murderer]] that took '''pleasure''' in torturing Cell rather than killing him. Watching the once kind-hearted boy coldly sneer ''"Kill him now? Hmph, not yet Dad. He deserves to suffer much longer!!'' sent shivers down my spine.
** This is the same Cell that is ''fueled'' on the lives of thousands, if not millions of people and laughed with glee as he absorbed the two teenagers his creator turned into cyborgs as they screamed for their lives. He also stated he loves seeing the twisted faces of terror in people, and said to Goku that if it wasn't for the tournament he created, [[EarthShatteringKaboom he'd wipe out the earth in one shot]] without batting an eye. And Gohan managed to ''absolutely terrify'' this thing. Cell even called him "a ''monster''". When Goku called out to Gohan that he should end the fight since Cell, while cornered could become more unpredictable than before, Gohan's response was to glare at him and give his most [[PsychoticSmirk sadistic smirk]] he's ever shown, before giving the line that he'd like to carry on what was effectively '''torture'''. That kid was clearly NotHimself.
*** The part of the battle most people remember is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7xKDpJOdtI&feature=related this one]], but one has to watch the entire fight to really get the full impression. The contrast between Gohan before he ascends and afterwards is startlingly dramatic.
** Gohan is right about Cell deserving it, though, considering that Cell [[BodyHorror DRANK 600,000 innocent people]] and intended to kill everyone on Earth just to see the terror on their faces before they die.
*** That may be the case, but the fact that ''[[NiceGuy Gohan]]'' of all people, is torturing someone [[ForTheEvulz for his own sadistic amusement]] and [[RevengeBeforeReason an unquenchable thirst of vengeance above reason]] is more than a bit disturbing. But the sheer freakishness of it goes UpToEleven when you consider this- this SuperPoweredEvilSide has been lurking in him '''''since he was 4 years old'''''.

* This [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzYBD6sZuko creepy, pedophile-like]] look that [[{{Jerkass}} Veg]][[WarriorPrince eta]] gave to Gohan back on Namek.
** Doesn't help that he [[WouldHurtAChild hits Gohan]] in the most painful way possible.
** Just... [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhbYY62Kvpo&feature=related this]]...

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk8TV_Z5dZk When Cell comes across Piccolo and a random man in the street]], who begs Piccolo to take his money. Cell stabs him with his tail, and it starts... moving, like it's drinking, and the man is petrified. The man's entire body STARTS TO MELT; his face eventually caves in, and his body is sucked up until there is nothing left ''but his clothes''.
** Piccolo who was usually stoic is too petrified by fear to do anything but watch in horror!
*** The other thing that made it all the more scary was that even Piccolo was both scared and disgusted at how emotionless Cell was in killing a random civilian.

* Early in the Buu saga, we see the fight between Videl and Spopovich. Long story short, this entire episode, if you remove the fantasy elements, is a wrestler ''pounding a young girl in a tournament, and absolutely no one is coming to help her!!''. There's a shot of Spopovich ''stepping on her head, and all Videl can do is cry out in pain!!'' She's lucky Gohan defied his father and flew in to save her, which, really, brings up a whole 'nother issue! Even Goku is really disgusted with this guy (Spopovich), and went on his way to mutter "I don't like him" and "there's something wrong with that guy" more than once. Still, he didn't actually intervene, but it was more of a matter of time: if Gohan didn't do it first, Goku would have.
** Even if you keep the fantasy elements in, for not one, but two solid episodes, the fight between Videl and Spopovitch is pretty horrific. Videl, struggling to even make him rect to her attacks, delivers a kick that spins his entire head around. After a scene in which everyone thinks she did kill him, HE GETS BACK UP, NEARLY PULLS HIS HEAD OFF, AND SETS IT BACK INTO PLACE! From there, he gets his revenge. Her screams are horrifying. Both episodes are considered as nightmarefuel in universe by spectators and the narrator.
** Then we find out that Spopovich lost easily to Hercule in the last tournament, bringing out the FridgeHorror of what was able to make him at least ten times stronger and teach him to fly and use energy attacks. And then Vegeta falls under Babidi's influence.
* Van Zant, the bandit who shot Buu's dog and later Mr. Satan. In his first scene he kills an elderly couple and revels about how awesome it feels to kill someone. Then we see him shooting people at random in a nearby town. It all leads up to Van Zant shooting Buu's dog and Mr. Satan and this triggers the release of Buu's evil side, making everything what Buu does afterwards his fault. All this for no reason other than the sheer thrill of killing people. Even worse is that at the time Buu had reformed and posed no threat to anyone. What's worse is that he uses Buu's destruction spree as an excuse, reasoning that everyone will be killed eventually, and even going so far as to pretend that Buu killed his victims. And just ''why'' he does all of this? He's reckoned that with Buu flying around basically laying waste to the planet, he's probably going to die soon, and he decided it'd be fun to try to take as many people with him as possible. That's his entire motivation. The most terrifying thing about him is that he is [[HumansAreBastards a completely normal human being]] with ''no superpowers''. Put emphasis on ''completely'', since he is just a simple human with no superpowers or martial arts training. All other human villains were leaders of evil organization (Commander Red), or were mercenaries and later cyborgs (Tao Pai Pai), but he is just an average human. All other Complete monsters in the series are intergalactic warlords, androids or other supernatural creatures and use ki- blasts and other superpowers for evil, Van Zant uses ''normal guns'' to accomplish bad things. It is terrifying to see that a regular human, who uses normal guns to accomplish bad deeds, can be just as bad as intergalactic alien warlords or insane androids.
** And, perhaps, in response to this fact, Toriyama/the creators reserved '''one of the most horrid, gruesome deaths in the series''' for this human bit character. [[note]]Buu turned into a liquid and force-fed ''himself'' to the guy, expanding inside Van Zant until he exploded into several hundred meaty chunks.[[/note]] And, in a series where the main characters routinely get holes blown through them, lose limbs, and get bones snapped, that's saying a LOT.
** This doesn't mention the [[http://i.imgur.com/e1kKuYo.jpg look]] that Majin Buu gives him just as he's starting to explode. This may be one of four times in the entire series that we see Majin Buu with his eyes open.
** Someone had to mention how Mr. Satan reacts to the whole thing. Mr. Satan is ''absolutely furious'' at Van Zant and attacks him. Mr. Satan, the same guy who acted all fearless in Cell Games and felt more awkward than scared when he first met Buu, became pissed off and TookALevelInBadass That's saying a lot.
** Although he used it as an excuse, this only goes to show you how lowly the people of Earth feel about themselves in the face of Buu, that they no longer hold any respect for life. Considering that we historically love killing off whole peoples and races just because of assumed, fantastic threats, imagine what the humans in Z must've considered doing to those people they baselessly felt responsible for Buu's existence. Buu suddenly gets a lot more dangerous, indirectly, through this terrible act. And this whole saga occurred within the span of only '''''48 hours.''''' ''If that.''

* Even though he only appeared in one episode, Evil Buu (gray) arguably is pretty freaking scary given his depressing, morbid appearance. Any child who sees this haunting stare [[http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/PlasmaKing549/MajinBuuPureEvil-Blast1-IntotheEyes.jpg]] would most likely crap their pants. Let's see. Soulless white eyes within black sclera which originated the BlackEyesOfCrazy trope? Check. Gray, melancholy color compared to bright, jubilant pink? Check. Sickly, anorexic body? Check. Even when anorexic Buu is pink [[http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/YBM/PinkThinBoocard.jpg]], that unnerving [[SlasherSmile smile]] isn't exactly doing anyone's conscious any favors.
** How he was extremely deathly stoic in his fight with Good Buu, and then when he eats him, it results in an utterly [[LaughingMad crazed laugh]] with completely wide eyes and smile as he turns into Super Buu. Talk about NotSoStoic

* During Super Buu's fight with Vegeto, he forces himself into the fused Saiyan's mouth and tries to destroy him from the inside. Vegeto's powerful enough to resist it, but Buu is able to remain inside his body. The following few minutes are [[NauseaFuel outright]] [[BodyHorror disturbing]] as we see random parts of Vegeto's body swelling to ridiculously grotesque size as he attempts to beat Super Buu back out.

!! Other

* Most of the {{Family Unfriendly Death}}s[=/=]{{Cruel And Unusual Death}}s in general, while not [[NightmareFuel/{{BarefootGen}} as]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Berserk}} bad]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Hellsing}} as]] [[NightmareFuel/FullMetalAlchemist these]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Bleach}} kinds,]] are pretty uncomforting, such as the picture above, of Dr.Gero killing an ordinary human [[DisproportionateRetribution just because he bothered him.]]

* The look into Trunks's nightmarish future, coupled with "Mind, Power, KI" gives an idea of how bleak things are under the Androids reign. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewzi45xuuzU
* Most of the {{Family Unfriendly Death}}s[=/=]{{Cruel And Unusual Death}}s in general, while not [[NightmareFuel/{{BarefootGen}} as]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Berserk}} bad]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Hellsing}} as]] [[NightmareFuel/FullMetalAlchemist these]] [[NightmareFuel/{{Bleach}} kinds,]] are pretty uncomforting, such as the picture above, of Dr.Gero killing an ordinary human [[DisproportionateRetribution just because he bothered him.]]
** "In The History of Trunks," when Future Gohan dies. It was horrifying to see him get hit by those beams, while he's screaming in agony, and he's laying on the ground ''helpless!''
* Goku's first [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBaM9vp0J_w Super Saiyan transformation]], in the original Japanese version. Other versions have scored the scene to look like something dramatic and awesome is happening, but in the original version, the music gives the impression that not only is there no ''clue'' as to what the hell Goku turned into, but no indication that it's something good, shocking even Frieza. Imagine what the kids who first saw this scene, to see their hero Goku go through that...
** Also remember that the color gold can symbolize [[http://symbolism.wikia.com/wiki/Gold perfection]]. While this means Goku had achieved an ultimate form, it also meant he's the perfect ''Saiyan'' warrior. The first thing he does is order Gohan to leave, meaning he's on the verge of being overwhelmed by bloodlust and can't trust himself with his son.
** Any transformation in the Great Ape/Oozaru by Goku or Gohan. Not only do they have an appearance of a monster, but whenever a Saiyan turns into one, unless they're an elite, they lose ''all'' senses of themselves.
** But an Oozaru with conscious thought— ala Vegeta— sounds even more terrifying. This means that they know exactly what they're going to do, and you're the helpless grunt about to have your bones ground to dust- ''at best''.

* Commander Black's [[VillainousBreakdown utter meltdown]] near the end of ''Dragon Ball: Path To Power''.

** Gohan's death in Trunks' future. (Already mentioned; deserves a second mention) But not only the death, but the fact that he had already lost his arm. You begin to realize how hopeless the situation was, even though it seemed Gohan was holding his own. When Trunks faced his own beatdown at the hands of the Androids, for some reason, they made the incredibly intelligent decision to use the creepiest Gregorian-chant BGM as a backdrop. NightmareFuel much???

* The unusual amount of focus given to Android 18 shattering Vegeta's arm with a single kick. Never mind that broken limbs are often RealLife NightmareFuel in and of themselves. It was the fact that Trunks and everyone up on the hill realizes how screwed Vegeta is right on impact. Or the ''scream'' Vegeta lets out right as his arm goes limp. By this point, Vegeta's pretty much established himself as a guy that can not only take a pounding, but talk crap the entire way. To hear Vegeta scream out in pain to that degree is hair-raising (no pun intended) because it's something Vegeta ''just doesn't do''.
** For the lulz, 18 dislocates Vegeta's other arm a few minutes later.
* This may be more NauseaFuel than NightmareFuel, but Piccolo being forced to basically reassemble himself after Trunks [[NiceJobBreakingItHero knocks him over]] [[TakenForGranite as a statue.]] Presuming that Piccolo was not conscious for his time as a statue and only regained consciousness when the attack wore off (i.e. when [[spoiler: Buu killed Dabura]]), imagine if your first conscious realization after being ''turned to stone'' is, "OhCrap. I'm in pieces." And then there was the effort involved. It's already a known fact that, yes, while Piccolo can regenerate limbs, it's not an easy process. And he had to regenerate several portions of his body.

* Some moments when Chi-Chi gets ''really'' [[HairTriggerTemper angry.]]
** Chi-Chi in general most of the time... it's no wonder people are ''terrified'' of her.
** This, just ''[[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/97689678_modified_2638.jpg this]]''. Her expression is ''TERRIFYING.''
* In ''Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans'', Frieza, Turles, Cooler and Slug come back as ghosts. After they are defeated, Hatchiyack absorbs their spirits, which is apparently very painful. We are then treated to a sequence of each villain's ghost being trapped inside of a ball and writhing in agony.
** Its stated and mentioned by Goku that Hatchiyack is either the same power level as Broly or a bit beyond it. It doesn't help and adds fuel to the fire that he reemerges as an android hellbent on slaughtering Goku and his friends.

[[folder:Films]]
* Slug is a very disturbing villain. The fact that he has committed genocide and conquest planets for centuries makes it very disturbing. Then there's the scene where he becomes a super namekian, and then seems to have a sadistic joy when tortures Goku.

[[folder:Dragon Ball Z]]

[[/folder]]