Mr. Satan, known as Hercule in some English versions, is the world martial arts champion who, after the Cell Games, takes credit for saving Earth despite doing practically nothing. He debuts in chapter 393 of the manga, released in October 1992, as a loudmouth played for laughs. Yet in the Majin Buu saga that blowhard becomes a key piece in saving the planet.
Who he is
Mr. Satan is a ring name, like a professional wrestler's persona: Toriyama revealed that his real name is Mark, a pun on akuma, Japanese for "demon". He became World Martial Arts Tournament champion during the years when Goku and his friends had stopped competing, and he has been a crowd favorite ever since. His daughter is Videl; his wife is never discussed in the series, but Toriyama suggested she was a beautiful singer named Miguel.
Because of the name's connotations he has been renamed in some countries: Funimation's original English dub and Viz's English manga called him Hercule, while Funimation later switched back to Mr. Satan for its uncut releases.
His story across the series
- Dragon Ball Z: at the Cell Games he steps up as the monster's challenger and is swatted away with a single blow. When Gohan defeats Cell, the media hand the victory to him, and he does not correct them. Seven years later he is more famous than ever. In the Majin Buu saga he befriends the pink demon and convinces him that killing is wrong; Buu's good side expels the evil one, which becomes a separate being. Having survived Earth's destruction, during the final battle he persuades the people of the planet to give their energy to Goku's Spirit Bomb. In the end Buu moves in with him and his dog Bee, and Mr. Satan once again takes the credit, with the blessing of heroes who would rather stay out of the spotlight.
- Dragon Ball GT: he plays a minor role; Majin Buu and later Uub protect him from Baby's influence.
- Dragon Ball Super: he is extremely rich thanks to rewards for his fake rescues and looks after Buu, who has the personality of a child. In one anime episode he stages an imaginary TV fight against Beerus.
Abilities
Mr. Satan is a decent fighter by human standards: he genuinely won the tournaments he entered. The problem is that he knows nothing about ki, flight or energy waves, and at first insists they are cheap tricks. His real weapons are charisma, nerve and outrageous luck.
| Credited feat | Who really did it |
|---|---|
| Defeating Cell | Gohan |
| Defeating Majin Buu | Goku, with the Spirit Bomb |
| Winning the 25th tournament | Android 18 throws the final for money |
Relationships
- Videl is the daughter he adores, far braver and sharper than he is.
- Majin Buu is his best friend, who lives with him after the Buu saga.
- Goku is the real hero who happily lets him keep the spotlight.
- Android 18 is the fighter who charges him double the prize money to lose the tournament final.
- Gohan is the boy who beat Cell in his place and becomes his son-in-law.
Why he matters: our take
Mr. Satan looks like a throwaway character, a parody of the TV champion. Toriyama, however, builds one of the series' most surprising arcs around him: the most cowardly liar in the world succeeds where the strongest warriors failed, convincing Majin Buu to change. Not through force, but through kindness.
There is a deeper idea too. Mr. Satan is the point of view of ordinary humanity, the people who cannot fly or fire energy blasts. When the Spirit Bomb needs everyone's energy, it is he, the hero people trust, who convinces the whole world to give it. It is the moment his undeserved fame finally pays off.
Did you know? In a 1993 Weekly Shōnen Jump popularity poll, barely a year after his debut, Mr. Satan placed seventh among Dragon Ball characters.
Trivia
- In Japanese he was voiced by Daisuke Gōri until his death in 2010, then by Unshō Ishizuka until 2018; the current voice is Masashi Ebara. In Daima, in his shrunken form, he is voiced by Tōru Sakurai.
- In Funimation's English dub he is voiced by Chris Rager.
- In the Philippines he was renamed Master Pogi.