Today, we’re diving into why Mr. Popo is, in fact, the God in Dragon Ball. At first glance, this might seem ridiculous—how could someone like Mr. Popo, often seen as a simple caretaker, hold such power? But sometimes, it’s the least likely person who ends up being the most important.
This explanation involves Kami, Dende—think of him as the artist formerly known as Kami—and Earth Shenron. So let’s break down why Mr. Popo could very well be the God of Dragon Ball.
Dende, Shenron, and Mr. Popo act as a trinity, representing the collective godly authority of Earth in Dragon Ball. Dende, as the current Earth Guardian who took over for Kami, is responsible for protecting the planet, creating the Dragon Balls, preserving order, and providing guidance to Earth’s fighters and its people. Shenron, the eternal dragon summoned by the Dragon Balls, serves as the trinity’s manifestation of divine power, granting wishes within his limits.
Meanwhile, Mr. Popo, often seen as a humble caretaker, acts as a constant figure behind the scenes. He maintains the sanctity of the Lookout and serves as the link between these godly roles. Together, they form the spiritual backbone of Earth’s divine hierarchy.
When we consider the most powerful beings in Dragon Ball—especially in Dragon Ball Super—we look at figures like Zalama, the creator of the Super Dragon Balls, and Zeno, the ruler of the multiverse. Either Zalama or Zeno alone is far more powerful than Dende or even Earth Shenron by themselves.
However, when considering the Dende-Shenron-Mr. Popo trio as a single unit, their combined significance transcends raw power. None of them individually may surpass Zeno, but together they represent Earth’s most vital divine system. What makes Mr. Popo particularly intriguing is the suggestion that he may hold a latent power far beyond what is shown in the series—possibly even rivaling Zeno himself.
There has been much speculation about Mr. Popo’s true nature. Based on his turban, magical abilities, and demeanor, it’s reasonable to conclude that he could be a djinn or a genie. While canon doesn’t confirm this explicitly, the evidence strongly supports this idea.
If this is true, it’s likely that Dende, as his current master, holds a receptacle or lamp that binds Mr. Popo to servitude. In this sense, Mr. Popo may be far more powerful than he lets on, his true abilities suppressed by his status as a servant. If freed, he would likely be the most powerful being in Dragon Ball, far surpassing any limits placed upon him by the current hierarchy.
To understand how Mr. Popo might become free, it’s important to recognize the bond between him, Dende, and Shenron. All three have a commitment to Earth’s divine system, and none would willingly reveal the means to break Mr. Popo’s servitude.
Dende relies on Mr. Popo’s power and guidance, while Shenron ultimately answers to Dende. Even Mr. Popo himself may not disclose this information due to the constraints placed on him by the system.
The only conceivable way for Mr. Popo to become free is if a third party stumbled upon the receptacle or lamp that confines him and made a specific wish to Shenron—or another Dragon Ball dragon—to release him. The wish would need to include protections, like ensuring he “cannot be recaptured,” to prevent any loopholes.
Imagine the implications of Mr. Popo gaining full freedom. Think of the Disney movie Aladdin. At the end of the film, the villain Jafar wishes to become an all-powerful genie, only to find himself confined to a lamp and bound to servitude.
This parallels Mr. Popo’s situation in Dragon Ball. While his current role limits his power, freeing him would make him a limitless entity, capable of accomplishing anything without restrictions. Even beings like Zeno, Porunga, and Super Shenron, while immensely powerful, operate under certain universal rules. A free Mr. Popo would not.
Mr. Popo has been a servant to Kami and Dende for hundreds of years, if not longer. If freed, he may harbor resentment toward the system that confined him. This could lead to unpredictable behavior, especially if he seeks to dismantle the structure that kept him in servitude.
Additionally, some have pointed out that Mr. Popo’s portrayal raises questions about outdated stereotypes. He is depicted as a black djinn or genie, a servant bound to a larger system, which some argue reflects societal hierarchies. His freedom could symbolize a breaking of those chains, with implications for how power is distributed in the Dragon Ball universe.
Out of either Kami or Dende, Mr. Popo developed a dislike—or perhaps even a hatred—toward Dende. He especially disliked Dende in his younger form, or as kid Dende. It’s likely that his first order of business would be to return Dende to this childlike state, allowing him to exact revenge on Dende in the form he found most intolerable.
At first, this might seem amusing or harmless. But Mr. Popo’s torment would be persistent. For example, he could ensure that anytime Dende needed to use the bathroom for number two, there would be no toilet paper. Initially, this would simply be annoying, forcing Dende to walk around uncomfortably. But over time, the psychological toll of repeatedly checking for toilet paper—only for it to disappear—would become genuinely traumatizing.
So, if Mr. Popo were freed and became the highest god, would he cause real damage or simply stick to mischievously annoying Dende? The answer is probably no, but the potential for him to do so is undeniably there. With unlimited power, Mr. Popo could theoretically reshape the universe as he saw fit.
What are your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment and share your perspective.
Is Mr. Popo THE GOD in Dragon Ball?
Lorelai AI | Dragon Ball Goofs