One of the main reasons Dragon Ball has survived four decades and continues to attract new fans is the creative way the series continues to expand its universe. There was a point in Dragon Ball where galactic travel or occasional trips to the Otherworld of the afterlife seemed impossible, but now they are the norm. Dragon Ball pays special attention to its ever-changing hierarchy of divine beings and gods. Earth Guardian and King Kai barely register now that there are deities like Supreme Kai, Great Supreme Kai, Gods of Destruction, Angels, High Priest, and Lord Zeno gone mad.
Dragon Ball DAIMA, the latest addition to Toriyama’s long-running shonen series, has teased the inclusion of another special divine being – Makaioshina – who is set to play an important role in the new demon realm-focused series. DAIMA isn’t technically the first time the Makaioshin have appeared in Dragon Ball, but their previous showings have been limited to very narrow spots in the Dragon Ball universe. There are some important things you should know about the Makaioshins, what they represent, and why they are a big deal before Dragon Ball DAIMA premieres!
What Are The Makaioshin in Dragon Ball?
The Makaioshin Are Demon Supreme Kai Who Are High-Ranking Demon Realm Members
The latest Dragon Ball DAIMA trailer showed off some new characters that were originally thought to be aliens, but are actually demons from the Demon Realm. Degesu is a new character who bears a suspicious resemblance to Universe 7’s Supreme Kai, Shin. These similarities are not coincidental, as Degesu is actually a Makaioshin – otherwise known as the Demon Supreme Kai. Degesu is a new character, but this is not the first time Demon Supreme Kai has appeared in Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball’s Demon Realm reflects many concepts present in the living world. The Demon Supreme Kai exist in opposition to the Supreme Kai, and their purpose is to rule evil and hold sway over the Demon Realm to facilitate the cultivation of dark energy. The Demon Supreme Kai also wears the same signature pair of green Potara earrings, typically the telltale sign of whether a demon has progressed to Demon Supreme Kai status. The two most powerful Demon Supreme Kai in Dragon Ball are Demigra and Mechikabura, the latter of which is also responsible for the creation of the Demon Realm.
It’s worth noting that both Demigra and Mechikabura were in the running for the title of Supreme Kai of Time, a title that ultimately belongs to Chronoa. Mechikabur’s two loyal demons, Salsa and Shroom, achieve Demon Supreme Kai status along with Demigra’s secretary Robel. The Demon Supreme Kai are certainly powerful, but there are other important demon deities that help rule the Demon Realm. Makaio – Demon Kings – are the equivalent of Kai in the Demon Realm. They are the same species as the Kai, except they are born with evil hearts. Dabura, Mira, Fu, and Mirayo are some of the most prominent Demon Kings of Dragon Ball.
Ranking above Demon King and Demon Supreme Kai are Masters of the Demon World and Dark Kings. The Master of the Demon World is only mentioned once in Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai – Another Road during Dabury’s encounter with Super Janemba, so perhaps one shouldn’t get too invested in this title. The Dark King is the highest rank a Demon Realm demon can reach, and only Mechikabura, Fu, and Demigra have reached it. Although it has not been confirmed, the Dark King may be the equivalent of a God of Destruction or an Angel in the Demon Realm. It is reasonable to believe that such a thing exists if demonic versions of Kai and Supreme Kai exist.
When Did The Makaioshin First Appear in Dragon Ball?
The latest Dragon Ball DAIMA trailer showed off some new characters that were originally thought to be aliens, but are actually demons from the Demon Realm. Degesu is a new character who bears a suspicious resemblance to Universe 7’s Supreme Kai, Shin. These similarities are not coincidental, as Degesu is actually a Makaioshin – otherwise known as the Demon Supreme Kai. Degesu is a new character, but this is not the first time Demon Supreme Kai has appeared in Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball’s Demon Realm reflects many concepts present in the living world. The Demon Supreme Kai exist in opposition to the Supreme Kai, and their purpose is to rule evil and hold sway over the Demon Realm to facilitate the cultivation of dark energy. The Demon Supreme Kai also wears the same signature pair of green Potara earrings, typically the telltale sign of whether a demon has progressed to Demon Supreme Kai status. The two most powerful Demon Supreme Kai in Dragon Ball are Demigra and Mechikabura, the latter of which is also responsible for the creation of the Demon Realm.
It’s worth noting that both Demigra and Mechikabura were in the running for the title of Supreme Kai of Time, a title that ultimately belongs to Chronoa. Mechikabur’s two loyal demons, Salsa and Shroom, achieve Demon Supreme Kai status along with Demigra’s secretary Robel. The Demon Supreme Kai are certainly powerful, but there are other important demon deities that help rule the Demon Realm. Makaio – Demon Kings – are the equivalent of Kai in the Demon Realm. They are the same species as the Kai, except they are born with evil hearts. Dabura, Mira, Fu, and Mirayo are some of the most prominent Demon Kings of Dragon Ball.
Ranking above Demon King and Demon Supreme Kai are Masters of the Demon World and Dark Kings. The Master of the Demon World is only mentioned once in Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai – Another Road during Dabury’s encounter with Super Janemba, so perhaps one shouldn’t get too invested in this title. The Dark King is the highest rank a Demon Realm demon can reach, and only Mechikabura, Fu, and Demigra have reached it. Although it has not been confirmed, the Dark King may be the equivalent of a God of Destruction or an Angel in the Demon Realm. It is reasonable to believe that such a thing exists if demonic versions of Kai and Supreme Kai exist.
When Did The Makaioshin First Appear in Dragon Ball?
Dragon Ball DAIMA will introduce the Demon Supreme Kai to their largest audience yet, and will also mark their first canonical appearance in Dragon Ball. These characters have actually been around for over 15 years at this point. The first mention of Demon Supreme Kai – and Demon Gods for that matter – was in 2009’s Dragon Ball: Super Exciting Guide. It is a collection of two databooks – “Story Volume” and “Character Volume” – that act as supplements to the guides Daizenshu who collect and disseminate the information detailed in the kanzenban editions and Dragon Ball manuals. Dragon Ball fans are always very invested in the concept or information that is contained in the official Dragon Ball guides. For years it seemed as if Makaio and Makaioshin were simply fascinating opposites of Kai and Supreme Kai.
The Dragon Ball series didn’t really explore the potential of the Demon Supreme Kai—and the Demon Realm as a whole—until more than five years later with the extended universe material of Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Dragon Ball Heroes. The Demon Supreme Kai not only appears in the video games and manga series, but the Demon Supreme Kai as Mechikabura and Demigra are the central antagonists of the series. Dragon Ball players are probably familiar with the Demon Supreme Kai, but it’s exciting to wonder how they’ll be handled in Dragon Ball DAIMA and how the anime canon will respect (or rediscover) details from Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Dragon Ball Heroes.
Will The Makaioshin Appear In The Dragon Ball Super Manga?
Dragon Ball fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of the Dragon Ball Super manga since it was discontinued after the conclusion of the Super Hero Saga. The premiere of Dragon Ball DAIMA certainly makes that wait more bearable, but it’s also entirely possible that the manga hiatus took just as long because the future story arc wants to use the ideas and characters that Dragon Ball DAIMA brings to the canon.
Fans are excited that DAIMA is a canonical Dragon Ball story, but there’s already been an urge to dismiss it because it takes place before Dragon Ball Super and therefore can’t seriously disrupt anything that will be introduced in the following series. However, the development of the Demon Realm is perfect material for a Dragon Ball Super manga to revisit once the threat of Black Frieza increases. It is possible that the key to destroying Black Frieza is held by a powerful figure from the realm of relics or demons, such as Demon Supreme Kai or Dr. Arins.
The Demon Realm has so much rich material to explore that it would be a real shame if it was just in Dragon Ball DAIMA and never seen again. A smarter approach would be to develop all of this further in Dragon Ball Super where Goku and Vegeta are even stronger than their DAIMA counterparts. The Dragon Ball Super manga could also delve deeper into the concept of the Dark King or Demon God of Destruction as Black Frieza’s plans to take over the multiverse grow stronger. There are still a few satisfying plot threads that the DBS manga needs to wrap up before the series ends, but all of these ideas hit even harder with the inclusion of Maikaioshin and other Demon Realm deities. It’s the best direction the franchise can take, and one that ties together many of Dragon Ball’s disparate points.