Do we like them?

Do we like Piccolo?

A character from Dragon Ball / Dragon Ball Z (1988–present)

Our score: 8 out of 10. Yes. He's grumpy and stern, but he's loyal, he'll take a hit for the people he protects, and he's a great mentor. We'd back him.

Piccolo debuted in Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga in 1988. He is a Namekian, a green alien warrior, who is the reborn form of the Demon King Piccolo. At first he is a villain who wants to rule the world and beat Goku. He is cold, proud and dangerous.

Piccolo's story is about how he changes. He's still gruff and sarcastic, and he keeps his distance from people. But he gradually becomes Goku's ally and a trusted guardian of Earth. His teaching of a child, Gohan, brings out his protective side.

When a far stronger threat arrives in Dragon Ball Z, Piccolo teams up with his old rival Goku. After that he fights alongside the heroes through the Namek saga, including a fusion with another Namekian, Nail. He keeps defending Earth in later series, and he often acts as a mentor to Gohan.

We give him a 9. He starts out as a villain, but we judge him mostly on what he does after that: reliable, selfless and loyal. He loses a point for that early villainy and for his coldness.