TV-Series
Description
In Dragon Ball GT, Cyborg #17 is reintroduced as a central figure in the Super 17 arc, many years after his last appearance during the battle against Kid Buu. He is a human-based cyborg, originally designed and rebuilt by the villainous Dr. Gero, who turned him and his twin sister into perpetual-energy machines. After Dr. Gero's death and the defeat of the bio-android Cell, he was wished back to life and chose to live a quiet, solitary life away from the main group of fighters, a path he was still following at the start of this story.
His personality in GT proves to be a tragic echo of his past self. As seen in Dragon Ball Z, the original Cyborg #17 possesses a strong sense of self and a rebellious, carefree nature. He hates being controlled or ordered around by anyone and holds onto a deep-seated love for his twin sister, Android #18. This independent spirit is directly challenged in GT when the mad scientists Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu, working together in Hell, create a fully artificial duplicate of him, known as Hell Fighter #17. This duplicate telepathically brainwashes the original Cyborg #17, overriding his will and forcing him to carry out the doctors’ revenge against Son Goku.
His motivations are therefore not his own for most of his role; he is driven by the commands of his creators. Under this control, he murders his brother-in-law, Krillin, in front of his sister and niece. This horrific act demonstrates how the brainwashing has corrupted him, but flashes of his true nature still surface. He hesitates to kill #18 when she confronts him, and he shows internal conflict when she reminds him of their bond. It is this lingering love for his sister that ultimately becomes the key to his downfall.
In terms of his role in the story, Cyborg #17 serves as the catalyst for the creation of the arc’s primary antagonist, Super #17. After being summoned by Hell Fighter #17, the brainwashed original merges with the artificial duplicate in a mutual fusion. This new being possesses all of the original’s power along with the duplicate’s ruthless programmed loyalty and a new ability to absorb energy attacks. As Super #17, he dominates the entire cast of heroes, easily defeating even Uub, Vegeta, and a Super Saiyan 4 Son Goku. His rampage is only halted because of the real #17’s suppressed consciousness. During the final battle, the original Cyborg #17—fighting from within the fusion—purposely reveals his fused form’s critical weakness: his body is defenseless for a moment whenever he absorbs an energy blast. This self-sabotage allows Goku to land a fatal blow, implying that the original #17 chose to accept his own destruction to stop the evil he unwillingly helped create.
His key relationships are almost entirely centered on his sister, Android #18. While he has no direct interaction with his former allies from the Cell Games, his connection to his twin is the primary driver of his internal conflict. It is #18’s grief and rage over Krillin’s death that sparks his moment of hesitation and her final pleas that seemingly reach the real #17 buried inside Super #17. His relationship with his creators, Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu, is one of pure rebellion, culminating in Super #17 turning on and killing them both—an act of defiance that echoes his murder of Dr. Gero in the Android Saga.
In terms of development, this arc essentially completes his journey from a rebellious villain to a tragic, albeit redeemed, figure. Initially a neutral character who simply wanted to be left alone, he is transformed into an unwilling weapon. By choosing to sacrifice his own fusion to save his sister and the Earth, he reaffirms the goodness that had been hinted at when he willingly donated his energy to Goku’s Spirit Bomb years prior.
As a cyborg, his notable abilities include infinite stamina, superhuman strength, speed, and the power to generate an energy barrier. As the fused Super #17, his abilities are vastly enhanced by the addition of Hell Fighter #17’s unique power: energy absorption. Unlike other models, Super #17 can absorb any ki-based attack through his entire body, converting the enemy’s power into his own strength, which makes him nearly invincible until his secret weakness is exploited.
His personality in GT proves to be a tragic echo of his past self. As seen in Dragon Ball Z, the original Cyborg #17 possesses a strong sense of self and a rebellious, carefree nature. He hates being controlled or ordered around by anyone and holds onto a deep-seated love for his twin sister, Android #18. This independent spirit is directly challenged in GT when the mad scientists Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu, working together in Hell, create a fully artificial duplicate of him, known as Hell Fighter #17. This duplicate telepathically brainwashes the original Cyborg #17, overriding his will and forcing him to carry out the doctors’ revenge against Son Goku.
His motivations are therefore not his own for most of his role; he is driven by the commands of his creators. Under this control, he murders his brother-in-law, Krillin, in front of his sister and niece. This horrific act demonstrates how the brainwashing has corrupted him, but flashes of his true nature still surface. He hesitates to kill #18 when she confronts him, and he shows internal conflict when she reminds him of their bond. It is this lingering love for his sister that ultimately becomes the key to his downfall.
In terms of his role in the story, Cyborg #17 serves as the catalyst for the creation of the arc’s primary antagonist, Super #17. After being summoned by Hell Fighter #17, the brainwashed original merges with the artificial duplicate in a mutual fusion. This new being possesses all of the original’s power along with the duplicate’s ruthless programmed loyalty and a new ability to absorb energy attacks. As Super #17, he dominates the entire cast of heroes, easily defeating even Uub, Vegeta, and a Super Saiyan 4 Son Goku. His rampage is only halted because of the real #17’s suppressed consciousness. During the final battle, the original Cyborg #17—fighting from within the fusion—purposely reveals his fused form’s critical weakness: his body is defenseless for a moment whenever he absorbs an energy blast. This self-sabotage allows Goku to land a fatal blow, implying that the original #17 chose to accept his own destruction to stop the evil he unwillingly helped create.
His key relationships are almost entirely centered on his sister, Android #18. While he has no direct interaction with his former allies from the Cell Games, his connection to his twin is the primary driver of his internal conflict. It is #18’s grief and rage over Krillin’s death that sparks his moment of hesitation and her final pleas that seemingly reach the real #17 buried inside Super #17. His relationship with his creators, Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu, is one of pure rebellion, culminating in Super #17 turning on and killing them both—an act of defiance that echoes his murder of Dr. Gero in the Android Saga.
In terms of development, this arc essentially completes his journey from a rebellious villain to a tragic, albeit redeemed, figure. Initially a neutral character who simply wanted to be left alone, he is transformed into an unwilling weapon. By choosing to sacrifice his own fusion to save his sister and the Earth, he reaffirms the goodness that had been hinted at when he willingly donated his energy to Goku’s Spirit Bomb years prior.
As a cyborg, his notable abilities include infinite stamina, superhuman strength, speed, and the power to generate an energy barrier. As the fused Super #17, his abilities are vastly enhanced by the addition of Hell Fighter #17’s unique power: energy absorption. Unlike other models, Super #17 can absorb any ki-based attack through his entire body, converting the enemy’s power into his own strength, which makes him nearly invincible until his secret weakness is exploited.