The Monster is Coming

The Monster is Coming
Japanese Name	天てんを裂さく激げき烈れつ光こう弾だん！！ピッコロＶＳ人じん造ぞう人にん間げん１７号ごう
Romaji name	Ten o Saku Gekiretsu Kōdan!! Pikkoro Tai Jinzōningen Jūnana-Gō
Literal Name	The Gekiretsu Kodan that Split the Heavens!! Piccolo vs Artificial Human No. 17
Series
Saga	Imperfect Cell Saga
Episode #	148
Kai counterpart:	Break the Super Saiyan Barrier! Into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber! The Super Namekian Powers Up! Piccolo vs. Android 17!
Chapter counterpart	Piccolo vs. Android 17 Waiting in the Wings
Japanese airdate	July 15, 1992
English airdate	October 16, 2000
Previous episode	Time Chamber
Next episode	He's Here

"The Monster is Coming" (天てんを裂さく激げき烈れつ光こう弾だん！！ピッコロＶＳ人じん造ぞう人にん間げん１７号ごう, Ten o Saku Gekiretsu Kōdan!! Pikkoro Tai Jinzōningen Jūnana-Gō, lit. "The Gekiretsu Kodan that Split the Heavens!! Piccolo vs Artificial Human No. 17") is the ninth episode of the Imperfect Cell Saga and the one hundred forty-eighth overall episode in the uncut Dragon Ball Z series. This episode first aired in Japan on July 15, 1992. Its original American airdate was October 16, 2000.

Summary

The Androids

Piccolo standing before Android 17 removes his weighted clothing and powers up in preparation to battle. As he is powering up, Android 16 attempts to warn 17 that Piccolo isn't alone due to sensing "two powers", with Piccolo managing to land the first strike as 17 was distracted by shock at what 16 revealed. On The Lookout, sensing that Piccolo must be about to fight, Gohan attempts to leave to go and assist his friend, but Goku urges him to stay, as he is not strong enough and will only get in Piccolo's way.

The fight between Piccolo and Android 17 begins with the two adversaries seemingly on par with each other for a while until Piccolo gains the upper hand and knocks 17 down. However, 17 gets back up, ready to continue their battle.

Meanwhile at Capsule Corporation, Dr. Brief rocks Trunks to sleep as Bulma continues to work on creating a Shut Down Remote for the Androids. Becoming frustrated at her progress, she wakes Trunks back up who starts crying.

Back at the Tropical Islands, Piccolo and Android 17 continue their battle. Piccolo fires a barrage of Scatter Shots at 17 only for them to have little effect. After a brief physical confrontation, Piccolo attempts the same trick again, confusing 17 with how Piccolo has such bad aim. This was all a trick however and Piccolo performs the Hellzone Grenade. 17 comes through intact, however, as a result of using his Android Barrier.

Android 17 points at a nearby island for them to continue their battle, and so he, Piccolo, Android 16 and Android 18 head there. Meanwhile Cell, still absorbing innocent people in another part of the world, senses Piccolo fighting and realizes that the Androids must be involved. Having now gotten the strength required to face off with Piccolo, he takes off to find them.

Major Events

• Piccolo battles Android 17.
• Cell, having now absorbed enough life forms, heads to the battle to absorb the Androids.

Battles

• Piccolo vs. Android 17

Appearances

Characters

Goku Gohan Krillin Yamcha Bulma Dr. Brief Scratch Trunks Master Roshi

Chi-Chi Tien Shinhan Mr. Popo Piccolo Android 16 Android 17 Android 18 Cell

Locations

• Tropical Islands
• Kame House
• The Lookout
• Capsule Corporation
• Unnamed city

Bruce Faulconer tracks

• "Piccolo vs. 17" - When Piccolo battles Android 17 on the Tropical Islands.
• "Underwater" - When Piccolo and Android 17 fight underwater.
• "Super Namek (soundtrack)" - When Piccolo fires his Scatter Shot at Android 17.

Differences from the manga

• The scene with Goku telling Gohan that Piccolo is fighting the Androids and Gohan attempting to go save him happens before they actually start fighting in the anime but shortly into their fight in the manga.
• Bulma working on the Shut Down Remote at Capsule Corporation is exclusive to the anime.
• In the manga, Yamcha for whatever reason vanished after Piccolo took off to fight the Androids and thus isn't there to commentate on the fighting with Tien, Master Roshi and Krillin. The anime version keeps Yamcha around for the most part and has him commentate with the other two.
• In the anime, Piccolo fires two barrages of Scatter Shots, the second of which is used for the Hellzone Grenade. The first barrage did not happen in the manga.

Trivia

• While attacking Android 17 with the Hellzone Grenade, Piccolo shouts, "Masenko!", for most of the battle and, "Makosen!", during one strike.
• Before fighting against Piccolo, 17 folds the sleeves of his long white undershirt up. However, they soon fall back down again during his fight against the Super Namekian.
• In Japanese, Mr. Popo reassures Gohan by saying that Piccolo and Kami's combined powers will not lose to the Androids so easily. In English, he supports Goku's claim that Gohan training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber will make him stronger than ever.

Gallery

The Androids Piccolo strikes Android 17 Piccolo charges the Hellzone Grenade The attack fired at Android 17 Android 17 surrounded by the spheres Piccolo prepares a Makosen Ha Piccolo's Makosen Ha approaches Android 17 Cell flies to the Tropical Islands