Super C-17 is a formidable opponent faced by Son Goku in Dragon Ball GT. A fusion of various technologies, he is a character as ephemeral as he is mysterious. From his place in Toriyama's work to his role in the films and the expanded universe, here's a look back at 8 facts you (maybe) didn't know about Super C-17.
#8 Super C-17 wouldn't exist without this often-forgotten character (Dragon Ball GT)
Super C-17, like most fusions in Dragon Ball, isn't simply the result of two bodies being combined.It's a complete mental fusion, giving birth to a new being with its own will. Contrary to popular belief, Super C-17 is therefore not simply an evil version of C-17 who absorbed his double to gain power. Its creation is largely based on an often-overlooked character: Hell 17. Unlike the original C-17—a juvenile delinquent named Lapis, transformed into a cyborg—Hell 17 is a 100% artificial being.
Created in Hell by Doctors Gero and Myuu, it is the result of a fusion of their knowledge, halfway between machine and mutant. Physically identical to C-17, he acts under the influence of his creators, notably Gero, whom he deeply respects (unlike the real C-17). Later, it is he who corrupts C-17, pushing him to kill Krillin, and then merges with him. It is therefore C-17 from Hell who is at the origin of Super C-17, and who instills in him the darkest part of his personality.
#7 Super C-17 is not Dr. Gero's first scientific collaboration (Canon and Dragon Ball GT)
The association of the terrible Dr. Gero with another mad scientist, Dr. Myuu, may surprise. After all, Gero is a misanthrope convinced of his superiority and his genius. Yet, as surprising as it may seem, C-17 of Hell / Super C-17 is not the first project that Gero develops with another scientist. Indeed, Dr. Gero had already collaborated on another cyborg project: C-8 (or Francky in French). This character appears in Dragon Ball, well before Gero is officially introduced. Flappe only appears in the anime, but he is presented as the inventor of C-8, a peaceful android considered defective by his superiors.
Although Flappe was initially a creation of the anime, his existence and his collaboration with Gero were later made canonical in the official guidebooks of the series, the Daizenshuu. Thus, in Daizenshuu 7, C-8 would be a co-creation of Gero and Dr. Flappe, a scientist forced to work for the Red Ribbon Army. Obviously, before the appearance of C-17 des Enfers / Super C-17, C-8 was the only example of such a collaboration. Dragon Ball SD also shows that it was Gero alone who had the idea and the initiative to create C-18 and the original C-17.
#6 Super C-17 comes from a technology little known in the lore (Dragon Ball GT)
Unlike the classic cyborgs of the Red Ribbon Army or Cell, Super C-17 is not simply a fusion of two androids or the product of a technology already observed in the work of Akira Toriyama. It is actually partlyderived from the so-called Mutant Machine technology. Mutant Machines are a much more advanced form of artificial life. Created on the planet M-2 by Dr. Myuu, these mechanical beings possess astonishing organic "flexibility."
They are capable of reshaping their bodies, absorbing metal, and even reconstituting themselves, thus escaping the traditional limits of cyborgs or androids known until now. Their unique appearance is often characterized by crossed-eyes. Super C-17 is the result of the fusion of a classic android (C-17) with a double from this mutant technology, which explains his unique abilities, such as absorbing energy via a magnetic field.
#5 Like C-17, Super C-17 is connected to Piccolo (fan theory)
C-17 and Piccolo seem to share a strange, almost mystical bond. Both are the creations of evil figures, who became allies of Goku after fighting him. In their first duel, despite their differences, their injuries seem to mirror each other. Later, they naturally unite against Cell. This parallel continues in Dragon Ball GT, where Super C-17 dies exactly like Piccolo Daimao: same pose, same staging. An almost copy-paste death that suggests that this link between them is not accidental, although no explanation has ever been officially communicated on this subject.
#4 Super C-17 was teleported to a parallel world (extended universe)
In the spin-off Super Dragon Ball Heroes, we discover a new villain named Fu, who has the ability to summon warriors from different spaces and times to appear at his side. His idea is to bring them together to defend his plan to create a new world. Among the warriors summoned by Fu is Super C-17, who makes his big comeback in the lore of Dragon Ball. To help Fu in his plan, the sister of the demon Dabra, named Towa (who we talk about in more detail here), makes masks that can manipulate those who wear them. Obviously, Super C-17 receives one of these mysterious masks which, incidentally, amplifies his powers while placing him under control.
That's when Super C-17 confronts C-17, C-18 and Krillin, also teleported to this strange place located near the Universe Tree, where Fu tries to put his plan into action. But the fight between Super C-17 and the heroes is interrupted. Indeed, a new space-time distortion suddenly sucks him in: Super C-17 is then projected into a parallel world, an artificial space called "Pseudo-Universe", designed by Fu using the power of the Universe Tree and Dogidogi, an evil bird with the ability to manipulate time.
#3 Super C-17 faced another creation of Dr. Gero (extended universe)
In Dragon Ball Heroes, the Supreme Kai of Time Saga arc mixes fan service and new battles. We discover the Super Space-Time Tournament, organized by Aeos, a Kaioshin of Time who has become an antagonist. This tournament brings together warriors from different timelines, in a battle royale aimed at eliminating realities deemed useless. Among the fighters summoned is Super C-17, from an alternate future who finds himself in the team of Cumber the evil Sayan (who we discussed in detail here). The latter finds himself facing Super C-13, an improved version of the cyborg seen in the film The Cyborg Offensive, also brought back by a time distortion. It is therefore the occasion for a unique confrontation between two bio-mechanical creations of Dr. Gero. At the end of the fight, Super C-13's team is defeated, resulting in the definitive erasure of their reality.
#2 The evil half of Super C-17 has lived new adventures (extended universe)
In the Dragon Ball Expanded Universe, the more evil half of Super Android 17, aka Hell 17, has been given a second life. In Budokai Tenkaichi, he appears as an imperfect Super Android 17, who, unable to fuse, has found a way to mutate on his own, without his counterpart. Less powerful, he is aware of his incompleteness and is nicknamed Imperfect Super 17. In Xenoverse, Hell 17 returns and gains Villainous Mode, a magical enhancement given by Demigra (a demonic Kaioshin) via a "temporal wormhole." This dark power grants him red eyes and a black and purple aura, increasing his power tenfold. Hell 17 also makes a brief appearance in the manga version of the spin-off Super Dragon Ball Heroes. One of his most More surprising is found in Dragon Ball Fusions, where he does not appear directly, but is already fused with Cell (final form) thanks to a bracelet created by Bulma, the Metamo-Ring (which we discussed in detail right here). Finally, C-17 of Hell returns once again in Xenoverse 2, where he is present in the side quest Super 17's Super Plan, confirmed under the name Hell Fighter 17.
#1 Is Super C-17 stronger than Cell? (fan theory)
At first glance, Cell seems far superior to Super C-17. Cell is the result of a complex biomechanical fusion, integrating the cells of legendary fighters like Goku, Vegeta or Frieza, as well as the bodies of two powerful cyborgs (C-17 and C-18). Cell is also endowed with exceptional strategic intelligence, mastery of numerous techniques and the Saiyan ability to become stronger after each fight. Compared to him, Super C-17 seems more limited: he is only the fusion of two similar cyborgs (C-17 and C-17 of Hell). However, his power is far from negligible. His physical strength, doubled speed, and heightened sensory sensitivity make him a formidable opponent.
Super C-17 also possesses a rare ability: massive energy absorption. Used effectively, this technique can theoretically make him infinitely powerful (as we explained in detail here). However, this ability has a major weakness: he becomes vulnerable during the absorption. Conversely, Cell does not need this exposure phase. His bio-extraction is instantaneous and lethal. It's interesting to note that, in video games like Xenoverse or Budokai Tenkaichi, Cell considers Super C-17 a failure. Verdict? Even though he appears much later in the series, Super C-17 is powerful... but, a priori, Cell remains Dr. Gero's most accomplished creation.
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