In the Dragon Ball Z anime, Gohan is killed by Androids 17 and 18. They overwhelmed him during a battle, using machine gun-like ki blasts. However, the manga depicts Gohan as already dead when Trunks arrives on the scene, leaving his cause of death ambiguous in that version of the story. It's crucial to note that there's a difference in how his death is portrayed in the anime and manga.
Gohan's Different Deaths
This question actually has multiple answers, depending on which Gohan and which timeline are being discussed.
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Future Timeline Gohan: In Future Trunks' timeline, Gohan's death is unequivocally attributed to Androids 17 and 18. They were responsible for his demise during a brutal fight where they overpowered him. This is depicted in both the anime and the manga.
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Main Timeline Gohan: In the main timeline, Gohan’s death in the Buu Saga is not definitively shown or explained in the manga. The anime shows a different depiction where he is killed by Androids 17 and 18. However, this is a significant difference between the source materials. Several sources note that his death in the Buu Saga was depicted in the anime only, not in the manga.
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Grandpa Gohan: It is important to distinguish between Gohan and Grandpa Gohan. Goku inadvertently killed his adoptive grandfather, Gohan, while transformed into a Great Ape (Oozaru). This event is distinct from the deaths of his grandson, Gohan.
Clarifying the Ambiguity
The ambiguity surrounding Gohan's death in the main timeline highlights the differences between the anime and manga adaptations of Dragon Ball Z. The cause of death differs greatly, highlighting the creative license taken in various interpretations of the story. The question should clarify whether it refers to the anime or manga versions for a more precise and accurate answer.
