- —Simon the Digger to the Anti-Spiral
Supreme Commander Simon the Digger is the main protagonist of the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann series. He will appear in the upcoming 196th episode of Death Battle, Gurren Lagann VS White Lantern, where he and Gurren Lagann will fight against Kyle Rayner from DC Comics.
History
For as long as he can remember, Simon and his people lived in the underground village of Giha, as anyone who escaped to the surface never returned. Being an orphan, he was raised by Kamina, a caring yet irresponsible brother figure who often got the both of them in trouble with his attempts to escape to the surface. While drilling one day, Simon came upon the mysterious Core Drill, alongside a large metal face. Suddenly, the roof of his village was broken into and attacked by a giant robot, known as a Gunmen. He and Kamina were rescued by a surface girl named Yoko, who recognized the metal face Simon found to be another Gunmen, which the Core Drill was the key to. Dubbed "Lagann" by Kamina, Simon piloted the mech to defeat the Gunmen and escaped to the surface with Kamina and Yoko.
After joining Yoko's village, Simon and Kamina soon allied themselves with many other Gunmen pilots who sought to free themselves from the Gunmen's pilots, the malicious Beastmen by defeating their leader Lordgenome. Naming themselves "Team Dai-Gurren", they were led by Kamina in their rebellion. Although Simon did his best to help, he was still just a little boy and was usually too scared to do anything. But when Kamina's life was cut short in a noble sacrifice, Simon was forced to step up, eventually becoming a brave leader himself and defeating Lordgenome. But his journey did not end there. Even after liberating humanity onto the surface, they were still oppressed by greater forces from beyond the cosmos, seeking to prevent the supposed end of the universe which would seemingly be brought on by humans. What started as an escape to freedom would spiral into a war for the multiverse. Such things would have once been unfathomable for the young Simon, but it was always possible, for he was only ever truly limited by how much he believed in himself. That is the power humanity possesses.
Death Battle Info
Quotes
- "I'm told I'm bad with authority. Just who the hell do you think you are?"
- "NOW YOU KNOW!"
Cameo Appearances
Simon makes a cameo appearance in Batman VS Iron Man, where he can be seen in the crowd during the auction.
Gallery
Appearance
Arsenal and Abilities
(via Arc-Gurren)
(via Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren)
(via Spiral Power)
(via Spiral Power)
(via Spiral Power)
(via Core Drill)
(via Core Drill)
(via Core Drill)
Trivia
- Simon and his mech are the second and third Studio Trigger characters to appear, after Ryuko Matoi.
- Simon and his mech the 11th non-Marvel character to fight against a DC character, after Son Goku, Sweet Tooth, Twilight Sparkle, Ben Tennyson, Sindel, She-Ra, Archie Sonic, Goku Black, Jinx, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
- Simon and his mech are the 16th and 17th Anime/Manga characters to fight against a Comic Book character, after Son Goku, Android 18, Lucy, Amuro Ray, RX-78-2 Gundam, Genos, Crona, Broly, Goku Black, Saitama, Vegeta, Tetsuo Shima, Xeno Trunks, Frieza, and Bardock.
- Simon is the 17th mech pilot to appear, after Doctor Eggman, Doctor Wily, Tommy Oliver, Zechs Merquise, Red Ranger, Blue Ranger, Yellow Ranger, Pink Ranger, Black Ranger, Keith Kogane, Lance McClain, Hunk Garrett, Princess Allura, Pidge Stoker, Amuro Ray, and Akane Yashiro.
- As part of Death Battle's paid YouTube membership, members were able to vote for two matchups to become episodes in Season 10, with one being animated in 2D and one animated in 3D. One of the available options for the 2D poll was Simon the Digger VS White Lantern, but it lost to Bill Cipher VS Discord.
- Simon the Digger VS White Lantern would eventually come to life as part of Death Battle '25.
- Simon is the second combatant to be voiced by Kieran Regan, after Giorno Giovanna.
