- —Tagline
Vegeta VS Shadow is the 12th episode of Death Battle, featuring Vegeta from the Dragon Ball series and Shadow the Hedgehog from the Sonic the Hedgehog series in a battle between aggressively arrogant anti-hero rivals. Vegeta was voiced by Nick Landis and Shadow was voiced by Curtis Arnott.
Interlude
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Wiz: Anti-heroes, walking a mysterious gray line between good and evil.
Boomstick: They do what they want, however they want, when they want.
Wiz: Vegeta, Prince of the Saiyans and rival to Goku.
Boomstick: And Shadow, the Ultimate Lifeform and rival to Sonic.
Wiz: I'm Wizard and he's Boomstick, and it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win... a Death Battle.
Vegeta
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Vegeta's Theme by Bruce Faulconer
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Wiz: Born a prince to the warrior-like Saiyan race, Vegeta's people were slaughtered by an evil tyrant named Frieza, who molded Vegeta into a deadly, ruthless killer. Over time, however, Frieza's iron grip over him led Vegeta to rebel, ushering Frieza's final defeat with the help of fellow Saiyan Goku. After struggling with adapting to life on Earth, Vegeta eventually became one of the planet's strongest defenders.
Boomstick: He even got hitched to Bulma, breaking poor Master Roshi's heart. Vegeta can move and fly at hypersonic speed. He can survive underwater and in far outer atmospheres for long periods of time. He even has the endurance to survive a nuclear freakin' blast.
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Vegeta Powers Up by Bruce Faulconer
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Wiz: Vegeta can use a natural inner energy called ki to create devastating attacks.
Boomstick: His trademark attack is a purple laser called the Galick Gun.
Wiz: His Big Bang Attack unleashes a huge explosion of energy covering a vast distance, and can be narrowed to a beam for concentrated accuracy.
Boomstick: He can launch a volley of energy bullets, pounding his foe with dozens of deadly blasts, but his most devastating move is his Final Flash attack, a huge golden beam that can destroy whole planets.
Wiz: Vegeta's ki is quite versatile and not limited to these four attacks. He is never without a weapon.
Boomstick: But wait, there's more!
Wiz: That's right! Vegeta can reach to the legendary status of Super Saiyan, a near indestructible form which increases his power output by 500%.
Boomstick: And he can take this form to the next level for yet another 500% increase. That's a lot of power in math.
Wiz: The Super Saiyan form is sustained through Vegeta's remaining energy. Also, despite reaching the level of Super Saiyan 4, he was only able to do so with Bulma's Blutz Wave Machine, and cannot do so naturally.
Boomstick: And in Death Battle, we don't allow help from spouses.
Wiz: Vegeta is cocky, arrogant, and proud. He seeks to be the best and is willing to fight the best to do so, even allowing his opponents to reach power levels much greater than his own.
Boomstick: While this has led to him dying twice so far, he's still around somehow kicking ass and being a dick.
Vegeta: I am a Super Saiyan!
The screen flashes as Vegeta prepares an attack.
Vegeta: And you can burn in hell!
Shadow the Hedgehog
Wiz: Built by Professor Gerald Robotnik with alien DNA, Shadow the Hedgehog was created to be the Ultimate Lifeform. Despite being a powerful, living weapon, Shadow's initial purpose was to provide genes capable of curing the deathly ill, specifically, Gerald's granddaughter, Maria. But before Shadow could be shared with the world, tragedy struck.
Boomstick: Then Shadow went crazy and tried to destroy the Earth for revenge, but he ended up saving the day instead. Though people are still getting sick on Earth, so uhh, guess he kinda forgot about that whole living cure thing, huh?
Wiz: Shadow can move at hypersonic speeds and survive underwater and in space.
Boomstick: He's even tough enough to survive a fall to the Earth from the Moon, and that's one long ass fall.
Wiz: Well, it wasn't exactly the Moon, but Shadow survived a fall of about 200,000 miles. By the time he hit the ground, he was falling at a rate of over 6,000,000 feet per second.
Boomstick: I feel sorry for whatever was around when he landed. Some guy just walking along and... (indistinctly) OH MY GOD!
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All Hail Shadow (Orchestrated) by Yannick Jason
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Wiz: Right. Shadow possesses a natural link to the Chaos Force, a never-ending pool of unbelievable energy.
Boomstick: He can fire several different energy based projectiles like Chaos Spears and Beams. But his most powerful attack is Chaos Blast, a huge explosion which annihilates everything around him in seconds.
Wiz: He can also manipulate time and space with Chaos Control, though depending on the situation, using this technique to its fullest takes time and is impractical in combat. Also, Shadow wears two Inhibitor Rings, which restrict his access to the Chaos Force to maintain control. Should he remove them, his power increases immensely, but is somewhat uncontrollable and quickly tires him out.
Boomstick: His Chaos power also increases depending on the number of Chaos Emeralds he has, and when he gets seven of them, ha, he goes super.
Wiz: Super Shadow is the pinnacle of his powers, receiving a 1,000% increase.
Boomstick: He can fly, move near the speed of light, and is totally invincible.
Wiz: Despite this, Shadow's super form can only last a few minutes.
Boomstick: But, considering his super speed, a short time to him is a long time to his opponents.
Shadow: That's not all, I'm full of surprises.
Prelude
Wiz: Alright, the combatants are set. Let's end this debate once and for all! Oh wait, let me get a new book first.
Boomstick: An audiobook?
Wiz: From Audible.com.
Boomstick: For people who are too lazy to read or are blind! Well, that's why I get 'em.
Wiz and Boomstick read out an advertisement for Audible.
Boomstick: But now, it's time for a DEATH BATTLE!!!
Death Battle
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Android Steal Truck by Bruce Faulconer
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Shadow is skating from his air shoes in a green field. He then stops in front of Vegeta, whose back is turned.
Shadow: There you are! I knew I sensed an extraordinary power around here.
Vegeta: Well, that certainly sounds like me. Um... who and what are you?
Shadow: I am Shadow the Hedgehog; the Ultimate Lifeform!
Vegeta: Ultimate Lifeform? A weird-looking rat is an Ultimate Lifeform? HAHAHAHA! That's a laugh. Word of advice, freak: you're a little on the short side to try to be threatening.
Shadow: Funny, I was going to say the same thing about you.
Vegeta: ...You've just sealed your fate, fool.
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Hyperbolic Time Chamber by Bruce Faulconer
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Shadow launches a kick at Vegeta, but the latter catches the former's feet and kicks him off. Vegeta then charges a blast of purple ki energy in his hands before blasting it at Shadow.
Vegeta: GALICK GUN, FIRE!!
After being hit by a strong attack, Shadow's still standing from the blast, exhaustingly.
Vegeta: Pathetic. Before you die, let me show you a TRUE Ultimate Lifeform!
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Super Saiyan Vegeta by Bruce Faulconer
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Vegeta powers up immensely, aura surrounding him, and his dark, gravity defying hair now glowing blonde, becoming the legendary status of Super Saiyan.
Vegeta: Hahaha! Tell me, hedgehog, does a lab rat like yourself experience fear?
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Mephiles' Whisper by Tomoya Ohtani
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Shadow: You have... no idea... WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH!
Shadow leaps up in mid-air and surrounds himself with all seven Chaos Emeralds.
Vegeta: What's this?
After he taps into the power of the seven Emeralds, he turns from a black to a yellow lime colored hedgehog with a bright glow and aura with invincible godlike powers, becoming Super Shadow.
Shadow: Behold the true power I possess!
Vegeta: Wow... what a rip-off. GAH!!!
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BOSS: HEAVY DOG by Jun Senoe
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Vegeta gets attacked by Shadow, blocking from a melee receiving from the bio-engineered hedgehog. Afterward, Shadow side-kicks Vegeta, leaving projectiles of Chaos energy after hitting Vegeta seven times. Those projectiles then ambush Vegeta, causing him to crash-land on the ground. Shadow then launches a barrage of his Chaos Spear at Vegeta, but Vegeta jumps up and knees Shadow in the abdomen, kicks him, and launches a volley of Energy Bullets. But when the smoke clears, Shadow is gone.
Vegeta: Wha— Where did he go?
Shadow: Right behind you.
Vegeta charges a blast of energy at concentrated accuracy, but before he can blast it at Shadow, the latter snaps his finger and teleports the former underwater. Swimming around him are two Cheep Cheeps and a Jawz.
Vegeta: ...The hell? How did I get here?
Shadow: Hmph. That was easier than I thought. I guess I'm better than—
Vegeta suddenly jumps out of the water, his body full of energy.
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Android Steal Truck by Bruce Faulconer
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Shadow: SHIT!
Vegeta: Cheap trick, teleporting me underwater, coward! Cut the act and give up already! You're nothing compared to me!
Shadow snaps his finger again, this time teleporting Vegeta to the Earth's Moon, where a Ducklett wearing a space helmet is seen in one of the craters.
Vegeta: Goddammit.
Shadow watches from a distance.
Shadow: Hmph.
Vegeta: Playtime's over, runt!
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Destruction by Bruce Faulconer
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Vegeta punches the surface of the Moon, pushing it closer to Earth.
Shadow: No! Is he insane?!
Shadow takes off his inhibitor rings and glows bright red.
Shadow: CHAOOOOOS... CONTROOOOOL!
He teleports the Moon back to its place.
Shadow: Yes! I did it!
Vegeta: Congrats, furball.
Shadow: It's time to end this!
Shadow then begins to glow bright red, charging Chaos Blast.
Shadow: CHAOOOS... BLAST!
However, Super Shadow wears off just before the attack can finish.
Shadow: Uh-oh.
Vegeta: Sayonara.
Vegeta fires the Final Flash at Shadow, vaporizing the latter into smoke.
Results
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Heroic Trunks by Bruce Faulconer
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Boomstick: Oh, somebody call PETA, we're down a hedgehog!
Wiz: With Super Shadow's godly power and invulnerability, the question wasn't if Vegeta could kill Shadow, it was if Vegeta could survive Super Shadow.
Boomstick: But Vegeta's proven time after time he can take one hell of a beating and lasted long enough for Shadow to turn back to normal, giving Vegeta the opening he needed.
Wiz: His loud mouth certainly helped him in his past, too.
Boomstick: Looks like Shadow's time was up.
We cut to the "Vegeta" winner card.
Wiz: The winner is Vegeta.
Trivia
Production
- The core connections between Vegeta and Shadow are that both are aggressive, arrogant, and powerful dark-haired/furred anti-heroes with blunt demeanors who serve as rivals to the more calm and cheerful main protagonists of their franchises whom they were originally enemies with (Son Goku and Sonic the Hedgehog, respectively). Both originally had plans of destroying Earth and sought to obtain the power of seven magical objects for their personal gain (the Dragon Balls and the Chaos Emeralds, respectively), but later changed their ways and grew to be one of Earth's strongest defenders instead. In addition:
- Both have a super transformation that massively increases their power while turning their hair/fur golden and giving them a golden glow (Super Saiyan and Super Shadow, respectively).
- In the Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary Art Book, an early sheet of concept artwork uses "Vegeta" as a keyword describing Shadow, suggesting that Shadow was inspired by Vegeta. However, Takashi Iizuka denied that Shadow took any inspiration from Vegeta, saying that while Vegeta was an evil character who eventually became Goku's friend and fights for justice, Shadow is not a friend of Sonic's and will always follow his own path and morals instead, with Iizuka also stating that he never wants Shadow to be like Vegeta.[1]
- Ironically, Iizuka's description of Shadow's character more closely resembles Vegeta's actual character than the description he gave of Vegeta, as Vegeta is closer to a loner who follows his own path and morals than one who fights for justice as Goku's ally.
- This is the first episode where at least one of the combatants had a voice actor.
- The third thumbnail for this episode used an uncredited fan render of Vegeta (which is a recreation of the DVD cover of the third volume of Dragon Ball Z Kai's Android and Cell Saga) by VICDBZ on DeviantArt. As a result, it was changed years later.
- This makes it the fourth episode where at least one of its thumbnails uses fan art, after Zitz VS Leonardo, Kratos VS Spawn, and Bomberman VS Dig Dug, and with the next 19 being Chun-Li VS Mai Shiranui, Ivy VS Orchid, Fulgore VS Sektor, Godzilla VS Gamera, Deadpool VS Pinkie Pie, Metal Sonic VS Zero, Lucario VS Renamon, Raven VS Twilight Sparkle, Leon Kennedy VS Frank West, Nightwing VS Daredevil, All Might VS Might Guy, Black Canary VS Sindel, Beerus VS Sailor Galaxia, Zuko VS Shoto Todoroki, Blake VS Mikasa, Steven Universe VS Star Butterfly, Sauron VS Lich King, Frieza VS Megatron, and Rick Sanchez VS The Doctor.
- This episode was referenced in Goku VS Superman 1, in which Vegeta boasts that he could kill Superman "even faster than that stupid transforming hedgehog" after watching him on TV.
Easter Eggs
- Vegeta's line, "Tell me, hedgehog, does a lab rat like yourself experience fear?", is a callback to what he asked Android 19 before turning Super Saiyan.
- After Shadow transforms into Super Shadow, Vegeta dismisses the transformation as a rip-off before being attacked. This is a reference to the fact that the Super transformations from the Sonic the Hedgehog games are viewed as a rip-off of/homage to the Super Saiyan transformation from Dragon Ball due to their similar appearances.
- Coincidentally, Vegeta's own son, Trunks, would go on to call Silver the same thing in their future fight.
- A similar scene occurred in Shadow VS Ryuko, in which Shadow calls Ryūko Matoi a "faker" due to her Senketsu Kisaragi form being similar in appearance to his Super form.
- When Shadow teleports Vegeta to the Moon, a Ducklett with a space helmet can be seen on its surface, being a reference to TeamFourStar's Space Duck gag.
- Vegeta saying "sayonara" to Shadow before finishing him off is a reference to Maria's last words to Shadow before her death in Sonic Adventure 2: "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog". Sonic later repeats the line during the game's end credits.
- Mewtwo would also utter this same line as well before killing Shadow at the end of Mewtwo VS Shadow.
- Ryūko would also use the same line while attempting to finish off Shadow in Shadow VS Ryuko, only for him to end up surviving.
Errors
- In Goku VS Superman 1, the power multiplier from Goku's Super Saiyan was 50x, which would be 5000%. However, in this episode, Vegeta's Super Saiyan multiplier is stated to be 500%, which would only be a 5x increase, not 50x. Ben Singer even admitted that he was wrong about the numbers.
Other
- This is the second Anti-Heroes-themed episode, after Kratos VS Spawn, and with the next 17 being Ragna VS Sol Badguy, Wolverine VS Raiden, Dante VS Bayonetta, Mewtwo VS Shadow, Wario VS King Dedede, Ghost Rider VS Lobo, Sasuke VS Hiei, Deadpool VS Mask, Winter Soldier VS Red Hood, Venom VS Crona, Hulk VS Broly, Shadow VS Ryuko, Guts VS Dimitri, Omni-Man VS Bardock, Kratos VS Asura, Ghost Rider VS Spawn, and Hulk VS Godzilla.
- This is the first Video Game VS Anime/Manga-themed episode, with the next 11 being Pikachu VS Blanka, Ryu Hayabusa VS Strider Hiryu, Kirby VS Majin Buu, Guts VS Nightmare, Hercule Satan VS Dan Hibiki, Mega Man VS Astro Boy, Pokémon VS Digimon, Lucario VS Renamon, Shadow VS Ryuko, Guts VS Dimitri, and Joker VS Giorno.
- This is the first time that the Anime/Manga character wins, with the next five being Ryu Hayabusa VS Strider Hiryu, Guts VS Nightmare, Hercule Satan VS Dan Hibiki, Mega Man VS Astro Boy, and Pokémon VS Digimon.
- This is the first Sega VS Hitotsubashi-themed episode, with the next three being Weiss VS Mitsuru, Trunks VS Silver, and Joker VS Giorno.
- This is the first Dragon Ball VS Sonic the Hedgehog-themed episode, with the next one being Trunks VS Silver.
- This is the first episode where the Moon was used, damaged, or destroyed in the fight, with the next eight being Thor VS Wonder Woman, Mario VS Sonic (2018), Goku Black VS Reverse-Flash, Black Adam VS Apocalypse, Trunks VS Silver, Darth Vader VS Obito Uchiha, Martian Manhunter VS Silver Surfer, and Goku VS Superman (2023).
- WatchMojo.com listed this episode as an honorable mention on their "Top 10 Screw Attack: Death Battle Episodes" list alongside Starscream VS Rainbow Dash, Terminator VS RoboCop, Chuck Norris VS Segata Sanshiro, and Wolverine VS Raiden.