THE DESERT BANDIT

Yamcha's a cutie patootie and I've had enough arguments with cishet male Dragon Ball fans defending my love for him (both in high school and in my adult life like what!!!) The original Dragon Ball series is my favorite of the various anime adaptations and I definitely prefer Yamcha's role in it. Dragon Ball was originally a gag/comedy manga before it was ever an action manga so Yamcha being a silly, bumbling fool works so much better than in DBZ where he was essentially reduced to cannon fodder, killed/beaten in the meantime while the stronger characters figure out how to save the planet.

He was originally introduced as a 16 year old orphan living in the desert, living with his shape shifting feline best friend, surviving through thievery. He is also deathly afraid of women, and his desire to be married is his motivation for gathering the Dragon Balls. This wish leads to him tagging along with Goku and his friends, hoping the dragon could grant this wish. While this does not happen, he and Bulma form a romantic relationship, fulfilling both of their wishes without the use of the Dragon Balls. Unfortunately they are on and off, eventually splitting in DBZ (apparently he cheated but Bulma is insane so I doubt it), but that is okay because he and Tien are boyfriends!!!

_{"Hey, I'm available, ladies! What do ya say, huh?"}