It is weird. Honestly, if you told a fan back in the 1990s that the bumbling comic relief from Emperor Pilaf’s gang would eventually become the emotional core of a high-stakes apocalyptic arc, they’d probably think you were watching a different show. But Mai in Dragon Ball Super is one of those rare cases where a legacy character gets a complete, ground-up reinvention that actually works. She isn't just a sidekick anymore.
Most people remember her as the tall, silent woman in the trench coat trying to steal the Dragon Balls. Now? She’s a resistance leader holding together a broken world with nothing but a shotgun and some serious grit. It’s a massive leap. It’s also a bit confusing if you aren’t keeping track of the timelines, because we essentially have two different versions of Mai running around in Super: the kid version in the present and the battle-hardened survivor in Future Trunks’ timeline.
The De-Aging Plot Hole Everyone Argues About
Let's address the elephant in the room first. How did a woman who was technically older than Bulma in the original Dragon Ball end up as a child in Dragon Ball Super? It’s a bit of lore that isn't always explicitly spoon-fed in the anime, though the Dragon Ball Super manga (specifically Chapter 18 and a few bonus chapters) clears it up.
Basically, right before the Androids killed Piccolo and made the Dragon Balls useless, the Pilaf Gang actually succeeded. They summoned Shenron. But, true to form, Pilaf messed up the wording. He asked to be younger. He just didn't specify how much younger. Shenron, being the literal-minded dragon he is, turned them into infants.
This happened in both the main timeline and the Future timeline.
It’s a bizarre writing choice, but it served a very specific purpose for Akira Toriyama and Toyotaro: it allowed Mai to be a peer to Trunks. Without that de-aging, the romantic tension between them would be, well, "problematic" is putting it lightly. By making her a child again, the writers reset her clock, allowing her to grow up alongside the young Saiyans.
Future Mai: The Leader the Resistance Needed
When we talk about the "Future Trunks Arc" (or the "Goku Black Arc"), we usually focus on the shiny new transformations. We talk about Super Saiyan Rosé or the Sword of Hope. But Mai in Dragon Ball Super is arguably the MVP of that entire storyline.
Think about the environment. The gods have failed. The Saiyans are nearly extinct. The world is a literal ash heap. In this setting, Mai isn't a damsel. She’s the commander of the Earth Resistance. While Trunks is off fighting the heavy hitters, she’s the one organizing human survivors, managing meager rations, and literally staring down a god-like entity with a flash-bang grenade and a sniper rifle.
👉 See also: Kate Moss Family Guy: What Most People Get Wrong About That Cutaway
There’s a specific scene where she tries to take out Goku Black with a specialized bullet. She knows she can't kill him. She knows he’s a multiversal threat. But she takes the shot anyway. That kind of bravery is what makes her stand out—she’s a "normal" human operating in a world where the power scaling has gone completely off the rails. She has more in common with Bulma’s ingenuity than with the Z-Fighters' brute force.
A Different Kind of Romance
The relationship between Future Trunks and Future Mai is surprisingly grounded for a series known for screaming and hair-dye power-ups. It’s a "war-time romance." There’s a quiet desperation to it. You see it in the way they look at each other when they think they’re about to die.
When Trunks travels back to the past, the contrast is hilarious. He meets "Kid Mai," who is still technically a member of a bumbling villain squad, and he treats her with the reverence of a war hero. It creates this awkward, funny, and strangely touching dynamic where Kid Mai starts developing a crush because she's being treated with actual respect for the first time in her life.
Why the "Present" Mai Matters Too
While Future Mai is the badass, the Kid Mai we see in the main timeline provides a different kind of value. She’s the bridge. Through her, we see the Pilaf Gang—once legitimate threats—become part of the Capsule Corp family.
They’re basically Bulma’s indentured servants/lab assistants at this point.
But watch the Super Hero movie or the "High School" arc in the manga. Mai is starting to show flashes of her future self’s competence. She’s observant. She’s tactical. Even as a kid, she’s often the "straight man" to Pilaf’s idiocy. Her presence in the main timeline serves as a constant reminder of what she could become if things went south. It adds a layer of depth to the slice-of-life episodes that usually feel like filler.
The Tactical Role of Non-Saiyans
We have to talk about the power creep. In Dragon Ball Super, if you can't blow up a galaxy, you're usually irrelevant. Mai defies this.
✨ Don't miss: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
She uses:
- Flash-bangs to create openings for Trunks.
- Smoke screens to facilitate retreats.
- Long-range reconnaissance to track Goku Black’s movements.
She represents the "human" element that Dragon Ball Z lost after the Frieza saga. By giving Trunks a partner who can't fly or shoot lasers, the writers forced themselves to think about strategy again. Her presence makes the world feel bigger and the stakes feel more personal. When she’s in danger, Trunks can’t just "Senzu Bean" his way out of it—he has to actually protect her.
Common Misconceptions About Mai
One thing fans get wrong is her age. People often ask: "Is Mai actually an old woman?"
Technically, yes. Mentally? It’s complicated. Because she was turned into a baby, she had to re-experience childhood. Her brain physically regressed. In the Dragon Ball world, biology seems to dictate a lot of personality. So, while she has the "soul" or "identity" of the older Mai, her hormones and brain development are that of a teenager/young adult in the current timeline.
Another misconception is that she’s "weak." Strength in Dragon Ball is relative. Compared to Krillin, yeah, she’s weak. Compared to the average human survivor in a post-apocalyptic wasteland? She’s a tier-one operator. She survived for years in a world where a literal god was actively hunting humans. That takes more than just "power levels." It takes survival instinct.
The Cultural Impact of the Redesign
Mai’s look in Super is iconic. The long blue coat, the fur-lined collar, the beanie—it’s a far cry from the purple ninja outfit or the green trench coat of the past. This design was actually based on some of Toriyama’s later sketches where he leaned into a more "streetwear" and utilitarian aesthetic.
It signaled to the audience immediately: "This is a different character."
🔗 Read more: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
She’s become a favorite for cosplayers because she’s one of the few prominent female characters in the series who isn't a scientist (like Bulma) or a fighter with a specific uniform (like Android 18). She looks like a rebel leader.
What’s Next for Mai?
As the Dragon Ball Super manga continues to evolve, Mai’s role seems to be shifting toward a supporting cast member in the "Great Saiyaman X-1 and X-2" style stories. With Trunks and Goten in high school, she’s the object of Trunks' affection and often the catalyst for his heroics.
However, many fans are hoping for a "reunion" of sorts or at least a deeper exploration of her past with the Pilaf Gang. Will she ever regain her full memories? Does she even want to? Being a kid again gave her a second chance at a life that wasn't spent in a dusty castle plotting world domination.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lore of Mai in Dragon Ball Super, you shouldn't just stick to the anime. The different mediums handle her slightly differently.
- Read the Manga (Chapters 14-26): This is where the Future Trunks arc lives. The manga gives a lot more context to the "Resistance" and Mai’s tactical brilliance.
- Watch 'Battle of Gods' (The Movie vs. The Arc): The movie version of the Pilaf Gang’s introduction is punchier and explains their "wish" with more humor.
- Pay Attention to the Background: In the main Super series, watch how Mai interacts with Shu and Pilaf. She’s clearly the one in charge now, even if Pilaf has the title.
Ultimately, Mai represents the best of what Dragon Ball Super does: it takes the forgotten pieces of the original 1980s run and finds a way to make them relevant for the modern era. She turned from a joke into a symbol of human resilience.
Whether she’s sniping gods or just trying to survive high school drama with Trunks, she’s earned her spot as a core member of the cast. Stop looking at her power level and start looking at her win-loss record for survival. It’s a lot more impressive.