Zamza is an antagonist in Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai manga and anime adaptations. He is the 182 year old son of Zaboera and a lieutenant in the Dark Army's Mystic Legion holding the rank of Mystic Scholar. He is the head researcher of the Superior Being project.
Appearance[]
In his human form, Zamza appears as a fair skinned middle aged man with short blond hair and wore greyish clothes with black robes on top tied with a belt and a long bluish cape with a purplish reverse and an equally blue mitre with a blue gem at the centre. Both his cape and mitre have yellowish lines, which appear on his greyish brown gloves and boots with a black shield-like decoration.
On his Darkling form Zamza has more tanned skin, and his race's signature pointy ears but his blond hair remained. His clothes changed to a green with additional layers being brown and pink with yellow lines and circles in a pattern. He wears black boots and gloves both of which had yellowish borders, while his gloves now expose his hands with pointy nails.
He also wore a multi layered shoulder protectors with black and green steps with red orbs. He has a prominent opening in his neck which features two pinkish eye adornments with a surrounding surface that covers the back of his face which is equally pink. His robes also feature a long black cape with a more greyish reverse. Similar to his father Zaboera, he wears a memory chip on the forehead,[1] discarding it upon his death to share his knowledge of Superior Being Studies.
On his Superior Being form, Zamza is a grotesque mutation with a monstruous biology featuring gargantuan body with green fur, three-digit yellow feet and hands with sharp talons, a metallic pincer claw on his left hand, greyish limbs with blueish musculature, along a yellowish lower torso with spikes, and a notable bulb on his stomach which can open revealing a secondary mouth. His face is wider with two sets of pink horns and two large yet relatively short wings on his back.
Personality[]
Zamza takes well after his father, being deceptive and manipulative and sharing a common disregard for both human and monster life, so long as it nurtures their goals. Zamza is very arrogant and incredibly confident on his power, yet not unjustified due to his modifications that have granted him great might. Like Zaboera he has proven to be very cunning and careful to a fault on his schemes. There are key differences between the two, however, Zaboera treats absolutely anything and everything as a tool, Zamza included, whereas Zamza craves for his father's approval, leading to a highly abusive relationship.
Whereas Zaboera is cowardly to the point of having others battle for him, or even go as far as use instant death spells, Zamza fights directly and by himself, although this is possibly attributed to the fact his body modifications have allowed him to do so with relative impunity. In the end, this would become his downfall as his inflated arrogance on his superior body made him look at any of his foes as lesser, and therefore overlook any potential threat, which would cause his defeat. Nonetheless he was able to both learn from his mistakes and take his defeat gracefully, using the last of his strength to send vital data to Zaboera, despite knowing that his father would never love him, but doing so out of both loyalty and a sense of fulfillment that his life wasn't in vain.
Despite the many atrocities he commited he would nonetheless admit to being wrong in toying with life, and accepted his death as punishment for his crimes. It would ultimately cause his enemies to view him with respect, for he had demonstrated honor both as a fighter and in his final moments, something Zaboera would never do in his life.
Story[]
As Zaboera's son, Zamza was his father's assistant. Although Zamza viewed his father with respect and sought his approval, Zaboera never reciprocrated it, purely saying that every life form was a tool for him to use and that Zamza could either be useful to him or just useless. This sparked an obsessive desire within Zamza to prove himself to Zaboera.
Zamza helmed the research into Superior Beings, an eugenics project meant to take the best traits of multiple breeds of monsters in order to create a stronger lifeform with the goal of eliminating the physical fraility of their sorcery army. Zamza engaged in hundreds of experimentations, including into his own subjects and even himself, showing complete disregard for life. He was able to advance the research into 90% completion and bring himself to a rather advanced if albeit stage.
As a means of further experimentation he decided to turn his sights on human subjects, knowing he could not experiment on his own men endlessly, he sought to gather strong humans who could be used as guinea pigs and at the same time deprive of humanity of powerful fighters who could oppose them.
He thus disguised himself as a human advisor and approached King Romos with the intention of holding a martial arts tournament, under the ruse of gathering strong champions to fight under the kingdom against the Dark Army. To further cement the ruse he proposed to give the Sword of Champions, a legendary weapon to the winner. The King immediately warmed up to the idea and decided to hold the tournament, getting many registrations.
As the tournament ensued, the King was marveled by the gathering of such powerful combatants and praised Zamza. With the tournament reaching 8 finalists including Maam herself, Zamza decided to make a speech in which he summoned his monstruous bioprison to trap the finalists and reveal himself as the son of Zaboera. The public flees in a panic as Zamza attacks the King but his spell is blocked by Dai. Seeing that the mortal enemy of the Dark Army is on sight, Zamza rejoiced at the possibility of also killing the Hero.
Dai engaged Zamza in combat by showing his Dragon Knight powers, to which Zamza was crazed as he had found a subject worth of testing. As Zamza elaborated on the Superior Being project as he battled with Dai as the two levitated and exchanged blows, Dai grew disgusted with Zamza's horrifying experimentation and barraged him with Dragonic Aura enhanced fists. Although the King and his guards were elated that Dai was so powerful, Popp realized something was amiss as even a Darkling like Zamza should be unable to survive such brute power.
Dai unleashed a Crest Beam at Zamza but the latter survived it and revealed to everyone's horror that he had modified himself into a 90% complete Superior Being and transforming into a larger and more monstruous form which left everyone astonished. Zamza's power had grown considerably while Dai's stamina had drained through excessive use of his Dragonic Aura. Zamza grabbed Dai with his pincer to consume him via the mouth on his stomach, but Dai was able to break it using the last of his strength before falling unconcious. Popp eventually engaged in battle himself and tried to rescue Dai, but was unable to as he learns that Zamza had the ability to regenerate.
Zamza was impressed by Popp's powerful spells and attacked him with an aura blast, as he reveals he cannot use spells on his monster form, a still latent flaw on his research. Zamza swallows Dai with the situation looking increasingly grim. However, Chiu the fellow Martial Arts apprentice to Maam decided to fight the beast despite his instinctual fear. Although he could not so much as land a single strike due to his diminutive biology and short reach while getting slammed by Zamza, his persistence was able to tire Zamza who was having enough.
Popp then thought of an idea to rescue Dai and requested Chiu's help. Using Flazzard's Five Finger Flares, he casted 3 Kafrizz at once straight on Zamza's face who was struggling to keep the flames at bay and suffocating. With no option left he opened his second mouth to breath upon which Chiu attacked him by rolling into his gut. The attack proved strong but Chiu was distracted by trying to name his new technique and was stomped by Zamza, with Dai still on Zamza's clutches. Maam would break out of the Bioprison much to Zamza's surprise, before Maam engaged the beast himself, healing Chiu in the process. Although Zamza scoffed at her, he would realize much to his horror that his regeneration was not working. As Maam trying to kick Zamza, he grabbed her by her leg, but this was a faint as she bent her body and punched Zamza on his gut, freeing Dai.
Chiu explained to Popp that Maam was using Refractor Fist, a deadly technique that combined martial arts with healing magic in order to overheal her foes and cause destruction from within, thus nullifying Zamza's regeneration. Maam subsequently unleashed a furious barrage at Zamza, leaving everyone astonished at how powerful she was. As Dai regained consciousness, Popp requested Chiu to give him healing herbs as instructed by Maam, but he remembers all too late that he had used them all while fighting weak monsters.
Maam jumps into the air intending to finish Zamza, but the latter clever spits at her fists with thick mucus in order to seal her Refraction Fist. Now with her fists sealed, Zamza regained the advantage by beating Maam and grabbing her. Chiu finds a Teardrop Acorn on his belongings which can restore a minimum amount of stamina, which Dai thought was enough and requested Chiu to get him and the Acorn to the where the Sword of Champions was, in order to save stamina for a final strike. As Maam recoils from the pain, she sees Dai going to the sword and realizes he's up to something so she tries to buy time and distract Zamza. Although he believes her attempts are futile and deeming her a lesser being, Maam retorted that no life is devoid of value and that Zamza was the true trash for looking down on life.
Remembering his father's cruel and utilitarian words, Zamza is infuriated at Maam, loudly claiming he could be a Legion Commander if he wanted and that he is not trash as he squeezes Maam with his grip. Dai finally reaches the sword and consumes the acorn, restoring part of his strength with Zamza noticing Dai and wondering how he could reach there. Taking advantage of the distraction, a disguised Brokeena tells Popp to cast a Frizz at Maam. Although Popp is confused by this request, he realizes he is meant to burn at the substance on Maam's hands. He calls to Maam as he casts his spell allowing Maam to free himself from her binds and strike at Zamza, destroying his right arm. Dai then takes this chance to lunge at him with a Dragon Crest enhanced Avan Strash dealing fatal damage to Zamza and defeating him.
With his body now returning to normalcy, albeit weakened he wonders what caused his defeat to which Popp told him to ask Chiu. Zamza realizes that his loss was caused due to looking down on every life other than himself. Dai notices the Sword of Champions breaking apart leaving everyone shocked that the legendary weapon made of Orichalcum would break, but Zamza reveals it is a fake and that the original is in Hadlar's possession, before magically sending his headband to Zaboera as it carries valuable data to continue the research. Popp is angered that he would go so far for someone like Zaboera who would not recognize his sacrifice, although Zamza was well aware of that fact, but nonetheless it didn't erase the fact Zaboera was his father and thus decided to remain loyal to the end.
Maam tries to heal Zamza but his body is disintegrating into ash, what he deems the fate of Superior Beings who die. Realizing he was wrong for toying with lives, he welcomed his punishment, revealing he was happy to fight the heroes with the world's strongest body, even if for a moment, and is confident they will be defeated by a perfected Superior Being. He crumbles apart saying his life was not in vain with everyone saddened that he only sought the approval and love of his father, something Dai could relate to, earning the party's sympathy and respect.
Receiving his headband, Zaboera praised Zamza for putting his mere 200 years of life to use for him and that he should be proud in the afterlife for his data would complete the Superior Being research as he looked into Hadlar who was undergoing the process in a capsule. Furthermore, Zamza's theft of the Sword of Champions, would still haunt the Disciples of Avan in the future, as the mighty blade was grafted into Hadlar's new body.
Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken Yuusha Avan to Gokuen no Maou[]
In this prequel story, Zamza makes an appearance alongside his father Zaboera, still under the thumb of his horrible parent. It is revealed that Zamza was actually the one to pioneer and make actual progress into the process of fusing monsters together, only for his father to steal all the credit from him, much to his chagrin.
Not a direct subject or member of the Dark Army, due to Zaboera's desire to increase his status by choosing to play the "hard-to-get" act, he, and by extension Zamza, were at the time only collaborators of Hadlar, and they would occasionally lend an indirect hand to him, such as lending some experimental monster fusions.
Later on, a younger Crocodine, under payment from Zaboera and unaware of Hadlar's true character, also briefly but significantly assisted the Dark Army, by retriving the time-frozen body Hadlar from the safe he was locked into; he however, chose to not offer further help at the time and departed soon after. Zaboera did such an act only to gain further clout with Hadlar, also condescendingly offering to help save him, if his servants would ever ask for his help, continuing his hard-to-get attitude, doubting that a skeleton and troll like Bartos and Gangadia would be able to do much. Privately however, Zaboera ordered his son, that their top priority must be to be first in finding a solution for Hadlar, although Zamza internally was very dubtful of his father's bravado, as the task was almost near impossible .
Against Zaboera's expectations, Gangadia would however, succeeded in freeing Hadlar, but only thanks to the unseen help of Mystvern.
Abilities[]
Being the son of Zaboera and head researcher of the Mystic Legion, Zamza is by all means and accounts a very powerful sorcerer on his own right, capable of morphing into an human disguise, flight or even use powerful offensive spells such as Kafrizz, explosion and wind-type spells (although they are unnamed)[2]
In the 2020 anime adaptation he is also explicitely able to levitate and some of his spells appear to be heat-type, although staying unnamed.
Zamza's greatest power, however, comes not from his spells but from his Superior Being body, having modified himself through his 90% complete research into monster eugenics to grant himself the abilities of over a hundred of monsters. His modified body gives him a more resilient biology, and also the ability to control aura, which he can use to reduce damage to himself. For instance, it allows him to survive even the onslaught of a Dragon Knight's fists embued with draconic aura, despite that even a single one of said punches would normally prove incredibly damaging or downright fatal to any normal Darkling. He was also capable of taking Dai's Dragon Crest Beam and survive it despite having taken a severe beatdown thanks to his aura and great monkey monster hide traits, although he did not stand unscathed.
When fully transforming into his Superior Being form, Zamza's overall body mass grows by several feet, becoming a gargantuan beast roughly the size of Armoured Flazzard. In this form he is drastically more powerful and an absolutely dangerous threat with frightening speed for his size with matching physical strength capable of posing a challenge even to Dai himself, although the latter had overexerted himself. Nonetheless he was capable of easily dealing with Chiu, despite the Fat Rat being a martial artist trained by Brokeena, known as the God of Martial Arts.
Zamza's most terrifying abilities in this form are his incredible regenerative power that makes him nigh immortal along with his aura control which he can use for explosive shockwaves. He is also able to shoot Aura blasts similar to the Beast King Redemption Blast. A side effect of his imperfect research, however, is that he loses the ability to use spells when in this form. He also stays vulnerable to Maam's Refractor Fist which uses healing as an offensive power, therefore rendering his regeneration useless. He could temporarily counter this by spitting thick layers of mucus on her fists.
Zamza is also far more intelligent that his presumptious father, having been the one to figure out the process necessary for fusing different monsters together however, due to his father toxic and domineering behavior, Zamza's potential was always stunted, with all of his credit stolen by Zaboera.
Other Appearances[]
Dragon Quest Keshi Keshi![]
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai - A Hero's Bonds[]
Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest - The Adventure of Dai[]
Zamza is one of the bosses encountered both during story mode, as well as in the Temple of Recollection, appearing in his Superior Being form.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- His Superior Being design is similar to that of Psaro the Manslayer and to an extent Calasmos. The former was already release but he possibly served as a base for the later. Especially in the anime he uses a stance similar to Estark and Psaro the Manslayer, this could a reference to their Secret of Evolution as it is similar to the Superior Being study.
- His superior Being form is green in the anime and manga colour edition but it was red in the Bunkobon edition's back cover its volume 9
Other languages[]
| Other languages | |
| French | Zamza |
| German | Zamza |
| Spanish | Unknown |
| Italian | Unknown |
| Dutch | Unknown |
| Norwegian | Unknown |
| Greek | Unknown |
| Portuguese | Unknown |
| Russian | Unknown |
| Chinese | Unknown |
| Korean | Unknown |
- ↑ Peferct Book, 1995-12-20 ISBN 978-4088588810
- ↑ Filler page profile