>>537836798
>SS1 Gohan was weaker than Dabura, but the difference didn't seem that big
SS2*. The hairstyle is that of SS2 and narratively it makes zero sense for Gohan to not use it when he had just done it against Kibito. Pay attention to the fight and notice sweat marks (Toriyama's way of showing who is trying harder) and you'll notice Gohan is constantly sweating while Dabra isn't. Dabra isn't trying that hard. Gohan is losing badly against Dabra.
>but the lightning
It's not active all the time. Majin Bejita and Goku (on babidi's ship) had a few panels while in SS2 with no lightning for example against Yakon. Gohan was so weak even a Perfect Cell tier opponent gave him issues. This was during the period where the exactness of what SS2 is hadn't been confirmed yet.
>I don't think Krillin or Yamcha surpassed Freeza.
There is a little confirmation from the Android Arc Piccolo said everyone who is weaker than Freeza shouldn't bother coming. I got flamed once for saying they're weaker. There isn't much evidence either way.
>only Piccolo seemed to surpass him, even before fusing with Kami.
Base Gohan funny enough was relative to Piccolo enough to hurt Android 20 in a combo move. Goku trained Gohan and Piccolo whilst in SS1. Take of that what you will.
>We have Goku and Vegeta agreeing that Super Buu briefly became stronger after having Fat Buu removed from him. So was the burly Kaioshin that strong? Is it an Ultra Trunks situation?
IMO it's much less an in world explanation and more out world. The Buff Buu thing is right at the end of a chapter. On the next chap he turns to kid buu.That leads me to believe either Toriyama changed his mind on what the final villain should be or one of the editors told him to change it.
>Goku fighting a fake Ultimate Gohan in base (That is explicitly as strong as the original),
It's much worse if you use guidebook statements. I was mostly referring to the Pikkon fight.