The Absurd Majesty of King Nikochan: A Look at Dr. Slump’s Most Iconic Alien

Way before Akira Toriyama was famous for Dragon Ball’s wild fight scenes, he ruled the world of “gag manga.” His first big hit, Dr. Slump, was basically a playground for all kinds of weird and hilarious characters. And honestly, out of all the oddballs living in Penguin Village, nobody’s quite as—well, noticeable—as King Nikochan.

King Nikochan isn’t your usual space villain. He’s this little green alien, and everything about his design screams Toriyama’s brand of goofiness. Most villains want to look tough or scary, but Nikochan’s a walking joke. His head is basically a butt, and for some reason, his nostrils stick out of his ears. It’s like a visual punchline you can’t unsee.

So, what brings Nikochan to Earth? He shows up with this big plan: he’s going to conquer the planet and enslave everyone. He’s the self-proclaimed king of Planet Nikochan, so of course he figures Earth will be a piece of cake. Bad luck for him, though—he lands smack in the middle of Penguin Village and meets Arale Norimaki. She’s a robot girl with super strength and zero sense of danger or, honestly, respect for authority.

Nikochan’s dreams of taking over don’t last long. His spaceship gets eaten pretty much right away. That’s just how things go in Dr. Slump: stuff doesn’t just break, it gets swallowed or poked or flattened. Suddenly, the “mighty” king and his one loyal (and still nameless) assistant are stuck on Earth. Now they have to blend in with the same people they wanted to rule.

What’s funny—and kind of endearing—about King Nikochan is how he tries to survive as a regular guy. No more royal perks, no fancy gadgets. He’s out there picking radishes, collecting trash, doing whatever odd jobs he can find, just to scrape together enough cash to get home. He still acts like he’s a big deal, even while he’s knee-deep in garbage. His assistant sticks by him, playing the straight man while Nikochan gets more and more desperate.

This is peak Toriyama. He didn’t need to give Nikochan a tragic past or some epic reason for being here. He just made the guy funny, poking fun at sci-fi clichés and the way authority figures take themselves so seriously. In Penguin Village, nothing makes sense and nobody cares about power. Nikochan just can’t win—and that’s the joke.

Even after Dr. Slump ended, King Nikochan kept popping up—fans of Dragon Ball probably spotted him in a few cameos. Toriyama clearly had a soft spot for this bumbling alien.

In the end, King Nikochan shows off everything great about Toriyama’s early work. Back then, anime was more about laughs than leveling up. Nikochan’s not a villain anyone needs to beat—he’s just a walking disaster, in the funniest way. He never conquered Earth, but he definitely won over fans who appreciate a good butt joke and the charm of a royal who just can’t catch a break.

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