I was browsing the Complete Monster trope page [nice work on the pics, btw] and I was thinking we might need to cut Gero. As evil of a old man he was, Toriyama confirmed in an interview that he based #16's design off his dead son claiming that he held a "special place" in Gero's heart.
Topic on User talk:DocColress
TBH, Gero was always the most YMMV-worthy example there since the entry used "could be called" or "implies". I mean, I could certainly see Gero as he was depicted in the series being a 99% Monster at least, and there's no saying that he even feels that much love for his late son anymore, "special place in his heart" aside, since that never got brought up or even hinted at on-screen at any point. But in the end he's more of a Complete Monster Wannabe, especially when put next to his own creation, Cell.
True. It's not like Toriyama ever used this supposed "love" to put him in a positive light. As you already said he didn't even hint toward it on-screen. Yeah, Cell does seem to overshadow Gero but seeing as Gero's actions are responsible for everything Cell did then yeah I can certainly see him being a Monster.
I removed Gero's entry from the main trope page, but it stays on the series YMMV page. That's the compromise for these sort of "Incomplete Monster" issues.
Right. That's all I wanted to ask, have a nice day.