D
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Being a "frontrunner" or not doesn't mean anything when one actually gets the requests and the other doesn't.And even if we were to consider non-video game third-parties, Goku wouldn't even be most logical one. In terms of icon status, characters like Mickey Mouse, Darth Vader, Hello Kitty, Batman and Spider-Man transcends him. In terms of significance to gaming history, E.T. transcends what little significance Goku has and even in the context of Nintendo history is Goku easily outclassed by Popeye and James Bond. Even setting aside licencing issues, Goku wouldn't be the obvious front-runner as far as non-video game third-parties are concerned.
If Goku was to ever be seriously considered due to the amount of requests he gets with each passing release, he's not going to be denied JUST BECAUSE he's not one of those characters.