Goku: One of Shonen Anime’s Greatest Heroes!
Devon Lord-Moncrief
For many, the mere name “Goku” is synonymous with anime. As the starring character and hero of Akira Toriyama’s legendary Dragon Ball series, Goku has become one of the most easily recognized and famous anime characters ever.
With his iconic spiky black hair and orange outfit, Goku is integral to anime as Sailor Moon, Astro Boy, and Mobile Suit Gundam. But Goku’s more than just an iconic face; he’s a hero who’s performed countless amazing deeds. So come learn about the biggest and brightest adventures the Super Saiyan has ever embarked on!
Who is Son Goku?
Goku, first known as Son Goku, is the star of the entire Dragon Ball franchise. An alien known as a Saiyan, Goku came to Earth from the planet Vegeta. His mission was to destroy Earth, but when he suffered a massive bonk to his head, his warlike tendencies subsided, and he became peaceful and good. Raised by Grandpa Gohan, the young Goku was trained to be ready to take on anything that came his way.
Dragon Ball Was Inspired by the Classic Tale Journey to the West
Journey to the West, a 16th-century story attributed to the writer Wu Cheng’en, tells how the monkey king Sun Wukong embarks on a wild and magical quest for immortality. To aid him in his quest, Sun Wukong has a magic staff that can stretch and elongate to any desired length and a magical cloud that can carry him through the air.
If this sounds more than a little familiar, Dragon Ball‘s narrative draws heavily on Journey to the West. Dragon Ball is not the first media to do so, but it’s one of the most acclaimed and successful.
What are his superpowers?
As a Saiyan, Goku possesses virtually unlimited strength and power. As the strongest Saiyan to ever exist, he can move faster than the speed of thought, deliver blows that can destroy entire planets, and fire energy attacks that can annihilate stars. While he doesn’t possess any magical or telepathic powers, his sheer physical feats alone raise him above most gods in terms of power.
What are his most notable adventures?
Goku has been an adventurer and a universal-class fighter since he was young. He’s had an extremely long and colorful life, so here are some of the biggest highlights of his accomplishments!
Dragon Ball
The original Dragon Ball series (1986-1989) introduced the world to Goku, Bulma, and an entire cast of characters that would define the series up to today. Of all the adventures Goku undertook in his earliest days, few were as huge as the World Martial Arts Tournament. This was the big one. This was his chance to prove to himself and the world how powerful he truly was.
Countless fighters worldwide participated in the event, but in the end, it came down to Goku and a mysterious fighter, Jackie Chun. In an unbelievable turn of events, Jackie Chun beat Goku. Still, it turned out it was Master Roshi, determined to teach his pupils the importance of accepting loss and humility.
Dragon Ball Z
Now a grown man with a family in Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996), Goku became more powerful than ever when a Saiyan invasion threatened the entire planet. The evil aliens were defeated, and while the battle was the hardest of his life, it pushed Goku to reach new heights in his training. But all that paled compared to the threat rising on the distant planet Namek.
In the Namek Saga, Gohan, Bulma, and Krillin all traveled through space to search for the Dragon Balls on the alien planet known as Namek. They could never have foreseen the existence of Frieza, the single most evil and powerful being in the galaxy. Goku traveled to Namek to save his friends and defeat Frieza in the single-longest-running battle in the series’ history.
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Dragon Ball GT
While many fans find Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997) the most contentious installment in the Dragon Ball series, it doesn’t mean it didn’t have some super cool moments. Of all the battles in GT, however, none compared to the “Shadow Dragon” arc finale. This culminated everything our heroes had trained for as they faced power beyond compare.
It was revealed that every time the Dragon Balls were used to grant a wish, they released an equal amount of negative energy into the world. Over time, this negative energy built and built until it became a sentient force. Taking the form of the Shadow Dragons, the corrupt Dragon Ball energy resulted in one of the biggest and most difficult battles of Goku’s entire life.
Dragon Ball Super
The triumphant return of the series after a years-long hiatus following GT, DB Super (2015-2018), picked up shortly after the events of the Kid Buu Saga. When the God of Destruction, Beerus, comes to Earth, a battle unlike any our heroes have ever faced begins. This arc was also the basis for the DBS Battle of the Gods film.
As the God of Destruction, Beerus outclassed, outperformed, and outpunched virtually every other being Goku had ever fought. Not even his unmatched Super Saiyan 3 powers were enough to put Beerus down. So, when the transformation occurred that granted Goku the power of Super Saiyan God, fans knew the gloves were finally off. It was, and still is, a battle of and for the ages.
Why is Goku so popular?
Son Goku is so popular because he represents the very best of us. He isn’t a super brilliant scientist or genius. He isn’t a billionaire with advanced technology at his disposal. At the end of the day, he’s just a regular guy who wants to raise his family in peace. He also happens to be an alien that can knock out gods, but that’s beside the point.
Goku values loyalty to his family and friends, honesty and bravery, and the will to constantly push oneself further over everything else. He’s a good person, a good friend, and a good dad. Anyone can be strong, but not just anyone can be such a fantastic role model.
Is Goku your favorite character in Dragon Ball? What’s your favorite arc? Please let us know in the comments below! We would love to hear about your favorite arcs!
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