Goku's Saiyan Heritage Makes Him Deeper Than Dragon Ball Fans Think

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For some odd reason, as the years have gone by, Goku of Dragon Ball fame has become the benchmark for a character with no development, but a deeper look into his heritage shows just how deep the Saiyan fighter is. Throughout early Dragon Ball, Goku’s character arc was centered around his own desires in life and developing a moral compass but things really changed in chapter 195 with the introduction of Raditz. Recognizing Goku’s growth and eventual acceptance of his heritage is crucial to understanding the person he becomes as the series develops.

In chapter 195 of Dragon Ball, Raditz arrives on Earth, revealing himself to not only be from a race of alien beings called Saiyans but also Goku’s brother. In order to try and remind Goku why he is on Earth, Raditz explains that Saiyans send their children to weaker, habitable planets in order to exterminate the population and sell their worlds. Upon learning the truth of his ancestry, Goku is disgusted by the brutality Raditz describes as Saiyan tradition. At this point Goku thinks of Saiyans as nothing more than brutish killers and rejects both his brother and his Saiyan roots, choosing to call himself an Earthling. Goku’s relationship with his Saiyan heritage is touched on again when he later meets Vegeta.

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During their initial battle, Goku’s Kaioken technique breaks Vegeta and, in retaliation, the prince decides to create an artificial moon known as a “Power Ball,” allowing him to transform into a Great Ape. Upon seeing a Saiyan transform into a Great Ape for the first time, Goku realizes that the monster who killed his own grandfather and terrorized the World Martial Arts tournament years ago