Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Super carries on a legacy of shonen storytelling that’s lasted nearly 40 years. Many sequel series struggle to capture the magic of the original or develop a satisfying story, but Dragon Ball Super is a nostalgic return to the basics that pushes the anime’s beloved characters to bolder places than ever before.
Dragon Ball Super continues to dig into the history of the Saiyans in compelling ways, who have never had more unique transformations to explore. Goku’s father, Bardock, is a character that Dragon Ball has only featured in small doses, all of which draw compelling parallels between the fallen Saiyan and his heroic son.
8 Bardock Is The Better Team Leader
Goku has solidified his status as a courageous hero who’s always willing to do what’s necessary for the greater good, but when he’s pushed into a tight corner, he solves many of his problems by himself. The gap between Goku’s strength and everyone else’s power is usually so extreme that Goku is left in a league of his own. Frequently, he’s one of the only fighters actually capable of taking out the major threat. Alternatively, Bardock is much more of a team player who prefers to hunt with a pack of trusted allies. Team Bardock is Bardock’s squad, which included fellow Saiyans Tora, Fasha, Borgos, Leek, Shugesh, and Gine over the years.
7 Bardock Has Better Control Over His Great Ape Form
Dragon Ball‘s Great Ape form has been a signature Saiyan transformation right from the earliest episodes of the original Dragon Ball. This monstrous transformation has grown into more of a liability than it’s worth, especially when more advantageous Super Saiyan forms also exist. Dragon Ball explains that the lowest-ranking Saiyans can’t control their Great Ape form, which is left as a rampaging beast. However, there are plenty of Saiyans, Bardock included, who have a level of mastery over this transformation and can properly use it to their advantage in combat.
6 Bardock Has Been A Savior To The Cerealian Race
Dragon Ball has gradually added nuance to the Saiyan race and made some crucial revelations that paint them as more than just a mindless race of aggressive warriors. Admittedly, Saiyans thrive on combat and aggression and this is where they’re at their best, but Bardock exhibits some inspired judgment on when to follow and rebel against his orders.
Saiyans aren’t used to showing empathy, but Bardock’s decision to protect Granolah from the Heeters has major ramifications decades later when Granolah encounters Bardock’s son. Goku’s relationship with Granolah is still too fresh for Goku to have left a lasting impact on him, unlike Bardock.
5 Bardock Has Premonitions About The Future
Bardock and Goku are fundamental Dragon Ball characters, but the inherent tragedy between them is that they’re from different generations, so they don’t get the chance to coexist. One of the ways in which Dragon Ball attempts to get around this is by gifting Bardock with a series of invasive premonitions that tease the future, specifically the accomplishments of his son, Goku. It’s cathartic that Bardock is able to watch his son carry on his own message, but it’s also a major difference between this Saiyan father and son.
4 Bardock Is A More Considerate Husband
Goku is by no means a malicious individual when it comes to his home life with his family, but his obliviousness towards those that are closest to him can often come across as callous. Chi-Chi just wants to have a peaceful life with her husband and their children, yet Goku relishes action and readily throws his family into harm’s way. One fascinating detail about Bardock is that he’s reasonably romantic with his wife, Gine, and at least wants to be considerate towards her feelings. This makes a huge impression since the majority of Saiyans, especially on Planet Vegeta, are more utilitarian than they are emotional.
3 Bardock Knows The Secret To Defeat The Heeters
There have been some seismic twists that shatter Dragon Ball Super‘s status quo during the events of the Survivor Arc. The Heeters, specifically Gas, have emerged as the true villains of this saga, and Gas’ strength has just reached unprecedented heights after the removal of his restraint necklace.
Gas’ berserker form is extremely difficult to control and this new boost in power leaves everyone stumped on how to regain the upper hand. Super indicates that Bardock was previously able to tame Gas in this state, although nobody knows how he did it. The full circumstances surrounding Bardock’s clash with Gas haven’t come to light, but he currently possesses more information on this new threat than Goku does.
2 Bardock Is Skilled At The Invasion And Conquering Of Planets
Bardock eventually finds his independence before his final moments, but he’s spent years as a tool of destruction that invades and conquers planets, typically for Frieza. There’s no question that Goku is powerful enough to land on some other planet and completely decimate their strongest warriors, but he has no experience actually doing that and it’s not behavior that would come naturally to him. Goku actually prides himself in how Saiyan culture isn’t instilled in him. Nevertheless, conquest skills of this nature can be helpful in tight situations and Bardock can benefit from years of training.
1 Bardock Is Less Susceptible To Deception
Goku’s memories of his father are practically non-existent, which makes it really special that they’re both able to face Frieza and make lasting impressions against the galactic tyrant. Goku is never on good terms with Frieza, but he immediately recognizes him as the enemy. Frieza spends years taking advantage of the Saiyan population to handle his grunt work and trick them into thinking that they’re valued allies. Frieza successfully fools the majority of the Saiyan race, but Bardock is able to see through the cracks and understands what Frieza really represents. Bardock’s rebellion is unsuccessful, but he sees the truth. The same thing happens when Bardock opposes the Heeters to assist Granolah and Monaito. He’s an independent thinker.
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