Akira Toriyama’s signature shonen series, Dragon Ball, made waves upon its initial debut in the 1980s. Its success and fandom have only become more intense in the three decades that have followed. There are hundreds of episodes and hours of content to explore across the ongoing Dragon Ball franchise. Goku’s continued pursuit to grow stronger and protect the world from danger remains the same, but the anime’s scope has gradually expanded in satisfying ways.
A huge cast of supporting characters fill out Dragon Ball’s cast, and Goku’s father, Bardock, is an important figure from the past. Bardock’s appearances have been contained to flashbacks and video games, but the Saiyan has still accomplished some incredible things over the course of the series.
8 He Leads A Hopeless Revolt Against Frieza And His Forces
The Saiyans have a notorious reputation throughout the universe, but a lot of the animosity that they face is due to years of manipulation from Frieza and his armed forces. The Saiyans are sent across the galaxy to carry out Frieza’s grunt work and conquer planets in the tyrant’s name. The bulk of the Saiyan population, including King Vegeta, are oblivious to Frieza’s true intentions, but Bardock experiences an epiphany that shows him the light.
Bardock doesn’t hide what he learns, and he wastes no time leading a Saiyan revolt against Frieza. Famously, Frieza vaporizes the entire Saiyan population, along with their homeworld, but Bardock is at least able to go out knowing the truth and that he did his best.
7 He Defies Heeter Force Orders And Saves Granolah’s Life
For the majority of Dragon Ball’s run, Goku fills a very special role as a Saiyan who moves past his violent roots and is able to become an empathetic hero. This pacifism is an important part of what makes Goku unique. However, in Dragon Ball Super’s manga, the Granolah The Survivor Saga establishes that Bardock also had his moments of kindness towards strangers.
Instead of blindly following the Heeter Force’s orders to take out the remaining Cerealians, Bardock puts his life on the line to protect a young, innocent Granolah. Granolah is ignorant towards this rescue until his adulthood, but Bardock’s act has major consequences for the current battle at hand against the Heeters.
6 He Sends Goku To Earth
It’s remarkable how one simple action can endlessly reverberate and cause important chain reactions throughout the universe. Bardock doesn’t think twice when both he and Gine decide to send an infant Goku away to Earth as a means to prevent him from the cruel fate that awaits the rest of the Saiyans on Planet Vegeta.
Bardock’s selfless act manages to save Goku’s life, but it’s also responsible for the bump on Goku’s head that causes his memory loss. All of these ingredients culminate in Goku’s docile nature, which allows him to team up with Bulma and become the Earth’s greatest protector.
5 Team Bardock Dominates The Competition On Kanassa
One of the first substantial looks at Bardock that Dragon Ball Z provides takes place in the character’s showcase, Bardock – The Father of Goku. The anime special fills in many of the most obvious blanks surrounding Goku’s father during his final days, but it also highlights the Saiyan warrior’s combat skills.
Team Bardock features a different roster in different Dragon Ball texts, but Bardock is always their leader and takes care of most of the heavy lifting. Bardock – The Father of Goku shows Bardock and his five-person team dominate their opposition on the planet Kanassa.
4 He Witnesses Glimpses Of His Son’s Future Successes
Dragon Ball faces some natural difficulties to have Bardock and Goku share time together since Bardock passes on when Goku is just a baby. Bardock – The Father of Goku equips Bardock with a rare precognitive ability that gives him crucial insight on the future.
Bardock witnesses a lot of death and carnage in these prophetic visions, but he’s also treated to a temporary glimpse of his grown son’s defeat over Frieza. Bardock is at death’s door, but his unfortunate fate stings a little less since he knows that his son will keep the universe safe.
3 He Pulls His Wife Out Of The Battlefield
Many of Dragon Ball’s Saiyans successfully start families and sire their own hybrid offspring with humans. Saiyan culture dictates that the warrior race is so focused on conquest that romance is largely a foreign concept to the species. Saiyans primarily mate for reproductive purposes. Against this innate conditioning, Bardock truly forms an affinity with Gine and is able to respect and honor her in a manner that evades most of the population.
Gine used to be a member of Bardock’s capable mercenary squad, Team Bardock. However, Bardock eventually pulls his wife out of harm’s way after their relationship begins. This doesn’t just keep Gine safe, but it could also be instrumental in the birth of their children, Goku and Raditz.
2 He Uses His Great Ape Form To Defeat Gas
Dragon Ball Super’s anime reaches its conclusion with the multiversal Tournament of Power, but the series’ manga has extended the ongoing story far beyond the competition’s finish. Goku’s latest challenges against Granolah, and later Elec, bring Bardock back in a colossal way.
Bardock previously faced Elec, and the member of the Heeter Force still appears to be shell-shocked from their past encounter. The circumstances behind how Bardock managed to best this persistent threat remain to be seen. Still, Goku’s victory against the villain appears to be linked to him following in his father’s footsteps and accessing this same power.
1 He Becomes A Super Saiyan And Defeats Frieza’s Ancestor
Dragon Ball’s handling of its Super Saiyan transformation has changed in major ways. What was once a superlative and rare achievement has gradually become a foregone conclusion for any new Saiyan that enters the scene. Bardock is disadvantaged from being a character in the past that greatly precedes Goku’s initial Super Saiyan transformation.
That being said, the series creatively gets around this hurdle with the special Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock, which sends Bardock through time to face Frieza’s ancestor, Chilled. Bardock doesn’t just transcend time and space, but he also achieves Super Saiyan status, which leads to some curious implications regarding Dragon Ball’s canon.
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