Vegeta has been one of Dragon Ball’s most popular characters ever since his debut as a villain in Dragon Ball Z’s Saiyan Saga. Vegeta has made tremendous strides, both as a person and as a fighter. He’s now one of Goku’s greatest friends and Earth’s strongest defenders. He’s someone who is always willing to push himself past his limits and see how far a Saiyan can go with their strength.
Vegeta isn’t the first Dragon Ball character to become a Super Saiyan, but it’s not long before he experiences transformations that increase his strength and skills. Even in Dragon Ball Super’s manga and Dragon Ball DAIMA’s anime, Vegeta continues to unlock new forms. Vegeta’s forms are often finely-tuned tools of destruction, but this doesn’t mean that they’re always aesthetically pleasing. Vegeta’s forms become much more interesting when they’re being weighed on their design elements and visual flair.
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Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta’s ’90s Rockstar Design is Very of Its Time
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball GT, Episode 59, “Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta”; Manga Debut: N/A
Dragon Ball GT‘s Super Saiyan 4 is a polarizing transformation suddenly finding new life in Dragon Ball DAIMA, albeit with a revised design. Vegeta ascends to this privileged status during the final battle against Omega Shenron. Super Saiyan 4 doesn’t just copy its predecessors and instead features a more animalistic shift that’s akin to some humanoid ape. SSJ4 Vegeta’s hair isn’t demonstrably different, but his chest and arms are covered with a distinct red fur that’s also present on his regrown tail.
The Super Saiyan 4 form shows off the individual’s chest, which means that they’re shirtless, so there’s suddenly a greater emphasis on the person’s pants. Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta has fashionable jeans that add something extra to this form that comfortably complements Vegeta’s red fur. All in all, Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta is a form that just comes across as too chaotic and almost at war with itself.
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 228, “The Dark Prince Returns”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 262 (Dragon Ball Chapter 456), “Goku Vs. Vegeta”
Vegeta’s return to the dark side is one of the more terrifying developments that came out of Dragon Ball Z’s Buu Saga. Vegeta becomes susceptible to Babidi’s manipulative magic, which results in the birth of Majin Vegeta. Majin Vegeta has slightly boosted power and spends a lot of time in Super Saiyan 2. However, Majin Vegeta’s biggest difference and identifying feature is the ornamental “M” that adorns his forehead.
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This Majin marking is on all of Babidi’s minions and really doesn’t do much to make Vegeta look any more intimidating. Majin Vegeta also has darker bags under his eyes, which are also meant to emphasize his wicked nature. Demonic possessions and corruption can be hard to articulate on characters, but Majin Vegeta’s general design has an awkward energy to it.
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Dragon Ball DAIMA Finally Made Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta A Reality – & He’s Glorious
Dragon Ball DAIMA, Episode 12, “True Strength”; Manga Debut: N/A
One of Dragon Ball’s biggest unanswered questions is why Vegeta never achieves Super Saiyan 3 when he does unlock Super Saiyan 4 and Super Saiyan Blue. Dragon Ball DAIMA finally steps in to amend this issue and feature Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta, both in DAIMA’s mini version of the character and as an adult. Curiously, Super Saiyan 3 Mini Vegeta pulls more from Akira Toriyama’s original Super Saiyan 3 designs than what actually shows up in Dragon Ball Z.
SSJ3 Vegeta’s hair is still longer, but it still retains the shape of Vegeta’s original hair, rather than cascading down his back. Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta is incredibly powerful and he does some of his best work in this form. Super Saiyan 3’s lack of eyebrows and the more brutish demeanor that it carries is still just too awkward. Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta accomplishes incredible things, but he looks like a barbarian.
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Vegeta Doesn’t Lose His Pride & Personality is His Great Ape Form
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 31, “Saiyan Sized Secret”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 38 (Dragon Ball Chapter 232), “The Moon”
The Saiyans’ Great Ape form is one of Dragon Ball’s very first transformations. An Oozaru is a reckless beast, and weaker Saiyans like Kid Goku loses sight of their own self when they transform. As a Saiyan Elite, Vegeta is actually to turn the Great Ape form into his advantage. Great Ape Vegeta has control over his actions and can actually talk. Oozaru Vegeta also doesn’t suffer from the same limitations that Goku and Gohan do while they’re in the same form.
Vegeta’s Great Ape form leaves a greater impression than the rest because he retains his Saiyan battle armor. It’s a simple detail, but one that adds so much personality to this monstrous form. The scarred eye that Great Ape Vegeta acquires is another nice touch. Vegeta also becomes a Golden Great Ape in Dragon Ball GT, which isn’t demonstrably different other than the change in color.
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Super Saiyan Vegeta is A Classic Look That Hits the Mark
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 129, “Upgrade To Super Saiyan”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 149 (Dragon Ball Chapter 343), “Vegeta Returns!!!”
The original Super Saiyan transformation was groundbreaking upon its introduction, but there’s a certain simplicity to its design now when it’s compared to the many more complicated modern transformations. Accordingly, Super Saiyan Vegeta really just transforms his hair from black to blonde, which is also reflected in his new golden aura.
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Vegeta’s dark hair is one of his most distinct features, so Super Saiyan Vegeta does embody a contrasting energy. There’s a certain elegance to this form, the likes of which are amplified by the confidence that Vegeta exudes as a Super Saiyan. It’s an effective look that doesn’t go too far in any areas, whereas Super Saiyan Second and Third Grade become bulky, muscular messes.
5
Baby Vegeta Gives the Prince of All Saiyans a Radically Iconic Makeover
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball GT, Episode 27, “The Attack On Vegeta”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission, Chapter 2, “Bursting Forth!! Super Ability!!”
Dragon Ball GT‘s Baby is a Neo Machine Mutant Tuffle and the anime’s first interesting antagonist. Baby is a parasitic entity who can infect others and choose someone to become his new host body. Vegeta becomes Baby’s obsession and their union – Baby Vegeta – undergoes some unique forms across Baby Vegeta’s Strongest Form 1, Strongest Form 2, and Golden Great Ape forms. Baby Vegeta acquires red lines across his face and crosshair eyes that are indicative of Machine Mutants. His hair also turns silvery white.
Baby Vegeta’s subsequent forms start to more closely resemble Baby than they do Vegeta. Baby Vegeta’s final forms gain yellow and red shoulder pads that extend into a vest. The same color scheme is used for Baby Vegeta’s gloves and boots. This look and the more outrageous flop of hair even carry over to Golden Great Ape Baby Vegeta. This is the most interesting a Great Ape has ever looked. The changed colors and extra accessories really make such a difference. In the end, Baby Vegeta looks like an odd, warped version of the classic Saiyan, but it’s strangely effective.
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Ultra Ego Vegeta is the Saiyan’s Ultimate Form & A Godly Upgrade Unlike Any Other
Anime Debut: N/A; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 74, “Vegeta Vs. Granolah”
Dragon Ball Super has contained some enlightening character development for Vegeta ever since he learned to forge his own path instead of just copying Goku’s milestones. Vegeta accepts that Ultra Instinct doesn’t make sense for him, so he proceeds to develop his own superior alternative. Ultra Ego features a protruding brow and absent eyebrows similar to Super Saiyan 3, but Vegeta’s hair and aura take on a distinct purple hue.
Vegeta conjures excessive purple flames during his transformation and this unique color becomes the perfect way to accent his actions. Dragon Ball Super is guilty of many new forms that just change the color of someone’s hair, but purple works well for Vegeta. This raw power and killer instinct makes Ultra Ego Vegeta look like a genuine God of Destruction.
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Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta’s Sleek Design is Nothing Short of Divine Excellence
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 27, “The Earth Explodes?! A Decisive Kamehameha!”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 32, “The Super Warriors Gather! Part 2”
Dragon Ball Super builds upon Super Saiyan God’s success with another color-coded transformation – Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, which is more casually referred to as Super Saiyan Blue. Super Saiyan Blue, as one might imagine, features cyan hair and a matching aura. This form doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but Vegeta’s look benefits from the blue makeover. The color suits him well, which is fortunate, considering that Super Saiyan Blue is Vegeta’s most commonly used form in Dragon Ball Super.
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Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta has a very striking design, but it looks even better after he pushes himself one step further to Super Saiyan Blue Evolved. SSBE is largely the same, but the blue aura grows more dynamic, carries more gradients of blue, and there are floating particles that accent it. It’s the most aesthetically pleasing version of Super Saiyan Blue.
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Super Saiyan 2 Vegeta Pushes the Super Saiyan Paradigm To Deadlier Places
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 229, “Vegeta’s Pride”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 264 (Dragon Ball Chapter 458), “Two Battles To The Death”
Super Saiyan 2 is a transformation that often gets lost in the shuffle, due to how it’s a fairly subtle design distinction from its predecessor. Super Saiyan 2 Vegeta doesn’t look that different from Super Saiyan Vegeta, but it’s still the better of the two designs. SSJ2 Vegeta’s aura gains an electricity crackle and his hair becomes slightly more pronounced and longer than it was as a Super Saiyan.
It’s easy to mix up these transformations, but the addition of electricity is such an effective idea that carries over to many subsequent Super Saiyan transformations. Vegeta also taps into an even stronger version of Super Saiyan 2 when Beerus disrespects Bulma. Super Saiyan 2 (Enraged) Vegeta looks largely the same, but Vegeta’s eyes are blanked out in order to better convey the destructive anger that’s taken him over.
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Vegeta Looks His Best in Super Saiyan God
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Movie 1, “Broly”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 22, “Zamas’s Final Trump Card”
Vegeta actually unlocks Super Saiyan Blue before he reaches Super Saiyan God, at least in the Dragon Ball Super. This makes the divine transformation hit much harder when it’s finally revealed in Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Most of Vegeta’s forms just feature different hair and aura colors, but Super Saiyan God is the most distinct and striking of these shifts. Vegeta’s hair and pupils become an attractive shade of crimson, while his aura resembles a living flame.
This makes every single one of Super Saiyan God Vegeta’s attacks look like explosive bursts of fire. Dragon Ball Super’s manga also depicts Super Saiyan God Vegeta with intense red sparkles that surround his body during more muted moments. Super Saiyan God Vegeta elevates the Saiyan to divine heights and this form’s look demands respect.
Dragon Ball
- Created by
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Akira Toriyama
- First Film
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Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Latest Film
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Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Summary
Dragon Ball is the labor of writer/illustrator Akira Toriyama, beginning with Dragon Ball back in 1984. The series originally started as a serialized manga back in Weekly Shonen Jump for nearly a decade until it expanded into the anime franchises it is most known for today. Dragon Ball was later adapted into two animes, with one being Dragon Ball Z, the most universally known series in the entire Dragon Ball canon. The franchise has continued to expand lore via films, video games, and additional sequel TV series, such as the more recent Dragon Ball Super and Super Dragon Ball Heroes. Dragon Ball centers mostly around Son Goku, a being known as a Saiyan, and his friends as they face off against intergalactic threats and seek out the titular dragon balls. When all seven of these balls are collected, they can be used to summon a legendary dragon that can grant the wishes of whoever so gathers them. The Dragon Ball franchise continues to be one of the most well-known and beloved animes of all time, with over forty different countries airing it, and has had a tremendous impact on Western culture as a whole.
