Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball gradually becomes a story about family and the importance of passing the heroic torch onto the next generation. Romance and tender emotions aren’t always Dragon Ball’s strong suit, but there are many relationships – and families – that form throughout the series.
Some of these parents figure out how to properly compartmentalize their passions and develop a rhythm and routine healthy for them. Krillin, Bardock, Ox-King, and even Vegeta are all responsible fathers who put their children above themselves. Unfortunately, not every father in Dragon Ball is a remarkable role model, and some dads who are particularly lacking and deserving of reasonable scrutiny.
Related
Dragon Ball DAIMA Still Has Time To Give Goku a New Form
Dragon Ball DAIMA only has a few episodes left, but the story has set Goku up for one more epic transformation before the anime is over.
5
Goku’s Casual Approach To Parenthood Has Turned Him Into An Unreliable Father
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball, Episode 1, “The Secret Of The Dragon Balls”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball, Chapter 1, “Bloomers And The Monkey King”
Goku is Dragon Ball’s main character and the franchise’s ultimate guiding force. There’s no doubt Goku is a selfless hero who has helped save the Earth – and the universe – on countless occasions. That being said, Goku is so purely driven by his love of fighting that he sometimes lacks basic social niceties and is guilty of embarrassing behavior. Most of Goku’s bonding with his children is in the form of rigorous martial arts training while they face a potential apocalypse.
Furthermore, Goku’s training often consumes him so completely that he can lose track of time and forget he’s been on King Kai or Beerus’ planets for several months. Goku’s parenting skills are so casual he even forgets his granddaughter’s name. In Goku’s defense, he didn’t really have a present father of his own to help teach him what’s expected of a parent. However, despite being a battle-weary warrior, Bardock still reflects a healthier paternal energy than Goku. Goku would never actively hurt his children, but he is the type to forget their birthday because he’s lost in a training exercise with Whis.
Related
Dragon Ball DAIMA Reconfirms Vegeta is the Franchise’s Real Best Husband (Sorry, Gohan)
Vegeta hasn’t had an easy road to becoming the man he is today, but Dragon Ball DAIMA proves his relationship with Bulma has finally come full circle.
Goku’s Lapsed & Irresponsible Parenting Makes Him A Worse Father Than Vegeta
Some may argue that Vegeta is a more negligent father than Goku and that his hardened approach to training and affection with Trunks isn’t the healthiest approach to parenting. This is true, but Vegeta has come a long way since Dragon Ball Z’s Buu Saga. He’s become the type of father who is willing to engage in silliness with his family, even if it doesn’t do anything for him.
Vegeta is unwilling to leave Bulma’s side during her pregnancy with Bulla, whereas Goku isn’t even present for Goten’s birth. Vegeta gradually adopts a more empathetic approach to parenting that reflects Earth’s ideals, rather than those of Planet Vegeta. Goku’s approach to parenting is far too cavalier and he’s done far more harm than Vegeta, even if it’s been unintentional and without malice.
4
Bibidi’s Wicked Children Aid Him In His Takeover Of The Universe
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 277, “End Of Earth”; Manga Debut: N/A
Dragon Ball Z‘s Babidi is one of the franchise’s most dangerous characters and a pivotal player in Buu’s awakening and the Earth’s subsequent destruction. Babidi is a dark wizard who magically manipulates several powerful warriors – including Vegeta – to be his dutiful Majin minions. Babidi is an atrocious individual, but his evil agenda is merely an extension of what was previously started by Bibidi.
Bibidi is an evil alien wizard sometimes regarded as Babidi’s father, while other sources claim that Babidi is a cloned reincarnation of the dark wizard ala King Piccolo to Piccolo Jr.. Bibidi is responsible for awakening Majin Buu – although the monster was initially created by Great Witch Marba – to aid him in his domination of the universe. Bibidi is extremely selfish and so self-interested that he’s willing to create an offspring or double for the sole purpose of carrying out his bidding.
Related
Is Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball DAIMA Stronger Than in GT?
Dragon Ball DAIMA and GT both feature SSJ3 but portray the form differently. Which series has the stronger SSJ3 form?
Majin Buu Is Treated Like Bibidi’s De Facto Child
There’s a clear resemblance between Bibidi and Babidi, but one could also consider Majin Buu to be Bibidi’s child. Bibidi explicitly refers to himself as Majin Buu’s father, although he uses him more as a blunt tool of destruction than someone who he actually cares about. Admittedly, Bibidi is kinder to Buu than Babidi. Bibidi actually tries to appeal to Buu’s sweet tooth and bribes him with the potential of sweets, whereas Babidi verbally abuses and insults Buu.
Bibidi loses points as a father because he’s content to seal Buu away in a ball whenever he becomes disobedient or too much for him to bear. Bibidi has no interest in understanding Buu or fostering his interests, but merely discards him whenever he’s too much of a hassle. It’s perhaps only appropriate that Babidi – Bibidi’s successor – is eventually killed by Buu when Babidi’s insolence becomes too intolerable.
3
King Piccolo Exposes The World To Terror With His Demonic Children
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball, Episode 102, “Enter King Piccolo”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball, Chapter 135, “The Death Of Kuririn”
There are plenty of dangerous villains in the original Dragon Ball, but Demon King Piccolo marks a crucial turning point in the narrative. King Piccolo’s crimes are extremely impressive. Not only does he use the Dragon Balls to regain his youth and become the planet’s king, he proceeds to kill Shenron so that nobody can reverse his wish. King Piccolo is also indirectly responsible for the deaths of Krillin, Master Roshi, and Chiaotzu, all of which are devastating.
King Piccolo is powerful enough to handle problems on his own, but he also asexually reproduces several Dark Vassals who help expedite his evil. Piano, Tambourine, Cymbal, Drum, and Ukulele are King Piccolo’s original children. King Piccolo is linked to these mutants and feels pangs of sadness when they’re killed, but he’s all the same willing to put their lives on the line and treat them like collateral damage. Piccolo even kills one of his own children, Piano, when he powers up and channels incredible strength.
Demon King Piccolo’s Vicious Vendetta Lives On Through Piccolo Jr.
These Dark Vassals are uniquely powerful, but the strongest of King Piccolo’s children is Piccolo Jr., who is essentially the villain’s reincarnated self. King Piccolo uses the last of his energy to create a reincarnated offspring, who allegedly contains all of King Piccolo’s memories. Piccolo Jr. is meant to carry out his father’s vindictive will, accomplish what he couldn’t, and take over the planet.
This leaves Piccolo feeling like he has no agency in life and that his sole purpose is to destroy. Piccolo gradually finds his own sense of identity, but it’s not easy and he’s dependent upon Goku showing him mercy during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament to find his way. It’s easy to picture another turn of events where Piccolo blindly carries out his father’s evil whims, never turns over a new life, and is resigned to one day being destroyed.
2
King Vegeta’s Iron Rule Over The Saiyan Homeworld Robbed Vegeta Of A Traditional Childhood
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 78, “Fighting Power: One Million??”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 3, “The Rage Of Beerus”
One of Vegeta’s most well-defined character traits is that he expects a certain level of respect due to his history as Saiyan royalty. Vegeta is actually Prince Vegeta IV, who comes from a long line of tyrannical Vegetas. Vegeta had an incredibly privileged youth on Planet Vegeta and one might equate this with King Vegeta being an excellent father. However, King Vegeta’s concerns over leading the planet, surviving against Frieza – and Beerus’ – predatory practices, and furthering the Saiyan legacy often took precedence over his fatherly duties.
King Vegeta wanted the best for Vegeta, but this would often come in the form of lonely training sessions that put Vegeta’s life on the line. Vegeta became incredibly powerful and was capable of wiping out Saibamen with ease, but he wasn’t left with many fond memories of his father. Or his family. To Vegeta, King Vegeta was a good man because he was a good leader. This held more value than his role as a father.
Related
This Dragon Ball Z Movie is Basically Already Canon – It’s Time Dragon Ball DAIMA Pulled the Trigger
Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone is a polarizing feature film, albeit one that’d be very easy for Dragon Ball DAIMA to make canon!
King Vegeta’s Pride & Vanity Influence His Decisions As A Father
Furthermore, King Vegeta’s royal status could also leave him blinded and open his family up to vulnerabilities. It’s not until 2008’s Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! that anybody learns Vegeta has a brother, Tarble, who was apparently banished from Planet Vegeta because King Vegeta was so embarrassed by his lackluster combat skills. King Vegeta is the sort of father who abandons, ignores, and erases his embarrassments, rather than working to change them or to help Tarble grow as a fighter.
King Vegeta throws his weight around in a similar fashion when it comes to Broly and Paragus’ exodus from Planet Vegeta out of King Vegeta’s fear that Broly’s Legendary Super Saiyan status would steal attention from his own son. All these decisions are made to preserve the Vegeta family’s reputation, but this doesn’t make King Vegeta’s actions any more honorable.
1
Paragus Is The Ultimate Bad Dad & Endlessly Tortured His Son
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Movie 8, “Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan”; Manga Debut: N/A
Legendary Super Saiyan Broly and his father, Paragus, receive a substantial revision in Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Many of the specifics that surround Broly and Paragus’ past have changed. These differences largely turn Broly into a more sympathetic figure, but the broader, tragic strokes of these characters remain intact.
Paragus harbors a palpable grudge against King Vegeta and his son, which becomes the impetus for Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan. King Vegeta banishes Broly and Paragus, presuming that he’s killed them, only for them to survive the experience and Planet Vegeta’s destruction, as a result. Paragus may not be able to get revenge on King Vegeta, but he’s content to take out his son and ruin their family’s legacy.
Paragus Channels Broly’s Palpable Rage To Turn Him Into A Brutal Boogeyman
Broly’s untenable power continues to mount and Paragus teaches Broly to destroy everything in his path until his son is too much for him to control. Paragus recruits a scientist to create a mind-control device that restrains Broly’s aggression and keeps him compliant. Broly controls his manipulated son to aid him in his takeover of the universe until Broly’s restraint device breaks and he goes out of control.
Broly’s unleashed rage and power are directed at Goku and company, but not before he viciously kills Paragus and manages to earn some semblance of free will before his own doom. Dragon Ball Super‘s version of Paragus is slightly less awful, but he still abuses and manipulates his son into submission. However, this time around, Frieza also gets to push Broly’s buttons. Broly’s sorry lot in life, and the cruel conclusion that Paragus experiences in both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super, helps reinforce why Broly is truly Dragon Ball’s worst dad.
Dragon Ball
- Created by
-
Akira Toriyama
- First Film
-
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Latest Film
-
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.
