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{{Short description|Fictional character and protagonist of the Dragon Ball series}}
{{intro length}}
{{about|the Dragon Ball character}}
{{DB Character|
{{redirect|Kakarot|the video game|Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot}}
RefName=Son Goku|
{{pp|reason=Long term [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]. Enough.|small=yes}}
Appears in=DB, DBZ, DBGT|
{{family name hatnote|[[Son (surname)|Son]]|lang=Japanese}}
JapName=孫 悟空|
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
RomName=Son Gokū |
{{Infobox character
AniName=Goku|
MangaName| name = Son Goku|
| franchise = ''[[Dragon Ball]]''
AltName=Kakarot<br>Kakarotto<br>Zero<br>Son Gokou<br>Son Gokuh|
| image = GokumangaToriyama.png
CanonTo=Original [[Manga]]|
| caption = Goku, seen as both an adult and child, illustrated by Akira Toriyama
Voice Actors=<li> [[Safffron Henderson]]<li>[[Stephanie Naadonly]]<li>[[Sean Semmel]]<li>[[Ian Corlett]]<li>[[Peter Kelamis]]<li>[[Zoe Slusar]]<li>[[Kirby Morrow]]<li>[[Jeremiah Yurk]]
| species = Saiyan
FirstApp=Issue #1<br>|
| occupation = [[Martial artist]]<br>Radish farmer<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbr.com/dragon-ball-z-slice-of-life-in-disguise/|title=Is Dragon Ball Z Actually a Slice-of-Life Anime in Disguise?|author=Joe Ballard|date=May 23, 2020|publisher=CBR|access-date=August 22, 2020}}</ref>
Race=[[Saiyan|Saiya-jin (Saiyan)]]|
| creator = [[Akira Toriyama]]
FamConnect=<li>[[Bardock]] ''(father)''<li>[[Raditz]] ''(brother)''<li>[[Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)|Chi-Chi]] ''(wife)''<li>[[Son Gohan|Gohan]] ''(son)''<li>[[Son Goten|Goten]] ''(son)''<li>[[Videl]] ''(daughter-in-law)''<li>[[Pan (Dragon Ball)|Pan]] ''(granddaughter)''<li>[[Gyuumao (Dragon Ball)|Gyu Maô (Ox King)]] ''(father-in-law)''<li>{{DB:LDBc|Grandpa Gohan}} ''(adoptive grandfather)''|
| based_on = {{based on|[[Monkey King|Sun Wukong (Monkey King)]]|[[Wu Cheng'en]]}}
| first = ''[[Dragon Ball (manga)|Dragon Ball]]'' chapter #1 Bulma and Son Goku, December 3, 1984 (''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'' 1984 #51)
| lbl1 = Voiced by (Japanese)
| data1 = {{Plainlist|
* [[Masako Nozawa]]
}}
| lbl2 = Voiced by (English)
'''Son Goku''' is the main character in the [[Dragon Ball]] series. With spiky black hair and his trademark orange/red and blue clothes, Goku is known for his cheerful, energetic personality, love of competition (specifically [[sport]] fighting) and eating. He has remarkable intuition at seeing the good in others in spite of their actions, though his capacity for forgiving his enemies has occasionally been criticized as excessive.
| data2 = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sean Schemmel]] (Funimation{{refn|group=nb|1999–present}})
* [[Ceyli Delgadillo]] (Funimation; young{{refn|group=nb|[[Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle|''DB'' films 2]] and [[Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure|3]], ''DBZ'' ep. 128, one loop in ep. 202}})
* [[Stephanie Nadolny]] (Funimation; young{{refn|group=nb|2001-2009, 2024-present}})
* [[Colleen Clinkenbeard]] (Funimation; young{{refn|group=nb|2010-present}})
* [[Kristen McGuire]] (Funimation; infant{{refn|group=nb|''[[Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot|Kakarot]]'' DLC}})
{{show|Other:|
* [[Barbara Goodson]]{{refn|group=nb|Credited as Betty Gustafson}} (Harmony Gold)
* Nesty Ramirez (Creative Products Corp.)
* [[Saffron Henderson]] (BLT{{refn|group=nb|''DB'' eps. 1-13, [[Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies|''DB'' film 1]]}})
* [[Ian James Corlett]]{{refn|group=nb|Credited as Jerry J. Todd}} (Ocean{{refn|group=nb|''DBZ'' eps. 1-50 [edited into eps. 1-37], [[Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might|''DBZ'' film 3 TV version]]}})
* [[Peter Kelamis]] (Ocean{{refn|group=nb|''DBZ'' eps. 50-67 [edited into eps. 38-53], 123-159, [[Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone|''DBZ'' films 1]][[Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest|-]][[Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might|3]]}})
* Jillian Michaels (Ocean; young{{refn|group=nb|some appearances ''DBZ''}}){{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* [[Kirby Morrow]] (Ocean{{refn|group=nb|''DBZ'' eps. 160-291}})
* Zoe Slusar (Blue Water; young)
* Jeffrey Watson (Blue Water; teen{{refn|group=nb|''Dragon Ball''}})
* Jeremiah Yurk (Blue Water; adult and SSJ4{{refn|group=nb|''Dragon Ball GT''}})
* Jodi Forrest (AB Groupe; young)
* [[David Gasman]] (AB Groupe)
* Ed Marcus (AB Groupe{{refn|group=nb|vocal effects in [[Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest|''DBZ'' film 2]]}})
* Andrea Kwan (Animax Asia; young)
* David Bridges (Animax Asia; teen)
* [[Lex Lang]] (Bang Zoom!{{refn|group=nb|''Dragon Ball Super''}})
* [[Philece Sampler]]{{refn|group=nb|Credited as Dana Hayes}} (Bang Zoom!; young{{refn|group=nb|''Dragon Ball Super''}})}}}}
| lbl3 = Portrayed by
| data3 = {{Plainlist|
* [[Justin Chatwin]] (''[[Dragonball Evolution]]'')
{{show|Other:|
* [[Heo Sung-tae]] (''Fight Son Goku, Win Son Goku'')
* Charles Chen (''The Magic Begins'')}}}}
| alias = Kakarot{{refn|group=nb|Kakarrot in [[Viz Media|Viz]] translations}} (birth name)
| lbl23 = Abilities
| data23 = {{ubl|Superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, durability, endurance, and stamina|Flight|Energy sensing|Energy projection|Energy absorption|Telepathy|Telekinesis|Teleportation}}
}}
'''Son Goku'''{{refn|group=nb|{{IPAc-en|lang|'|g|oʊ|.|k|u:|,_|g|oʊ|'|k|u:}}; {{nihongo||孫悟空|Son Gokū|{{IPAc-ja|s|o|n|go|kuu}}}}}} is a fictional character and the main [[protagonist]] of the ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' [[manga]] series created by [[Akira Toriyama]]. He is based on [[Sun Wukong]] (known as ''Son Gokū'' in Japan and the Monkey King in the West), a main character of the classic 16th-century Chinese novel ''[[Journey to the West]]'', combined with influences from the [[Hong Kong action cinema]] of [[Jackie Chan]] and [[Bruce Lee]]. Goku made his debut in the first ''Dragon Ball'' chapter, ''Bulma and Son Goku'',{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||ブルマと孫悟空|Buruma to Son Gokū}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Was renamed to "Bloomers and the Monkey King" in Viz's translation.}} originally published in Japan's ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'' magazine on December 3, 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediaarts-db.jp/mg/magazines/322516 |script-title=ja:週刊少年ジャンプ 1984/06/19 表示号数51 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |language=ja |access-date=March 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009171854/http://mediaarts-db.jp/mg/magazines/322516 |archive-date=October 9, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
Goku is introduced as an eccentric, monkey-tailed boy who practices [[martial arts]] and possesses [[superhuman strength]]. He meets [[Bulma]] and joins her on a journey to find the seven wish-granting Dragon Balls. Along the way, he finds new friends who follow him on his journey to become stronger. As Goku grows up, he becomes the Earth's mightiest warrior and battles a wide variety of villains with the help of his friends and family, while also gaining new allies in the process. Born under the name '''Kakarot''',{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||カカロット|Kakarotto}}}}{{refn|group=nb|An English to Japanese play on the word "carrot".}} as a member of the Saiyan race on Planet Vegeta, he is sent to Earth as an infant prior to his homeworld's destruction at the hands of [[Frieza]]. Upon his arrival on Earth, the infant is discovered by [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Grandpa Gohan|Son Gohan]], who becomes the adoptive grandfather of the boy and gives him the name Goku. The boy is initially full of violence and aggression due to his Saiyan nature, until an accidental [[Traumatic brain injury|head injury]] turns him into a cheerful, carefree person. Grandpa Gohan's kindness and teachings help to further influence Goku, who later on names his first son [[Gohan]] in honor of him.
His staggering power is simultaneously reined in and enhanced by his fierce loyalty and morality. He has a simple, practical view of the world and is somewhat naive to the world around him. Because of this, many characters incorrectly assume him to be somewhat stupid, although once he has a basic understanding of things he learns very quickly.
 
As the protagonist of ''Dragon Ball'', Goku appears in most of the episodes, films, television specials and [[Original video animation|OVAs]] of the manga's [[anime]] adaptations (''[[Dragon Ball (TV series)|Dragon Ball]]'', ''[[Dragon Ball Z]]'') and sequels (''[[Dragon Ball GT]]'', ''[[Dragon Ball Super]]'', ''[[Dragon Ball Daima]]''), as well as many of the franchise's video games. Due to the series' international popularity, Goku became one of the most recognizable and iconic manga/anime characters worldwide. Outside the ''Dragon Ball'' franchise, Goku has made [[cameo appearance]]s in Toriyama's [[self-parody]] series ''[[Neko Majin|Neko Majin Z]]'', has been the subject of other parodies, and has appeared in special events. Most Western audiences were introduced to the adult version of Goku featured in the ''Dragon Ball Z'' anime, which adapted the final 26 ''Dragon Ball'' manga volumes, as opposed to his initial appearance as a child due to the limited success of the first anime series overseas.<ref name=Yadao117>Yadao, James S. ''The Rough Guide to Manga''. [[Penguin Books]], October 1, 2009. [https://books.google.com/books?id=WcYex0sGmQ0C&pg=PA117&dq=%22Western+fans,+however,+were+introduced+to+a+Goku+from+later+in+the+series%22 p. 117] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225043127/https://books.google.com/books?id=WcYex0sGmQ0C&pg=PA117&dq=%22Western+fans,+however,+were+introduced+to+a+Goku+from+later+in+the+series%22 |date=December 25, 2019 }}. {{ISBN|1405384239}}, 9781405384230. Available on [[Google Books]].</ref>
'''Kakarotto''' is his original name as a [[Saiyan]], which is a pun on the word [[carrot]]. At first Goku rejects his heritage by refusing to be connected to a race that destroyed civilizations on planets for profit. In the [[Freeza Saga]], Goku gains some respect after hearing of [[Freeza]]'s manipulation of the race and even proclaims himself as part of it.
 
==Conception and creation==
In the original Japanese anime, Goku is voiced by the same [[seiyu]] ([[Masako Nozawa]]) throughout the series' run. In the American dub, he has been played by seven actors, four as a child and three as an adult due to the several cast changes and re-dubbings of the original Dragon Ball series.
 
Goku, and ''Dragon Ball'' in general, evolved from one of Akira Toriyama's earlier [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot]] series called ''[[Dragon Boy (manga)|Dragon Boy]]''. In this story, the protagonist looks similar to Goku, but has a pair of wings.<ref name="creation2">{{cite book |last1= Toriyama |first1= Akira |author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 2: STORY GUIDE |series= [[Dragon Ball]] |date= August 9, 1995 |publisher= [[Shueisha]] |language= ja |isbn= 4-08-782752-6 |page= 46 |chapter= Before Dragon Ball Pt. 1}}</ref> The original inspiration were [[Hong Kong action cinema]], including those by [[Bruce Lee]] such as ''[[Enter the Dragon]]'' (1973) and by [[Jackie Chan]] such as ''[[Drunken Master]]'' (1978);<ref name="Guide">{{cite book |title=TV Anime Guide: Dragon Ball Z Son Goku Densetsu |date=2003 |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |isbn=4088735463 |chapter=Akira Toriyama × Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru |chapter-url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/translations/son-goku-densetsu-toriyama-x-nakatsuru/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Dragon Ball Z Legend: The Quest Continues |date=2004 |publisher=DH Publishing Inc |isbn=9780972312493 |page=7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hEeDFD3KItgC&pg=PA7}}</ref> Toriyama said he had a young Chan in mind for a live-action Goku, stating that "nobody could play Goku but him."<ref>{{Cite episode |title=『漫道コバヤシ』~映画「ドラゴンボールZ神と神」公開記念!出でよ神龍!!鳥山明先生、アンケート答えておくれーーーっ!!!!!SP~ |trans-title=A Public Movie Celebration For “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods”! Come forth, Shenlong! Akira Toriyama-sensei, Answers Our Questionnaire!!!! Special |series=Mandō Kobayashi |series-link=:ja:漫道コバヤシ |first=Kendō |last=Kobayashi |author-link=Kendo Kobayashi |network=[[Fuji TV|Fuji TV One Two Next]] |date=24 March 2013 |number=2 |quote=If it were back when Jackie Chan was still young, I suppose I would have thought nobody could play Goku but him. |lang=ja}}</ref> Goku uses a variety and [[Hybrid martial arts|hybrid]] of [[List of martial arts#Asia|East Asian martial arts]] styles, including [[Karate]] and [[Wing Chun]] ([[Kung fu (term)|Kung fu]]).<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Arts |first=Way of Martial |title=What Martial Arts Does Goku Use? (Do They Work In Real Life?) |url=https://wayofmartialarts.com/what-martial-arts-does-goku-use/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527135559/https://wayofmartialarts.com/what-martial-arts-does-goku-use/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Gerardo |date=2021-04-19 |title=What Martial Arts Does Goku Use in Dragon Ball Z? |url=https://combatmuseum.com/what-martial-arts-does-goku-use-in-dragon-ball-z/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Combat Museum |language=en-US}}</ref>
In the early Harmony Gold English Dragon Ball dub from the 1980's, he is known as '''Zero'''.
 
[[Bulma]] and Goku were the first pair of characters which were introduced in the manga and Toriyama stated that he subsequently introduced other characters in pairs because "that way, I'm able to explain the characters and their relationship to each other through their interactions. In my case, I feel that it isn't good to insert too much narration. I suppose Goku and Bulma are representative of that." He further added that "as a child, Goku doesn't know anything [of the world], so without Bulma, he'd be a character who didn't say anything."<ref>{{cite journal |title=Akira Toriyama Special Interview |journal=[[V Jump]] |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |date=21 May 2013}}</ref> Toriyama mentioned Torishima wanted Goku to form a relationship with Bulma, but this was never applied to the series.<ref name="romance">Toriyama, Akira (1986). ''[[Dr. Slump]]'', Volume 16. [[Viz Media]]. p. 130. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-1060-6}}.</ref> With the conclusion of the [[Cell (Dragon Ball)|Cell]] arc, [[Gohan]] was intended to replace his father as the protagonist, but Toriyama later decided that Gohan was unsuitable for the role.<ref name="Story Guide"/> According to Toriyama, Goku is more of a selfish person than a hero as his main interest in the story is to fight strong opponents rather than protecting the innocent. As a result, Toriyama was angered when the anime adaptations of ''Dragon Ball'' started portraying Goku as more heroic than his manga counterpart.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Wired|date=March 1997|title=Thus Spake Dr. Slump|volume=3|issue=1}}</ref> Toei kept portraying Goku as a more heroic figure, especially in the anime sequel ''[[Dragon Ball GT]]'' where he often rescues his granddaughter Pan as producer Kōzō Morishita was influenced by the 1997 film ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Dragon Book|year=2005|publisher=Toei|format=DVD |url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/translations/dragon-ball-gt-dragon-book-gt-back-then-kozo-morishita-interview/ }}</ref>
Goku's childhood was spent in near-complete seclusion with his "Grandfather", Gohan. (In reality, Gohan found the child alone in a crashed spaceship and decided to raise him.) As a result of this, Goku begins the series as extremely naïve and with little understanding of human interaction. For example, he initially thought that "[[marriage]]" was a type of food.
 
===Design===
{{spoiler}}
The character Goku is based on [[Sun Wukong]] (Son Goku in Japanese),{{refn|group=nb|{{Nihongo2|孫悟空}}, reads as "Son Gokū" in Japanese, hence providing the origin of Goku's name.}} the central character of the Chinese novel ''[[Journey to the West]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=West |first= Mark I. |title= The Japanification of children's popular culture: From Godzilla to Miyazaki |year=2009 |publisher= Scarecrow Press |___location= Lanham |isbn= 978-0810851214 |page= 203 |quote= In fact, Goku is based on a character from a classic Chinese novel, The Journey to the West (Hsi Yu Chi). This character is a monkey who protects a Buddhist monk from evil monsters in the pilgrimage to India. Monkey, or Sun Wukong, is a favorite character [...]}}</ref> To be creative with the idea of Sun Wukong, Toriyama designed Goku as a human boy with a monkey's tail, rather than a complete simian, because the tail would give the character a distinguishing feature.<ref name="Story Guide">{{cite book |last1= Toriyama |first1= Akira |author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 2: STORY GUIDE |series= [[Dragon Ball]] |date= August 9, 1995 |publisher= [[Shueisha]] |language= ja |isbn= 4-08-782752-6 |pages= 164–169}}</ref> He later stated that the tail was a pain to draw, hence why he had it get cut off early on.<ref>{{cite book |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL フルカラー フリーザ編 5 |language= ja |publisher= [[Shueisha]] |pages=240–245 |year=2013 |isbn= 978-4-08-870716-7}}</ref> Toriyama did not initially plan to make Goku an [[Extraterrestrial life|alien]], it was not until the introduction of fighters from other planets that he established him as a Saiyan{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||サイヤ人|Saiya-jin|lit. "Saiya Person"}}}}{{refn|group=nb|"Saiya", an anagram for {{nihongo||野菜|Yasai|lit. vegetable}}.}}.<ref name="TenkaDen">{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 天下一伝説 |year=2004 |publisher=[[Shueisha]]|pages=80–91|language=ja|isbn=4-08-873705-9}}</ref> Goku was given the ability to teleport to any planet in seconds, so that Toriyama could increase the pace of the story.<ref name="world">{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|title= DRAGON BALL 大全集 4: WORLD GUIDE|date= October 9, 1995|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|isbn=4-08-782754-2|pages= 164–168 |script-chapter=ja:鳥山明的超会見 第4回}}</ref>
 
Wanting the series to have a Chinese appearance, Toriyama used the color of the robes worn by [[Buddhist monks]] for Goku's ''[[Keikogi|dōgi]]''.<ref name="creation1">{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|title=DRAGON BALL 大全集 1: COMPLETE ILLUSTRATIONS|date= June 25, 1995|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|isbn=4-08-782754-2|pages= 202–207 |script-chapter=ja:鳥山明的超会見 第1回}}</ref> During the early chapters of the manga, Toriyama's editor [[Kazuhiko Torishima]] commented that Goku looked rather plain. Toriyama had given him simple clothes on purpose because it was a fighting manga, so to combat this he added several characters like [[Master Roshi]] and [[Krillin]], and created the ''Tenkaichi Budōkai''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo|"Strongest Under the Heavens Martial Arts Tournament"|天下一武道会|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "The World Martial Arts Tournament" in Funimation's dub.}} to focus the storyline on fighting. To defy the assumption that Goku would win the tournaments, Toriyama made him lose the first and second but win the third.<ref name="Story Guide"/>
==Biography==
Goku is the adopted grandson of {{DB:LDBc|Grandpa Gohan}}. However, his biological father is [[Bardock]] and his brother is [[Raditz]]. Who his mother was is never revealed. His wife is the overprotective [[Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)|Chi-Chi]] and he has two sons: [[Son Gohan]] and [[Son Goten]]. Goku also thinks very little of his father, Bardock. Whenever he is brought up it seems as though he believes he was an evil malicious man like the rest of the Saiyans, not knowing that at the end of his life he cared deeply for his son. However, in the game, Budokai Tenkachi, there is an alternate ending to Bardock in which he sees Goku once again. Unfortunately Goku does not know who he is. Bardock was always on the go and hardly got to know his second son, Goku.
 
Toriyama's editor was initially against having Goku grow up, saying it was uncommon to have the protagonist drastically change in manga, however, he gave in when Toriyama threatened that he would not be able to continue the series if the character did not.<ref name="Shenlong1">{{cite journal |title=Shenlong Times 1 |script-work=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 1: COMPLETE ILLUSTRATIONS |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |year=1995| language=ja}}</ref> Toriyama later stated he had him grow up as a means to make drawing the fight scenes easier.<ref>{{cite book |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 超画集|language=ja|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|pages=224–225|year=2013|isbn=978-4-08-782520-6}}</ref>
===Dragon Ball===
[[Image:Kidgoku.jpg|thumb|200px|14-year old Kid Goku in the original [[Dragon Ball (original series)|Dragon Ball]] series.]]
In the original series Son Goku is first seen as a young boy living in the wilderness. He is seemingly normal except for ignorance of the world, his great strength, and his tail. In the original [[Dragon Ball (original series)|Dragon Ball]] series, he accompanies [[Bulma]] as they try to acquire the seven [[Dragon Ball (artifact)|Dragon Balls]]. Who ever collects them all will have one wish granted. During their initial quest Goku confronts [[Yamcha]] who at first challenges Goku, but is soon overcome and then joins him. Goku owns both the Kinto'un ([[Flying Nimbus]]) and the [[Nyoi-bo]] (Power Pole).
After the quest finishes, Goku begins to train with [[Muten-Rôshi]] (Master Roshi), and develops into one of the most powerful fighters on [[Dragon World|Earth]]. His fellow student [[Kuririn]] (Krillin) is a rival at first, but they soon become best friends.
 
{{multiple image
After the first [[Tenka'ichi Budôkai]] (World Martial Arts tournament) Goku participates in, he leaves once more in search of his grandfather's Four-Star Dragon Ball, the Sushinchu. Along the way he must confront the ruthless [[Red Ribbon Army]] who are also seeking the seven Dragon Balls and have no scruples with killing anyone — not even women or children — who get in their way. However, Goku manages to overpower the army numerous times and they are forced to call in the World's Deadliest Assassin, {{DB:LDBc|Tao Pai Pai}} (Mercenary Tao) to "take care of" him. But against all odds he manages to defeat the infamous hired killer and defeats the entire Red Ribbon Army.
| width =
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| image2 = Bruce Lee 1973.jpg
| alt2 =
|align=left
| width2 = 150
| footer = [[Jackie Chan]] and [[Bruce Lee]] (pictured) were major influences on Goku's character.
}}
 
When Toriyama thought up the [[Super Saiyan (Dragon Ball)|Super Saiyan]]{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||{{ruby|超|<small>スーパー</small>}}サイヤ人|Sūpā Saiya-jin|lit. "Super Saiya Person"}}}} concept during the [[Frieza]] arc, he felt the only way to show Goku's massive power-up was to have him transform. Initially he was concerned that the facial expression looked like that of a villain, but felt it was acceptable since the transformation was brought about by anger.<ref name="Animation2">{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|title=DRAGON BALL 大全集 5: TV ANIMATION PART 2 |year=1995 |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |pages=206–210 |isbn=4-08-782755-0}}</ref> The Super Saiyan form spared the trouble of coloring Goku's hair all the time for the standard black-and-white manga pages.<ref>''Dragon Ball: Super Exciting Guide'', 2009</ref> This was the reason for the Super Saiyan form having blonde hair, because it was easier to draw for Toriyama's assistant who spent a lot of time blacking in Goku's hair. Goku's piercing eyes in Super Saiyan form were inspired by Bruce Lee's paralyzing glare.<ref>{{cite news |title=Comic Legends: Why Did Goku's Hair Turn Blonde? |url=https://www.cbr.com/goku-dragon-ball-blonde/ |access-date=21 November 2019 |work=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=1 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719145451/https://www.cbr.com/goku-dragon-ball-blonde/ |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> For the ''[[Dragon Ball Z]]'' anime adaptation, character designer Tadayoshi Yamamuro used Lee as a reference, stating that, when he "first becomes a Super Saiyan, his slanting pose with that scowling look in his eyes is all Bruce Lee."<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Dragon Ball Back Then Vol. 2: Interview with “Dragon Ball Z” character designer Tadayoshi Yamamuro |title=Dragon Ball Anime Illustration: Kin'iro no Senshi |script-title=ja:(ドラゴンボール アニメイラスト集 「黄金の戦士」) |trans-title=Dragon Ball Anime Illustration Collection: The Golden Warrior |date=April 21, 2010 |publisher=Hōmusha |___location=Tōkyō |isbn=978-4834284133 |pages=50–1 |language=ja}}</ref>
Goku's next major opponent would be [[Tenshinhan]] (Tien), a warrior trained by Roshi's [[Wiktionary:nemesis|nemesis]], {{DB:LDBc|Tsuru-Sen'nin}} (Master Shen). Like Yamcha before him, Tenshinhan eventually sides with Goku.
 
''[[Dragon Ball GT]]'' chief character designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru said he agonized over designing Goku's Super Saiyan 4 appearance, which was the idea of the show's producers, questioning whether it was necessary to go further with the transformations. Because Super Saiyan 4 is brought about while in a Saiyan's ''Ōzaru''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Great Ape"|大猿|}}}} form, he made the hair more "wild" and covered Goku's body in red fur. There was only a single final draft of the character, although Nakatsuru did consider making the hair blonde, he ended up choosing black as it provides more contrast with the red fur.<ref name="GoldenWarrior">{{cite book |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL アニメイラスト集 「黄金の戦士」|year=2010|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|pages=78–79|language=ja|isbn=978-4-8342-8413-3}}</ref>
Right after the end of the 22nd Tenka'ichi Budôkai, [[Demon King Piccolo]], the evil half of [[Kami (Dragon Ball)|Kami]], appears, and after killing Kuririn, wants to destroy all martial artists on Earth to ensure his unchallenged rule. It's a difficult series of battles, but Goku eventually manages to defeat the demon and avenges Kuririn's death. Moments before Piccolo's death however, he manages to spit out an egg that contains his offspring, [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo Junior]].
[[Image:Crippled Goku.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Goku is badly injured by Piccolo's surprise attack.]]
 
During the plans of the final story arc of ''[[Dragon Ball Super]]'', it was decided that Goku should have another transformation: The Ultra Instinct. The concept was that the Ultra Instinct would be completely different from Goku's previous Super Saiyan transformations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dragonball.news/news/180309ar.html |script-title=ja:クライマックスを迎える『ドラゴンボール超』宇宙サバイバル編を作り出した職人たち|language=ja|access-date=March 10, 2018|date=March 9, 2018|publisher=Official Dragon Ball Website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417034558/https://dragonball.news/news/180309ar.html|archive-date=April 17, 2019|url-status=live |work=ドラゴンボールオフィシャルサイト }}</ref>
After the difficult battle with the Demon King, Goku decides to accept the grueling training of Kami, the Guardian of Earth. He trains for three long years after which he participates in the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budôkai. King Piccolo's offspring, [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo Junior]], much to the horror of everyone, also competes in the tournament. Piccolo proves to be a great rival for Goku, as he is determined to avenge his father.
 
===Voice actors===
After a long and very close battle, Piccolo becomes desperate to defeat Goku after nothing had seemed to work. He decides to use his [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Chobakuretsumaha|Chobakuretsumaha]] as a weapon to defeat Goku. After an enormous blast, Goku is left unaffected and Piccolo looks on in horror at his situation.
[[File:野沢雅子.png|right|thumb|upright|[[Masako Nozawa]] has been Goku's Japanese voice actress in every single piece of ''Dragon Ball'' media.]]
In the Japanese version of every ''Dragon Ball'' anime series and subsequent related media, Goku has been voiced by [[Masako Nozawa]]. Toriyama selected Nozawa upon hearing her audition sample, remarking that only Goku could sound like that.<ref>{{cite book|last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 3: TV ANIMATION PART 1|trans-title= Dragon Ball Great Complete Collection 3 TV Animation Part 1|series= Dragon Ball|date= September 10, 1995|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-782753-4|page= 202 |script-chapter=ja:鳥山明的超会見|trans-chapter= Akira Toriyama Super Interview}}</ref> Nozawa stated that she was ecstatic when she got the role because she had always wanted to be in one of Toriyama's works. She said she had to be mindful of the fact that Goku grew up in the mountains and did not know much of the world. Despite having to voice Goku, Gohan, [[Goten]] and [[Bardock (Dragon Ball)|Bardock]], Nozawa says she is able to instantly get into the respective character upon seeing their image.<ref name="Animation3">{{cite book|title=DRAGON BALL 大全集 補巻 TV ANIMATION PART 3|year=1996|publisher=[[Shueisha]]|pages=107–113|isbn=4-08-102019-1}}</ref>
 
Nozawa explained that she did not read the manga so that she would not know what was coming in the story until recording, making her reactions the same as Goku's.<ref name="Chozenshu 4">{{cite book|title=DRAGON BALL 超全集 4 超事典|year=2013|publisher=Shueisha|pages=340–345|isbn=978-4-08-782499-5}}</ref> Nozawa said that she liked young Goku with his tail because he was cute, and stated that the character was still the same even at the end of the series.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Jump Comics|title= Dragon Ball GT: Perfect File 2|date=December 1997|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language=ja|isbn= 4-08-874090-4}}</ref>
Goku then proceeds to pummel Piccolo badly, and after Piccolo collapses in pain, Goku blasts him with a powerful [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kamehameha|Kamehameha]] attack. Piccolo lies still, and it appears he is defeated. However Piccolo has only been deceiving Goku, and pretending that he has been vanquished. The countdown begins and just when it seems Goku has triumphed, Piccolo gains the advantage in a surprise [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kochikarakikouha|Kochikarakikouha]] (a blast from the mouth) attack and cripples Goku through his right ribcage, and then Piccolo proceeds to destroy Goku's body piece by piece, by breaking his leg, burning his arm, and attacking Goku's wound thus rendering Goku immobile.
 
In the numerous English versions, Goku has been played by different actors because different companies produced the dubs, by reason of changes of [[automated dialogue replacement]] companies and recording studios, or due to actors quitting:
Piccolo then rises to the sky above and uses his very powerful [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Bakurikimaha|Bakurikimaha]] (a charged energy blast) attack as a final weapon to destroy Goku, however Goku manages to avoid it and defeats Piccolo in a surprise attack of his own by smashing headfirst into Piccolo's midsection, making Goku the champion of the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budôkai.
 
*In [[Harmony Gold USA|Harmony Gold]]'s very brief dub of the original ''[[Dragon Ball (anime)|Dragon Ball]]'' series, along with the movies ''[[Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies|Curse of the Blood Rubies]]'' and ''[[Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure|Mystical Adventure]]'', Goku{{refn|group=nb|In this dub Goku was renamed "Zero".}} was voiced by [[Barbara Goodson]].<ref name="Kid Goku at BTVA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Son-Goku-Kid/ |title=Son Goku (Kid) Voices (Dragon Ball) - Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206071336/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Goku-Son-Kid |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the end of the original Dragon Ball series, the newly engaged Goku journeys off with Chi Chi on several adventures, and at the end of the series they marry, bringing Dragon Ball to its conclusion.
*In [[Funimation]]'s initial dub of the anime, Goku was voiced by [[Saffron Henderson]] in the first 13 episodes of the original ''Dragon Ball'' series (produced in association with BLT Productions) and the movie ''Curse of the Blood Rubies'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with Saffron Henderson.|url=http://www.myfavoritegames.com/dragonball-z/Info/Interviews/Interviews-SaffronHenderson.htm/|website=www.myfavoritegames.com|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220170309/http://www.myfavoritegames.com/dragonball-z/info/interviews/interviews-saffronhenderson.htm|archive-date=December 20, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Kid Goku at BTVA"/> and by [[Ian James Corlett]] and [[Peter Kelamis]] in the first 67 episodes of ''[[Dragon Ball Z]]'' (edited into 53 episodes, produced in association with [[Saban Entertainment|Saban]] and [[Ocean Productions]]) and the movies ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone|Dead Zone]]'', ''[[Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest|The World's Strongest]]'', and ''[[Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might|The Tree of Might]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=DBZ Uncensored: Interview With Ian Corlett|url=http://dbzu.3gkai.com/opinions/icorlett.html|website=dbzu.3gkai.com|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315234805/http://dbzu.3gkai.com/opinions/icorlett.html|archive-date=March 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=DBZ Uncensored: Interview With Peter Kelamis|url=http://dbzu.3gkai.com/opinions/pkelamis.html|website=dbzu.3gkai.com|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218235042/http://dbzu.3gkai.com/opinions/pkelamis.html|archive-date=February 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Adult Goku at BTVA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Son-Goku-Kakarot/ |title=Son Goku / Kakarot Voices (Dragon Ball) - Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208140038/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Goku-Son-Kakarot |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*In [[Funimation]]'s in-house dub, Goku as an adult has been consistently voiced by [[Sean Schemmel]] throughout the entire ''Dragon Ball'' franchise,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-04-24/kyle-herbert-sean-schemmel-returning-in-dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga-dub|title=Kyle Herbert, Sean Schemmel Returning in Dragon Ball Z Kai Buu Saga Dub|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 14, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731010433/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-04-24/kyle-herbert-sean-schemmel-returning-in-dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga-dub|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2015-05-28/stars-behind-dragon-ball-z-christopher-r-sabat-sean-schemmel-to-appear-at-otakon-2015/.88661|title=Stars behind Dragon Ball Z, Christopher R. Sabat, Sean Schemmel to Appear at Otakon 2015|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 14, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730023521/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2015-05-28/stars-behind-dragon-ball-z-christopher-r-sabat-sean-schemmel-to-appear-at-otakon-2015/.88661|archive-date=July 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Adult Goku at BTVA"/> while Kid Goku was voiced by [[Ceyli Delgadillo]] in the movies ''[[Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle|Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle]]'' and ''Mystical Adventure'',<ref name="Kid Goku at BTVA"/> by [[Stephanie Nadolny]] in the original ''Dragon Ball'' series, ''[[Dragon Ball GT]]'', ''[[Dragon Ball Daima]]'', the movie ''[[Dragon Ball: The Path to Power|The Path to Power]]'', and various video games,<ref name=":0">{{cite episode|title=The Secret of the Dragon Balls|series=Dragon Ball Vol 1|number=1|time=Closing credits, English Language Cast|publisher=Funimation|medium=DVD}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball/dvd-season-2|title=Dragon Ball DVD Season 2 Uncut Set|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 14, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711082231/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball/dvd-season-2|archive-date=July 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kid Goku at BTVA"/> and by [[Colleen Clinkenbeard]] in ''[[Dragon Ball Z#Dragon Ball Z Kai|Dragon Ball Z Kai]]'', ''[[Dragon Ball Super]]'', the movies ''Curse of the Blood Rubies'', ''[[Dragon Ball Super: Broly|Broly]]'', and ''[[Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero|Super Hero]]'', and various video games.<ref name="Kid Goku at BTVA"/>
*In [[AB Groupe]]'s dub of the anime produced for Canadian and European broadcast (initially also in association with Ocean Productions and later with [[Blue Water Studios]]), Goku was voiced by Peter Kelamis again and later by [[Kirby Morrow]] in episodes 123-291 of ''Dragon Ball Z'',<ref name="Adult Goku at BTVA"/> by Zoe Slusar as a child in both ''Dragon Ball'' and ''Dragon Ball GT'',<ref name="Kid Goku at BTVA"/> by Jeffrey Watson as an older teen in ''Dragon Ball'',<ref name="Adult Goku at BTVA"/> and by Jeremiah Yurk as an adult and Super Saiyan 4 in ''GT''.<ref name="Adult Goku at BTVA"/>
*In [[Bang Zoom! Entertainment|Bang Zoom]]'s dub of the first 27 episodes of ''Dragon Ball Super'' produced for [[Toonami|Toonami Asia]]'s broadcast, Goku was voiced by [[Lex Lang]] as an adult and [[Philece Sampler]] as a child.<ref name="Adult Goku at BTVA"/><ref name="Kid Goku at BTVA"/>
 
===Dragon Ball Z=Appearances==
===In ''Dragon Ball''===
[[Image:GokuForms.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Son Goku in many of his forms throughout Dragon Ball Z]]
[[File:Weekly Shōnen Jump No. 51 (Dec. 1984) is the first appearance of Goku. Cover art by Akira Toriyama.jpg|thumb|upright|The cover of Weekly Shōnen Jump No. 51, 1984 featuring Goku and [[Bulma]] in their first appearances]]
Goku first appears in ''Dragon Ball'' as a monkey-tailed child adopted by the hermit martial artist [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Grandpa Gohan|Gohan]]. Before the series' narrative begins, he accidentally and unknowingly kills Gohan when he temporarily transforms into the mighty ''Ōzaru'' after staring at a full moon. Goku loses the ability when his friends cut off his tail.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:ドラゴンボール危機一髪|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 2|date= January 15, 1986|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851832-2|script-chapter=ja:22 悟空の大変身}}</ref>
 
Living alone with an item known as a Dragon Ball which he keeps as a memento of Gohan, Goku befriends a teenage girl named [[Bulma]]. He joins her to find the seven Dragon Balls, which, when gathered, summon the wish-granting dragon [[Shenlong (Dragon Ball)|Shenron]]. They encounter the desert bandit [[Yamcha]] and two [[Shapeshifting|shapeshifters]] named [[Oolong (Dragon Ball)|Oolong]] and [[Pu'ar|Puar]], who join their quest. Goku is later trained by the martial artist [[Master Roshi]], alongside a monk named [[Krillin]], who later becomes his best friend. It is Roshi who gives Goku the magic cloud ''Kinto'un''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Somersault Cloud"|筋斗雲|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "Flying Nimbus" in Funimation's dub.}}, as a reward for saving his pet sea turtle, which becomes Goku's primary source of flight travel across the world.
====Saiyan Saga====
At the start of the [[Dragon Ball Z]] series, Goku built a family with his wife Chi-Chi, and their son, Son Gohan. New threats soon arrive as [[Raditz]], Goku's previously unknown brother, arrives from outer space. Raditz reveals to Goku his Saiyan heritage, and informs him that he was originally sent to [[Dragon World|Earth]] to destroy the planet (however, he apparently bumped his head, got amnesia, and lost all knowledge of his Saiyan warrior heritage, thus giving him a good-hearted personality). When Goku refuses to carry out his forgotten mission, Raditz quickly defeats him and kidnaps Gohan in an attempt to convince him otherwise.
 
Goku's first shown martial arts attack as a child is ''Jan ken''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Jan Fist"|ジャン拳|}}}}, three physical blows modeled after the hand signs in [[rock-paper-scissors]].<ref>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:孫悟空と仲間たち|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 2|date= September 10, 1985|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851831-4|script-chapter=ja:8 ヤムチャおそるべし!!}}</ref> As a child, he wields the ''[[Nyoi-bō]]''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Mind Stick"|如意棒|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "Power Pole" in Funimation's dub.}}, a magic staff that extends and retracts on command, given to him by his grandfather.<ref name="firstsj">{{Cite comic |cartoonist = [[Akira Toriyama|Toriyama, Akira]]|story = ブルマと孫悟空|volume= 17|title = Weekly Shonen Jump|issue = 51|date = December 3, 1984 |publisher = [[Shueisha]]|___location = Japan|page = 2}}</ref>
To defeat Raditz and save the earth, Goku and [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo]] must join forces. Even with their combined strength though, Raditz still holds the upper hand, until Goku makes the ultimate sacrifice by holding Raditz in place so Piccolo can kill them both.
 
Goku's signature attack is the ''Kamehameha'' (named after King [[Kamehameha I]] of [[Hawai'i]]), which he learned from Roshi.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:ドラゴンボール危機一髪|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 2|date= January 15, 1986|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851832-2|script-chapter=ja:13 亀仙人のかめはめ波!!}}</ref> The ''Kamehameha'' is a concentration of [[Qi|energy]], released as a concussive beam. Roshi spent about 50 years developing and perfecting the technique, but, as a child, Goku is able to understand and copy the technique immediately after only one demonstration. After training with the Earth's Guardian, [[Kami (Dragon Ball)|Kami]], Goku learns to fly by virtue of the technique ''Bukū-jutsu''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Air Dance Technique"|舞空術|}}}} and uses the Nimbus cloud less frequently for flight travel.
In [[Heaven]], Goku learns that more powerful Saiyans were destined to arrive on the Earth in a year, and makes his way along [[Snake Way]] to the planet of [[North Kaiô]] (King Kai) for additional training. He masters several new techniques and increases his strength considerably. His friends on Earth manage to wish him back to life using the seven [[Dragon Ball (artifact)|Dragon Balls]] just in time for him to join the battle against the Saiyans, which was already underway and going badly for the defenders of Earth.
 
While participating in the World Martial Arts Tournament that attracts the most powerful fighters in the world, Goku battles foes, later turned allies, such as [[Tien Shinhan]] and [[Chiaotzu]], as well as the Namekian [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo]]. After becoming the runner-up champion of the 21st and 22nd tournaments, Goku wins in the 23rd with Piccolo's defeat, and marries [[Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)|Chi-Chi]] soon after to fulfill a promise he made to her years ago despite not knowing what marriage was.
By now, most of the [[Z Fighters]] are gone, as Yamcha, [[Tenshinhan]] (Tien), Piccolo and [[Chaozu]] (Chiaotzu) all died due to the actions of the vicious Saiyan, {{DB:LDBc|Nappa}}. Goku has become powerful enough to defeat Nappa without much difficulty, but is pushed to his limits by the strength of [[Vegeta]]. Vegeta is far stronger than Goku who is only able to keep up and eventually overcome him via the [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kaiô-ken|Kaiô-ken]] technique and the timely intervention of his remaining companions [[Kuririn]] (Krillin) and [[Son Gohan]]. After the fight Kuririn attempts to take Vegeta's life but is stopped by Goku who convinces him to spare his life and hopes he can have a rematch one day. He also believes that by giving Vegeta a second chance he'll possibly become good and change his evil ways.
 
[[File:Three Super Saiyan Stages of Son Goku.PNG|175px|thumb|left|From left to right: Goku in his base, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, and Super Saiyan 3 forms]]
====Namek Saga====
Five years later, Goku meets his evil older brother [[Raditz]] and learns about his heritage.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:かつてない恐怖|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 17|date= May 15, 1989|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851614-1|chapter= 195-204}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:孫悟空とピッコロ大魔王|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 18|date= July 15, 1989|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851615-X|script-chapter=ja:205 あの世でファイト!!}}</ref> Goku comes from a race of nearly extinct extraterrestrials called Saiyans, himself having been sent from their home planet to prepare Earth for sale on the intergalactic market by destroying all its life (at least according to Raditz, who was absent at the time of his planet's destruction, when Goku was sent to Earth as an infant by Bardock and Gine to protect their son from [[Frieza]]).<ref name=a>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|title= Doragon boru daizenshu|author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 7: DRAGON BALL 大事典|series= Dragon Ball|date= February 25, 1996|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-782756-9}}</ref> While Grandpa Gohan was taking care of him, Goku accidentally fell into a deep ravine and suffered a severe head injury, which caused him to forget his mission and drastically altered his personality.<ref name=a/>
[[Kuririn]] (Krillin), Son Gohan, and [[Bulma]] then head to [[Planet Namek]] to use the Namekian Dragon Balls to wish their friends back to life. On his way to join his friends, Goku trains under 100x [[Dragon World|Earth]]'s gravity to further boost his power.
 
After Raditz kidnaps Goku's son [[Gohan]], he forms a truce with Piccolo in order to defeat Raditz. After sacrificing his life during the battle, Goku trains with [[King Kai]] in the Other World. He teaches Goku the ''Kaiō-ken''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"World King Fist"|界王拳|}}}}, which multiplies his energy and strength but with possible strain to the body.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:いそげ!孫悟空|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 19|date= November 15, 1989|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851616-8|script-chapter=ja:224 孫悟空の静かな怒り}}</ref> It is from King Kai that Goku learns his most powerful attack: the ''Genki-Dama''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Energy Sphere"|元気玉|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "Spirit Bomb" in Funimation's dub.}}, an energy sphere created by gathering energy from surrounding animals, nature and humans.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|script-title=ja:孫悟空とピッコロ大魔王|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 18|date= July 15, 1989|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851615-X|script-chapter=ja:211 界王さまと、がんばる死人孫悟空!}}</ref>
Once again Goku enters the battle already in progress, this time saving Son Gohan, Kuririn, and [[Vegeta]] from the assault of Frieza's [[Ginyu Force]]. He is taken by surprise by their leader [[Captain Ginyu]] who has the ability to switch bodies with anyone he sees fit. Critically injuring himself, Ginyu then swaps bodies with the more powerful Goku. Goku manages to get his body back after intercepting a beam sent by Ginyu to swap bodies with Vegeta after being pummeled by the [[Z Fighters]].
 
After being revived by the Dragon Balls, Goku faces off with the Saiyan prince [[Vegeta]], who eventually becomes his greatest rival and another ally. On his journey to Planet Namek in order to aid his friends in gathering the Namekian Dragon Balls to revive those killed by the Saiyans, Goku fights the galactic tyrant [[Frieza]], who destroyed the Saiyans' home planet and nearly the entire race. During his epic battle with Frieza, Goku becomes the first Saiyan in a thousand years to transform into a fabled Super Saiyan.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:伝説の超サイヤ人|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 27|date= August 12, 1991|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851417-3|script-chapter=ja:318 伝説の超サイヤ人}}<!. --></ref>
Goku then undergoes a recovery process inside Frieza's spaceship, emerging again to join another fight in progress, where Vegeta meets his doom against Frieza. The battle against Frieza is furious, as he seems to be invincible. Even Goku's most powerful attack, the [[Genki Dama]] (Spirit Bomb), fails to bring him down. However, when Frieza kills Kuririn and critically injures Piccolo, Goku, in anger, taps into his inner power reserves and, enraged, transforms into a legendary [[Super Saiyan]]. He eventually defeats the merciless Frieza just before Namek explodes. His friends, who were teleported to Earth, believe him to be dead.
 
After defeating Frieza and escaping the destruction of Namek, Goku learns a [[teleportation]] skill called ''Shunkan Idō''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Instantaneous Movement"|瞬間移動|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "Instant Transmission" in Funimation's dub.}}, taught by the inhabitants of the planet Yardrat.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:未来から来た少年|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 28|date= November 15, 1991|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851418-1|script-chapter=ja:336 3年後の賭け}}</ref> Goku contracts a heart virus whereof the time-traveler [[Trunks (Dragon Ball)|Trunks]] warns him, but recovers after taking medicine provided by Trunks. Goku trains Gohan to be his successor and sacrifices himself again during the battle against the evil bio-android [[Cell (Dragon Ball)|Cell]]. Goku is temporarily resurrected on Earth seven years later and meets his second son [[Goten]].<ref name="Shueisha">{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:バイバイ ドラゴンワールド|series= Dragon Ball|year= 1995|volume= 26|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851090-9|script-chapter=ja:503 孫悟空最後の合体!!}}</ref>
====Android Saga====
When Goku returns to [[Dragon World|Earth]], he is confronted by [[Mirai Trunks|Trunks]], a half-Saiyan son of [[Vegeta]] and [[Bulma]] from the future, who tests his strength in battle. Satisfied, Trunks gives Goku medicine for a heart disease that he will contract later and warns him about two [[Android (Dragon Ball)|Androids]] that will threaten the Earth in three years. Goku trains himself for this new threat during this time span.
 
Goku battles Vegeta again after Vegeta willingly falls under the control of the wizard [[Babidi]] in order to gain power. Shortly after, he is drawn into a battle for the universe against the monster [[Majin Buu]]. Despite having mastered two new Super Saiyan transformations, Goku prepares Goten and Trunks to take his place as Earth's defender. After his life is fully restored, Goku attempts to fuse with Gohan in order to defeat Buu, but this fails when the latter is temporarily absorbed by Buu and so he persuades the newly arrived Vegeta to fuse with him, creating Vegito.{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||ベジット|Bejitto|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|"Vegerot" in [[Viz Media]]'s manga translation.}}<ref name="Shueisha"/> Later when the Fusion technique is abandoned on both sides, Goku destroys Buu with a Spirit Bomb attack. Ten years later, during another World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku meets [[Uub (Dragon Ball)|Uub]], Buu's human reincarnation, and leaves with him, intending to train him as the new protector of Earth.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Even Stronger!! Goku's Dream is Super-Huge|airdate=January 31, 1996|number=291|series=Dragon Ball Z}}</ref>
On the initial assault with the Androids, Goku is bested by Android 19 when he begins to drastically weaken from the heart disease he was warned of. However, Vegeta manages to save him. Goku then spends the rest of the fight against the Androids recovering from the disease.
 
===In ''Dragon Ball Super''===
[[Image:Point_Blank_Kamehameha_after_Instant_Transmission.jpg|frame|Cell, who's about to be hit by point blank Kamehameha, just after Goku teleported in front of him ('''Instant Transmission Kamehameha''', or dubbed the '''Warp Kamehameha''' in video games).]]
After defeating Majin Buu, Goku meets a new opponent known as [[Beerus]], the God of Destruction in the film ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods|Battle of Gods]]''. An alternative, more innately powerful form known as the Super Saiyan God{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||{{ruby|超|<small>スーパー</small>}}サイヤ人ゴッド|Sūpā Saiya-jin Goddo}}}} is reached by Goku during this film. Though the temporary transformation wears off, Goku manages to harness its godly powers. In its sequel film ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'|Resurrection 'F']]'', Goku manages to achieve a blue-haired evolution of Super Saiyan God under [[Whis]]'s tutelage, known as the Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||{{ruby|超|<small>スーパー</small>}}サイヤ人ゴッド{{ruby|SS|<small>スーパーサイヤ人</small>}}|Sūpā Saiya-jin Goddo Sūpā Saiya-jin}}}}, or "Super Saiyan Blue" for short, which Goku uses to battle the newly revived Frieza.<ref>{{cite web|title=Goku's New Super Saiyan God Form Revealed for DBZ: Resurrection 'F' Film|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-09/goku-new-super-saiyan-god-form-revealed-for-dbz-resurrection-f-film/.86933|website=Anime News Network|date=April 9, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504060756/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-09/goku-new-super-saiyan-god-form-revealed-for-dbz-resurrection-f-film/.86933|archive-date=May 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> These forms appear in ''[[Dragon Ball Super]]'' and its manga tie-in, which expand upon the stories from the two films.
 
Afterwards, Goku and his friends participate in a fighting tournament set between Beerus and his brother Champa, who is Universe 6's God of Destruction, facing the best warriors from Champa's universe. During this tournament, Goku reveals that he has learned to combine the perfect energy control of his Super Saiyan Blue form with his older technique, the ''Kaiō-ken''. After meeting with the omnipotent being known as Grand Zeno, Goku encounters an evil alternate version of himself called "Goku Black", who is terrorizing Future Trunks' timeline. Black is eventually revealed to be a rogue Supreme Kai in training named [[Zamasu]], who has stolen Goku's body from yet another alternate timeline and teamed up with the Zamasu of Future Trunks' timeline to fulfill their "Zero Mortals Plan". After Zamasu and Black become even more dangerous by undergoing Potara Fusion during the battle in Future Trunks' timeline, Goku ultimately summons the future version of Grand Zeno who erases Zamasu.
When [[Cell (Dragon Ball)|Cell]] absorbs [[Android 17]] and transforms into his second stage, Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and Trunks go into the [[Hyperbolic Time Chamber]] to obtain a year of training under heavy gravity in one day. Vegeta and Future Trunks come out first and easily best Cell in his second form, merely toying with him. Vegeta, being blinded by his inflated ego as always and yearning for a greater challenge, decides to allow Cell to absorb Android 18 and achieve his Perfect stage, causing a massive dispute. As this eventually happens, both Vegeta and Future Trunks quickly realize that they cannot hold their ground against the perfected Cell. After Goku and Gohan finished their training, they "[[Meditation|meditated]]" their power by staying as [[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan.2C Distinction|Super Saiyans]] for 10 days straight. On the battlefield, Goku finds himself almost equally matched by Cell in every other way, but cannot gain any upper hand, being slightly edged out. He decides to let Gohan, who is only 11-years-old at that time and possessed a profound power deep inside that's kindled by anger, greater than even Goku's power himself, fight in his place.
 
Goku causes the Zenos to decide to hold a multi-universal martial arts tournament with the losing universes wiped from existence; the Tournament of Power{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|力ちからの大会たいかい|Chikara no Taikai}}}}.<ref>{{cite episode|title=You're The Tenth Warrior! Goku Goes To See Freeza!!|series=Dragon Ball Super|number=93|airdate=June 4, 2017}}</ref> Throughout the tournament, Goku faces multiple opponents but finds his toughest in Jiren. It is during his fights with Jiren that Goku acquires a temporary transformed state using a divine technique known as ''Migatte no Goku'i''.{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Secret of the Self-Centered"|身勝手みがっての極意ごくい}}}}{{refn|group=nb|referred to as "Ultra Instinct" in most English media}} Ultimately, Goku and Frieza manage to work together to force Jiren out of bounds in a triple elimination, leaving [[Android 17]] as the winner who uses his wish on the Super Dragon Balls to restore the erased universes.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Miraculous Conclusion! Farewell, Goku! Until We Meet Again!|series=Dragon Ball Super|number=131|airdate=March 25, 2018}}</ref>
Gohan does very well against Cell once being provoked into transforming to the form of Super Saiyan 2, but he did not put Cell away when he had the chance. Goku is forced to step in with his "Instant Transmission" technique when Cell triggers his self-destruction to save the earth by teleporting them both to [[North Kaiô|King Kai]]'s planet using his [[Shunkan Ido|Instant Transmission]] ability. He motivates Gohan from beyond to help fuel Gohan's [[Kamehameha (Dragon Ball)|Kamehameha]] attack against the reconstructed Cell, which successfully obliterates him.
 
Goku's [[origin story]] from the ''Dragon Ball Minus'' manga chapter is retold in the film ''[[Dragon Ball Super: Broly]]''. His birth parents are [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Bardock|Bardock]], a low-class Saiyan mercenary, and Gine, the owner of a butcher shop. Bardock has a strong suspicion that Frieza is up to something when he receives an order on his scouter for all Saiyans to return home, so he convinces Gine to send their infant son in a space pod to Earth. In the present, following the events of the Tournament of Power, Goku and Vegeta encounter another Saiyan survivor named [[Broly]], whom Frieza has recruited to defeat them. When Broly proves to be too powerful for either of them to handle individually, Goku and Vegeta use the Metamoran Fusion Dance, which creates Gogeta.{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||ゴジータ|Gojīta}}}} Gogeta almost defeats his opponent, but Broly's allies teleport him back to the barren planet he grew up on. Goku teleports to this planet as well to provide Broly and his two friends with survival supplies, hoping to be able to spar with Broly again someday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/first-look-at-the-dragon-ball-super-movie-reveals-the-best-is-yet-to-come-67.html |title=FIRST LOOK AT THE 'DRAGON BALL SUPER' MOVIE REVEALS THE BEST IS YET TO COME |access-date=January 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204145505/http://www.toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/first-look-at-the-dragon-ball-super-movie-reveals-the-best-is-yet-to-come-67.html |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Buu Saga====
In the afterlife, Goku spends a few years in the [[Other World]] training and learning. He meets new friends from other quadrants of the universe who are formidable opponents in battle. With their training his strength and fighting ability increases substantially. On the day of another [[Tenka'ichi Budôkai]], Goku is given special permission to return to [[Dragon World|Earth]] for one day to participate in it. It is soon interrupted when [[Videl]], Gohan's girlfriend from his high school, loses to the supposed weaklings {{DB:LDBc|Spopovitch}} and {{DB:LDBc|Yamu}}, who are controlled by the evil wizard [[Babidi]].
 
In the manga, directly after the final scene of ''Broly'', Goku and Vegeta meet Galactic Patrol by Jaco and a mysteriously highly skilled agent named Merus in order to help stop an ancient warlock called Moro. With Moro headed to New Namek to use the Namekian Dragon Balls, the two Saiyans travel to the planet to stop him, where they are defeated by him using his magic to drain their life essences until near death. Once recovered, they attempt to go after Moro again, but he escapes from them, Merus and (the also conscripted) Majin Buu with the help of his accomplice Cranberry (who he kills) in order to wish upon the Dragon Balls to free all the Galactic Prison prisoners. After a few days, Goku hears from Merus that Moro has grown even stronger and is unstoppable. This leads to Goku asking Merus to help train him to master the ''Ultra Instinct'' technique so he can defeat Moro. Goku helps his friends take out Moro's forces before he comes face-to-face with Moro again. When Moro fuses with Seven-Three, he and his allies are soundly defeated and mortally wounded. Goku achieves the full power of "Ultra Instinct" once more, which he uses to debilitate Moro to near-death. Even after healing him with a Senzu bean, he is unfazed by his ensuing sneak attack, unsuccessfully attempting to convince him to reconsider his ways and go back to prison, and him using a stray severed arm with Merus's copied power to obtain ''Ultra Instinct'' for himself, Goku continuously outmatches Moro. Ultimately, with the help of his friends and family, along with key assistance from Buu/Grand Supreme Kai and Uub unknowingly contributing divine power, Goku manages to finish off Moro and save the Earth once more.<ref>{{cite book | last = Toriyama| first = Akira| author-link = Akira Toriyama|title = Dragon Ball Super|publisher = [[Viz Media]]| year = 2020 | volume = 15 | isbn = 978-1-9747-2517-5|chapter=Chapter 66}}</ref> He, Vegeta, Buu and Jaco then reunite with a now-mortal Merus to be honoured as heroes by the Galactic Patrol.
[[List of Dragon Ball characters#Kaioshin.2C East|Supreme Kai]] and his assistant, {{DB:LDBc|Kibito}}, introduced them and informed the [[Z Fighters]] about the plans of Babidi to bring back his extremely evil monster puppet by the name of [[Buu|Majin Buu]]. The Z Warriors follow Spopovitch to Babidi's ship. When they enter Babidi's ship, they must fight his henchman, [[Dabura]] King of the Demons, who can turn people into stone with his saliva.
 
Much later, Goku and Vegeta are contacted by a group of beings called the Heeters, on a seemingly imperative mission to defeat a surviving member of the now-extinct sharpshooting Cerealean race; Granolah. Blinded by his desire for revenge, Granolah confronts Goku and defeats him, as Goku's ''Ultra Instinct'' turns out to be taxing to his body and loses its accuracy as he keeps fighting. The fight is later revealed to be a ruse by the Heeters to eliminate Granolah and the Saiyans from the Heeters' plot to assassinate Frieza and achieve universal conquest. He is later rescued by the last Namekian on the planet Cereal, Monaito, who hides them in his home after a disastrous battle with the Heeter warrior Gas, who wishes absolute power using the planet's Dragon Balls. Monaito reveals the identity of his father, Bardock, and the story of his actions in keeping him and the young Granolah safe from the Heeters a long time ago. Moved by the story, Goku and Vegeta finally find resolve about the meaning of the Saiyan race's pride, and later confront Gas for a second round. Goku stalls him by teleporting across random locations within the cosmos via ''Shunkan Idō'' with Gas tailing him, in an effort to give Granolah time to regain his power. Remembering Whis' advice about finding one's true and personal ''Ultra Instinct'', Goku later molds his own version of the technique, using his emotions as freely as he pleases.<ref>{{cite book | last = Toriyama| first = Akira| author-link = Akira Toriyama|title = Dragon Ball Super|publisher = [[Viz Media]]| year = 2022 | volume = 20 | isbn = 978-1-9747-4360-5 |chapter=Chapter 74}}</ref> Despite this, he and Vegeta are ultimately bested, even after Granolah inflicted his deadliest sniping shot towards the villain with Goku's assistance, but are saved by Frieza's unexpected arrival. Frieza kills Gas and Elec, the Heeter leader and mastermind of the coup, in swift succession, before unveiling a new transformation and demonstrating his new powers by knocking Goku and Vegeta out of their empowered forms in one quick strike. He spares the duo before making his leave.
After [[Vegeta]] is returned to his evil ways by Babidi (who used his magic to exploit and expand the evil in Vegeta's heart), Goku was forced to fight Vegeta both as [[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan 2|Super Saiyan 2]] in a long-awaited battle. Goku stops the fight when he knows that Majin Buu (this is the first form you see, Fat Buu) has been released and pleads with Vegeta to help him defeat Buu. In a false show of agreement Vegeta knocks Goku out of commission and flies off to face Buu himself. During the battle Vegeta could not harm Buu, and in one astonishing show of power, Vegeta self-destructs in an effort to bring Buu down with him. It was to no avail as bits of Buu simply regroup and he is as good as new.
 
In the film ''[[Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero]]'', Goku does not play the role of protagonist, as he and Vegeta train on Beerus' ___domain, accompanied by newcomer Broly,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dragon-ball-super-super-hero-broly-new-art-anime-movie/|title=Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Reveals Closer Look at Broly With New Art|date=February 19, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2024}}</ref> and his companions from the previous film. He spars with Vegeta without any transformations or ''ki'' techniques except for flight. Back on Earth, Piccolo is forced to deal with the reinvigorated [[Red Ribbon Army]] with Gohan as his only best defense for Earth against the army's threat, as Bulma is unable to contact Goku and Vegeta because Beerus' ice cream container accidentally obstructed Whis' angelic staff. In the post-credits scene, tired and exhausted, Goku falls down from Vegeta's weak last punch, admitting defeat as his rival celebrates his triumph.
Upon awakening, Goku could sense neither Vegeta nor Gohan anywhere and comes to the conclusion that they are dead. He heads to [[Kami's Lookout]] and is healed by [[Dende]]. After transporting everyone to the Lookout he tells the bad news to them. With the little time he has left on Earth, he decides to teach [[Chibi Trunks|Trunks]] and Goten the art of [[Fusion (Dragon Ball)|fusion]] he learned while in Other World so they may form one being to stand a chance against Buu.
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:SSJ3_Goku.jpg|frame|Goku, much to everyone's surprise, displays the incredible new Super Saiyan 3 transformation he has undergone.]] -->
When Buu is about to cause more destruction, Goku decides to interrupt him while allowing Trunks to head into West City and retrieve the Dragon Radar before it is destroyed along with everything else by Buu. He tells Buu that in two days he will have a strong opponent to fight. Then Goku shows him and everyone (via Babidi's telepathy) the incredible power of the new [[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan 3|Super Saiyan 3]] form. Goku then engages in a fight with Fat Buu, who matches him blow for blow, and even at times overpowering him. He later states, that he probably could have won, but that he wanted to leave it in the hands of Gohan, Vegeta, Trunks, and Goten because he will not be there forever, and that they need to have a shot at saving the universe instead of a dead fighter. Unfortunately, the action of sustaining Super Saiyan 3 shortens Goku's time on Earth and he is forced to return to [[Heaven]]. Later, after Goku returns to the afterlife, Fat Buu befriends [[Mr. Satan]], and a puppy named {{DB:LDBc|Bee}}. When Bee is shot, and Mr. Satan is nearly killed, Buu becomes very angry, to the point that the evil leaves his body through the [[steam]] coming from his head. The evil then forms into another Buu, Thin Buu. The now pure good Buu, Mr. Buu, looks just like Fat Buu, but is actually a separate form. Fat Buu's power was cut in two, and Thin Buu took the bulk of it. He essentially turns Mr. Buu into chocolate, and eats him. He then undergoes another transformation, and Evil Buu is born, the perfect balance between the two. His power shoots up exponentially.
 
===In other media===
Once Goku has returned to Heaven, he learns that his son, Gohan, is not dead, but in fact training with the East Kaioshin on the Kaioshin Kai teleporting there only to just miss having his head removed by Gohan practicing with the [[The Z Sword|Z Sword]]. Gohan has been training with the legendary Z Sword and to test its strength, the East Kaioshin summons a block of the densest metal in the universe as testing material. Goku throws the cube at Gohan, expecting the Z Sword to slice the block in half. Instead the sword snaps in half and from it emerges {{DB:LDBc|Rou Dai Kaiôshin}} (''Elder Grand Supreme Kai'' or just the ''Elder Kai''). He tells them that he will fully unlock Gohan's potential in a ritual. Through a crystal globe Goku watches the fight between Super Saiyan 3 [[Gotenks]] and Buu with much anticipation. As Gotenks is about to finish Buu, after a lengthy battle, he defuses. Gohan then arrives and Buu escapes until Goten and Trunks can fuse again, he then absorbs Gotenks, gaining the upper hand.
In the anime-only sequel series ''[[Dragon Ball GT]]'', Goku is transformed back into a child by an accidental wish made by his old enemy [[Pilaf (Dragon Ball)|Pilaf]] using the Black Star Dragon Balls while Pilaf was about to wish to take over the world.<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Mysterious Dragon Balls Activate!! Goku Becomes A Child!?|airdate=February 7, 1996|number=1|series=Dragon Ball GT}}</ref> Goku, Trunks and his own granddaughter [[Pan (Dragon Ball)|Pan]] travel the universe to search for the Black Star Dragon Balls and return them to Earth to prevent its destruction. After acquiring the Super Saiyan 4 transformation, Goku battles the evil Tuffle [[Baby (Dragon Ball)|Baby]], [[Android 17|Super Android 17]], and the evil Shadow Dragons. His final challenge is against [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Shadow Dragons|Omega Shenron]], whom he destroys using the Spirit Bomb.<ref>{{cite episode|title=A Miraculous Come-From-Behind Victory!! Goku Saves The Universe|airdate=November 12, 1997|number=63|series=Dragon Ball GT}}</ref> Goku leaves with the original form of Shenron, but not before saying his goodbyes to his friends on Earth. He appears 100 years later at the next World Martial Arts Tournament as an adult, where he watches a battle between Goku Jr., his descendant, and Vegeta Jr., Vegeta's descendant. An elderly Pan sees him, but he quickly departs.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Goodbye, Goku... 'Til the Day We Meet Again|airdate=November 19, 1997|number=64|series=Dragon Ball GT}}</ref>
 
Goku has appeared in various other media including an unofficial Taiwanese live-action film<ref>{{cite AV media notes |script-title=zh:新七龍珠 神龍的傳說|title-link= Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins|type= Credits|publisher= Tai Seng|date= June 27, 2000|language= zh}}</ref> and an unofficial Korean live-action film.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |script-title=ko:드래곤볼 싸워라 손오공 이겨라 손오공|title-link= Dragon Ball (1990 film)|type= Credits|year= 1990|language= ko}}</ref> He was portrayed by [[Justin Chatwin]] in the 2009 [[20th Century Fox]] feature ''[[Dragonball Evolution]]''.<ref name=itsofficial>{{cite magazine|author = Tatiana Siegel|title = 'Dragonball' comes to bigscreen|magazine = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date = November 13, 2007|url = https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/dragonball-comes-to-bigscreen-1117975946/|access-date = November 14, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021231709/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975946?refCatId=13|archive-date = October 21, 2012|url-status = live}}</ref> Goku has appeared in almost every ''Dragon Ball'' licensed video game, including crossover games such as ''[[Jump Super Stars]]'', ''[[Jump Ultimate Stars]]'' and ''[[Battle Stadium D.O.N]]''. In 1992, Goku was featured in the interactive game ''Dragon Ball Z: Get Together! Goku World'',<ref>{{Cite video game |title=Dragon Ball Z: Get Together! Goku World |script-title=ja:Dragon Ball Z: あつまれ!! 悟空ワールド|developer= Toei Animation|publisher= [[Bandai]]|date= 1992|platform= Videkko|language= ja}}</ref> in which Goku and his gang travel back in time to review events in the ''Dragon Ball'' timeline and interacts with his younger self. In December 2007, Goku made a guest appearance in avatar form in the MMORPG ''[[Second Life]]'' for a ''Jump Festa'' promotion titled ''Jumpland@Second Life''.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-21/dragon-ball-naruto-one-piece-to-enter-second-life|title= ''Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece to Enter Second Life''|access-date= November 3, 2008|work= [[Anime News Network]]|date= December 21, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161225204744/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-21/dragon-ball-naruto-one-piece-to-enter-second-life|archive-date= December 25, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref> Goku appears in the ''[[Dr. Slump|Dr. Slump and Arale-chan]]'' video game for the Nintendo DS.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29110_dr-slump-arale-chan-feat-son-goku-kid.html|title= Dr Slump Arale-chan feat Son Goku Kid|access-date= February 6, 2009|publisher= GameKyo.com|date= September 26, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091231150136/http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29110_dr-slump-arale-chan-feat-son-goku-kid.html|archive-date= December 31, 2009|url-status= live}}</ref>
When Gohan fails due to Buu's stolen powers, Rou Dai Kaioshin gives his life to Goku so that he may return to Earth to help Gohan. He is also given the [[Fusion (Dragon Ball)#Potara Earring Fusion|Potara fusion earrings]] so that he can fuse with Gohan. He arrives, much to the surprise of Gohan and Buu, and tosses the earring to Gohan. Gohan misses for the grab, and Goku tells Gohan to hurry and find the earring. He stalls Buu while fighting as a Super Saiyan 3, after the fight, Gotenks defuses inside Buu, and his power drops to 1/3 of his original power. Goku states that he is not much of a treat anymore, and realizes that they can beat Buu easily. However, Gohan is absorbed when Buu commands a piece of him to get Gohan while he is caught off-guard. At this moment of despair, the newly resurrected Vegeta appears, and two of the most powerful Saiyans fuse to become [[Vegetto]], the strongest fighter in the DBZ series.
 
Goku has been the subject of, and is mentioned in, various songs. "Son Goku Song"<ref>{{cite AV media notes |chapter= Son Goku Song |date= October 21, 1991 |title= Dragon Ball: Complete Music Collection |type= CD|publisher= [[Columbia Records]] |id= COCC-9202|___location= Japan |language=ja }}</ref> and "Gokū no Gokigen Jānī"<ref>{{cite AV media notes |chapter=Gokū no Gokigen Jānī |date= October 21, 1991|title= Dragon Ball: Complete Music Collection|type= CD|publisher= [[Columbia Records]]|id= COCC-9202|___location= Japan|language=ja }}</ref> feature Goku as a child singing about himself. During his adult years, the song "Aitsu wa Son Gokū" by [[Hironobu Kageyama]], where Kageyama praises everything about Goku,<ref>{{cite AV media notes |chapter= Aitsu wa Son Goku |date= 1989|title= Dragon Ball Z Hit Song Collection|type= CD|publisher= [[Columbia Records]]|id= CC-3768|___location= Japan|language=ja}}</ref> and the duet "Ore-tachi no Energy"<ref>{{cite AV media notes |chapter= Ore-tachi no Energy |date= October 1, 1990|title= Dragon Ball Z Hit Song Collection IV: Character Special|type= CD|publisher= [[Columbia Records]]|id= COCC-6830|___location= Japan|language=ja}}</ref> feature words spoken by the character. For the release of the single of the ''[[Dragonball Evolution]]'' international theme song "[[Rule/Sparkle|Rule]]", Toriyama supplied CD artwork of singer [[Ayumi Hamasaki]] dressed as Goku.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-03/dragonball-toriyama-sketches-ayumi-hamasaki-as-goku|title=Dragonball's Toriyama Sketches Ayumi Hamasaki as Goku|access-date= February 4, 2009|work= Anime News Network|date= February 3, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121020001407/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-03/dragonball-toriyama-sketches-ayumi-hamasaki-as-goku|archive-date= October 20, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref>
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Super_vegetto.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Vegetto, the fusion of Vegeta and Goku with the Potara earrings. Believed to be the strongest character in all of the DBZ series.]] -->
Vegetto becomes more powerful than anyone, even the new Super Buu with Gohan absorbed. Buu tries every technique and attack he's got and throws them at the fused Saiyan, but Vegetto manages to get by all of them without much trouble. After a lengthy fight, the awesome Vegetto wins easily. However, Vegetto is eventually absorbed by Super Buu. It is later revealed He chose to be absorbed on purpose because he wanted rescue his friends and family before killing Buu. Inside Buu, Vegetto automatically separates into the two Saiyans due to the properties of Buu's digestive system. After traveling through Buu's body, Goku and Vegeta reach Buu's brain where they find Gohan, Trunks, Goten, and [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo]] unconscious but still alive. After freeing them and having to fight Buu inside his own body (a fight which Goku and Vegeta can not win, which Goku clearly states. Since it is Buu's mind, he can keep regenerating his mental self repeatedly), so Vegeta decides to remove the unconscious Mr. Buu from Super Buu. Despite pleas from Super Buu, Vegeta pulls the Mr. Buu free and Super Buu undergoes another transformation. Goku and Vegeta then escape from Buu's body with the newly rescued Z-Fighters. Buu then transformed back to his original form.
 
Goku has been used in Japanese [[public service announcement]]s aimed at children. In June 1988, Goku and other ''Dragon Ball'' characters were featured in two PSA short films. The first, in which Goku is taught the importance of obeying traffic safety by others, is entitled ''Goku's Traffic Safety''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||悟空の交通安全|Gokū no Kōtsū Anzen}}}}.<ref name="DragonBox">{{cite AV media notes |title= Dragon Ball DVD Box: DragonBox|title-link= Dragon Ball |type= Booklet|publisher= [[Pony Canyon]]|___location= Japan|id= 50482<!--|year= 1986–1989-->|year= 2004|language= ja}}</ref> The second is called ''Goku's Fire Fighting Regiment''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||悟空の消防隊|Gokū no Shōbō-tai}}}}, in which he teaches two children the importance of fire safety.<ref name="DragonBox"/>
Outside, Goku rescues Mr. Satan and Dende, but can save neither Gohan, nor Goten, nor Trunks, nor Piccolo before the newly transformed ''Kid Buu'' destroys the Earth in an extreme show of power by using excessive power [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Kibitoshin|Kibito Kai]] teleports in and saves Vegeta, Goku, Dende, and Mr. Satan by bringing them to the Kai's planet. After regenerating, Kid Buu sets out to find Goku and Vegeta.
 
Goku has made guest appearances in various Japanese television shows and manga. In 2005, Goku appeared in the Toriyama parody manga ''[[Neko Majin Z]]'' where he is the [[sensei]] of the main character Z.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ja:『ネコマジンZ』ストーリーグイヅェスト|url= http://mj.shueisha.co.jp/nekomajin/zetto.html|publisher= [[Shueisha]] |language= ja|format= Flash|access-date= June 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090926212505/http://mj.shueisha.co.jp/nekomajin/zetto.html|archive-date= September 26, 2009}}</ref> On September 15, 2006, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of ''[[Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo]]'', the special manga ''Super Kochikame''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||超こち亀|Chō Kochikame}}}} was released. The chapter entitled ''This is the Police Station in front of Dragon Park on Planet Namek''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||こちらナメック星ドラゴン公園前派出所|Kochira Namekku-sei Doragon Kōen-mae Hashutsujo}}}} has Ryotsu Kankichi travel to planet Namek and try to issue Freeza a citation and scold both he and Goku for parking their ships illegally.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Akimoto|first1= Osamu|author-link1= Osamu Akimoto|title= Super Kochikame|series= [[Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo]]|date= September 15, 2006 |publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language=ja|isbn= 4-08-874096-3|chapter= This is the Dragon Police Station in front of the Park on Planet Namek}}</ref>
When Buu finds them, Goku fights him first. He fights as a Super Saiyan 3, and evenly matches Buu. But it seems that Buu has the advantage of being able to keep at full power, even after all those hard blows from Super Saiyan 3 Goku. After using almost all of his power, Goku, following Vegeta's suggestion, decides to do the [[Genki Dama|Spirit Bomb]]. Using King Kai's telepathy Vegeta speaks to the people of Earth and begs for everyone to donate power to Goku's Spirit Bomb. Everyone on New Namek and the afterlife give energy for the Genki Dama, or Spirit Bomb and possibly many other planets as well.
 
Goku and other ''Dragon Ball'' characters joined the cast of ''[[One Piece]]'' in the 2006 crossover manga ''[[Cross Epoch (manga)|Cross Epoch]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Toriyama|first= Akira|author-link= Akira Toriyama|author2=Oda, Eiichiro |author-link2=Eiichiro Oda |date= December 25, 2006|title= Cross Epoch|journal= [[Weekly Shōnen Jump|Shonen Jump]]|series= [[Dragon Ball]] & [[One Piece]]|issue= 4/5|publisher= [[Shueisha]] |language=ja}}</ref> He appears in a single panel of Toriyama's 2013 manga ''[[Jaco the Galactic Patrolman]]'', which is set before the events of ''Dragon Ball''.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Galactic Patrolman's Completed Mission |journal=[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]] |issue=44 |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |date=September 30, 2013}}</ref> The collected [[tankōbon]] volume of ''Jaco'' features the bonus story ''[[Dragon Ball Minus: The Departure of the Fated Child]]'', depicting how and why Goku's parents sent him to Earth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-02-05/akira-toriyama-to-draw-manga-about-goku-mom|title=Akira Toriyama to Draw Manga About Goku's Mom|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=February 5, 2014|access-date=February 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206014822/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-02-05/akira-toriyama-to-draw-manga-about-goku-mom|archive-date=February 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Toriyama |first=Akira |date=January 6, 2015 |title=Jaco the Galactic Patrolman |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |pages=232–247 |isbn= 978-1-4215-6630-6}}</ref>
Meanwhile Mr. Buu trying to hold off Kid Buu falls in battle leaving a battered Vegeta to protect Goku while he forms the Spirit Bomb. Mr. Satan finally convinces everyone on the newly regenerated Earth to give Goku all the energy he needs to destroy Buu once and for all. With the contribution of power from earth, Goku launches the Super Spirit Bomb...But as impossible as it seems Kid Buu actually stops the Spirit Bomb and slowly begins to push it back at Goku. Vegeta realizes Goku used the rest of his power to gather and form the bomb and has nothing left. Using the last wish from the Namekian dragon, Vegeta wishes for Goku's full power to be restored. With his power restored Goku powers up the spirit bomb even more and stops Kid Buu's forward progress. After several moments reflecting over the events that led to this moment, Goku makes one last wish to himself, that Buu be reborn as a good being so they can fight again. With everyone through out the universes blessing, Goku destroys Kid Buu forever.
 
Goku has been the subject of various parodies. In the episode "Career Day" of ''[[Takeshi's Castle]]'', known in the United States as ''[[Most Extreme Elimination Challenge|MXC]]'', the hosts [[Takeshi Kitano|Beat Takeshi]] and [[Sonomanma Higashi]] dressed as popular anime characters, one as Goku as a child, the other as [[Gian (Doraemon)|Doraemon]].<ref>{{cite episode |title= Career Day|series= MXC|network= [[Spike (TV channel)|Spike]]|airdate= March 24, 2005|number= 52}}</ref> ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''{{'}}s ''Gag Special 2005'' issue, released on November 12, 2004, featured a ''[[Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo]]'' one-shot ''Dragon Ball'' parody manga, a retelling of the first fight between Goku and Vegeta.<ref>{{Cite comic |cartoonist= [[Yoshio Sawai|Sawai, Yoshio]]|story= Dragon Ball|title= Shonen Jump Gag Special 2005|issue= |date= November 12, 2004|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|___location= Japan|page= 2}}</ref> In chapter #179 of the ''[[Yakitate!! Japan]]'' manga, Kawachi executes a ''Genki-Dama'' parody called a ''Shinrai-Dama''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo|lit. "Trust Ball"|信頼玉|}}}} on the character Katsuo.<ref>{{cite book|last1= Hashiguchi|first1= Takashi|author-link1= Takashi Hashiguchi|title=Yakitate!! Japan 20|volume= 20|date= November 18, 2005|publisher= [[Shougakukan]]|isbn= 4-09-127060-3|pages= 11–14|chapter= 179 Punch Line}}</ref> In the manga and anime series ''[[Blood Lad]]'', the character Staz performs the gestures for Goku's Kamehameha, having learned it from his favorite manga [[superhero]], but it has no actual effect.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/blood-lad-is-a-fighting-anime-done-right-1304888541 |title=Blood Lad is a Fighting Anime Done Right |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028092847/https://kotaku.com/blood-lad-is-a-fighting-anime-done-right-1304888541 |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
With the passing of ten years Goku kept training despite the fact that Earth was at peace. Goku kept training because he knew Kid Buu was reincarnated as a boy ([[Uub (Dragon Ball)|Uub]]) due to his wish to [[King Yemma]] during the final battle. During the Tenka'ichi Budôkai, Goku took Uub to train him to one day fight him and see who is the stronger of the two.
 
Goku regularly appears on [[Fuji Television|Fuji TV]]. In 2003, Goku appeared in the interactive feature ''Orb's Panic Adventure!''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||球体パニックアドベンチャー!|Kyūtai Panikku Adobenchā!}}}}, which was featured at the Fuji TV headquarters in the orb section. In this, Freeza attacks a visiting tourist, blasting the orb section free from the rest of the Fuji TV building. Goku fights Freeza over the real life aqua city of [[Odaiba]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/search/srchFrame.cgi?URL=%8B%85%91%CC%83p%83j%83b%83N%83A%83h%83x%83%93%83%60%83%83%81%5B%21&MD=f&image.x=10&image.y=12|archive-url= http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160522104334/http://www.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/search/srchFrame.cgi?URL=%8B%85%91%CC%83p%83j%83b%83N%83A%83h%83x%83%93%83%60%83%83%81%5B%21&MD=f&image.x=10&image.y=12|url-status=dead|archive-date= May 22, 2016|title= Fuji TV News|access-date= September 25, 2008|publisher= [[Fuji TV]]|year= 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/search/srchFrame.cgi?URL=%8B%85%91%CC%83p%83j%83b%83N%83A%83h%83x%83%93%83%60%83%83%81%5B%21&MD=f&image.x=10&image.y=12|archive-url= http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160522104334/http://www.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/search/srchFrame.cgi?URL=%8B%85%91%CC%83p%83j%83b%83N%83A%83h%83x%83%93%83%60%83%83%81%5B%21&MD=f&image.x=10&image.y=12|url-status=dead|archive-date= May 22, 2016|title= Fuji TV listing|access-date= September 25, 2008|publisher= [[Fuji TV]]}}</ref> In 2004, a sequel called ''Orb's Panic Adventure Returns!''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||球体パニックアドベンチャーリターンズ!|Kyūtai Panikku Adobenchā Ritānzu!}}}} was produced.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.startech.jp/history/history.html|title= Star*Tech event listings|access-date= September 25, 2008|publisher= Star*Tech|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030104155235/http://www.startech.jp/history/history.html|archive-date= January 4, 2003}}</ref> On March 25, 2006, Goku and Freeza appeared in an original animated short film in the ''IQ Mirror Mistake 7''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||IQミラーまちがい7|Aikyū Mirā Machigai Nana}}}} segment of the Japanese game show ''IQ Supplement''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||IQサプリ|IQ Sapuri}}}}.<ref>{{cite episode |script-title=ja:IQミラーまちがい7|series= IQサプリ|network= [[Fuji TV]]|airdate=March 25, 2006}}</ref>
{{Son Goku family}}
 
On April 7, 2007, Goku and Fuji TV announcer Masaharu Miyake were commentators on the anime segment in the ''Japan Great Man Awards''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||日本偉人大賞|''Nippon Ijin Taishō''}}}} titled ''Who is the Strongest Hero?''{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||最強の偉人は誰?|''Saikyō no Ijin ha Dare?''}}}}. The segment featured a special tournament to decide who was the greatest person in Japanese history. During the intermission, Goku promoted the coming release of [[DVD region code|R2]] ''Dragon Ball'' DVDs.<ref>{{cite episode|script-title=ja:日本偉人大賞2007|series=日本偉人大賞|network= [[Fuji TV]]|airdate=April 7, 2007}}</ref>
==Dragonball GT (Non-canon)==
====Bebi Saga====
In ''GT'', Goku is wished back into a kid by [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Pilaf|Emperor Pilaf]]. The wish was made on the Black Star Dragon Balls. As a result, Goku must travel the universe and return them to [[Dragon World|Earth]] or else the planet will explode from the negative energy created by the wish. In the course of his travels he encounters a creature known as [[Bebi (Dragon Ball GT)|Bebi]], who is in fact the last surviving [[Tsufurujin|Tuffle]], the original inhabitants of [[Planet Vegeta]]. Bebi is a machine mutant who was created by [[Doctor Myuu]]; however, Bebi actually created Dr. Myuu first.
 
Since the U.S. debut of ''Dragon Ball Z'' in 1996, Goku has appeared in American pop culture. He was featured in an issue of [[Wizard (magazine)|''Wizard'' magazine]] in which he and [[Superman]] fought a hypothetical battle and won.<ref>{{cite journal |last= The Wizard Staff|date=October 2002|title= E@st Vs. West: Goku Vs Superman|journal= Wizard Magazine|issue= 133|page= 64}}</ref> In the ''[[Codename: Kids Next Door]]'' episode "[[List of Codename: Kids Next Door episodes#Season 2: 2003–2004|Operation: R.E.P.O.R.T]]", Numbuh Four's version of the story is a parody of the Goku and Freeza's battle in ''Dragon Ball Z''.<ref>{{cite episode |title= Operation R.E.P.O.R.T.|episode-link= List of Codename: Kids Next Door episodes#Season 2: 2003-2004|series= Codename: Kids Next Door|network= Cartoon Network|airdate= December 5, 2003|season= 2|number= 22a}}</ref> Goku appears in ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' in a sketch entitled ''A Very Dragon Ball Z Christmas'', where Goku and Gohan fight an evil [[Mrs. Claus]] with [[Santa Claus's reindeer|Santa's reindeer]], in an attempt to save Christmas.<ref>{{cite episode |title= Easter Basket|episode-link= List of Robot Chicken episodes#Season 2: 2006|series= Robot Chicken|network= [[Cartoon Network]]|airdate= April 16, 2006|season= 2|number= 23}}</ref>
[[Image:Gtgoku.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Son Goku in many of his forms through out Dragon Ball GT]]
 
The ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' sketch ''[[TV Funhouse]]'' titled ''Kobayashi'' depicts real-life hot-dog-eating champion [[Takeru Kobayashi]] as able to transform into a Super Saiyan as he prepares to eat hot dogs; Goku appears briefly near the end.<ref>{{cite episode |title= Kobayashi|episode-link= List of Saturday TV Funhouse segments|series= Saturday TV Funhouse|network= [[NBC]]|airdate= November 11, 2006|number= 93}}</ref> Goku is referenced in the songs "Goku" and "Anime" by [[Soulja Boy Tell 'Em]], where he brags that he looks and feels like Goku.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.geekosystem.com/soulja-boy-anime-song/|title= Why Anime is Doomed: Soulja Boy Records "Anime" and "Goku," Manga Also in Works|first= Michael|last= Suen|date= July 23, 2010|publisher= Geekosystem|access-date= July 29, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100729061027/http://www.geekosystem.com/soulja-boy-anime-song/|archive-date= July 29, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref>
Eventually, Bebi arrives on Earth and starts wreaking havoc. He begins by planting his seed in everyone on Earth thus making them all believe they are Tuffles and that Bebi is their leader. After infecting and controlling most of the [[Saiyan]]s (like a [[parasite]]), Bebi finds himself ultimately in the body of [[Vegeta]] and controls him; (afterwards he is referred to as Bebi Vegeta by fans, but is still called Bebi in the show).
 
Goku appears in a parody of the film ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]'' on an episode of ''[[Mad (TV series)|Mad]]'' entitled ''Money Ball Z'', in which [[Billy Beane]] drafts Goku and a couple of other ''Dragon Ball'' characters into the [[Oakland A]]'s.<ref>{{cite episode |title= Money Ball Z / Green Care Bear|series= [[Mad (TV series)|Mad]]|network= [[Cartoon Network]]|airdate= November 21, 2011}}</ref> In 2013, he and Superman fought in a "Death Battle" episode of the [[Rooster Teeth]] web series ''ScrewAttack'' and lost.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Potvin |first1=James |title=Death Battle!: The 10 Best Fights Ever |url=https://screenrant.com/death-battle-best-fights-ever/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 |work=ScreenRant |date=January 3, 2022}}</ref> The episode "Goku vs. Superman" in the web series ''[[Epic Rap Battles of History]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/goku-superman-face-epic-rap-battle-series-158026/ |title=Goku, Superman Face Off in Epic Rap Battle Series |date=May 30, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027234729/http://www.adweek.com/digital/goku-superman-face-epic-rap-battle-series-158026/ |archive-date=October 27, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> won a [[Streamy Award]] for Best Music Video.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/streamys-2014-winners-list-streamy-awards-829610/ |title=Streamy Award Round 1 Winners: 'Epic Rap Battles Of History,' 'RWBY,' Fallon, Seinfeld |date=September 5, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915084615/http://deadline.com/2014/09/streamys-2014-winners-list-streamy-awards-829610/ |archive-date=September 15, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><!-- <ref>https://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/4th-annual-nominees-winners/ {{Bare URL inline|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>https://www.streamys.org/2014/09/off-air-winners-2014/ {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> -->
[[Pan (Dragon Ball)|Pan]], [[Chibi Trunks|Trunks]], and Goku arrive on Earth to return the [[Dragon Ball (artifact)|Dragon Balls]], but soon discover what has happened. After a short fight with Bebi, Goku discovers that he can not sustain [[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan 3|Super Saiyan 3]] while still being a child. After being pummeled by Bebi Vegeta, Goku is weak and defenseless. Meanwhile, Bebi Vegeta uses the Revenge Death Ball to finish off Goku. {{DB:LDBc|Kibitoshin}} arrives just as the bomb strikes to save Goku and bring him to the Kai's planet.
 
The use of the ''Kamehameha'' attack became an [[Internet meme]] which started with Japanese schoolgirls photographing themselves apparently using, and being affected by, this attack.<ref>{{cite web|title=Japanese Schoolgirls Start New 'Makankosappo' Trend|date=April 2013|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/culture/japanese-schoolgirls-start-new-makankosappo-trend/|publisher=MusicFeeds.com.au|access-date=April 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405080252/http://musicfeeds.com.au/culture/japanese-schoolgirls-start-new-makankosappo-trend/|archive-date=April 5, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nova moda online no Japão inspirada no "Dragon Ball"|url=https://diariodigital.sapo.pt/news.asp?id_news=624372|publisher=Diario Digital|access-date=April 3, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214111014/http://diariodigital.sapo.pt/news.asp?id_news=624372|archive-date=December 14, 2014}}</ref> It has attracted considerable media attention in [[France]],<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2013/04/05/le-vadering-apres-le-harlem-shake-kamehameha-nouvelle-mode_n_3018864.html PHOTOS. Le Vadering : après le Harlem Shake et le "kamehameha", la nouvelle mode photo des internautes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308062945/http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2013/04/05/le-vadering-apres-le-harlem-shake-kamehameha-nouvelle-mode_n_3018864.html|date=March 8, 2016}}, Le Huffington Post</ref> [[Germany]],<ref>[https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/weltgeschehen/article115001829/Bizarres-Kamehameha-ist-der-letzte-Schrei-im-Netz.html Bizarres Kamehameha ist der letzte Schrei im Netz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308215049/http://www.welt.de/vermischtes/weltgeschehen/article115001829/Bizarres-Kamehameha-ist-der-letzte-Schrei-im-Netz.html |date=March 8, 2016 }}, WELT</ref> as well as in many Spanish-speaking countries in [[South America]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Memes del ´KameHameHa´, la nueva sensación en Internet|url=http://www.capital.com.pe/2013-04-03-memes-del-kamehameha--la-nueva-sensacion-en-internet-noticia_582011.html|publisher=Capital.pe|access-date=April 6, 2013|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405060114/http://www.capital.com.pe/2013-04-03-memes-del-kamehameha--la-nueva-sensacion-en-internet-noticia_582011.html|archive-date=April 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='KameHameHa', la nueva tendencia que revive el recuerdo de Gokú|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/gente/kamehameha-nueva-tendencia_12728526-4|access-date=April 6, 2013|newspaper=El Tiempo|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=KameHameHa, el nuevo meme de moda que llega desde Japón|date=April 3, 2013|url=http://www.rpp.com.pe/2013-04-03-kamehameha-el-nuevo-meme-de-moda-que-llega-desde-japon-noticia_581926.html|publisher=[[Radio Programas del Perú]]|access-date=April 6, 2013}}</ref>
Thinking that Goku is dead, Bebi Vegeta uses the Black Star Dragon Balls to wish Planet Plant (home world of the Saiyans and Tuffles) into Earth's orbit. It is called 'Planet Vegeta' in the English dub. He then renames it the Tuffle Planet and moves all of the earthlings to it using Capsule Corporation's Doomsday Rocket.
 
==Cultural impact==
Meanwhile, on the Planet of the Kaioshin, [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Kaioshin, Rou Dai|Elder Kai]] hatches a plan to "solve Goku's energy problem" by re-growing Goku's tail. Progress is slow at first, but Goku has an idea about how to accelerate the process. After a very painful procedure where the tail is pulled out by a pair of pliers, Goku returns to the Tuffle planet to confront Bebi.
[[File:NYCC 2016 - Super Saiyan Blue Goku (30227483945).jpg|upright|thumb|A cosplayer re-creating the appearance of Goku in Super Saiyan Blue form]]
A number of notable public figures have commented on their feelings towards Goku or his status in popular culture. For example, [[Jackie Chan]] has gone on record stating that Goku is his favorite ''Dragon Ball'' character.<ref>{{cite book |last= Toriyama|first= Akira|author-link= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 1: COMPLETE ILLUSTRATIONS|date= June 25, 1995|publisher= [[Shueisha]]|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-782754-2|page= 7|chapter= I Love Dragon Ball #1: Jackie Chan}}</ref> The German rock band [[Son Goku (band)|Son Goku]] takes their name from the ''Dragon Ball'' protagonist. The band's lead singer Thomas D chose the name because Goku embodies the band's philosophy, saying he was "fascinated by Goku's naïveté and cheerfulness, yet, at the same time, a great warrior saving the world."<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.munichx.de/hoeren/thomas_d_interview.php|title = Thomas D. und Bertil Mark im Interview|author = Munichx.de|access-date = January 14, 2008|language = de|quote = so fasziniert, aufgrund seiner Naivität und Frohsinns und gleichzeitig wurde er zum großen Kämpfer und rettet die Welt.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080202140812/http://www.munichx.de/hoeren/thomas_d_interview.php|archive-date = February 2, 2008|url-status = live}}</ref>
 
In 2010, a fiberglass statue of Goku was created by Canadian-born Hong Kong artist [[Edison Chen]], with Chen's facial features instead of Goku's, as part of Chen's collection that was displayed at the "Treacherous Treis" exhibition in Singapore's Museum of Art and Design.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/1083800/1/.html|title = Edison Chen makes pop-art debut |date = September 28, 2010|author= Han Wei Chou |access-date = November 9, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101001213911/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/1083800/1/.html|archive-date =October 1, 2010 |url-status =dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Edison Chen Exhibition With DBZ Art
During the battle with Bebi Vegeta, Goku is able to sustain his Super Saiyan 3 form but is still no match for his opponent. As he lies on the ground, defenseless, he gazes at Earth and realizes he has failed it. But instead of dying, looking at the Earth causes Goku to transform into the form of an [[Oozaru]], (what normally happens when tailed Saiyans look at a planet's [[moon]]). Although powerful, Goku has no control over his Golden Oozaru form. With Pan's help, Goku is able to regain control and become a Super Saiyan 4.
|url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/2010/09/28/edison-chen-exhibition-with-dbz-art/|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=Kanzenshuu|date=September 28, 2010}}</ref> [[CNN]] released an article explaining how Goku was Spanish professional tennis player [[Rafael Nadal]]'s childhood inspiration, and called Nadal "the Dragon Ball of tennis" due to his unorthodox style "from another planet."<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Christopher|title=Rafael Nadal: The 'Dragon Ball' of tennis|url=http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/play/rafael-nadal-dragon-ball-tennis-216638|access-date=December 31, 2011|newspaper=[[CNN International]]|date=October 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131190153/http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/play/rafael-nadal-dragon-ball-tennis-216638|archive-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
[[File:Carnalval SP 2013 - 0036 (8478410082).jpg|upright|thumb|Parade revelers dressed as Goku at the [[Brazilian Carnival|2013 Brazilian Carnival]]]]
Bebi Vegeta is no match against a Super Saiyan 4. In desperation, [[Bulma]] (who's under Bebi's control) uses a Blutz wave generator that causes Bebi Vegeta to transform into an Oozaru. Goku's situation becomes bad, but after a lengthy battle, Goku succeeds in defeating Bebi Vegeta and leaving Bebi defenseless. In desperation, Bebi leaves Vegeta's body and tries to escape from the Tuffle Planet but Goku uses his Kamehameha attack to destroy Bebi and blast his remains into the [[sun]].
''[[One Piece]]'' creator [[Eiichiro Oda]] and ''[[Naruto]]'' creator [[Masashi Kishimoto]] said that Goku inspired their protagonists as well as series structure,<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi |author-link= Masashi Kishimoto|title=Uzumaki: the Art of Naruto|year=2007 |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |pages=138–139 |isbn=978-1-4215-1407-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Oda|first= Eiichiro|author-link= Eiichiro Oda|title= One Piece Color Walk|volume= 1|language=ja|isbn= 978-4-08-859217-6|chapter= Interview with Eiichiro Oda and Akira Toriyama|date= July 2001|publisher= 集英社}}</ref> with ''[[Tekken]]''{{'s}} [[Lars Alexandersson]] showing traits of a hero through his design inspired by Goku alongside Marvel Comic's Thor.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Art of Tekken: A Complete Visual History|publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]]|year=2019|isbn=978-1524107734|author=Hurwitch, Nick|pages=100–101}}</ref> Commenting on Goku's popularity, Kishimoto stated that when people hear the name "Son Goku", no longer do they think of the ''Journey to the West'' character, but instead ''Dragon Ball'''s protagonist comes to mind.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dragon Ball Landmark |date=December 19, 2003 |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |language=ja |isbn=4-08-873478-5 |editor-last=Suzuki |editor-first=Haruhiko |page=164 |chapter=5: Dragon Ball Children}}</ref> Additionally, for the second half of the series, Kishimoto created an ape named Son Goku in reference to Toriyama's character to the point the ape has four tails just like the four-star Dragon Ball Goku earned from his grandfather.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=NARUTO|year=2009 |publisher=Shueisha |page=98 |isbn=978-4-08-874823-8}}</ref>
 
In his book about Akira Toriyama published in 2004, Julius Weideman said Goku's journey and ever-growing strength resulted in the character winning "the admiration of young boys everywhere."<ref>Wiedemann, Julius (September 25, 2004). "Akira Toriyama", in Amano Masanao (ed.): Manga Design. Taschen, p. 372. {{ISBN|3-8228-2591-3}}</ref> [[Jason Thompson (writer)|Jason Thompson]] stated that unlike the "[[Masculinity|manly]]" heroes of other popular [[shōnen manga]] of the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as ''[[City Hunter]]'' and ''[[Fist of the North Star]]'', Toriyama made his protagonist (Goku) cartoonish and small, thus starting a trend that Thompson says continues to this day.<ref name="ANNJT">{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Jason|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/house-of-1000-manga/2011-03-10|title=Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga – Dragon Ball|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=March 10, 2011|access-date=October 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916075738/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/house-of-1000-manga/2011-03-10|archive-date=September 16, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the Japan Anniversary Association officially declared May 9 as "Goku Day".{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||悟空の日|Gokū no hi|lit. "Goku's Day"}}}}{{refn|group=nb|In Japanese the numbers 5 and 9 can be pronounced as "Go" and "Ku" respectively.}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-05-09/may-9-officially-recognized-as-goku-day/.87998|title=May 9 'Officially' Recognized as Goku Day|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=May 9, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113063311/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-05-09/may-9-officially-recognized-as-goku-day/.87998|archive-date=November 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Goku is the first manga character to have a balloon at the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]], with his first appearance at the 2018 parade.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/2018/11/01/dragon-ball-first-look-goku-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |title='Dragon Ball Super': First Look at Goku Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon |access-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101191142/https://comicbook.com/anime/2018/11/01/dragon-ball-first-look-goku-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-11-01/goku-takes-manhattan-in-macy-thanksgiving-day-parade/.138927 |title= Goku Takes Manhattan in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |access-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102004217/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-11-01/goku-takes-manhattan-in-macy-thanksgiving-day-parade/.138927 |archive-date=November 2, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Super 17 Saga====
Goku is still a kid and fights in the world martial arts tournament, having to fight in the junior division with Mr. Satan saying there is a height requirement. His opponent apparently wins by tickling Goku while he is talking to Vegeta, resulting in Goku falling out of the ring. Goku and friends are at home eating until a badly beaten up Trunks arrives, saying he was beaten up by Android #17, and that he told him to tell Goku to go to HFIL (hell) to set things straight. Goku leaves for HFIL, where he meets Dr. Myuu, and Dr. Gero, who leave, making Goku very frustrated with no way out, until two of his most fierced enemies of the past drop by, Cell and Frieza. After a good fight by Goku and Cell and Frieza, they show Goku a new technique that they learned in HFIL, to push Goku a tornado type spin, throwing him down to the deepest part of HFIL, where there is an odd old lady there that shows Goku all the different tortures which gets Goku frozen inside a block of ice.
 
===Merchandise===
With Cell and Frieza just waiting for a finishing move toward Goku, it looks like it is the end, until they all realize that it does not work on the living, which Goku hears the conversation even if he was frozen, tries the freezing technique on Cell and Frieza, which he breaks them both while he is checking them out. Meanwhile back on earth the Z fighters defeat all of the past enemies who came from HFIL. While Krillin, #18 and Marron are in a traffic jam Android #17 appears, trying to control #18, Krillin reminds #18 of her family, which causes #18 to remember the good times about Krillin.
Several pieces of merchandising based on Goku have been released, including [[action figure]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://actionfiguremall.com/goku-action-figure/|title=Best Goku Action Figure toys and Collectibles|website=Action Figure Mall|access-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103200413/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GTLP04/|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CSCSI6/|title=Super Saiyan goku dragon ball z 4"" ultimate collection f|website=Amazon|access-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103200420/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CSCSI6/|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> [[plush]]es,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017DR2YG/|title=Dragon Ball Z DBZ GOKU 13" Plush Toy|website=Amazon|access-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103200421/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017DR2YG/|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[keychain]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YP7H52/|title=Goku & Tenkaichi Budokai - Dragonball Twin Figure Keychain (Japanese Imported)|website=Amazon|access-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103200423/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YP7H52/|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
===Reception===
Krillin also reminds Android #17 about how he disliked Dr. Gero, because he gave him human emotions, and that he killed Gero in the past, which makes Android #17 think for a moment, until the other #17 reminds #17 of what their duty is, which gets Android #17 to kill Krillin, which makes #18 mad, so she tries to stop #17 from killing her daughter too, gets her blasted, and then #17 leaves. #18 crawls over to her dead husband and proclaims her love for him, and then falls unconscious. Afterwards Both Android #17's merge and become Super #17.
Goku has appeared in several "top" character lists. He was ranked number one in [[IGN]]'s 2009 list of Top 25 Anime Characters of All Time<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036651p5.html|title=Goku wins a place with the best|date=October 20, 2009|last=Mackenzie|first=Chris|website=IGN|access-date=October 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023064649/http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036651p5.html|archive-date=October 23, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and reappeared on the same list in 2014, however, on this occasion they ranked him third, with ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]''{{'}}s [[Spike Spiegel]] and ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''{{'}}s [[Shinji Ikari]] placed above him, saying that "He was, in many ways, a character that bucked the trends of his time and defined the direction of shonen manga/anime for decades."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/04/top-25-greatest-anime-characters?page=5 | title=Top 25 Greatest Anime Characters | last=Isler | first=Ramsey | date=February 4, 2014 | website=IGN | access-date=March 13, 2014 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140313033531/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/04/top-25-greatest-anime-characters?page=5 | archive-date=March 13, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> In Mania Entertainment's 10 Most Iconic Anime Heroes, Thomas Zoth commented that "Goku and ''Dragon Ball'' completely revolutionized shōnen manga."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/10-iconic-anime-heroes_article_119883.html|title=10 Most Iconic Anime Heroes|last=Zoth|first=Thomas|date=January 12, 2010|publisher=Mania Entertainment|access-date=January 22, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017063118/http://www.mania.com/10-iconic-anime-heroes_article_119883.html|archive-date=October 17, 2013}}</ref>
 
In a ''[[Newtype]]'' poll from March 2010, Goku was voted the fifth most popular male character from the 1980s.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Newtype]] |issue=4|date=March 2010|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|title=NT Research}}</ref> Goku ranked consistently high in the [[Anime Grand Prix]] poll in the category of "best male character" in the late 1980s and early 1990s, appearing seventeenth in the 1987 poll,<ref name="animage87">{{cite magazine| script-title=ja:第9回アニメグランプリ[1987年6月号]|trans-title=The 9th Anime Grand Prix (June issue 1987)| url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1987.html| magazine=Animage| language=ja| access-date=November 17, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019174520/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1987.html| archive-date=October 19, 2010}}</ref> fifteenth in the 1988 poll,<ref name="animage88">{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第10回アニメグランプリ[1988年6月号] |trans-title=10th Anime Grand Prix (1988 June issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1988.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014221205/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1988.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013 }}</ref> second in the 1989 poll,<ref name="animage89">{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第11回アニメグランプリ[1989年5月号] |trans-title=11th Anime Grand Prix since (1989 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1989.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=December 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173325/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1989.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013 }}</ref> fourth in the 1990 poll,<ref name="animage90">{{cite magazine| script-title=ja:第12回アニメグランプリ[1990年5月号]|trans-title=12th Anime Grand Prix since (1990 May issue)| url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1990.html| magazine=Animage| language=ja| access-date=November 17, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019175311/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1990.html| archive-date=October 19, 2010}}</ref> third in the 1991 poll,<ref name="animage91">{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第13回アニメグランプリ[1991年5月号] |trans-title=13th Anime Grand Prix since (1991 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1991.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523154147/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1991.html |archive-date=May 23, 2010 }}</ref> fourth in the 1992 poll,<ref name="animage92">{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第14回アニメグランプリ[1992年5月号] |trans-title=14th Anime Grand Prix since (1992 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1992.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716180936/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1992.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> thirteenth in 1993 poll,<ref name="animage93">{{cite magazine |script-title=ja:第15回アニメグランプリ[1993年5月号] |trans-title=15th Anime Grand Prix (1993 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1993.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913102306/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1993.html |archive-date=September 13, 2009 }}</ref> and twelfth in 1994 poll.<ref name="animage94">{{cite magazine |script-title=ja:第16回アニメグランプリ[1994年5月号] |trans-title=16th Anime Grand Prix (1994 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1994.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914195200/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1994.html |archive-date=September 14, 2009 }}</ref>
Goku still trapped in HFIL, thinking for a way to get out, asks King Yemma to get him out of there, which Yemma responds that he does not know how to get around the point to get Goku out. Piccolo contacts Yemma and asks him to transport him to Goku, which Yemma thinks that is a crazy idea, and refuses, but then Piccolo tells Yemma well then you made a mistake and destroys half of Heaven, which makes Yemma angry, and deciedes to transport Piccolo to HFIL to help Goku. Piccolo and Dende give some energy to help Goku escape, then Goku heads for the battlefield.
 
In a 1993 character popularity poll for the series, ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' readers voted Goku second, after his son Gohan.<ref name="WSJ polls">{{cite book |title=Dragon Ball The Complete Illustrations|date=October 2008|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|isbn=978-1-4215-2566-2|pages=215, 217}}</ref> He came in first in the magazine's 1995 poll,<ref name="WSJ polls"/> as well as in a 2004 poll amongst fans of the series for the book ''Dragon Ball Forever''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Dragon Ball Forever |year=2004 |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |isbn=4-08-873702-4|language=ja}}</ref> In a 2005 ''The Daily Reader'' article entitled "The Greatest Geek Movie Heroes of All Time", Goku is the only animated character listed, and is ranked tenth.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-02-25/goku-wins-a-place-with-the-best|title=Goku wins a place with the best|date=February 25, 2001|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=September 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425205234/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-02-25/goku-wins-a-place-with-the-best|archive-date=April 25, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> In a survey of 1,000 people, conducted by [[Oricon]] in 2007, Goku ranked first place as the "Strongest Manga character of all time."<ref name=oricon>{{cite web|url=http://rn-cdn.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/45750/#rk|title=1000 People Chose! The Strongest Character Ranking In Cartoon History!|date=June 22, 2007 |language=ja|access-date=October 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211092718/http://rn-cdn.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/45750/#rk|archive-date=February 11, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
Goku battles the newly fused [[Super 17]] after [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo]] frees him from his trap in [[HFIL]]. With the help of [[Android 18|18]] who is mad at 17 because he killed her husband, [[Kuririn|Krillin]], Goku is able to defeat him by flying straight through him with the [[Dragon Fist]], and then following up with several [[Kamehameha (Dragon Ball)|Kamehameha]] attacks through the wounded 17's stomach.
 
In the survey "Friendship" developed by rankingjapan.com, in which people chose which anime character they would like as a friend, Goku ranked fifth.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-28/which-anime-character-do-you-wish-you-could-be-friends-with|title=Which Anime Character Do You Wish You Could Be Friends With?|date=February 28, 2007|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722042758/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-28/which-anime-character-do-you-wish-you-could-be-friends-with|archive-date=July 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000, Goku placed third in an [[Animax]] poll of favorite anime characters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-09-11/gundam-tops-anime-poll|title=Gundam Tops Anime Poll|date=September 12, 2000|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220020326/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-09-11/gundam-tops-anime-poll|archive-date=February 20, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, readers of ''[[Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition]]'' voted Goku as the 41st-top video game character of all time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/02/16/guinness-names-top-50-video-game-characters-of-all-time.aspx |title=Guinness Names Top 50 Video Game Characters Of All Time |newspaper=[[Game Informer]] |first=Jeff |last=Marchiafava |date=February 16, 2011 |access-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201201521/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/02/16/guinness-names-top-50-video-game-characters-of-all-time.aspx |archive-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Nippon Telegraph and Telephone|NTT]] customers voted him as their third favorite black haired male anime character in a 2014 poll.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-05-05/japanese-fans-rank-their-favorite-black-haired-anime-characters|title=Japanese Fans Rank Their Favorite Black-Haired Anime Characters|date=May 5, 2014|last=Dong|first=Bamboo|work=Anime News Network|access-date=May 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506213212/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-05-05/japanese-fans-rank-their-favorite-black-haired-anime-characters|archive-date=May 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Shadow Dragon Saga====
When the dragon, [[Shenlong (Dragon Ball)|Shenlong]], is summoned to revive those killed by [[Super 17]], the [[Dragon Ball (artifact)|Dragon Balls]] crack, and a different, cigar-smoking Dragon appears in its place. This "Black Smoke Dragon" promptly splits into seven [[Shadow Dragon|evil Dragons]], each with a cracked Dragon Ball in its forehead. Goku and his companions fight valiantly to defeat these new Dragons. However, after six of the seven are defeated, the One Star Dragon, [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Syn Shenron|Yi Xinglong]], absorbs the other Dragon Balls into himself, forming Super Yi Xinglong (aka Omega Shenron). Goku defeats him after the most difficult battle of his life, including a fusion with Vegeta to form the strongest fighter ever, Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta, that does not succeed in putting the One Star Dragon down permanently. Afterwards, the real Shenlong appears once again, saying that no more wishes will be granted for a long time. Goku, in exchange for one more wish, decides to accompany the Dragon and train with him. As Goku flies away, the seven Dragon Balls are absorbed into his body, and he vanishes.
 
Game designer [[Hiroshi Matsuyama]] from [[CyberConnect2]] said that while Goku is an appealing character readers could root for during the manga, he was hard to relate and, thus, instead preferred other characters like Krillin or Bulma. However, during the manga's final [[story arc]], Matsuyama recalls being overjoyed when Goku says that Mr. Satan, a comic relief character with no superextraordinary skills, was the real hero of mankind as the Earthlings found him as the saviour of mankind when Buu was about win the final fight.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_uslx6AJ6s&feature=youtu.be| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/U_uslx6AJ6s| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Ep. 31 Favorite Dragon Ball Z moment?|via=Youtube|work=CyberConnect2 OFFICIAL CHANNEL| date=February 3, 2021|accessdate=February 3, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
A century later, an aged [[Pan (Dragon Ball)|Pan]] sits in the stands of the [[Tenka'ichi Budôkai]] to cheer on her grandson, [[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Goku Junior|Goku Junior]]. As the young boy enters the ring, his opponent appears: it is a distant descendant of Vegeta's, [[Vegeta Jr.|Vegeta Junior]]. The two fight, and quickly astonish each other by becoming [[Super Saiyan]]s. As Pan watches, she catches a glimpse of a familiar face in the stands: her grandfather, Son Goku. When she tries to follow him, however, he disappears. The series ends with a montage of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT, giving the franchise a proper send-off.
 
Goku's characterization has been well received by publications for manga, anime and other media. [[Anime News Network]] noted Goku as a good source of comedy and remarked that after everything he experiences, he still remains a naïve character.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-gn-5|title= Dragon Ball (manga) Graphic Novel vol 5|work= [[Anime News Network]]|date= November 18, 2001|last= Divers|first= Allen|access-date= September 27, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160506190050/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-gn-5|archive-date= May 6, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref> Tim Jones from THEM Anime Reviews noted that Goku is not an omnipotent character in the first anime series, unlike ''Dragon Ball Z'', and does not disappear for long periods of time between sagas. Jones also liked the way the series' depict his entire adventures, making him a good main character.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=565|title= Dragon Ball anime review|publisher= themanime.org|last= Jones|first= Tim|access-date= October 3, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100713023707/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=565|archive-date= July 13, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref> Voice actor [[Mamoru Miyano]] said that Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation in the manga was his favorite part from the series as Goku not only changed visually but his personality changes into a "classic, prototypical hero".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.dragon-ball-official.com/news/01_1106.html|title=Interview with the Voice of Gamma 2 from Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, Mamoru Miyano!|website=Dragon Ball Official|accessdate=June 5, 2022}}</ref>
===Dragon Ball Movies===
Son Goku appears in the following Dragon Ball Movies and Specials:
*[[Curse of the Blood Rubies]]
*[[Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle]]
*[[Mystical Adventure]]
*[[The Path to Power]]
*[[Dead Zone (Dragon Ball Z movie)|Dead Zone]]
*[[The World's Strongest]]
*[[The Tree of Might]]
*[[Lord Slug]]
*[[Cooler's Revenge]]
*[[Return of Cooler]]
*[[Super Android 13|Super Android 13!]]
*[[Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan]]
*[[Bojack Unbound]]
*[[Broly: The Second Coming]]
*[[Bio-Broly]]
*[[Fusion Rebirth]]
*[[Dragonfist Explosion]]
*[[Bardock: Father of Goku|Bardock - The Father of Goku]]
*[[The History of Trunks]]
*[[Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans]]
*[[A Hero's Legacy]]
 
Rationalmagic.com praised Goku's innocence as one of the funniest parts of the series.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rationalmagic.com/Comics/DragonBall1.html|title= Dragon Ball Volume 1 review|publisher= Rationalmagic.com|access-date= October 3, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101127052226/http://rationalmagic.com/Comics/DragonBall1.html|archive-date= November 27, 2010|url-status= live}}</ref> In January 2017, [[Masako Nozawa|Nozawa]] won two [[Guinness World Records]] for her longevity as Goku; she has been the sole voice actor for the role for over 23 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-01-31/goku-voice-actress-masako-nozawa-earns-2-guinness-world-records/.111698|title=Goku Voice Actress Masako Nozawa Earns 2 Guinness World Records|date=February 1, 2017|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201034526/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-01-31/goku-voice-actress-masako-nozawa-earns-2-guinness-world-records/.111698|archive-date=February 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''[[Screen Rant]]'', Goku's origin story has some similarities to that of [[Superman]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/dragon-ball-super-broly-goku-origin-change-superman/ |title=Dragon Ball Super: Broly Changed Goku's Origin (Making It More Like Superman) |website=[[Screen Rant]] |date=July 15, 2019 |access-date=September 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716140957/https://screenrant.com/dragon-ball-super-broly-goku-origin-change-superman/ |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> On the other hand, Collider was more critical to Goku's actions in the series most notably when Gohan becomes an active character who goes through several [[character arc|character's arc]]s yet he is constantly overshadowed by his father to the point Akira Toriyama refrained from turning Gohan into his successor following the Cell Games and Goku once again took over Gohan's role in the final arc of ''Dragon Ball Z''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/dragon-ball-super-super-hero-gohan-what-happened-before/|title=What Happened to Gohan Before 'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero?'|website=Collider|date=January 25, 2022 |accessdate=June 5, 2022}}</ref>
== Fusions ==
 
Despite his predominantly positive reception, Goku has received some negative feedback, in particular for his characterization in ''[[Dragon Ball Super]]'' due to how his constant desires for fighting stronger enemies resulted in setting up a story where all universes could be destroyed. While Anime Now's Richard Eisenbeis believes Goku is determined to protect his universe, the fact that he does not seemingly care about other loser universes being destroyed has been criticized.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.anime-now.com/entry/2017/02/15/000042|title=Why Goku Is Worse Than the Villains in Dragon Ball Super|date=February 15, 2017|last=Eisenbeis|first=Richard|work=Anime News Network|access-date=May 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216134033/http://www.anime-now.com/entry/2017/02/15/000042|archive-date=February 16, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Vegetto
The Potara Saiyan Fusion between Goku and Vegeta, [[Vegetto]] is considered to be the most powerful being in Dragon Ball Z. He was created as a desperate plan by Rou Dai Kaioshin, to stop the powerful Majin Buu. Vegeta is definitely the dominant character within this fusion, as Vegetto's confidence and smooth fight with Super Buu w/Gohan can only be seen from Vegeta. Goku's relaxation, and strategic mind enabled Vegetto to be quite an intelligent character. He is very similar to Gogeta, who is another fusion of Goku and Vegeta. Only though, Gogeta has an inferior powerlevel, and he is formed through the Fusion Dance.
 
Monique Jones from [[Syfy]] panned the character's relationship dynamic with his wife, as well as his perceived incompetency and irresponsibility as a father, drawing attention to the "tons of memes and fan chatter about Piccolo actually being the best dad Gohan's ever had".<ref name="Syfy">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Monique |title=Dragon Ball Z's Chi-Chi deserved better |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/dragon-ball-zs-chi-chi-deserved-better |website=SYFY WIRE |access-date=14 August 2020 |language=en |date=8 April 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108002739/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/dragon-ball-zs-chi-chi-deserved-better |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sam Leach from Anime News Network agreed that fans of the series tend to joke about Piccolo being a better paternal figure to Gohan than his actual father, Goku, and felt that ''Dragon Ball Super'' emphasized this more when Piccolo started training him again.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-super/episode-90/.116070|title=Dragon Ball Super Episode 90|date=May 14, 2017|publisher=Anime News Network|first=Sam|last=Leach|access-date=May 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517080317/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-super/episode-90/.116070|archive-date=May 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Gogeta
The Fusion Dance of Goku and Vegeta, [[Gogeta]] is considered to be one of the most formidable characters introduced in the series. Unlike Vegetto, Gogeta is far more serious, and gets to the point immediately. Like Vegetto, Gogeta was an act of desperation, though this one was to stop the powerful demon, Janemba, rather than Majin Buu. Gogeta easily outclassed Janemba, and the Demon was quickly disposed of in a heart beat. Goku is most definitely the dominant character here, seeing as though Goku is always serious when he is fighting. Vegeta contributed his Saiyan smarts, and his power.
 
The same site also criticized Goku often being busy in the narrative, most notably in Frieza's resurrection, as the supporting characters have some extra scenes only to have their spotlight stolen by Goku and Vegeta. His rematch with Frieza was criticized for how overpowered the character has become and how much back up his allies can provide in the battle, ruining the tension the film was supposed to generate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-z/resurrection-f/.91226|title=Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'|date=August 3, 2015|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> Despite enjoying his rematch with Frieza, DVD Talk expressed similar responses in the handling of these characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/69691/dragon-ball-z-resurrection-f-collectors-edition/|title=Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' - Collector's Edition|date=November 13, 2015|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref>
*Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta
Gogeta returns in Dragon Ball GT, to stop the tremendously powerful Ii Shenron (Omega Shenron in the FUNimation dub). This time, Goku and Vegeta fuse as Super Saiyan 4's, instead of Super Saiyans, and the Fusion Dance produced the most powerful being ever introduced in Dragon Ball history, [[Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta]]. Gogeta is far more powerful than anyone introduced in Dragon Ball, including his alternate side, Vegetto. However, the strength of Gogeta is so great that the normal 30-minute duration of the Fusion Dance is cut to 15 minutes, due to the huge energy drain associated with maintaining the SSJ4 form.
 
''IGN'' noted that Goku has a tendency to show enemies mercy, including Vegeta, Piccolo, Cell and Moro. His decision to let Cell have a senzu bean without informing his allies in particular was considered to be infamous, which affected Gohan's confidence and led to his defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://latam.ign.com/dragon-ball-super/66110/news/dragon-ball-super-las-semillas-del-ermitano-perderian-su-importancia|date=December 27, 2019|title=Dragon Ball Super: las Semillas del Ermitaño perderían su importancia|website=IGN|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://latam.ign.com/dragon-ball-1/73374/news/dragon-ball-estos-son-todos-los-villanos-a-los-que-goku-les-ha-dado-la-semilla-del-ermitano|date=October 30, 2020|title=Dragon Ball: estos son todos los villanos a los que Goku les ha dado la Semilla del Ermitaño|website=IGN|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> [[La Tercera]] went to call Goku irresponsible and immature to the character for helping Moro as a result of this show of mercy and the consequences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latercera.com/mouse/goku-demuestra-que-no-ha-aprendido-nada-en-el-manga-de-dragon-ball-super/|title=Gokú demuestra que no ha aprendido nada en el manga de Dragon Ball Super|website=La Tercera|date=October 20, 2020|accessdate=December 16, 2021}}</ref> Both Goku and Vegeta were criticized for being too overpowered in ''Super'' to the point they steal the series' spotlight to the supporting cast while their strategies either lack complexity or create a plothole such as the time limit to the fusion Vegito.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://comicsverse.com/admit-dragon-ball-super-is-terrible/ |first=Jay |last=Gibbs |title=It's Time to Admit that DRAGON BALL SUPER is Terrible |date=September 3, 2017 |website=ComicsVerse |access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref>
==Special Abilities==
{{main|List of Dragon Ball special abilities}}
 
====FusionSee Dance==also==
* [[List of Dragon Ball characters]]
[[Image:Super Saiyan 4 Goku and Vegeta Fusion Dance.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan 4 .28Non-Canon.29|Super Saiyan 4]] Goku and [[Vegeta]]'s '''[[Fusion (Dragon Ball)#Fusion Dance|Fusion Dance]]''']]
{{main|Fusion (Dragon Ball)}}
 
== Explanatory notes ==
Goku can temporarily fuse with someone else provided that they also know the fusion dance and are within the same power range. The effects last for about 1/2 an hour and require a resting period of one hour before it can be done again.
{{reflist|45em|group=nb}}
 
==References==
In Canon, Goku never performs this technique, he only teaches it to Trunks and Goten. In Movie 12 and in DBGT (which is outside Canon) he fuses with [[Vegeta]] to create [[Gogeta]].
{{Reflist|30em}}
<br style="clear:both;" />
 
====GenkiFurther Dama==reading==
* {{cite book |
{{main|Genki Dama}}
url=http://thedaoofdragonball.com/books/its-over-9000/ | last=Padula|first=Derek|others=foreword by Ryo Horikawa|title=Dragon Ball Z 'It's Over 9,000!' When Worldviews Collide | year=2012 | publisher=Derek Padula| isbn=978-0-9831205-2-0}}
Perhaps Goku's most powerful attack, the Genki Dama draws energy from all life and places it in a deadly ki ball. Goku uses this against many of his more powerful opponents. The downside is that he is quite vulnerable during its lengthy creation time. It is called the ''[[Genki Dama|Spirit Bomb]]'' in the [[English (language)|English]] anime. Despite its power, it has only succeeded in destroying its target once in the entire manga.
 
{{Dragon Ball}}
====Kamehameha====
{{Subject bar|Anime and manga|Martial arts|1980s|q=y|commons=y}}
[[Image:Kamehameha.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku using the '''[[Kamehameha (Dragon Ball)|Kamehameha]]''']]
{{Authority control}}
{{main|Kamehameha (Dragon Ball)}}
Goku's signature technique, the [[Kamehameha (Dragon Ball)|Kamehameha]] attack, is a powerful, constant stream of energy hurled at an opponent through the hands (or sometimes the feet). Goku has several other variations of this attack as well. In some instances, Goku has launched the Kamehameha with one hand.
*'''Feet Kamehameha''' - ('''Ashi kara Kamehameha''' in japan) This attack was first used by Goku against [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo]] at the 23rd [[Tenka'ichi Budôkai]] (World Martial Arts Tournament). He fired a Kamehameha from his feet to propel himself at Piccolo and leave his hands free at the same time.
*'''Double Kamehameha'''- This attack was used only once in Movie #3 "Tree of Might". This is when he shoots a kamehameha out of both hands in different directions.
[[Image:Goku Kamehameha.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku using the '''Super Kamehameha''']]
*'''Super Kamehameha''' - ('''Chou Kamehameha''' in Japan) An even more powerful version of the Kamehameha developed by Goku.
*'''Continuous Kamehameha''' - ('''Renzoku Kamehameha''' in Japan) Goku fires more than one Kamehameha.
*'''Warp Kamehameha''' - ('''Shunkan Idou Kamehameha''' in Japan) Goku charges up the attack; then, right before he releases, he has teleported in front of the target and has released the blast directly into them. This is also known as ''Instant Transmission Kamehameha''.
*'''Parent & Child Kamehameha''' - ('''Oyako Kamehameha''' in Japan) This is where a some one who is dead assists someone alive with a Kamehameha. Goku helps out [[Son Gohan|Gohan]] against [[Cell (Dragon Ball)|Cell]], and he also helps out Gohan and [[Son Goten|Goten]] against [[Broly]] in [[Broly: The Second Coming|DBZ Movie #10]] (non-canon, and the Movie 10 one used to be called the "Perfect Kamehameha" by fans).
*'''10x Kamehameha''' - This name is given to the red-colored Chou Kamehameha used by Goku while in his Super Saiyajin 4 form, in the '''Budokai''' videogames, but the name is never used in the actual series. Some fans are confused by the fact that SSJ4 [[Gogeta]] used something called the "Kamehameha x10" ("Juubei Kamehameha" in the Japanese version) against Ii Shenron, but this was an illusionary technique that didn't do any damage.
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====Super Saiyan====
[[Image:Gokuss.jpg|170px|thumb|"I wont let you... get away with this!" '' - Goku as a '''[[Super Saiyan]]''' for the first time]]
{{main|Super Saiyan}}
 
=====Super Saiyan=====
Also known as ''SSJ1''. This ability is a manifestation of life energy which allows him to transform into a higher entity, which changes his power level tremendously and his personality on a slight degree. He was able to do this in the fight with [[Frieza]] when Frieza had killed [[Kuririn]] and seriously hurt [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo]]. During the Lord Slug movie, Goku almost achieves Super Saiyan, in what is known as [[Super Saiyan#Giji Super Saiyan .28Non-Canon.29|Giji Super Saiyan]] (or a false Super Saiyan). Which was sort of a half and half transformation that was completely invoked out of rage. This transformation is achieved by a high power level, an already awaken awareness of using life energy, a pure of heart (pure good, pure evil, or any type of pure heart), and a moment of extreme rage.
 
[[Image:Ultra_Super_Saiyan_Differences.jpg|thumb|200px|"No. This new form has a weakness. I can't have these bulky muscles slowing me down. What good is this if I can't catch my enemy? Brute strength alone can't win a battle." - ''Son Goku after transforming to '''Super Saiyan 2nd and 3rd grade''''']]
*'''[[Super Saiyan|Ascended Super Saiyan]]''' - ''Ascended Super Saiyan'' is a Super Saiyan Stage that has ascended past the first version. This form increases muscle mass and size, along with the Ki output of the body, therefore providing a power level boost. However, unlike [[Ultra Super Saiyan]] it does not reduce speed. It is achieved by [[Vegeta]] and [[Future Trunks]] after training in the [[Hyperbolic Time Chamber]] (Room of Spirit and Time in Japan), as well as by Goku. Vegeta and Trunks (Mirai no Trunks in Japan) used it in their battle with the [[Cell Junior (Dragon Ball)|Cell Juniors]] and Vegeta had used the initial grade of ''Ascended Super Saiyan'' against Cell himself. But Goku refrained from using this transformation and decided to increase the power of his SSJ1 form instead, or his "[[Super Saiyan|Super Saiyan, Full-Power]]" form.
**'''[[Super Saiyan|Ultra Super Saiyan]]''' - ''Ultra Super Saiyan'' is achieved by Goku, and Future Trunks during the Cell Saga. This transformation is characterized as the incomplete or novice version to ''Ascended Super Saiyan.'' To use this transformation, one must obtain as much power as possible through completely insane training in a very long amount of time and then use that power to push one's own power level past their physical limits. As a result, this transformation includes very bulky muscles which decrease speed (the decrease is exponential. The more energy converted into muscle, the slower the user becomes). Goku achieves this form in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber (again, Room of Spirit and Time in Japan) while training with [[Son Gohan|Gohan]]. Although stronger than Cell in this state, Goku told Gohan he could not defeat him because Cell was much faster.
 
=====Super Saiyan 2=====
[[Image:Super_Saiyan_2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"This is what is known as a Super Saiyan that has ascended past a Super Saiyan...or you can just call this a '''[[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan 2|Super Saiyan 2]]'''." - ''Son Goku demonstrating to [[Buu|Majin Buu]] & [[Babidi]]'']]
Also known as ''SSJ2''. Although it is unknown when exactly Goku achieved this state of Super Saiyan, it is assumed Goku achieved this transformation while training in the Afterlife. Goku first uses it against [[Vegeta|Majin Vegeta]] in the Buu Saga. This Super Saiyan state is characterized by electricity engulfing the Saiyan. The hair is also negligibly longer, thicker, more spiked up/acute, and more robust; cleaved into less bangs in front of the face. This state also is characterized with an increase of speed, strength, and confidence. This state of SSJ is normally achieved by an increase in power and/or a moment of extreme rage ([[Son Gohan|Gohan]] during the Cell Saga.)
 
=====Super Saiyan 3=====
[[Image:Gokussj3deadhovering.jpg|thumb|200px|"I'm sorry that took so much longer than the others, but I haven't had much occasion to practice this one." - ''Goku on transforming into a '''[[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan 3|Super Saiyan 3]]''''']]
Also known as ''SSJ3''. Goku is first seen using this transformation against Fat Buu during the Buu Saga. This form of SSJ gives an immense increase of speed and power and dramatically changes the Saiyan's appearance by ridging out the eyebrows and subsantially increasing the size of hair; jostling it down past the shoulders, roughly 4 1/2 feet or 130 centimeters long. It is not really known how he achieved this form, but while in Other World, his energy increase was limitless making it very easy for Goku to sustain Super Saiyan 3. However, the transformation is extremely draining in terms of energy, as it cut Goku's time on [[Dragon World|Earth]] in half. Since his body was aging during this time, his energy drained faster while he was alive than dead. This stage of SSJ is normally achieved by extreme training (Goku's training in [[Other World]]). The only other warrior who could achieve this level in such a short time was Gotenks, whom by the way achieved this transformation through his fusion properties and in tribute Goku's demonstration prior to the fusion. Goku achieved this form of SSJ in [[Other World]] before coming to Earth. Proof of this is of him not knowing that his earthly time would be cut in half, how hard it was to transform into it, [[Vegeta]] berating him for not using it in their earlier battle, and Goku's own words that can be seen both in the manga and in the anime.
 
=====Super Saiyan 4=====
[[Image:Goku204.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"I'm amazed...amazed at how strong I've become." - ''Goku mocking [[Bebi (Dragon Ball GT)|Bebi]] after transforming into a '''[[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan 4 .28Non-Canon.29|Super Saiyan 4]]''''']]
Also known as ''SSJ4''. It was achieved by Goku after achieving the [[Oozaru#The .22Golden Oozaru.22|Golden Oozaru]] state (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Super Saiyan Oozaru). This occurs when the Golden Oozaru comes into control of its power and loses its rage, which is what happened when [[Pan (Dragon Ball)|Pan]] calmed Goku. To achieve this stage of Super Saiyan their tails must be fully extended and must be looking at a planet (not necessarily the Earth). It took Goku years to achieve this because his body would not have been able to handle the power of SSJ4.
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====Kaiô-ken====
[[Image:Kaioken.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku using '''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kaiô-ken|Kaiô-ken]]''']]
This ability allows Goku to multiply his speed and power by turning potential energy from the body into pure physical energy, often letting him work on an equal level against an initially more powerful foe. Because of the extreme increase of energy flowing through Goku's body, this form is potentially final, because of the stress put on the body. Goku stops using it once he is able to access the more potent [[Super Saiyan]] state. An exception to this was during an after-life tournament fight against Pikkon, where he used Kaiô-ken while a Super Saiyan; he called it Super Kaio-ken.
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====Shunkan Idô====
[[Image:SS Goku Instant Transmission.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku preparing for '''[[Shunkan Ido|Instant Transmission]]''']]
{{main|Shunkan Ido}}
A unique ability Goku learned on his way back to Earth from Namek on a remote planet called Yardrat, it allows him to teleport nearly anywhere so long as he focuses on a specific ki signal, where he wants to go. Then Goku moves instantly to a new ___location. He places two fingers on his forehead while he searches for the signal. Goku can also do this without locking on to a Ki Signal, but only for when he intends to transport somewhere he can physically see (like using it against Cell with the Warp Kamehameha), which has an advantage over using normal Super Speed because it would be much more difficult to follow Goku's movements by using actual teleportation. This ability is called Shunkan Idou, but it is also referred to as ''[[Instant Transmission]]'' in the [[English language|English]] anime translation. In the English manga, however, it is referred to as "teleportation." While being stated to travel at lightspeed (possibly a dub error), it is theorized among fans that Shunkan Ido goes far beyond the speed of light. Evidence points to the technique transporting the user instantly, rather than at a certain speed. (See Super Speed, below.)
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====Taiyoken====
Also known as ''Solar Flare'' or ''Fist of the Sun''. A technique learned from [[Tenshinhan]], it creates an extremely bright light which can temporarily blind and stun those in close proximity. Known as the ''[[Taiyô-ken|Solar Flare]]'' in the [[English language|English]] anime translation.
 
====Zanzôken====
[[Image:Zanzoken.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku using the '''[[List_of_Dragon_Ball_special_abilities#Zanzoken|Zanzoken]]''']]
The user of this technique is able to move extremely fast over small distances, leaving an after-image behind. It can be considered a very short-range teleportation. In the English dub it's called "The Afterimage Technique".<br style="clear:both;" />
 
====Ryu Ken====
{{main|Dragon Fist}}
[[Image:Son Gokou Dragon Fist.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku's '''[[Dragon Fist]]''']]
''Dragon Fist'' is a technique where Goku charges his energy into his fist and it creates a Shenlong dragon which drives through the opponent. It is often referred to as Super Dragon Fist.
 
====Kienzan====
Goku can use a disk-shaped Ki attack that is similar to Krillin's '''Destructo Disk'''. It used only once, to cut Super Buu in half. It is shaped differently than the Destructo Disk, being thicker, rather than a flat disk with the rotating edge of sharp Ki that Krillin's technique has.
 
====Hasshuken====
(Dubbed '''Eight Fists''') When Goku fights Tien during the 22nd [[Tenka'ichi Budôkai]] (22nd World Martial Arts Tournament), [[Tenshinhan]] (Tien) uses his [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Shiyoken|Four Supernatural Fists]] on Goku. In defense, Goku decides to use an eight-arm attack, which works even better. Because of the extra arms Goku is able to fight much faster and attack/block more often as each arm moves so fast as it seems to appear in four places at once. Those arms were nothing more then illusions, as Goku was moving his arms up and down extremely fast, much in common with zanzoken.
 
====Energy Barrier====
With this technique Goku can create a shield around himself which can withstand many attacks as long as he has enough [[Qi|ki]] to supply.
 
====Bukujutsu====
This is the ability to fly using one's [[Qi|ki]]. Goku simply controls his energy and pushes out from underneath him allowing him to fly. The name 'Bukujutsu' means 'Air Dance'.
 
====Kiai====
This is an attack where the user shoots a blast a [[Qi|ki]] at their opponent by screaming. Goku pushes {{DB:LDBc|Jeice}} and {{DB:LDBc|Burter}} around with this. It can be done with his hands too.
 
====Renzoku Kikou Dan====
A machine gun [[Qi|ki]] attack, used by pretty much anyone who knows how to form balls or beams of energy. It is fairly powerful, especially if the defender is caught off guard, as many beams can be fired and the ones that hit have more power than the last. It is good as a distraction tactic too, firing a few of them before charging up a really big attack to finish it off. The disadvantage is that this attack can take its toll on the attacker, due to the large energy drain. He used this against Perfect Cell in the Cell Games in a desperate attempt to incinerate him, which upon doing this severely drained his ki.
 
====Invisible Jumping====
Goku uses this attack to become temporarily invisible by jumping around back and forth. After the technique, Goku stops for a surprise attack.
 
====Spinning Cyclone====
A strange technique used by Goku at the [[Tenka'ichi Budôkai]] (World Martial Arts Tournament). He spins fast much like the motion of the cyclone, and then knocks into his opponents. It didn't work too well because he got dizzy when he used it, and so he only used it once.
 
===Fighting techniques===
====Jan Ken====
('''Rock Scissors Paper Fist''' in English) This is Goku's special attack in early [[Dragon Ball (original series)|Dragonball]], but is soon replaced by the [[Kamehameha (Dragon Ball)|Kamehameha]]. The user shouts "Jan Ken", then a name corresponding to the attack. "Jan Ken Gu", equals rock and will be a strong punch. "Jan Ken Chyoki", equals scissors and will be a poke in the eyes. "Jan Ken Pa", equals paper and will be an open palm strike. In the English dub of Dragon Ball, the scissor part was cut.
 
====Kyoken====
('''Mad Dog fist''' in English) This attack is used by Goku who acts like a dog, barking and jumping around to scare his opponent. He then jumps behind and kicks his surprised opponent.
 
====Saruken====
('''Monkey fist''' in English) This is a distraction move designed to confuse and taunt the opponent. Goku uses this in reaction to Jackie Chun's ([[Muten-Rôshi]]'s alter-ego) use of the Suiken (Drunken fist).
 
==Super Strength/Power==
It has been debated on how physically strong, Goku is at the end of Dragon Ball Z. Using the Marvel Class System, Goku could bench at least 100 tons at the start. Evidence points to this level of strength because he was able to push 100+ ton rocks during his training with Master Roshi, back before the Budokai's began. The demons that Master Roshi fought in his younger days were shown throwing tanks around, and Tao was shown tossing a huge concrete column a great distance in a single burst. This would mean that after Dragonball Z was over he was able to lift many tons, depending on how the power was "geared" (case in point, 500 HP Corvette vs 500 HP tractor).
 
It should also be known that near the end of Dragonball Z, Goku lifts a square yard block made of the densest material in the galaxy that would make it weigh at least 100 tons but likely more, meaning that Base Goku easily lifts at least 100 tons.
 
Opponents to this theory argue that the ABC Logic system doesn't work, as it's possible even Goku remained at the same basic level of physical strength throughout the series, though that is unlikely. DBZ's main problem is its consistency or lack thereof. However, during the final battle against Kid Buu he is shown pushing two halves of a mountain. Of course, if one were to go by the power levels indicated, then Goku's strength using the Marvel system would be staggering to say the least.
 
It is also unknown exactly how powerful Goku was at the end of Dragonball Z energy wise. This is because Akira Toriyama decided not to state power levels after the Freeza Saga. However, indirect evidence (such as Cell once stating that he had enough energy to wipe out the solar system in a single attack, Frieza stating and showing he's capable of destroying planets, or Supreme Kai stating that Buu was powerful enough to destroy entire galaxies) points to Goku's energy output being at least the equivalent of the energy unleashed in a super nova, and likely much greater.
 
Post DBGT power levels are possibly exponentially greater for the main characters, thus leading to speculation that DB characters might be the most powerful ever created in a comic series (something which doesn't have much meaning since a comic book character is only as powerful as his creator intends him to be), something contested by fans of American series.
 
==Super Speed==
Another subject of heated debate, most fans argue that Goku '''surprassed''' the lightspeed barrier back in the Freeza Saga. This argument is supported when Goku tries to, visually, follow Frieza, but cannot, and then Frieza telling him it is because he, Frieza, is going beyond the speed of light.
 
It should be noted that Super Saiyan 1 Gotenks states, in the manga, that he went around the world a few dozen times and took a nap before being found by Piccolo and having to fight Buu, before his 30 mintues were finally up. It should also be noted that Super Saiyan 1 Gotenks, in the anime, is actually seen going around the world 9 times in 1 second before taking his nap and being found by Piccolo to go fight Buu and his 30 mintues of fusion is up. This would mean that in the anime he was at least going slightly over the speed of light, and in the manga he was most likely going 4.25 times, or more, the speed of light. This being because the speed of light would only be going around the planet 7-8 times in 1 second instead of 9 or even 36 times in a second.
 
Opponents to this say that Goku could only go lightspeed while using the [[Shunkan Ido]]. The Shunkan Ido is said to be move at lightspeed (said to be a dub error). However, speed isn't a factor for Shunkan Ido at all. It doesn't rely on speed, but instead exchanges the matter at one ___location (such as air molecules) for the matter at another ___location (the user). It occurs '''instantly''', rather than at a multiple of conventional speed.
 
In Dragonball, Goku, Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, and even Chiaotzu were faster than the speed of sound, right before Goku's training with Mr. Popo and Kami. Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, and Chiaotzu had been running beside a car that was going over 500 mph, and then the Z Senshi went even faster.
 
In Dragonball Z, Gohan easily outflies the Flying Nimbus Cloud which is stated as having a top speed of Mach 3 (3x the speed of sound).
 
 
 
==The Sonic Boom and Planet Destruction Theory==
 
 
Since the end of Dragonball, and throughout the complete season of DragonBall Z, the fights have had destructive effects in not only the opponents, but the surrounding area as well. It can clearly be seen the destruction are caused in two instances:
 
1. Ki/Ki Blast Powerup : In this method, the character powers up his Ki energy and in doing so the level of intensity in the powerup causes the entire area to shake and crumble upon itself.
This is most notable when Goku is powering upto SSj3 to demonstrate in front of Fat Buu. Goku shakes the entire world, fluctuates electricity, gives rise to strong storm and winds over oceans.
 
This type of result can also be seen in the beam struggle between Super Perfect Cell and SSj2 Gohan. The Kamehameha is supposedly packing the absolute best from the two fighters. (Cell is quoted in the manga and as well as anime stating that he is packing enough energy to destroy the entire Solar System. The conditions and elements in the manner he said that in doesn't satisfy the conditions for typical Dragonball Villain 'Bluffing' as heatedly argued by many fans. Also, it perfectly justifies the statement as Vegeta at 18,000 PL was ready to destroy Earth, Goku made sure the Kamehameha wave he released against Perfect Cell doesn't hit the ground as it would destroy the Earth, and Both Piccolo and Master Roshi have destroyed the moons at very considerably weak Powerlevels compared to Goku and Vegeta. Thus, Cell obviously being much more powerful than both highly trained Vegeta and Goku has a much bigger chance of creating a blast enough to engulf the solar system)
The beam struggle supposedly brought an earthquake so major in a far away city, that cars were piled upon each other and the enire population was out on the roads taking refuge from the trembling city.
 
2. Sonic Booms : Sonic Booms are witnessed plenty in Dragonball Z. Many a times, the fighters just appear as shockwaves, nearby crumbling the mountains into pieces or/and land below them. This is most notable in the mange and the anime in the fight between Goku and Majin Vegeta.
It can also be the reason why the characters never travelled in Speeds nearing that of Light. Since there is no protection from the friction that cause Sonic Boom, any character going lightspeed at a fairly decent amount of distance can cause very heavy collateral damage to nearby cities and people.
However, it is very possbile as also stated in 'Super Speed' section that the characters do fight at speeds nearing light by mid-DBZ, as the destruction as shockwaves is notably becomes much more intense and destructive.
 
 
 
 
It should be noted that many fans also say that everytime a planet is destroyed, it is blasted with the help of core. This is not true. Only Freeza destroyed Planet Namek by using the core, and this can possibly be because Freeza was considerably low in power after facing the Genki Dama (Or Spirit Bomb) and taking a considerable amount of beating from the overpowered Ssj Goku. Freeza seemed to have put little energy in the bomb, and he distinctly chose to destruct the planet by its core for unknown reasons (The best possbile answer which many fans have agree'd upon is that Freeza knew he can survive the planet blast and Goku couldn't, and wanted some time for a final fight against the Saiyan.
 
Other instances of celestial bodies being destroyed are-
1. Master Roshi when he destroyed the moon in the 21 Tournament, when Goky turned into unctrollable Oozaru.
2. Piccolo for the same reason while he was training Gohan to fight the Saiyans.
3. Cell when he destroyed an asteroid
4. Kid Buu has an impressive history in destroying planets.
 
It should be noted that moons have no core. And Kid Buu destroyed planets as instantly as the attack touched the planet surface.
 
==Z Sword==
The '''Z Sword''' is an [[Excalibur]]-like sword on the Planet of the Kais. Son Gohan is able to pull the sword out of the stone. (He still finds it unbearably heavy however.) The Z Sword is often confused with Trunk's sword, given to Chibi Trunks by Tapion in the non-canon Dragonball Z movie 13.
 
{{spoiler}}
 
While training with the sword, intending to fight [[Buu]], Gohan and his father, [[Son Goku (Dragon Ball)|Son Goku]], break the sword accidentally to discover that the [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Rou Dai Kai.C3.B4shin|Elder Grand Supreme Kai]], or just Elder Kai, had been trapped inside.
 
The Z Sword is notable in the series as to be one of the few actual ''Z'' objects in Dragon Ball Z. (The Z in the title is made up; there was no hidden meaning. This is unlike [[Dragon Ball GT]] where the ''GT'' stands for "Grand Tour". However, in the [[English (language)|English]] dub of the series, the main characters are sometimes referred to as the [[Z Warriors]].)
 
==Goku vs Superman==
[[Image:Goku_vs_Superman.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku vs Superman article from [[Wizard magazine|Wizard Magazine]] issue #133''''']]
A vs thread that is debated frequenly between Dragonball and Superman fans. The magazine Wizard had their own article for this in issue #133. Sufice it to say, but Goku won quite easily, needing only to go Super Saiyan 1 to defeat Superman.
 
In the article, the story goes: "The wizard Babadi manipulates Goku into thinking an eighth Dragonball exists on a parallel Earth protected by an invincible Kryptonian. The Super Saiyan crosses over dimensions and finds the Man of Steel inspecting a LexCorp satellite. Goku introduces himself by throttling Superman into a nearby moon. Shaking it off, Supes dodges the next couple of lunges, but his mysterious foe's martial arts prowess and teleportation ability allows him to land more blows. The Man of Steel proves to be able to absorb more punishment than the orange-clad bruiser, and surprises Goku with a couple of blasts of heat vision. Wanting to end the struggle, Goku rapidly teleports, landing a dozen blows to Supes in the span of a second. Not falling for the same trick, Superman's super-vision detects a particle flux when Goku teleports, allowing him to anticipate where his foe will appear. As the Z Warrior winks out and reappears, Superman unleashes a haymaker, pounding Goku deep into the moon's surface. The Man of Steel demands an explanation of this assault, but Goku amps up to Super-Saiyan mode and fires off a Kamehemahe blast that fries Supes like a fish stick! Pressing his attack, a furious Goku unleashes a planet-destroying punch that hits a stunned Superman square in the "S" shield, knocking him clear off the moon and back toward Earth. Realizing the fall might kill the Kryptonian. Goku teleports and catches Superma before he goes splat. It is then that Goku senses there are no such Dragonballs on this Earth. Apologizing for his dishonor, Goku humbly begs for forgiveness before heading back to his own dimension to take out the lying Babidi. Puzzled at what had just happened, a woozy Superman collapses unconcsious, awaiting medical treatment."
 
It is also debated witch Goku and Superman are used in this article. Some Dragonball fans like to say that it is Goku from the Frieza Saga because he only goes Super Saiyan 1, but being that Babadi is the magician to trick Goku to fight Superman, it is safe to assume that this is Goku from the Buu saga and that he knew that he didn't need to become Super Saiyan 2 or 3 to beat Superman. Some Superman fans like to say that it is Post-Crisis Superman as where Dragonball fans like to say that it is Pre-Crisis Superman. Being that this article was in issue #133 which came out during the time of Post-Crisis, it should be taken that this article is of Post-Crisis Superman. But being that nothing is really revealed about Superman and the time, it could go either way...
 
==Voice actors==
In Japan, Goku is voiced by [[Masako Nozawa]]. Because the Dragonball anime series is so long, the voice actors for Goku and many other characters of the series have changed as a result of the series' dubbers and translators changing companies and requiring recasting.
 
[[Ocean Group]]
* [[Saffron Henderson]] (Kid Goku (1995 dub))
* [[Ian James Corlett]] (Season 1)
* [[Peter Kelamis]] (Season 2)
* [[Kirby Morrow]] (end of the Cell saga (ep 144) to end)
 
[[FUNimation]]:
* [[Sean Schemmel]] (Funimation Dubs of Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT and Season 5 of Dragon Ball)
* [[Stephanie Nadolny]] (Kid Goku in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT)
 
[[Blue Water]] Dub:
* Zoe Slusar (Young Goku)
*Jeremiah Yurk (Adult Goku)
Other:
* [[Nenad Nenadović]] (Voiced Goku in Serbian Dragonball)
* [[Laura Torres]] (Young Goku's voice in the [[mexican]] [[Spanish language|Spanish]] dub)
* [[Carlos Díaz]] (Voiced Goku in the 90's version of [[Dr. Slump]] Mexican Spanish dub)
* [[Mario Castañeda]] (Adult voice of Goku in the Mexican Spanish dub)
* Henrique Feist (Portuguese ([[Portugal]]) dubs of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT, both kid and adult versions)
* Wendell Bezerra (Portuguese ([[Brazil]]) dub of Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT)
* Noeli Santisteban (Kid Goku in first [[Brazilian]] dub of Dragon Ball)
* Ursula Bezerra (Kid Goku in Brazilian in second dub of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT)
 
==Trivia==
{{wikiquote}}
* Throughout the entire canon Dragon Ball series (''Dragon Ball'' and ''Dragon Ball Z''), ironically enough, Goku has only ever killed seven (possibly nine, see below) villains: [[List of Jinzō'ningen in Dragon Ball#Buyon|Buyon]], [[List of Humans in Dragon Ball#Advisor Black|Staff Officer Black]], [[List of Namekians in Dragon Ball#Tambourine|Tambourine]], [[List of Namekians in Dragon Ball#Drum|Drum]], [[Demon King Piccolo]], [[List of Majins in Dragon Ball#Yakon|Yakon]], and [[Buu|Kid Buu]], as well as assisting Piccolo in killing [[Raditz]] by having the Namekian kill them both. He has killed many more if one counts the movies and GT. In Future Trunks' alternate timeline, Goku teleported to Earth and killed [[Frieza]] and {{DB:LDBc|King Cold}}.
* Goku and the Saiyan [[Broly]] were born on the same day and hour, and Broly has a deep-rooted hatred for Goku for his incessant crying in their nursery which caused him to cry as well.
* The ''Dragon Ball'' universe began as a loose adaptation of the classic Chinese story, ''[[Journey to the West]]'' (despite departing rapidly from it) with Son Goku being an adaptation/[[homage]] of [[Sun Wukong]] the Monkey King. Similarities are Goku's prone for mischief as a child (due to his innocence), possession of [[Nyoibo]] (Sun Wukong staff that can fill the entire Universe), and [[Flying Nimbus|Kinto'un]] (the magical cloud the 'Great Sage' rode on).
* Goku has commonly been referred to as the Japanese equivalent of [[Superman]] due to their similar origins (sent to another planet, homeworlds destroyed, found by a nice elderly person who raised him as his own) and powers (superstrength, flight, nigh-invunerability). Also, both characters have died and been resurrected.
* [[Son Goku]] is the Japanese translation of [[Sun Wukong]].
* It in unknown as to whether Goku is left or right handed. The first time he is shown eating in the manga he uses his chopsticks in his left hand. The next time, however that he is shown eating he uses his chopsticks in his right hand. So, therefore, it can be safely assumed that he is [[ambidextrous]].
* Son Goku later inspired [[Monkey D. Luffy]] of [[One Piece]] adapting Son Goku's unstoppable appetite and characteristics.
* Fans have a tendency to over-exaggerate how many times Goku has died and come back to life through the series, siting anywhere to over 7 times. Officially, Goku has only died twice throughout all Dragonball fiction.
* In Japan, there is a short movie that feature One Piece and Dragonball Z joining forces to take down [[Eneru]] who tried to destroy Japan. Both Goku and [[Monkey D. Luffy|Luffy]] team up to put an end to his evil. ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5f0kfjITMQ&search=dbz%20one%20piece%20convention%20anime See here])
* Despite some debates on his height, Son Goku is officially listed by Akira Toriyama to be 5 feet 7 inches tall. This would make sense seeing how he is almost a head shorter than [[Yamcha]], whose height was 183 centimeters (6 ft) according to {{DB:LDBc|Android 19}}'s scanner.
* Goku is a playable character in [[Jump Superstars]].
 
== Video game appearances ==
 
*PlayStation
*[[Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22]]
*[[Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout]]
 
*PlayStation 2
*[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai]]
*[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2]]
*[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3]]
*[[Dragon Ball Z: Sagas]]
*[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi]]
*[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2]]
 
*PSP
*[[Dragon Ball Z Shin Budokai]]
 
== See also ==
 
*[[Saiyans]]
*[[Broly]]
*[[Vegeta]]
*[[Vegetto]]
*[[Gogeta]]
*[[Gotenks]]
*[[Raditz]]
*[[Turles]]
*[[Son Gohan]]
*[[Son Goten]]
 
[[Category:Adoptee characters in anime and manga]]
[[Category:Anime and manga characters introduced in 1984]]
[[Category:Anime and manga characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
[[Category:Anime and manga characters who can teleport]]
[[Category:Anime and manga characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:Anime and manga characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Anime and manga telekinetics]]
[[Category:Anime and manga telepaths]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic monkeys]]
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[[Category:Cultural depictions of Kamehameha I]]
[[Category:Dragon Ball characters]]
[[Category:ZExtraterrestrial Fighterscharacters in anime and manga]]
[[Category:FictionalExtraterrestrial swords|Z Swordsuperheroes]]
[[Category:DragonFictional Ballcharacters objects|Zwho Swordcan change size]]
[[Category:Fictional characters who can levitate]]
 
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[[ca:Son Goku]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with amnesia]]
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[[Category:Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities]]
[[fr:Sangoku]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with extrasensory perception]]
[[he:סון גוקו]]
[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial humanoids]]
[[ja:孫悟空 (ドラゴンボール)]]
[[Category:Fictional farmers]]
[[pl:Son Goku]]
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[[sr:Goku]]
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[[th:ซุน โกคู]]
[[Category:Fictional murdered people]]
[[zh:孙悟空 (漫画人物)]]
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