TV-Series
Description
Black Goku is a major antagonist from the Dragon Ball Super series, primarily appearing in the "Future" Trunks arc. He is not an evil version of the main character Son Goku from a parallel universe, but rather the result of a calculated and sinister act of identity theft. His true identity is Zamasu, an apprentice Supreme Kai, or Kaioshin, from the Tenth Universe.
The character's background begins with Zamasu, a god who harbored a deep-seated hatred for mortal beings, whom he viewed as violent, corrupt, and a blight on the otherwise perfect universe. After witnessing the power and potential of Son Goku during a sparring match, Zamasu became obsessed with obtaining that strength for his own divine mission. Using the Super Dragon Balls, which can grant any wish, Zamasu from a parallel timeline swapped his soul with that timeline's Son Goku. He then killed Goku in his original body, as well as that timeline's wife and son, Chi-Chi and Goten, effectively erasing the original family and assuming the Saiyan's powerful form as his own.
The personality of Black Goku is a stark contrast to the cheerful and simple-minded Goku. While he possesses Goku's voice and appearance, his demeanor is that of a self-righteous, arrogant, and sadistic god. He is ruthlessly efficient and speaks in a formal, condescending manner, often referring to mortals as "animals" or "insects". He is a firm believer in his own twisted sense of justice, viewing his genocidal plan as a form of divine purification. This self-perception as a righteous executioner makes him particularly dangerous, as he feels no personal malice, only a calm, fanatical certainty in his actions. He also displays a curious vanity, taking great pleasure in the aesthetic of his unique transformations, which he describes as beautiful.
The character's primary motivation is to execute what he calls the "Zero Mortals Plan". His goal is the complete and total annihilation of all sentient mortal life across every universe. He believes that by eradicating the "evil" of humanity and other races, he can create a utopian world of pure, unchanging beauty. To achieve this, he forms a crucial partnership with another version of Zamasu from the future timeline he invades, who uses the Super Dragon Balls to wish for physical immortality. Together, this duo of a nigh-unstoppable body and an immortal being systematically murder the gods of destruction and other deities across the cosmos to ensure no one can stop them.
In the story, Black Goku serves as the primary physical threat. He first appears in a desolate future Earth, having already driven humanity to the brink of extinction. He is given the name "Goku Black" by Future Bulma due to his black martial arts uniform. His key relationships are defined by his mission. He is an ally to the immortal Future Zamasu, working in perfect sync with him. His primary enemies are the future timeline's defender, Trunks, and the main timeline's Goku and Vegeta, who travel to the future to stop him. He shares a particularly twisted relationship with Goku, whose body he has stolen. He has a masochistic fascination with fighting Goku, as the Saiyan's battle instincts and rage help him unlock more of his body's latent power.
Throughout the arc, Black Goku undergoes significant development as he learns to master his stolen Saiyan biology. Initially, he is not fully in sync with his new body, but his power grows exponentially through combat, utilizing the Saiyan ability to become stronger after suffering injuries, a trait known as a Zenkai boost. This growth culminates in his signature transformation, Super Saiyan Rosé. This form is his divine equivalent of the Super Saiyan Blue transformation used by Goku and Vegeta. Where their godly ki turns their hair blue, Black's divine soul combined with Goku's Saiyan body results in a distinctive pinkish-rose hue. In this form, his power is immense, and he can create weapons of pure energy, such as a blade of light or a scythe that can tear holes in the fabric of space-time.
Black Goku possesses a wide array of notable abilities derived from both his original divine nature and his stolen Saiyan body. He can use the Instant Transmission technique to teleport and a corrupted version of Goku's signature Kamehameha wave, often called the Black Kamehameha. He also wields the God Split Cut, an energy blade he projects from his hand for close-quarters combat. His most dangerous trait is his rapid rate of growth; as he fights, he not only increases his power but also seamlessly integrates Goku's fighting instincts and techniques into his own, becoming a more perfect warrior with every battle. Eventually, realizing he and Future Zamasu cannot defeat Goku and Vegeta separately, he uses the Potara earrings to fuse with his immortal partner, creating a supremely powerful and unstable being known as Fused Zamasu.
The character's background begins with Zamasu, a god who harbored a deep-seated hatred for mortal beings, whom he viewed as violent, corrupt, and a blight on the otherwise perfect universe. After witnessing the power and potential of Son Goku during a sparring match, Zamasu became obsessed with obtaining that strength for his own divine mission. Using the Super Dragon Balls, which can grant any wish, Zamasu from a parallel timeline swapped his soul with that timeline's Son Goku. He then killed Goku in his original body, as well as that timeline's wife and son, Chi-Chi and Goten, effectively erasing the original family and assuming the Saiyan's powerful form as his own.
The personality of Black Goku is a stark contrast to the cheerful and simple-minded Goku. While he possesses Goku's voice and appearance, his demeanor is that of a self-righteous, arrogant, and sadistic god. He is ruthlessly efficient and speaks in a formal, condescending manner, often referring to mortals as "animals" or "insects". He is a firm believer in his own twisted sense of justice, viewing his genocidal plan as a form of divine purification. This self-perception as a righteous executioner makes him particularly dangerous, as he feels no personal malice, only a calm, fanatical certainty in his actions. He also displays a curious vanity, taking great pleasure in the aesthetic of his unique transformations, which he describes as beautiful.
The character's primary motivation is to execute what he calls the "Zero Mortals Plan". His goal is the complete and total annihilation of all sentient mortal life across every universe. He believes that by eradicating the "evil" of humanity and other races, he can create a utopian world of pure, unchanging beauty. To achieve this, he forms a crucial partnership with another version of Zamasu from the future timeline he invades, who uses the Super Dragon Balls to wish for physical immortality. Together, this duo of a nigh-unstoppable body and an immortal being systematically murder the gods of destruction and other deities across the cosmos to ensure no one can stop them.
In the story, Black Goku serves as the primary physical threat. He first appears in a desolate future Earth, having already driven humanity to the brink of extinction. He is given the name "Goku Black" by Future Bulma due to his black martial arts uniform. His key relationships are defined by his mission. He is an ally to the immortal Future Zamasu, working in perfect sync with him. His primary enemies are the future timeline's defender, Trunks, and the main timeline's Goku and Vegeta, who travel to the future to stop him. He shares a particularly twisted relationship with Goku, whose body he has stolen. He has a masochistic fascination with fighting Goku, as the Saiyan's battle instincts and rage help him unlock more of his body's latent power.
Throughout the arc, Black Goku undergoes significant development as he learns to master his stolen Saiyan biology. Initially, he is not fully in sync with his new body, but his power grows exponentially through combat, utilizing the Saiyan ability to become stronger after suffering injuries, a trait known as a Zenkai boost. This growth culminates in his signature transformation, Super Saiyan Rosé. This form is his divine equivalent of the Super Saiyan Blue transformation used by Goku and Vegeta. Where their godly ki turns their hair blue, Black's divine soul combined with Goku's Saiyan body results in a distinctive pinkish-rose hue. In this form, his power is immense, and he can create weapons of pure energy, such as a blade of light or a scythe that can tear holes in the fabric of space-time.
Black Goku possesses a wide array of notable abilities derived from both his original divine nature and his stolen Saiyan body. He can use the Instant Transmission technique to teleport and a corrupted version of Goku's signature Kamehameha wave, often called the Black Kamehameha. He also wields the God Split Cut, an energy blade he projects from his hand for close-quarters combat. His most dangerous trait is his rapid rate of growth; as he fights, he not only increases his power but also seamlessly integrates Goku's fighting instincts and techniques into his own, becoming a more perfect warrior with every battle. Eventually, realizing he and Future Zamasu cannot defeat Goku and Vegeta separately, he uses the Potara earrings to fuse with his immortal partner, creating a supremely powerful and unstable being known as Fused Zamasu.