TV-Series
Description
Bardock is a fictional character from the Dragon Ball media franchise, best known as the biological father of the protagonist, Goku, whose original Saiyan name is Kakarot. He also has another elder son named Raditz. Bardock is a member of the Saiyan race, a warlike species of mercenaries with immense natural strength and the ability to manipulate ki energy. He is classified as a low-class Saiyan warrior, though he is considered one of the strongest within that rank. His name is a pun on "burdock," continuing the series tradition of naming Saiyans after vegetables.
In terms of appearance, Bardock bears a striking resemblance to his son Goku, sharing very similar facial features and spiky black hair. This resemblance often leads other characters who knew him to recognize the familial connection when they encounter Goku. The most distinctive difference is a long, thick scar running down his left cheek. He typically wears the dark blue and green battle armor of Frieza's Force, complete with a Scouter over his left eye, and is known for the blood-soaked red headband he wears during his final battle, which belonged to a fallen comrade.
Bardock's personality is complex, combining the typical Saiyan love for battle and destruction with a cooler, calmer level of judgment and a rare measure of humanity. While he can be as cold-blooded and ruthless as any Saiyan when conquering planets, he shows a deep sense of camaraderie and loyalty toward his fellow soldiers, particularly his platoon. His bravery is legendary among Saiyans, and he possesses a fearless, independent spirit. Unlike many of his race who became subservient to Frieza, Bardock retains the pure, proud nature of a warrior. He is also portrayed as a highly capable tactician in battle. Different versions of his story depict varying degrees of his paternal instincts. In his original appearance, he shows little initial interest in his newborn son Kakarot, who had a low power level. However, later canonical stories, such as Dragon Ball Minus and Dragon Ball Super: Broly, depict him as a caring father who, influenced by his wife Gine's gentle nature, makes a conscious decision to save his son by sending him to Earth to escape Frieza's impending genocide.
Bardock's motivations are driven by his loyalty, his desire for revenge, and ultimately a need to defy fate. He is first introduced leading his platoon on a mission to conquer the planet Kanassa. During the battle, one of the planet's surviving inhabitants uses a psychic attack that grants Bardock the ability to see into the future. These visions reveal the impending destruction of Planet Vegeta and his own race by the tyrant Frieza. His primary motivation shifts from conquest to a desperate attempt to change this grim future. After his entire platoon is betrayed and killed by Frieza's elite soldier Dodoria, his desire for revenge fuels his resolve. Unable to convince other Saiyans of the danger, he chooses to confront Frieza alone, hoping to alter the fate of his son and his people. In later interpretations, his motivation is more focused on ensuring the survival of his son, Kakarot.
Bardock plays a crucial but entirely posthumous role in the story of Dragon Ball Z as the father of Goku. His final stand against Frieza creates the backstory for Goku's origins as one of the last surviving Saiyans. In the original manga, he appears only in a couple of panels during Frieza's flashback, where the villain remarks on how Goku resembles the Saiyan who defied him. The specials and films expand on this role, portraying him as a tragic hero whose defiance and sacrifice set the stage for his son to eventually avenge their race. His actions in sending Kakarot to Earth directly lead to the events of the entire series.
Bardock has several key relationships that define him. His relationship with his wife, Gine, is unique among Saiyans, as they are joined by an emotional bond rather than a practical reproductive purpose. Gine is a gentle woman who was once on his team, and her kindness softens Bardock's harsh edges. He is the father of Raditz, the first major antagonist of Dragon Ball Z, and Kakarot, who becomes Goku. He shares a deep bond of friendship with his platoon members, including Tora, Fasha, Borgos, and Shugesh, and their deaths are the catalyst for his vengeful one-man war against Frieza's army.
The character has undergone notable development across different iterations. Originally created by Toei Animation for the 1990 television special Bardock The Father of Goku, his story was a tragic one of a hardened warrior who gains foresight and dies fighting a hopeless battle, smiling as he sees a vision of his son avenging him. The character was so popular that series creator Akira Toriyama incorporated him into the manga's canon. Later, Toriyama reworked the character for the Dragon Ball Minus manga chapter and the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly. In this version, his personality is softer, he is explicitly a caring and protective father, and his decision to send Goku to Earth is a calculated act of love rather than a dismissive afterthought. This version has become the established backstory for the main canon.
As a Saiyan, Bardock possesses a wide array of superhuman abilities, including super strength, speed, agility, reflexes, and the power of flight. He can manipulate his ki to project energy blasts, sense the energy of others, and enhance his own power. Like all Saiyans with a tail, he can transform into a Great Ape when looking at a full moon or using a Power Ball to generate the necessary Blutz Waves. His most notable trait is the precognitive ability he was cursed with on planet Kanassa, which allows him to see future events, particularly those related to his son and Frieza. His signature energy attack is the Final Spirit Cannon, also known as the Riot Javelin. In the non-canonical spin-off Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock, he is the first Saiyan to achieve the legendary Super Saiyan transformation in the ancient past. This and other advanced transformations, such as Super Saiyan 3 and 4, also appear in various video games. His power level is often cited as being close to 10,000 at the time of his death, which is exceptionally high for a low-class warrior.
In terms of appearance, Bardock bears a striking resemblance to his son Goku, sharing very similar facial features and spiky black hair. This resemblance often leads other characters who knew him to recognize the familial connection when they encounter Goku. The most distinctive difference is a long, thick scar running down his left cheek. He typically wears the dark blue and green battle armor of Frieza's Force, complete with a Scouter over his left eye, and is known for the blood-soaked red headband he wears during his final battle, which belonged to a fallen comrade.
Bardock's personality is complex, combining the typical Saiyan love for battle and destruction with a cooler, calmer level of judgment and a rare measure of humanity. While he can be as cold-blooded and ruthless as any Saiyan when conquering planets, he shows a deep sense of camaraderie and loyalty toward his fellow soldiers, particularly his platoon. His bravery is legendary among Saiyans, and he possesses a fearless, independent spirit. Unlike many of his race who became subservient to Frieza, Bardock retains the pure, proud nature of a warrior. He is also portrayed as a highly capable tactician in battle. Different versions of his story depict varying degrees of his paternal instincts. In his original appearance, he shows little initial interest in his newborn son Kakarot, who had a low power level. However, later canonical stories, such as Dragon Ball Minus and Dragon Ball Super: Broly, depict him as a caring father who, influenced by his wife Gine's gentle nature, makes a conscious decision to save his son by sending him to Earth to escape Frieza's impending genocide.
Bardock's motivations are driven by his loyalty, his desire for revenge, and ultimately a need to defy fate. He is first introduced leading his platoon on a mission to conquer the planet Kanassa. During the battle, one of the planet's surviving inhabitants uses a psychic attack that grants Bardock the ability to see into the future. These visions reveal the impending destruction of Planet Vegeta and his own race by the tyrant Frieza. His primary motivation shifts from conquest to a desperate attempt to change this grim future. After his entire platoon is betrayed and killed by Frieza's elite soldier Dodoria, his desire for revenge fuels his resolve. Unable to convince other Saiyans of the danger, he chooses to confront Frieza alone, hoping to alter the fate of his son and his people. In later interpretations, his motivation is more focused on ensuring the survival of his son, Kakarot.
Bardock plays a crucial but entirely posthumous role in the story of Dragon Ball Z as the father of Goku. His final stand against Frieza creates the backstory for Goku's origins as one of the last surviving Saiyans. In the original manga, he appears only in a couple of panels during Frieza's flashback, where the villain remarks on how Goku resembles the Saiyan who defied him. The specials and films expand on this role, portraying him as a tragic hero whose defiance and sacrifice set the stage for his son to eventually avenge their race. His actions in sending Kakarot to Earth directly lead to the events of the entire series.
Bardock has several key relationships that define him. His relationship with his wife, Gine, is unique among Saiyans, as they are joined by an emotional bond rather than a practical reproductive purpose. Gine is a gentle woman who was once on his team, and her kindness softens Bardock's harsh edges. He is the father of Raditz, the first major antagonist of Dragon Ball Z, and Kakarot, who becomes Goku. He shares a deep bond of friendship with his platoon members, including Tora, Fasha, Borgos, and Shugesh, and their deaths are the catalyst for his vengeful one-man war against Frieza's army.
The character has undergone notable development across different iterations. Originally created by Toei Animation for the 1990 television special Bardock The Father of Goku, his story was a tragic one of a hardened warrior who gains foresight and dies fighting a hopeless battle, smiling as he sees a vision of his son avenging him. The character was so popular that series creator Akira Toriyama incorporated him into the manga's canon. Later, Toriyama reworked the character for the Dragon Ball Minus manga chapter and the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly. In this version, his personality is softer, he is explicitly a caring and protective father, and his decision to send Goku to Earth is a calculated act of love rather than a dismissive afterthought. This version has become the established backstory for the main canon.
As a Saiyan, Bardock possesses a wide array of superhuman abilities, including super strength, speed, agility, reflexes, and the power of flight. He can manipulate his ki to project energy blasts, sense the energy of others, and enhance his own power. Like all Saiyans with a tail, he can transform into a Great Ape when looking at a full moon or using a Power Ball to generate the necessary Blutz Waves. His most notable trait is the precognitive ability he was cursed with on planet Kanassa, which allows him to see future events, particularly those related to his son and Frieza. His signature energy attack is the Final Spirit Cannon, also known as the Riot Javelin. In the non-canonical spin-off Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock, he is the first Saiyan to achieve the legendary Super Saiyan transformation in the ancient past. This and other advanced transformations, such as Super Saiyan 3 and 4, also appear in various video games. His power level is often cited as being close to 10,000 at the time of his death, which is exceptionally high for a low-class warrior.