Where to begin with Son Goku? A Saiyan raised on Earth with a penchant for large meals and explosive combat, Goku redefined what it meant to be a Shonen protagonist. Characters like Naruto and Luffy owe a lot of who they are to Dragon Ball’s greatest hero. When it comes to personality, Goku’s the father of an entire archetype that still exists to this day. It can be easy to look at a trio like Goku, Luffy, and Naruto and assume they’re all basically the same, but Goku has something the other two don’t: a Saiyan body.
While a lot can, and should, be said about Goku as a person, it’s also important to recognize the uniqueness of a protagonist with an inherently alien body. So much of what makes Goku memorable is what he can do and what he can endure. He has one of the widest rosters of techniques in the franchise, and the sheer abuse he undergoes through combat is near unprecedented. He’s one of the most active main characters in manga history, and he owes it all to his bizarre body. Dragon Ball fans have documented a lot about the famous character's physical traits throughout his journey in Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super — not to mention the various films that have sprung out of Akira Toriyama's incredible franchise.
25 His Hair Keeps Changing Shape
For as iconic as Goku’s hair is, it actually doesn’t have a consistent shape. Promo art for the anime tends to keep Goku’s larger hair spikes on the right of his body, but the manga constantly fluctuates the positioning and shape of his hair. Early on, Goku’s hair is far bushier and less defined than what most fans are used to. It isn’t until the 21st Budokai that his spikes start to really take a form of their own. At the same time, though, his hair has a voluptuous nature early on not present later.
It isn’t until the 21st Budokai that his spikes start to really take a form of their own.
When the 23rd Budokai comes around, Goku’s hair has finally settled into a defined shape, but the positioning of his spikes often changes depending on the scene. Both the anime and the manga shift the placing in regards to what would look better for the scene or panel. In that regard, Goku’s hair can almost be compared to Mickey Mouse’s ears. They’re both iconic, but they don’t exactly have a defined consistency.
24 Goku’s Not That Tall
Given Goku’s growth spurt after the Demon King Piccolo arc and his height compared to most of the main cast in Dragon Ball Z, it’s easy to get the impression that Goku’s taller than he actually is. Considering he’s also not much shorter than the 7’5 Piccolo, the series definitely gives off the impression of a larger than life Son Goku. The truth is, Goku is actually only 5’9.
While he’s definitely taller than the average Japanese man, which would be Toriyama’s main comparison point in designing Goku, he still falls on the short side compared to other protagonists. Goku’s main Western counterpart, Superman, for instance, is a solid 6’3. It certainly doesn’t help that the anime portrays other characters like Krillin shorter than they actually are, making Goku appear much taller by comparison.
23 Goku Might Actually Be Three Years Older Than He Thinks
Dragon Ball Minus’ retcons are some of the biggest in the franchise, but no one gets dealt as weird a hand as Goku. For years, his backstory involved him being sent to Earth as a baby, but Minus changed that to him being sent to Earth at the age of three. Along with doing absolutely nothing meaningful for the story, this change also puts Goku’s age throughout the series into question.
Since Roshi says that Grandpa Gohan found Goku as a baby, are we meant to believe that Gohan knew he was three or that he simply assumed he was newborn? Logic aside, does this mean Goku is three years older than he thinks? Or does it just mean Roshi’s comment is off? If it’s the former, it took Goku quite a long time to hit puberty. If it’s the latter, what was once an important comment from Roshi becomes a throwaway line. Either way, all Dragon Ball Minus does is cause confusion.
22 Kid Goku Must Have Had Been Able To Inherently Channel Ki
Dragon Ball Super makes a plot point out of Goku letting down his guard on at least twice: the first during Resurrection F when Goku gets pierced through the heart after trying to spare Freeza, and the second at the start of the Universe Survival arc when he gets shot by a random criminal. The idea behind these instances is to give Goku a fatal flaw he needs to overcome, but they contradict a detail from the start of the series.
The reason Goku gets damaged is because he doesn't keep his guard, or Ki, up.
When Goku and Bulma first meet, Bulma shoots him in the head and he survives with no damage. Super makes it clear this shouldn’t happen, but there is a workaround: Goku had inherent Ki as a child. The reason Goku gets damaged is that he doesn't keep his guard, or Ki, up. As a child, though, he always keeps it up because he doesn’t know how to control it. It’s the best of both worlds: theory crafting based in canon.
21 Goku Is Afraid Of Needles
For whatever reason, Toei decided a fun filler idea would be to incorporate a fear of needles into Goku’s character. It’s a topic that comes up quite prominently in Dragon Ball GT, to the point where Goku hides to avoid an injection. While it’s silly that someone as powerful and fearless as Goku would suffer from needle phobia, it’s the kind of silliness that makes perfect sense for Dragon Ball. It may not have much basis in Toriyama’s intentions for the character, but it’s a cute quirk that helps humanize Goku and bring him down to Earth just a little bit more. Even if it’s mainly from Dragon Ball GT — which a lot of fans take issue with on its face.
20 Super Saiyan 3 Takes A Serious Toll On Goku’s Body
More than any other form in the series, Super Saiyan 3 is a massive liability that may as well be forgotten after the Buu arc. Every time Goku uses, it ends in complete failure, and a big reason for that may be because of the toll SSJ3 takes on the body. Almost like a bizarro version of Kaioken, SSJ3 is a Ki demanding transformation that only lasts for about a minute before losing its usability.
Super Saiyan 3 is so unstable that it may even be impossible to master
With a mortal body, even trying to charge up his Ki for SSJ3 is impossible. While fighting Kid Buu, Goku leaks more Ki than he gains because of the form’s ferocity. Super Saiyan 3 is so unstable that it may even be impossible to master like Super Saiyan 1 or Super Saiyan 2. As far as transformations go, it’s one that only works if you can use it to defeat your opponent immediately.
19 Kid Goku Couldn’t Handle The Room Of Spirit And Time
Introduced in the Cell saga, but never referenced before it, the Room of Spirit and Time is that magical room that lets you train for an entire year over the course of a real world day. In order not to make it seem like such a big retcon, Toriyama had Goku mention that he tried to train in there as a child, but could only handle one month before getting overwhelmed. When you consider what the Room of Spirit and Time is actually like, it makes quite a lot of sense.
The air is thin and dry, it’s implied you have to cook Popo’s provisions yourself for food, and the all-white background means there’s the psychological side effect of losing your sense of time. For a young Goku fresh from just defeating Demon King Piccolo, it’s no wonder why he would give up. The RoSaT is truly a harsh environment, and it’s made even harsher when you’re there all alone.
18 Goku’s Very First Doppelganger
Before Goku Black and before Bardock, there was another Goku look-alike who took the series by storm: Tullece. Also known as Turles, Tullece was the main villain of the third Dragon Ball Z film, Tree of Might. Despite looking exactly like Goku, the two have absolutely no relation. Instead, Tullece implies that their appearances are simply the result of them both being lower class Saiyans.
Tullece implies that their appearances are simply the result of them both being lower class Saiyans.
Narratively, Tullece was meant to represent a Goku who hadn’t bumped his head as a child. The appearance was meant to make audiences uncomfortable, as Tullece would effectively be a physical representation of all the atrocities Goku could and would have committed with his natural Saiyan instinct. In that regard, he might be a more thematically compelling doppelganger than Bardock or Goku Black.
17 Goku Black’s Slim Physique
One of the best, and strangest, elements of Goku Black’s design is the slim physique he takes on in comparison to regular Goku. It’s likely just shorthand meant to allow viewers to differentiate the two at first glance, but it’s nonetheless an inspired decision that makes Goku Black quite aesthetically pleasing. His lean body, thin face, and less defined hairstyle contrasts him perfectly with the bulkier, fuller Goku. It also helps foreshadow the Zamasu twist. If you look at both characters, you’ll realize Goku Black actually takes his body shape from Zamasu. It’s the perfect way of representing Zamasu’s snatching of Goku’s body.
16 Goku Was Going To Be A Straight Up Monkey
Before Son Goku was Son Goku, he was Sun Wukong from Journey to the West. The Monkey King himself was Toriyama’s inspiration for both Dragon Ball and its main character. While Toriyama would ultimately settle on a young boy with a monkey tail for his main character, he originally drew Goku as a straight up replica of Sun Wukong.
Goku’s Sun Wukong influence is one of his best elements, but making him a full-on monkey is a bit too on the nose
This miniature monkey would have been our hero for years to come, but Toriyama ended up redrawing him to match the Goku we all know and love. When it comes down to it, it’s honestly for the best he changed his mind. Goku’s Sun Wukong influence is one of his best elements, but making him a full-on monkey is a bit too on the nose for a series like Dragon Ball.
15 Goku And The Traditional Saiyan Haircut
Remember Tullece’s comment that lower class Saiyans look alike? You can take it as an awkward explanation as to why he and Goku are virtually carbon copies, but there might be an explanation that causes his statement to make complete sense: hair. Haircuts, to be exact. If you change Tullece’s haircut, he and Goku wouldn’t look that much alike. They’d have similar eyes, but their skin tones are completely different and Tullece has is drawn far sharper than Goku. It’s the hair that forces them to look alike. When you take into account Bardock, the poster boy for lower class Saiyans, the theory starts to hold quite a bit of water. Lower class Saiyans tend to grow Goku’s hairstyle.
14 Goku’s Body Cannot Handle Ultra Instinct
Introduced as the definitive technique of the Gods, Ultra Instinct naturally runs the risk of making Goku too powerful. The Tournament of Power played with the concept by forcing Goku to master it and later revealing he can’t trigger it on his own, but it’s clear we’ll see him use it again. Thankfully, 130 had Ultra Instinct reject Goku’s body without a clear resolution, ensuring that Ultra Instinct will always run the risk of betraying Goku, putting him in an incredible amount of danger and keeping battles tense. Going forward, each usage of UI will maintain some of its initial impact, something, not even the Super Saiyan transformation could keep up.
13 Super Saiyan 3 Likely Can’t Be Developed With A Mortal Body
During his seven years in the afterlife following the events of the Cell Games, Goku takes advantage of all his free time to train with the world’s greatest martial arts, learn fusion, and develop Super Saiyan to new heights. By taking advantage of his newfound stamina and Ki control, Goku pushed SSJ past its Super Saiyan 2 limits and transcended into a Super Saiyan 3. Once the halo’s off, though, he realizes SSJ3 is unsustainable with a mortal body.
Not a single character has managed to develop Super Saiyan 3 with a natural body.
With the exception of Gotenks, an all-powerful fusion, not a single character has managed to develop Super Saiyan 3 with a natural body. Considering the intense level of strain it puts on the body, it’s entirely possible that SSJ3 cannot be developed while still alive. Super Saiyan 2 is one thing, since it’s really just an extension of the regular SSJ, but SSJ3 is a beastly transformation that takes the form to an extreme.
12 The Curious Case Of Goku’s Tan
One of the most interesting aspects of Goku’s design is the tan he sometimes has. In the manga, Toriyama occasionally colors Goku tanner than other characters on the rare occasion when he doesn’t stick to his typical black and white color scheme. In the anime, Goku is kept tan for the entirety of Dragon Ball GT. Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and the franchise’s promo art keep Goku whiter along with Toriyama’s current drawings of Goku. It’s a rather strange situation, but it’s likely Toriyama intended Goku to have a little bit of a tan even if it’s been basically phased out. Needless to say, this is a factonly true fans are paying attention to — but its fascinating all the same.
11 Goku Is Older Than His Body
One of the side effects of being dead in Dragon Ball is coming to terms with the fact that you’re going to be older than your body. By the end of the series, Goku has spent a total of eight years in the afterlife, meaning he should be eight years older than he is physically. When you take the Room of Spirit and Time into account, however, the age conundrum gets a bit more complicated since the RoSaT ages you physically. In spending almost one year there in the original series and then three in Dragon Ball Super, Goku is still four years older than his physical body. It's a little creepy when you think about it, but another wacky (and aweome) part of the Dragon Ball unvierse.
10 Goku Always Says Good-bye On His Own Accord
Dragon Ball is no stranger to death. You can pick just about any arc and find some poor soul who unfortunately passes away in the line of combat. Goku is an interesting case, though. While he’s not immune to the dangers of the Dragon Ball universe, his deaths, at least in the main timeline, have a unique element to them: they’re a result of his own actions. Other characters get defeated in battle, but Goku chooses to sacrifice himself.
Other characters get defeated in battle, but Goku chooses to sacrifice himself.
Dragon Ball Z effectively opens with Goku sacrificing himself against Raditz. Yes, he was outclassed, but the original plan was to defeat Raditz without any casualties, but it slowly became obvious the two brothers would have to go out together. Come the Cell Games, Goku realizes he needs to sacrifice himself to teleport an exploding Cell off of Earth. Both untimely good-byes are a result of Goku realizing the importance of sacrifice.
9 Generation Xerox: From Bardock To Goku To Goten
There’s an interesting trend in Goku’s family: every second born male looks exactly like their father. As the firstborn, Raditz resembles his mother Gine more than his father, Bardock. As the second son, Goku looks exactly like Bardock. If you removed the scowl and the scar, they’d be carbon copies. This trend continues on to Goku’s own sons. Gohan definitely has similar features to Goku, but he also takes from Chichi. Goten, on the other hand, looks exactly like his father, especially as a child. While you can tell who’s who when putting Kid Goku and Goten next to each other, there’s an undeniable resemblance. Given Goku Jr. looks exactly like his great-grandfather in GT, it’s safe to assume the trend will continue for all of eternity.
8 The Virus Is Goku’s Fiercest Opponent
Although Goku’s prone to sacrifice in the main timeline, Trunks’ alternate history has him succumbing to a heart virus before his time. As this is a disease, Goku cannot be revived with the Dragon Balls. More importantly, though, an illness can take your life regardless of how strong are you. When Trunks tells Goku about the heart virus, he also mentions how even a Super Saiyan can’t fight a disease. Goku is someone who always pushes his limits to better his body, but you can’t better your body if your heart stops working. It’s a vicious realistic end to Goku’s life. Eat healthy, kids. If Goku can't handle it — you certainly can't. Unless you're the next Goku?
7 Goku Didn’t Keep His Body In Trunks’ Timeline
You know what’s more ferocious about Goku’s heart virus in Trunks’ timeline? It ensures he doesn’t get to keep his body. Both times Goku keeps his body in the afterlife in the main timeline, it’s special. Kami pulls strings the first time around, and Enma recognizes Goku’s heroism the second. By falling victim to the heart virus in Trunks’ future, before he can sacrifice himself to Cell, he dies in a natural, peaceful way. Goku becomes yet another soul waiting for reincarnation. What’s worse? Come Super, Goku’s erased with the rest of Trunks’ timeline. Not even healthy eating can save you from a fate like that. It's one of many fascinating differences between the different timlines.
6 Goku Has To Eat As Much As He Does
Goku is a big eater. It’s a trait so iconic, it’s infected the Shonen genre to this day. You can pick any Shonen protagonist at random and chances are they’re also fans of a nice dinner. Where the copycats are doing it out of homage, though, Goku does it out of necessity. Revealed in the sixth Dragon Book packaged with the Dragon Boxes, Saiyans are beings who need to eat. Their large meals are biologically necessary for giving them the energy they need to fight. When Goku’s powering through a couple dozen dishes in a half hour, it’s all to give him a necessary power boost. Bet most fans didn't think there was as much logic/thought put into it as there is — never underestimate Dragon Ball.