The moment has finally arrived to choose sides! Traveling all the way from the now defunct planet of Krypton and weighing a bulky 235 lbs, we have the Man of Steel himself, Superman! Debuting back in 1938, The Last Son of Krypton is a veteran of the game and has bested many promising challengers over the years. Comparatively speaking, Superman's opponent is somewhat of a youngster, but many believe that Son Goku is destined to topple Kal-El! Coming in at a lean 136 pounds, the Saiyan from Planet Vegeta will need to make use of his electrifying speed to stand a chance against the Man of Tomorrow!
What is the meaning of life? Why is there something rather than nothing? Ever since the dawn of civilization, humankind has pondered numerous philosophical queries with no apparent explanation. As society adapts and prioritizes change, each new era births a slew of puzzling inquiries capable of keeping the best and brightest awake at night. Among many other conundrums, the digital age presented a brain teaser that, like history's prominent profound mysteries, has yet to be solved: who would win in a fight between Goku and Superman? In spite of the earnest attempts by a myriad of brave souls to solve this riddle, a definitive result has yet to be reached. In periods of desperation, the only viable solution is to reference the definitive literary publications of the era!
Here are 25 Goku Vs. Superman memes that are too hilarious for words!
25 Superman Poses For His Mug Shot
Superman is never going to live down Man of Steel. Over the span of two hours, nearly a century of good-will and browny-points were erased due to Zack Snyder's insistent need to break a couple of toys. Snyder defended the film's destruction by stating there must be consequences for a hero's actions on Earth. While we can appreciate the sentiment, the director seems unable to grasp why people were upset with Man of Steel's final battle.
Consequences are fine, but Superman should care.
Kal-El's arrival on Earth instigated the chain of events that led to Metropolis serving as a bullseye for General Zod, and that is completely fine. The problem was that Superman failed to take into account the collateral damage that would arise from fighting in a populated area. The destruction might have been unavoidable but Kent did not even try to relocate the fight to a safer area, which went against the hero's entire history. Even if the delivery was rather clunky, cheesy, and borderline terrible; if nothing else, Justice League showed Superman prioritizing the life of a single family over the big bad. Yes, the moment zapped any of Steppenwolf's remaining mystique, but Superman would make that decision.
24 When A Krypton Dances With A Saiyan
Well, the internet pretty much loses its head whenever this "what if" scenario is brought up, so the world is not that far of a stretch. In terms of pure power, Goku and Superman unquestionably have enough intensity to reenact the ending of Netflix's spoilers. Frankly, if Clark can erase an entire galaxy by sneezing and Frieza only needs a split-second to edit Earth out of existence, then a no-holds-barred contest between these two heroes could easily ruin a planet or two. Yq6's meme almost works, but it forgets to take into account the characters' personalities. Regardless of the situation, Supes and Kakarot would never risk the planet's safety merely for a fun brawl.
If set in Dragon Ball Z's universe, they would find some deserted wasteland or spend an hour in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. With regards to DC, Metropolis has become accustomed to reconstructing its skyscrapers, so what is another battle between superpowered aliens? By this point, it is only another Tuesday. ScrewAttack's fantasy matches tend to disregard the characteristics of the participants, which makes the entire thing rather pointless. Goku and Superman are far more than the summation of their special moves and powers!
23 Goku Takes The Gold, Superman Settles For Silver
Yeah, right. When has Goku ever settled for anything short of perfection? Putting aside the Cell Saga, which saw Dragon Ball Z temporarily push Gohan as the king, Goku reacts to a loss by trying to outdo his better. While this meme is rather hilarious and a wonderful slap in the face to readers who believe Superman can trounce Kakarot, its sentiments completely betrays Goku's way of life. While DC rarely depicts Superman lifting weights or running field, Dragon Ball Z relies on training to overcome a superior opponent. Work hard and the impossible is made tangible. Despite Vegeta constantly falling short of his arch-rival, Goku would never attempt to console his friend by promoting acceptance. Saiyans are above giving-up.
Is it okay to be second best? Possibly, but history favors winners and silver medalists will always be known as the first losers. Superman does not strive to be the best in the universe, but the Kryptonian should be willing to push himself beyond his limits. With the Gods of Destruction and Zeno, Goku ranks a couple of levels below Dragon Ball Z's strongest fighters; however, the Saiyan is hardly going to accept being second best!
22 The Difference Between Genius And Stupidity
Yeah, Dragon Ball Super is a terrible pick to depict Goku as some kind of wise sensei who understands the limits of his own abilities. Putting aside the numerous idiotic choices made by the Saiyan during any series in the anime, which venture far past negligence to straight-up incompetence, Goku and limits do not really go together. Sure, the hero might suffer defeat and resort to training to try and overcome his opponent, an area that DC has neglected to expand upon when it comes to Superman, but there is no limit to Goku's potential.
If Super Saiyan 2 falls short of expectations, there is always Super Saiyan 3. Or, if need be, Super Saiyan 4...Yes, it counts.
The main difference between the two aliens is the process in which they master their limitations, with Superman relying more on the Justice League and Goku opting to work up a sweat. The latter suggests that Kakarot is aware of his boundaries, but they are nothing more than temporary barriers that will eventually be shattered. While it is a pretty cool message, hard work can only take someone so far and Goku has yet to face a threat that cannot be overwhelmed with a fancy power-up. Just wait until Dragon Ball introduces Ultra Instinct 2.
21 Hulk Smashed (With A Side Of Kryptonian)
As the old adage goes, Hulk's strength is determined by his rage meter. In theory, this means Bruce Banner's alter-ego is not restricted by any ceiling and, with the right motivation, should be able to trounce any opponent. Here is the thing, the Hulk is not always angry. Thor: Ragnarok presented the green giant in a far more docile state, while the Hulk endured a smackdown in Avengers: Infinity War. Despite the famous "I'm always angry" line from Joss Whedon's The Avengers, the Hulkster is capable of experiencing other emotions besides anger. What if the anti-hero exhibited fear or happiness? If rage serves to make him stronger, then the reverse holds true. As a result, a timid Hulk is a weak Hulk.
Closer to a comic than a meme, Goku bested DC and Marvel's best without needing to rely on Super Saiyan Blue or Ultra Instinct. If the comic is set prior to the events of Dragon Ball Super, then Goku's Super Saiyan 3 form can only be maintained for a couple of minutes. At most, Hulk and Superman lasted for the duration of a Rocket League match that concluded within regular time. While our allegiance belongs to the Saiyan, Banner and Clark are being laughably underestimated.
20 Vegeta, Those Are Fighting Words!
Considering the Saiyan has a habit of underestimating his opponents, Vegeta should really keep his opinions to himself. Surely, he has not already forgotten what happened against Cell? Those type of blunders cannot simply be waived off as inexperience; no, the Prince of Saiyans perfected the art of bravado. Sticking with the situation presented in the meme, at the very least, Superman is strong enough for Goku to feel the need to transform into Super Saiyan 3. If the battle tackles place during Dragon Ball Z, the Last Son of Krypton is already stronger than Vegeta. However, the bottom picture suggests the meme is set during one of the recent movies or Dragon Ball Super; if that were to be the case, Goku is definitely holding back.
Super Saiyan 3 is obsolete.
Either way, Vegeta should just mind his own business. Despite everyone and their mothers aching to watch this fight, leave it to Vegeta to try and ruin the mood! Extending the premise beyond the central characters and focusing exclusively on the Justice League, Batman would be Vegeta's logical adversary, although the latter is unlikely to go easy on the superhero. The Prince of Saiyans is just jealous that Kakarot got to fight the big dog!
19 Cool...
While the meme's origins are fuzzy, the awesome top picture was drawn and uploaded by Wizyakuza. Covering a wide range of beloved anime and western animation, the author's portfolio is packed with dozens of gorgeous art pieces and features a slew of unexpected crossovers. Unlike every other chosen entry for this list, Goku and Superman are fighting on the same side! In the source material, Vegeta serves as Goku's fusion partner, but Dragon Ball Fusion presents gamers with an overabundance of opportunities to experiment with unique combinations. Separately, these two can hold their own against anyone, but together they are unstoppable!
Nevertheless, Saitama wins...
One-Punch Man's gimmick is that Saitama only needs a solitary hit to defeat any opponent. As the character's defining characteristic, the "hero for fun" would not be himself without this trait. Dragon Ball's entire roster could fuse and train for a thousand years but they would still be squashed by Saitama. While the manga has successfully expanded upon its initial premise, at heart, the bald hero remains a joke character. Goku and Superman are simply not equipped to win in a contest against someone like Saitama.
18 K.O. (Or, Is It?)
Superman's pedigree speaks for itself, but the Kryptonian is far from infallible. The meme's panel refers to the 1978 comic book that saw Superman and Muhammad Ali engage in a boxing match to determine the ideal fighter to defend Earth against an alien invader. As the contest took place on a planet orbiting a red star, Superman's powered were rendered mute and the contenders relied on their boxing skills to achieve victory. Despite getting a couple of pointers from Ali, Clark is clearly the underdog and acts as little more than a moving punching bag for the legendary boxer.
Taking into account the comic's context, this implies that Goku had to transform into Super Saiyan to overwhelm a powerless Superman who struggled against Muhammad Ali. If that was not depressing enough, Kakarot resorted to using his signature move and Clark still managed to survive the attack in one piece. We are going to go out on a limb and say this meme was attempting to imply something different, but context should never be discredited. Afterall, Ali is sitting right next to Superman! Such a blatant detail cannot be ignored!
17 Nevermind
Cool, so that is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. For the record, Goku and Superman would be the former and latter respectively. Starting from the hilarious exaggerated character designs and leading to the unprecedented explosion, this comic is close to flawless. Straight-forward and personable, what we got here is a pure story that, surely, should be taken at face-value. What could there possibly be worth analyzing in such a narrative?
Challenge accepted.
At first glance, the destruction of the Earth appears to have been caused due to Goku and Superman shaking hands. Both characters are capable of reducing a planet to rubble with a single touch, but DC and Dragon Ball Z's protagonists are generally depicted as being in full control of their power. A handshake should be possible without risking the end of days. If the shake did not directly cause the "kroom," then what is to blame? After carefully considering the parties involved and the information presented in the comic, the only remaining conclusion is that it was a coincidence. Goku and Superman just happened to be shaking hands when someone pushed the doomsday button. As they are by far the strongest people on the planet, they survived unscathed, although they have to live with the unfounded assumption that this is all their fault.
16 Counting Your Gokus Before They Hatch
Seriously, how could anyone mistake Yamcha for Goku? Sure, they might wear the same Gi and have long black hair, but the former lacks any of the latter's presence or charisma. Crucially, Batman is meant to be the world's greatest detective, but Brucey cannot tell the difference between Goku and Yamcha? Did the crime-fighter forget to pack a pokédex with him? Superman just seems confused by this sudden turn of events, while Yamcha deserves props for successfully lasting in a fight against DC's iconic heroes.
Apparently, this meme is meant to be taken with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, this stuff is serious business and we refuse to not analyze every miniature detail! For example, was Spider-Man hiding in the sea? Why did he wait so long to interfere? Also, Yamcha could easily have set the record straight by clarifying that he is not Goku. Batman and Superman tend to only get involved in battles when provoked, so they are hardly going to stage a search party to locate the Saiyan. Furthermore, someone must have told them that Yamcha is Goku, but why go through the trouble? Even if the martial artist puts up a decent contest, there was always going to be one outcome.
15 Superman's Impossible Dream
Partially due to the outcome of ScrewAttack's video pitting everyone's favorite Kryptonian against the world's second most beloved Saiyan, there has been a tremendous influx of "Goku vs. Superman" related memes. While we would not go as far as to describe it as a trend, the former tends to get the upper hand. As individual characters, Kakarot and Clark Kent both have huge fan bases and are recognized around the world, but there does seem to be a preference for the Saiyan. This might have to do with their respective heydays, as Goku was among the definitive heroes of the '90s. Nostalgia is a powerful tool and precious few series carry as much weight as Dragon Ball Z. On the other hand, the '90s saw comic books experience something of an identity crisis and, by that point, Superman was an old-timer with more than half-a-century of experience.
That is not to say that Superman lacks fame, but the hero is not synonymous with any of the recent decades. One might argue that the Last Son of Krypton is a timeless figure, but Goku served as a generation's mascot and hero. Funny meme, but Superman's ability to breathe in space tends to change depending on the time period. Also, why is he sleeping in his suit?!?
14 Hands Of Steel (With A Guest Appearance By...)
Okay, this might anger quite a few people, but Goku would struggle in an honest test of strength against Superman. While there is little point comparing the two franchises, as the universes function on completely different logic, Kent is depicted as far more of a powerhouse than Bardock's son. To give credit were credit is due, Dragon Ball Z's protagonist packs a ridiculous punch, but he is no Broly. While brawling seems to be his favorite past-time, Kakarot depends on speed and energy blasts to outlast his opponents. In a contest pivoted on nothing more than raw force, Goku is not even Dragon Ball's top dog. Remember, this means that he cannot transform into Super Saiyan and Ultra Instinct is surely out of the question, while Superman would be functioning at the height of his power.
Lurking in the background and looking incredibly shady, the Dark Knight is patiently waiting to see who comes out on top. Even though this inclusion is a pretty awesome Easter Egg, Batman hardly seems like the type of person who would be fascinating by an arm wrestling match. On the other hand, we can totally picture Vegeta challenging the winner to a match. Whatever the outcome, the odds are not in the Prince of Saiyans' favor!
13 A Rock-Solid Case
Certain memes refuse to retire! How many times has Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka delivered a sarcastic one-liner? One does not simply create a meme without consulting Buzz Lightyear or Jean-Luc Picard. Dating back nearly a decade, this exchange from Race to Witch Mountain continues to be dragged out in the light for a cheap joke. Yes, Dwayne Johnson's astonished facial expression is comedic gold, but he is hardly the first actor to accurately portray the emotion of surprise. Admittedly, acting is far from our strong point, but emoting has to be taught during basic training.
Starring in Bridge to Terabithia, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Jumper; in the late 2000s, AnnaSophia Robb's filmography was a sight better than Johnson's record. The actress' career seems to be going fine, but there is no doubt that the Rock owns this meme. If you can be substituted with a baby and the results remain unchanged, then you are nothing more than a glorified extra. It is probably all for the best, as who is not sick of seeing this meme? Race to Witch Mountain was not even that good of a film!
12 Logic, Thy Name Is Goku?
Man of Steel launched the DC Extended Universe with a literal bang. Reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, Zack Snyder's blockbuster opted for a grim aesthetic and tone. To be fair, Clark Kent's existence has hardly consisted of nothing but rainbows and hugs, so Man of Steel did not tread any new territory. On the other hand, Superman spends the vast majority of the film's second half smashing buildings, cars, and pavements.
In some ways, Man of Steel was groundbreaking...
This meme points to the climactic battle between Superman and General Zod set in the once prosperous city of Metropolis. While science and comic books exist in completely separate worlds, Man of Steel paints a rather troubling picture. Due to the backlashing resulting from Kent disregard for collateral damage, the DC Extended Universe has made it a habit to state that battles are taken place in areas devoid of people. With regards to Dragon Ball Z, the villains seem to always be accommodating enough to relocate fights to mostly desolate areas. Just to be clear, Goku does not truly have much of a say on the matter, as he just tends to follow the action. Lest anyone forgets, Kakarot's transformation into Super Saiyan 3 triggered multiple earthquakes and tsunamis.
11 The Saiyan's Gift
Dragon Ball Super was not the first to question Goku's intelligence, as the Saiyan commits a few questionable acts during Dragon Ball Z. Arguably, the protagonist's most controversial moment involves handing over a Senzu bean to Cell prior to his fight against Gohan. While Dr. Gero's ultimate android was beyond Kakarot's capabilities, the latter still managed to inflict quite a reasonable amount of damage against the antagonist, presenting Gohan with seemingly an advantage. Unfortunately, Goku's brain went missing and he returned Cell to prime condition.
Goku appreciates a fair-fight, so that could have influenced his reasoning, but this move might have been strategic in nature. Even if Cell presented the event as a tournament, the supervillain was not above fighting dirty and a wounded animal is far more dangerous than a comfortable one. Goku wished to trigger Gohan's transformation into Super Saiyan 2, therefore Cell needed to toy with the Saiyan. With regards to the meme, presumably, Superman and Goku were fighting for fun, so sportsmanlike conduct dictates that the Saiyan shares a Senzu bean with his defeated opponent. Goku's decision-making skills might leave something to be desired, but the dude has never been anything but a nice guy.
10 Goku Vs. Superman (Featuring Angelina Jolie)
Wait, 2009? Sir, are you implying that this debate has been raging on for nearly a decade and had nothing to do with any YouTube video? Well, maybe there actually is no answer to this age-old conundrum! Created and uploaded by Tienchyu, this mock-poster is mouth-wateringly good! Goku and Superman seem absolutely determined to reduce their opponent to a stain on the pavement! Man, 2009 would have been the perfect year for a live-action Dragon Ball film!
No ideas, Hollywood...
Apparently, Angelina Jolie is the attached name predict to fill in the seats. In a movie selling itself around two buff dudes duking it out, Jolie is taking center stage. Assuming this is an animated flick with the cast lending their voices, the celebrity should either portray Lois Lane or Bulma, although the former is more likely to play a pivotal role in the story. Alternatively, Jolie might just be voicing Goku. Alec Baldwin, Micheal Clark Duncan, and George Clooney round up the rest of the cast, while Tienchyu is set to direct. Coming across such an expertly put together poster only serves to make us hungrier for the real deal! Come on DC and Toei, this crossover would print money!
9 Foreshadowing
Okay, what event is this meme referring to exactly? As the picture is taken from Dragon Ball Z, the first metal that comes to mind has to be "katchin," a solid material described as one of the hardest metals in Toriyama's universe. The substance was introduced during the Majin Buu Saga and acted as the final test to check whether Gohan mastered the Z-Sword. Goku, who could lift the metal without any difficulty, flung it toward Gohan to see if the sword could cut through it. The end result was rather unexpected.
However, Dragon Ball Super depicts countless of fighters destroying an arena made up of a more durable version of "katchin," s0 Goku can definitely break steel. As we pride ourselves on being fair, Superman can probably do the same. "Hands of Steel" is nothing more than a nickname to imply that Kent's fists are extremely tough, so Goku's past feats are irrelevant. On the other hand, this meme works as a solid taunt and serves to spice up the pre-match banter between the two fighters. Admittedly, Kakarot rarely opts to mock his opponents or tries to cut them down to size; no, that is more Vegeta's calling card.
8 Tears Of A Saiyan
Unless something is flying over our heads, technically this entry shifts focus away from Goku and Superman. While he might have stolen Kent's superhero name, Cyborg Superman is actually Henry Henshaw who used to work for LexCorp's space team. An astronaut and an unfortunate crew member of the Excalibur shuttle, Henry is exposed to cosmic radiation and barely survives the experience. Eventually, this leads to the formation of Cyborg Superman, who blames Kent for the tragedic event. As a supervillain, Hackshaw presents Superman with a decent enough challenge, although he quickly drops the clone gimmick and establishes himself as the Cyborg.
To be perfectly honest, we are not sure if this meme is referring to normal or Cyborg Superman, as the headline just reads "Goku vs. Superman." Regardless of the author's intention, the imagery is undoubtedly enticing. The meme's notes expand upon the idea stating that this is set in an alternate reality where the real Superman failed to make a comeback after his fight with Doomsday. Grieving over the loss of his best friend, Goku accepted the responsibility of taking over as Earth's protector. Okay, so that is Cyborg Superman...
7 Goku V Superman: Dawn Of Outrage
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice managed to get quite a few things wrong, but the trailer was not one of them. Atmospheric and littered with cool little lines, we could hardly wait to buy tickets for Zack Synder's film. Why are Batman and Superman on opposing sides? Is Kal-El's overwhelming strength messing with his head? How much can Ben Affleck bench press? Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice promised to answer these questions and a lot more! Sadly, in this case, context ruined everything!
Polishing a turd does not make it any less of a disappointment, but adding a Goku into the equation should vastly improve matters.
Batman is a decent strategist, but the only way to present an unpredictable fight between the heroes is to severely handicap Superman. Otherwise, there would be no contest. Just to be clear, that is not meant to be taken as a criticism of Batman's physical prowess, as only an idiot would decline to exercise every advantage at his disposal before engaging in a dangerous confrontation. If nothing else, Goku allows Clark to bring his A-game and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice's trailer line sounds considerably more convincing coming from the Saiyan.
6 Brothers In Arms
Honestly, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Superman would never contemplate fighting anyone who is not deemed a threat to Metropolis or Earth, while Goku only really gets serious when there are innocent lives on the line. However, the Saiyan cannot resist testing an opponent capable of providing a challenge and Superman fits the bill. Dragon Ball Z's Goku would probably be able to control himself, although the same cannot be said for Dragon Ball Super's incarnation. Even after King Kai forbade the Saiyan from picking a fight against Beerus, Goku had to find a way to test him. Shockingly, it did not go well!
Taking both of their personalities into account, we imagine Goku would pester Superman until he agrees to a friendly match. In other words, the meme is mostly accurate but they would be training partners rather than friends. One of the heroes would need to turn evil in order for a proper fight to occur, but such a development requires their personality to be significantly altered, rendering the whole contest mute. If such a crossover was ever to achieve realization, Goku and Superman would trade fists for a couple of minutes before setting their sights on the real enemy.