It was definitely newsworthy when Goku made the stunning admission to the Panzy inDragon Ball Daimathat he wasn’t really involved as a father. Up until this moment, fans had been split onwhether Goku was a good father or not, in part, because of the handful of examples that had helped justify both sides of the argument. Part of this irregularity in opinions also stems from creator Akira Toriyama’s own obvious attempts at making Goku appear less heroic than most protagonists and being a deadbeat dad is anything but heroic.
In one interview, Toriyama actually referred toGoku’s shortcomings as a “‘poison’that slip[s] in and out of sight among the shadows.” Though it’s easy to point to Goku’s absence from Goten’s early life as major flaw, that can’t really be blamed on the powerful Saiyan warrior considering the fact that he was dead at the time. However, when it comes to Gohan, Goku was honestly selling himself short inDaima. There are numerous events that prove this, from Goku’s ultimate sacrifice for his son to the true reasons why he wasn’t present in Gohan’s life.
Goku Literally Died For Gohan
Goku Letting Piccolo Kill Him and Raditz Proves He Cares About His Eldest Son
If there was one scene that could disprove that Goku was a horrible father, it would be when Raditz kidnaps Gohan. Goku was distressed upon his son’s capture andwent out of his way to save him. If Goku wasn’t an involved parent, then he would have been more indifferent that his son was captured and more interested in fighting a powerful foe who was claiming to be his brother. Despite Goku’s hunger for battle, his primary focus is on protecting his son rather than on proving his strength.
In the end, Goku sacrifices his life by holding Raditz down for long enough that Piccolo is able to blow a hole through the two Saiyans. It’s noteworthy that this is the very first storyline afterDragon Ball’sbig timeskip (and where theDragon Ball Zanime begins). Goku’s first act as a father to many fans is this sacrifice, and it sets the tone for Goku and Gohan’s relationship going forward. Despite his flaws, Goku was willing to give up his life for Gohan.
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Goku’s time with King Kai after his battle can’t be interpreted as him abandoning his family, either. Goku had just been killed, and Kami had personally gotten involved so that the Saiyan could train with King Kai, which was also Goku’s best chance of defeating Vegeta and Nappa who were on their way to Earth. Goku’s friends had been instructed not to resurrect him with the Dragon Balls so he could spend more time training with King Kai. Ultimately,returning to Earth with less training would have resulted in his son’s death, alongside everyone else on Earth.
Goku Didn’t Choose To Go To Yardrat
The only training session that fans can really point to as being negligent is when Goku spends a year on Yardrat learning Instant Transmission after Planet Namek’s destruction. However, there are some important distinctions to make. Goku didn’t choose to go to a random planet rather than return home. Goku had boarded Ginyu’s ship, which transported him to Yardrat on autopilot. The people there just happened to know Instant Transmission (later known as an offshoot of Spirit Control). Goku was essentially just taking advantage of where he had already been taken beyond his control.
It’s also noteworthy that when relating his time on Yardrat to his friends in chapter #142, he said that he had little time there and had to cut his training short. It can be assumed that this was because he knew that Frieza was heading to Earth. With this development, Goku has now demonstrated a pattern,where he’s willing to cut his training short if his family, friends (and Gohan) are at risk.
Goku Proves He Is Willing to Compromise His Ideals for Gohan
Interestingly, in the very same chapter, Goku and Chi-Chi argue about whether Gohan should train to prepare for Androids #19 and #20. This is especially noteworthy because it’s the first time in the manga that they argue about their son. During the heated discussion, Goku tries to convince Chi-Chi that this will just be a short break from Gohan’s studies.He even admits that education is important for Gohanbut that, because the world could be destroyed, training must take precedence over studying.
Goku’s side of the argument shows that he’s willing tomake concessions about how Gohan is raised, even though he doesn’t really understand anything about what Chi-Chi wants for their son. The fact that Chi-Chi refuses to concede and claims she doesn’t care if the Earth will be destroyed onlypositions Goku as a more reasonable parent.
This scene gains even more perspective 20 installments later in chapter #172 when Goku promises Chi-Chi that, in return for allowing Gohan to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to defeat Cell, he will never interfere in their son’s studies again.ByDragon Ball Super, it’s clear that Goku has kept his promisesince Gohan has been pursuing his studies without interruptions and Goku even gets a few jobs.
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Although Goku has displayed some problematic behavior unbecoming of a parent, this doesn’t necessarily prove he’s a bad father. That’s because Goku is “human” or, as he always claims, an Earthling, as opposed to a Saiyan. He is just a deeply flawed character, like most people. Whenever Goku doesn’t act like a hero, it doesn’t mean that he’s not one. The same can be said of his role as a father.
Probably just as important is the fact thatGohan and even Goten have never once conveyed that they feel their father ever abandoned them, though it is noteworthy that inDragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Gohan seems to exhibit some of Goku’s tendencies as a father, except he replaces his obsession with training, with studying. In fact, it’s the reason why he can’t pick up his daughter Pan from school.
However, this doesn’t mean Gohan is a bad father. Moreover, Gohan becomes enraged upon hearing of her fake kidnapping, transforming into a Super Saiyan for the first time in a while. In fact, it’s just what his father did when he himself was kidnapped by Raditz so long ago. When they needed to step up as a dad, both of them delivered, and this is why Goku is truly selling himself short inDragon Ball Daima.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
