NEWS
11.08.2026
Weekly ☆ Character Showcase #268: Bardock From Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku!
Bardock - Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku -
The Weekly ☆ Character Showcase is an article series where we introduce one character from the Dragon Ball universe each week. This time, we're looking at the brash and battle-hardened, but benevolent, Bardock!
Story
Bardock is a low-level Saiyan warrior charged with carrying out planetary invasions as a member of the Frieza Force.
Upon the Frieza Force's conquest of Planet Kanassa, Bardock is struck with a blow by a surviving Kanassan, Toolo, whose strange technique causes Bardock to be able to see into the future. Thereafter, he is tormented by dreams foreseeing the annihilation of his home, Planet Vegeta, and the future of his newborn son, Kakarot.
Still nursing the injuries he sustained on Planet Kanassa, Bardock rushes over to Planet Meat where his comrades had headed. However, he encounters the horrifying sight of his allies having been slaughtered at the hands of Frieza's right-hand man, Dodoria and his underlings.
With his dying words, Bardock's friend Toma reveals that Frieza feared the Saiyans and was plotting the warrior race's destruction. Wrapping Toma's blood-stained bandana around his head, Bardock sets out to avenge his fallen comrades, when Dodoria suddenly appears and overpowers him with brute strength, resulting in grievous injuries.
Battered and bruised, Bardock returns to Planet Vegeta to warn of Frieza's betrayal, but his fellow Saiyans dismiss his claims outright. With Frieza's spaceship looming over them, Bardock demonstrates a level of power unfathomable for a low-level warrior and proceeds to defeat soldiers from the Frieza Force in quick succession.
As Frieza emerges from his spaceship, Bardock fires a mighty energy blast at him. However, Frieza launches a gigantic energy ball from his fingertips, which engulfs Planet Vegeta in its entirety.
First Appearance
Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku TV Special
Trivia
The future foreseen by Bardock
With his fate sealed alongside that of Planet Vegeta and consciousness fading, Bardock foresees the future one final time: his son Kakarot as a grown man, squaring off against Frieza.
→Preview: Next week's character is also a father figure like Bardock!
©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA,TOEI ANIMATION
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