[Weekly ☆ Character Showcase #21: Raditz!]

NEWS

28.09.2021

Weekly ☆ Character Showcase #21: Raditz!

Raditz

The Weekly ☆ Character Showcase is an article series where we introduce one character from the Dragon Ball universe each week. This week, we're finally taking a look at Goku's evil older brother, Raditz!

Story

As one of the last remaining Saiyans in the universe, Raditz made his way to Earth in search of his long-lost younger brother, Goku.
He gets shot at by the first Earthling he happens upon, but Raditz effortlessly catches the bullet with his bare hands and flicks it back at the shooter, killing him.
While searching for Goku's Power Level signal using his trusty Scouter, Raditz encounters Piccolo. He takes a direct hit from one of Piccolo's ordinarily deadly Explosive Waves but is unfazed and uninjured, striking fear into the Namekian's heart.

(Tale 195)

Having at long last found Goku, who was paying a visit to Kame House at the time, Raditz reveals to his sibling that he is not an Earthling but in fact a Saiyan named "Kakarot".
In a horrific twist, Raditz takes Gohan hostage and thrusts a spine-chilling choice upon Goku: kill 100 Earthlings, present their corpses, and join him and the other Saiyans in conquering Earth, or suffer the loss of his son.

(Tale 197)

Goku finds an unlikely ally in Piccolo and the pair set out to defeat Raditz and get Gohan back. However, Raditz emerges the victor once again when his unimaginable power overwhelms them both.

(Tale 200)

Raditz is able to withstand Piccolo's Makankosappo: Special Beam Cannon but goes down when Goku clutches hold of his tail. He then pretends he's had a change of heart in order to fool Goku and uses the slight opening his performance creates to land a devastating blow.
Seeing this, Gohan erupts with rage and lands a clean tackle on his rampaging uncle! Goku seizes Raditz's moment of weakness and grabs hold of him. Raditz begs for his life to be spared, but negotiations end quickly as Piccolo launches one final Makankosappo that rips a hole through him and Goku both.

(Tale 204)

Raditz may have been defeated, but in the moments before his unsightly demise he relayed crucial information about the existence of the Dragon Balls to Vegeta and Nappa via his Scouter's transmission function. Right to the end, Raditz was a truly diabolical, cunning, and dangerous opponent for our heroes.

(Tale 204)

First Appearance

"Dragon Ball" Tale 195

Techniques

Double Kikoha (Double Ki Blast)
The user releases Ki from both hands simultaneously, allowing them to hit two separate foes.
Raditz used this technique to inflict critical damage onto both Goku and Piccolo as they attacked in unison from his left and right.

(Tale 200)

Family

Bardock
Gine
Goku

Trivia

Raditz is...a weakling?!
Nappa cruelly refers to Raditz as a "weakling", despite it taking all of Goku and Piccolo's combined strength to put an end to his brief but destructive reign of terror! It seems that Raditz is in fact seen as one of the weaker fighters among the warrior race of Saiyans.