A lot of us started watching the Dragon Ball series from Dragon Ball Z, so we don’t know a lot about the original Dragon Ball show, and how Goku became the character he is now.
Here’s everything you need to know about the original Dragon Ball series and the origins of Goku.
Goku is based on Sun Wukong a central character in the classic Chinese original Journey to the West. Goku was first introduced in chapter 1 which was first printed in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on December 3rd of 1984.
Goku is the son of Bardock, a low-class Saiyan warrior and his mother is Jeanne Coco. Goku’s real name is Kakarot and he was born on the planet Vegeta.
Goku was initially guided to earth as a toddler with the task to end it but when he arrived on earth, he was taken in by the aging Son Gohan who gave him the named him Son Goku. Primarily a problematic and violent child Goku suffered head trauma in an accident, deleting his assignment to destroy the planet.
Gohan trained him in martial arts and became conscious of the transformations that Goku experienced when he was exposed to the full moon. Goku became a giant uncontrollable ape when he was exposed to the full moon so Gohan instructed the boy to never look at the moon but Goku defied the orders and transformed into a great ape and while transforming he accidentally murdered Gohan.
After the death of his adoptive grandpa, Goku basically raised himself alone in the mountains.
Goku decides to leave his friends for a time and returns to Master Roshi for training and during this time Goku meets Krillin. Later, Krillin is murdered by King Piccolo’s henchman Tambourine and as an act of revenge.
Goku manages to kill Piccolo by punching through his chest, with his dying breath piccolo spits out an egg that holds his re-embodiment, Piccolo Jr., who is the Piccolo we know from Dragon Ball Z who trained Goku’s son Gohan.
Goku begins to search for a possible way to revive the dragon Shenron and when he does all of his friends who were killed by Piccolo are resurrected. Goku then begins training with Comi and Mr. Popo in order to prepare for the 23rd World Martial Arts Contest and despite suffering a lot of injuries Goku defeats piccolo in the final round becoming the winner of the tournament. In the meantime, Goku also gets married to a young woman he had met while traveling, who as well all know is Chichi.
In the Dragon Ball Z, we meet Goku’s brother Raddatz who was pissed at him for not killing everyone on earth, of course, Goku didn’t because of his head injury that made him good-hearted. This is where Vegeta arrives on earth and then we have the legendary Freiza arc.