Is Goku really not a superman in anyway?

[OWmyDragonBallz]

Every time he has ''left'' his wife, was for her own good. He even said himself at the end of the Cell saga, he wants to stay dead because everytime hes around everyone else, there is always a villain. He also quoted in Super, he wants to be ready for the next threat so he can fight to save earth.
Shouldn't this make Goku a superman?

[rereboy]

What do you mean by superman?

[OWmyDragonBallz]

What do you mean by superman?

Superman fights to protect humanity. Goku seems to be implying these intentions through these decisions he makes in the series.

I was under the impression that he fights out of passion for it above all.

[theherodjl]

Goku fights because he wants to, he'll find any and every excuse to train and do battle. Why? I guess his Saiyan nature, adventurous spirit, and possibly autistic mind enables him to pursue what makes him happy. Being a good guy just happens to send a lot of enemies his way, in a way Goku is a lot like Fat Boo it's just he's been set on a don't-hurt-or-kill mode.

[rereboy]

What do you mean by superman?

Superman fights to protect humanity. Goku seems to be implying these intentions through these decisions he makes in the series.

I was under the impression that he fights out of passion for it above all.

His passion for fighting is his first priority. That's why he let Piccolo go, that why he let Vegeta go, that's why he tried to let Freeza go, that's why he wanted to fight the androids, instead of just trying to find Gero and stop him before he unleashed them, and why he continued training like usual when he was dead after the Cell arc, even though he didn't expect to protect Earth.

However, obviously, that doesn't mean that he doesn't care about the planet and its people. He does, but usually that's not his first priority.

When Goku says that he has to be ready for the next guy that shows up, he's more excited and interested in actually fighting him than protecting the planet, even though that's also a concern of his.

So, no, he's nothing like Superman in that regard.

[Alex9196]

i dont think goku always says the truth about why he is up to something. for example at the end of z when he took oob to train vegeta said his intentions were not to train the next guy to save the earth, but to have a challenge for him.

i mean when he died against cell maybe he was saying his honest opinion on why he wants to stay in otherworld, but maybe he wanted to train undisturbed in the otherworld without his insanely irritating wife and without any real sparring partner.

but surely he also protects his planet when its future is at risk, no question.

[Bando]

Did Goku even know he would be given a body in the afterlife after sacrificing himself fighting Raditz? If not I think that shows he's willing to put his fighting addiction aside for the sake of Earth.

[Alex9196]

yeah, but if he would have let him go he would have died anyway. so it really wasnt a choice

[ABED]

that's why he tried to let Freeza go

Goku let him go out of mercy.

Superman has a number of different interpretations, but he genuinely wants to be with Lois, unlike Goku whose marriage seems like an afterthought to him and Toriyama.

[rereboy]

that's why he tried to let Freeza go

Goku let him go out of mercy.

Sure, that's why he even told him to train

[B]

The overload of unwarranted superhero-esque dialog from the FUNimation dub has led to many assertions that Goku doesn't care about the well-being of others in the slightest; it's a knee-jerk reaction attempting to disassociate from the dub, but it's not entirely accurate. Obviously, Goku does not want people to die and, in certain exact moments, is trying to keep people safe. At the same time, however, he is not patrolling the streets looking for wrong-doers as the early-FUNimation use of "Earth's Special Forces" would have you believe. Dragon Ball is, for the most part, a bunch of coincidences. The Majin Buu arc is pretty much tacked on to the end of the manga.

[ABED]

Laugh it up fuzzball.

In all seriousness, Goku tries to leave because he's gotten the revenge he needed and he no longer considers Freeza a threat. After Freeza is cut in half Goku almost leaves him to die, but doesn't not because he really wants to fight but out of mercy, hence why you see him struggle.

You are also disregarding the parts where he says things like "It's pointless to kill someone as spineless as you are... I'm giving you a little of my power. You'll probably be able to move a little bit now. Do whatever you wish after this." Telling Freeza to train was more of an afterthought.

[Doctor.]

that's why he tried to let Freeza go

Goku let him go out of mercy.

Sure, that's why he even told him to train

Are you referring to RF Freeza?

Because seeing as how you mentioned Freeza before the androids, I too interpreted it as you saying Goku let Freeza go in the Namek arc because he wanted to fight him again, when the intention was to clearly show Goku's kindness.

[Lord Beerus]

Goku certainly will protect his friend, family or Earth when the time comes for it, ala Superman. But he doesn't have the strict moral code that Superman has. Goku is more of classical hero, like Hercules.

[Polyphase Avatron]

If Goku only cared about fighting he wouldn't have tried to protect the Earth by leaving it to the others, figuring he would be the most common target.

[Doctor.]

I think people often try their hardest to make sure Goku and Superman are seen as completely different characters, when the similarities between them are bigger than the differences. Sure, Goku puts a good fight first and is selfish at times, but when that fight puts the Earth in danger, saving the Earth/his friends switches to his primary objective.

Goku developed into a modern hero ever since his speech in the Namek arc about avenging the Saiyans and the Nameks. He still has his characteristics that sets him apart from Superman and such, and he still puts the Earth in danger for a good fight sometimes, but compare the part 1 + Saiyan arc Goku who killed weak opponents and let the strong ones live so that he can fight them later, compare that Goku to the Namek arc Goku who let weak opponents who posed no challenge live out of the kindness of his heart (the Ginyus and Freeza), and then develops into someone who kills (or tries to) even the strong evil beings who could give him a good fight in the future (Cell, Dabra, Boo).

Hell, to add on to that point, compare Goku's first sacrifice to his second. Who does he sacrifice himself for in the Saiyan arc? Gohan. Who des he sacrifice himself for in the Cell arc? He specifically mentions "Earth". If he didn't turn into a modern hero after the Namek arc speech, he definitely did after his second sacrifice. After the Cell arc, he didn't selfishly put the Earth in danger anymore, only when he refused to kill Boo so that the kids would have a chance, but that was more about him looking after the future of Earth, rather than his selfishness putting the Earth in danger.

[ABED]

Why is putting Earth in danger selfish, but protecting the people you care for not?

[Doctor.]

Because Goku put the Earth in danger for his own enjoyment. Trying to protect the ones he loves is selfless, not as selfless as protecting EVERYONE, but it still is.

[ABED]

Because Goku put the Earth in danger for his own enjoyment. Trying to protect the ones he loves is selfless, not as selfless as protecting EVERYONE, but it still is.

Why? Aren't the Earth and his loved ones values TO HIM?

Is not putting the things you love in danger reckless? How is that in one's rational self interest?

[Doctor.]

Because Goku put the Earth in danger for his own enjoyment. Trying to protect the ones he loves is selfless, not as selfless as protecting EVERYONE, but it still is.

Why? Aren't the Earth and his loved ones values TO HIM?

Is not putting the things you love in danger reckless? How is that in one's rational self interest?

Hm, what? I think you misunderstood me.

I just said that Goku putting the Earth in danger (if he puts the Earth in danger, he puts his friends and family too) is selfish, what are you getting at here?