Goku's fears

[Doctor.]

Since we've just had an episode dedicated to Kuririn's fears, I feel like it's appropriate to talk about the fears of the other character that was involved in the episode. If I recall correctly, Goku said he was scared whilst fighting Raditz, he was also terrified of facing Super Boo and, in Super, Hit speculates that Goku is afraid once he starts shaking. I think Goku has also said something in the Namek arc about being afraid of Freeza, but I don't recall correctly.

What makes these villains any special than the other ones? Why was Goku scared of these ones but not the others? Or was he afraid of every one and he just never showcased it?

[PelicanDynasty]

Since we've just had an episode dedicated to Kuririn's fears, I feel like it's appropriate to talk about the fears of the other character that was involved in the episode. If I recall correctly, Goku said he was scared whilst fighting Raditz, he was also terrified of facing Super Boo and, in Super, Hit speculates that Goku is afraid once he starts shaking. I think Goku has also said something in the Namek arc about being afraid of Freeza, but I don't recall correctly.

What makes these villains any special than the other ones? Why was Goku scared of these ones but not the others? Or was he afraid of every one and he just never showcased it?

I would say these three overpower him more than any others basically, especially Raditz and Boo where he is hopelessly outclassed. People like Piccolo or even Vegeta were never that much stronger than him.

[Gog]

Isn't Goku afraid of needles? Well GT did say that at the very least

[precita]

He's scared of needles.

[Saturnine]

Isn't Goku afraid of needles? Well GT did say that at the very least

They said that because they liked referencing Z filler a lot, it was first said when Goku was healing up in the hospital after Vegeta's first visit.

As for why Goku is afraid of Super Buu - because he was much stronger than SSj3 Goku. Right?

[Pickle_Jar]

I'm surprised all the villains who showed up in Super during that forest thing didn't have needles. Goku would've been sobbing and pissing himself because he'll take a beating before he lets anyone give him a shot!

[nickzambuto]

The gap between Goku and Raditz was hardly the largest ever. Raditz actually had to block Goku's Kamehameha and it caused him burns. By that comparison, the gap was equivalent to the gap between him and Tao, and much smaller than the gap between him and Piccolo. The reason Goku was afraid in that scene was because his horrifying origins had just been revealed to him and his son was in imminent danger, and he wasn't sure if he could save him. It was just a really stressful situation all around.

That's probably the only instance in the series where I can say Goku was flat-out scared. Against Super/Evil Boo, I don't think Goku was necessarily "afraid", he was just aware that fighting Boo would lead to nothing good. But he never expressed fear of Boo, simply an unwillingness to fight him, when better options were available.

Goku was also afraid before drinking the Super God Water, likely due to Yajirobe's reaction to a single drop. Goku likes the thrill of fighting and pain comes with that so he doesn't mind, but not just suffering mindless pain alone. He was also afraid of the possibility of dying, because then he wouldn't get to avenge his friends.

And of course he was terrified when the great Ninja Murasaki revealed his true power, although just about anyone would be scared in that situation.

[Nejishiki]

I think Goku has also said something in the Namek arc about being afraid of Freeza, but I don't recall correctly.

Are you referring to Goku feeling a sense of calm rather than fear ten minutes before he arrived on Namek?

Onward to the topic, Raditz proved himself an unforgiving man that Goku desired no association with. Most of his fears derived from accounting for Gohan's safety. An element Raditz shares with Evil Boo is that they significantly overpowered Goku's efforts. Furthermore, they're extreme individuals who are normally absent of mercy. Combine those factors together & Goku's fail-safes aren't relevant therefore consequences carry stronger impact. Goku was aware Hit figured out his last trick. While he didn't outwardly mind being stumped, his body subconsciously reacted. The common stimuli seems to be reaching a lack of options without his usual makeshift plans immediately formulating.

[Lord Frieza]

Goku also must have had some fear of Frieza, if not for himself then at-least for those he cares for.

Goku has never been in a more hopeless situation then with Frieza. Ever plan, trick, new attack and moments of help from others all failed. Had Goku not transformed into a SS, an unplanned and unexpected situation, he would be dead.
Frieza in his final form was almost 50x stronger then base Goku at his 100% Full Power, a fact made more scary when you concider that Goku's last enemy, Vegeta, was only just over 2x stronger then his base.

[Lord Beerus]

He seems scared of kissing. So if you imagine a giant set of lips always homing in on Goku, that should freak him the fuck out.

[floofychan333]

He's afraid of needles, hunger, and Chi-Chi.

[Cetra]

He is surely scared of never being able to fight again.

[flashback0180]

Goku is afraid of bulma

[Ki Breaker]

He's afraid of needles, hunger, and Chi-Chi.

None of those elements were present in the cave, he isn't scared of anything as of now

[Gog]

He's afraid of needles, hunger, and Chi-Chi.

None of those elements were present in the cave, he isn't scared of anything as of now

The fears were too great for the cave too properly manifest...