Goku = Superman?

GL6401: Son Goku · Post by **GL6401: Son Goku** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:09 pm

Ever since I first got into Dragonball, I have noticed similarities between the origin of Goku and the origin of Kal-El aka Superman. Both of these characters came from a dying planet and were one of the last members of their race. Both also were raised be a human being that loved and cared for them and helped them grow up to be good people. Both characters, ironically, became completely loyal to their planet and protected it despite their alien origin.

I was just wondering if anyone else noticed this and whether or not you think Akira Toriyama was familiar with Superman when he began what became Dragonball Z.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:27 pm

Toriyama was, like most Japanese, enthralled with American pop-culture. It's "hip" in Japan. There are a lot of similarities between Goku and Superman, but there's many more differences.

Firstly, Goku started out as a Monkey King rip-off. And the only similarities to Superman started when Radditz arrived. Basically both Goku and Supes are from another planet where they had another name, another family, had an enhanced gravity (I believe both planets had 50x Earth's gravity), originally all Kryptonians had superpowers (just like all Saiyans are very strong) but that was dropped durring the 1986 re-launch. Both come to Earth as children and end up protecting it from evil.

But the differences between Goku and Supes are more prevailant, and some of the 'similarities' are pretty generic superhero clichés).
Goku has had to work and train for every ounce of strength he's ever had. Supes just 'gets' his strength from the sun.
Goku's and Superman's upbringing, adolecence and adult life (aside from the fighting evil) are drastically different.
The "fighting evil and protecting another planet" thing is rather generic superhero stock. Almost every superhero does it, so it's not that special that Goku does too.
Goku wans't the last of his species, while Supes was.

Other than the similarities in origin, there's little to connect the two.

And for the record, Goku would beat any era Superman.

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:28 pm

Yeah, its kindve obvious

- last survivor of a dying planet
- father tryed to warn people of planet's destruction
- super strength
- born leader

you get the idea.

Deus ex Machina · Post by **Deus ex Machina** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:48 pm

desirecampbell wrote:Goku wans't the last of his species, while Supes was.

Not counting Super Girl, pre-crisis Power Girl, and General Zod.

And for the record, Goku would beat any era Superman.

Pre-Crisis Superman > The universe

Last Son of Krypton · Post by **Last Son of Krypton** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:19 pm

desirecampbell wrote:

And for the record, Goku would beat any era Superman.

HA! It goes a little something like this:

Superman Prime>Pre-Crisis Superman>>>>>Post-Crisis Superman>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>any form of Goku.

El_Diablo · Post by **El_Diablo** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:23 pm

Dear God...

Post by **desirecampbell** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:32 pm

Last Son of Krypton wrote:
desirecampbell wrote:

And for the record, Goku would beat any era Superman.
HA! It goes a little something like this:

Superman Prime>Pre-Crisis Superman>>>>>Post-Crisis Superman>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>any form of Goku.

Pre-Crisis Supes could be taken down by some Kyrpton (thank you DragonBalls), destroying the sun, or Mr. Buu. Post-Crisis Supes could be taken down by Krillin - 'Arrival of Radditz' Krillin.

But I've never heard of Superman Prime!

-edit-
Oh no, I've started a 'Superman vs Goku' thread... someone get this back on topic.

Deus ex Machina · Post by **Deus ex Machina** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:32 pm

El_Diablo wrote:Dear God...

No, no..."Zod".

I would like to apologize for the previous Superman 2 joke. Those responsible have just been sacked.

Last Son of Krypton · Post by **Last Son of Krypton** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:46 pm

desirecampbell wrote:
Last Son of Krypton wrote:
desirecampbell wrote:

And for the record, Goku would beat any era Superman.
HA! It goes a little something like this:

Superman Prime>Pre-Crisis Superman>>>>>Post-Crisis Superman>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>any form of Goku.
Pre-Crisis Supes could be taken down by some Kyrpton (thank you DragonBalls), destroying the sun, or Mr. Buu. Post-Crisis Supes could be taken down by Krillin - 'Arrival of Radditz' Krillin.

But I've never heard of Superman Prime!

-edit-
Oh no, I've started a 'Superman vs Goku' thread... someone get this back on topic.

I'm going to say some things regarding Superman and leave it at that. I do not want to make this into another Goku vs Superman thread.

Pre-Crisis Superman could juggle planets, fly across the entire universe in the blink of an eye, fly so fast he almost broke the barrier of creation, and destroyed a galaxy by sneezing. He was a walking plot device. He was as fast, strong, and as durable as he needed to be to beat his enemies. The only way to beat him was with kryptonite (which was in very short supply), magic or being Kryptonian. Goku can't use magic, is not Kryptonian, and he wouldn't wish for some kryptonite. Goku lives for the fight. Unfortunately for him this fight would be his last.

Post-Crisis Superman, while much weaker than Pre-Crisis Superman, is still more than a match for Goku. Post-Crisis Supes can lift 40 billion (yes BILLION) tons, move faster than the speed of light, and is invulnerable. Once again magic and kryptonite are his weaknesses. And once again Goku has neither. Another win for Superman.

Now Superman Prime is something else. He stayed in the heart of a sun for 15,000 years. When he came out he was immune to kryptonite, magic, and he had a Green Lantern ring. He destroyed a living sun (Solaris) when he came out of the sun. Prime would destroy Pre-Crisis Superman in no time. Goku should just sit this one out.

There are other versions of Superman, but these three give you an idea of what would happen to Goku if they actually fought.

Xyex · Post by **Xyex** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:31 am

SSJ Goku surpasses all forms of Superman.

Anyone, to get back on topic, I do believe that Toriyama 'borrowed' a few Superman concepts for Goku's background. It wouldn't be the first time he used an outside source as influence to his work (hell, the entire story is this). But in the end, it's easy to prove or disprove as the relation between the Android saga and the Terminator movies.

Last Son of Krypton · Post by **Last Son of Krypton** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 2:03 am

Xyex wrote:SSJ Goku surpasses all forms of Superman.

Anyone, to get back on topic, I do believe that Toriyama 'borrowed' a few Superman concepts for Goku's background. It wouldn't be the first time he used an outside source as influence to his work (hell, the entire story is this). But in the end, it's easy to prove or disprove as the relation between the Android saga and the Terminator movies.

If by all you mean the animated and early Golden Age versions, then yes you are right.

You can also add Disney to the list of influences. I believe Toriyama was mainly influenced by 101 Dalmations (someone correct me if I am wrong). And of course there is Bibbity, Bobbity, Buu.

Azure · Post by **Azure** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 5:55 am

I think it's Toriyama having a laugh ,a lot of the Dragon Ball sagas seem to be based largely off of parody intially. We know from Dr Slump's Suppaman that Toriyama liked superman enough to reference it. The arrival scene of Raditz in DBZ reminds me of Superman coming to earth except in DBs case it goes horribly wrong.

DBZ MAN · Post by **DBZ MAN** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 10:32 am

Check out what I think on that. http://anime.myfavoritegames.com/forum/ ... opic=45505

And for a quick check on how they are similar.
http://supergoku.ytmnd.com/

Chaos Saiyajin · Post by **Chaos Saiyajin** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:21 am

Oh God...a Superman VS. Goku topic...

*coughreaddearfanboyscough*

DBZ MAN · Post by **DBZ MAN** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:47 am

You were all thinking it

chronocross · Post by **chronocross** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:24 am

Spoiler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It seems that the producers of The Superman Returns movie pulled a Gohan.
i would explained more but everytime I post somthing like this my post get deleted

And i do not know why .....

Blitzen · Post by **Blitzen** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 1:09 am

Man I do love these retarded Goku Vs. Superman things-

"Superman would win for X, Y and Z reasons"

"NO GOKU WOULD WIN END OF STORY JAPAN ROXX"

Post by **VegettoEX** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:00 am

chronocross wrote:Spoiler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It seems that the producers of The Superman Returns movie pulled a Gohan.
i would explained more but everytime I post somthing like this my post get deleted
And i do not know why .....

Your posts are almost completely unrelated to DB other than the fact that you're trying to pull this comparison out of your rear just to make the post.

Folks, when your posts get deleted, it's for a reason.

And for the record, please re-read the forum rules. I will not be warning you again.

Kanzenshuu

Goku = Superman?

Goku = Superman?

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