Over the years, Dragon Ball‘s Broly has become one of the franchise’s most beloved heroes, but he didn’t start out that way. During the Legendary Super Saiyan’s original appearances in Dragon Ball Z, he was a manic powerhouse with an appetite for destruction and chaos, and he absolutely hated Goku. The reason for Broly’s hatred for Goku early on might seem foolish to an outsider looking in, but digging deeper into the cause actually offers a bit of insight into not just Broly as a character, but his relationship with his father and the Saiyan race’s drive as warriors.
When reintroduced into the franchise’s canon in the 2019 film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, his hatred for Goku had become a powerful rivalry. He had friends and emotions, which made him a much more sympathetic character. His quest for vengeance over his banishment, however, did eventually bring the two heroes head to head in an epic clash of power. Let’s take a look at the old Broly, whose irrational hatred for Goku may not be considered canon, but set the stage for an unforgettable rivalry.
Who Is Broly in the Dragon Ball Universe?
When the franchise first introduced the Legendary Super Saiyan warrior, Broly appeared harmless enough at a glance. Under the surface he was a bubbling pot of mania and unleashed rage seeking an opportunity to burst, even as a baby. As a Saiyan warrior, Broly was born to greatness, with a natural talent and power his own father sought to not only suppress, but control. He was rash, unpredictable and incredibly destructive because he never learned to harness his power and struggled to control his rage. Paragus feared that in one of his violent outbursts, Broly might actually destroy himself, so he outfitted his son with a mind-control crown. Not only was he destructive, but he was also immeasurably sadistic, cruel and sarcastic, brooking scorn from Piccolo and intense fear from Vegeta.
Despite being a remarkably powerful warrior, the new incarnation of Broly has no desire to fight unless he is protecting the people he loved or his Saiyan nature is provoked. He displays deep loyalty to his father, not seeming to care that Paragus harshly trained him to become a weapon of vengeance. His emotions are directly connected to his Saiyan powers, and when his blood boils with rage he becomes more animalistic and irrational, but the sadism of the original incarnation is no longer there.
Why Did Broly Hate Goku in The Legendary Super Saiyan?
Born on the same day as Kakarot (Goku), the two Saiyan babies lie side by side in the nursery. Goku struggled with his low power, wailing and crying continuously. Broly, on the other hand, was born with immense natural power, and baby Goku’s display of weakness drove him mad. In fact, it brought on bouts of PTSD that pushed Broly over the edge and made him even more reckless and destructive.
But it isn’t as simple as being annoyed by a neighboring baby’s cry in the nursery. Saiyans are born warriors, and those who don’t display immense power at birth are usually sent away to alien planets to train and prove themselves worthy. Broly’s power was so vast at birth, that he believed Goku should recognize and submit to his superior strength, but Goku didn’t understand submission. This made Broly fear Goku, igniting a rivalry between the pair and forcing Broly to rise and prove himself as the strongest Saiyan in the universe.
In addition, King Vegeta III felt threatened by Broly’s massive power, believing he would rise against him. Vegeta banished him to the desolate and barren planet Vampa, an unforgivable slight that no doubt added fuel to the fire of his vengeance and rivalry with Goku.
Is the 70zll0v” title=”origin”>Original Broly Still Dragon Ball Canon?
The old version of Broly, with his unhinged rage, violent outbursts and sadistic temperament is little more than a memory of the past. Because 706z87″ title=”akira”>Akira Toriyama had nothing to do with the original character’s development or some of the movies released at that time, they don’t fall into the canon timeline for the franchise. Toriyama did see something in Broly that he wanted to bring to the surface: a heart. Having a villain with no real drive for his intense violence, even a Legendary Saiyan warrior looking to prove his superiority, didn’t seem to sit well, but there was potential there for a more well-rounded character.
Broly finally became canon in Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Reintroducing him to the franchise, the character showed compassion and manners, even if he did struggle with the nature of his intense power. He’s become a fan favorite, in part because he’s no longer considered a homicidal villain.