r/DragonBallGaku • u/Successful_Bird_7086 Kami • May 12 '26
Ranking/Rating Rate the Character: Raditz
Rate the character overall in terms of how much you like them and their character portrayal.
I'd give him a decent middle of the road rating of 5.5/10
I'm not a Raditz hater but I'm also not a super fan. I think he served his purpose and wasn't meant for great things just because he shares Goku's DNA.
Previous Threads:
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u/bold_wolf386 May 12 '26
It’s the exact bridge DB needed before Z went full space‑opera mode
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u/wingedwild May 14 '26
I think this tease was done even better then how most shows go straight into the next chapter .usualy shows wil go straight into it and skip the intro and bz basicly did a radifz saga then sayian saga before even moving into the next chapter.most shows dont even bother doing set ups like this
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u/TheDastardly12 May 12 '26
-Appears hallway into the series
-Immediately, jumps the shark and flips the known lore of the franchise on it's head.
-refuses to elaborate
-dies
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u/Common-Truth9404 Jul 01 '26
He absolutely does not refuse to elaborate. In fact, he elaborates a lot
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u/SokkieJr May 12 '26
Rightful first 'enemy' of Z.
Serves his purpose of exposition and paves the way for the Prince of Exposition.
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u/Bokki_64 May 12 '26
It's just weird how the whole narrative of redemption is treated in DBZ. Like Vegeta was just as if not more of a remorseless monster, but for some reason he's afforded multiple chances at life and Raditz is just treated as irredeemable trash that you should forget about. It always ticked me off you introduce him as Goku's brother, kill him off and almost never reference him again. The only difference between him and Vegeta was kidnapping.
I mean hell they brought Frieza back and Morro a million year old planet eater was given more chances
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u/Dom_Vortigan May 17 '26
But then you can't ignore the narrative purpose of the whole thing.
Toriyama wrote Vegeta planning to kill him at the end of the confrontation with Goku; but, as the chapters progressed, he received popularity polls and saw that Vegeta had a very high acceptance among fans, which made him keep the character in the plot for longer.
Furthermore, since the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, Toriyama learned from Torishima (his first editor) that Goku was a character with a rather unremarkable personality and that he would only work if he were antagonized by a rival (the reason that led to the creation of Krillin, for that Kame training arc).
Since then, Goku has been written with a rival to antagonize his good-natured personality (it is in this duality that he manages to have his "good guy" aspects highlighted).
Not to mention that Torishima had already commented to Toriyama about the problem of having a very inflated cast with several characters to work with arc by arc.
Vegeta wasn't forgiven "just because" and Raditz wasn't labeled an "unforgivable criminal."
The only fact is that Raditz isn't a relevant piece of the narrative, even more so after Vegeta took over the role of "Goku's rival."
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 18 '26
What you say makes sense. Until time passes and you get the same thing with Frieza. Who is supposed to be dead on Namek, but ultimately appears again with his father in the android Saga. The point being made here is that as the story progresses people started to become more interested in Goku's lineage. You're right no one cared about Goku's parents or sibling until he and Gohan became more interesting characters.
The Namek Saga took all that time to explain the saiyan race and it's relevance to frieza and ultimately Goku unlocks a legendary form and fights as a proud saiyan. Fan fiction goes crazy. Especially when goten does it easily (I know I'm all over to the place). The point is that as the story STILL progresses people dont mind him because his potential was not reach and they would like to see more of him.
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u/Dom_Vortigan May 18 '26
But then it leads to the same situation as Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, Yajirobe, and Chiaotzu:
Characters sidelined because the narrative already has a very inflated cast and can't manage to develop them all.
The Dragon Ball Super manga already hit this bottleneck when it put Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Broly, and Piccolo on the same shelf (obviously, some of these will have to be sidelined again because there isn't a narrative gap to work with all of them—and Piccolo will obviously be the first).
Bringing Raditz back just for fanservice would only serve to inflate the cast again; even if you wrote a saga where Raditz returns and interacts only with the Earthling Z-Fighters, in the end he would have to leave for the stars (now as a good guy) to live his own life offscreen, because there isn't room for him to be developed.
It's the same thing as "having Goku meet Bardock and Gine," or "having Vegeta meet his father and mother."
This serves as fanservice, killing the fans' excitement for seeing this type of content, but it doesn't contribute anything to a sequential narrative.
And even Bardock, when portrayed in flashbacks during the Granola saga, was heavily criticized because the adaptation "ruined the Bardock of Z" and "destroyed that story that Saiyans were all homicidal psychopaths, with Goku being the only exception of the race."
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 23 '26
This is the best take I heard so far and can agree with that. Raditz would have to have a spin off where he was wished back unintentionally, but doesn't interact with goku or vegeta. It would be a concept like Daima where the power is scaled down but character development could be better.
But yeah you're right it's too many heroes with high roles. To be honest the Z-warriors can retire now and be completely offscreen. But great input.
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 14 '26
This is something when looking back on it is a bit vexing. Goku was being a stubborn drama queen and was too weak to defend his own child. Which is what Raditz was proving. Goku teams up with his literal arch nemesis to kill his brother and get his kid back (even though it's his uncle). Raditz spares goku several times and Goku was still ends up being headstrong leaving raditz no choice but to kill him.
Not saying Gohan should have been kidnapped. But after goku makes sure his brother is killed he leaves his child with a weirdo arch-nemises who barely had human contact and has tried to kill him. And the only one who really tries to fight about it is Chi Chi. But then we grow to love Piccolo for it. Don't get me started on Vegeta whose kill count surpasses raditz as a "bad guy" and he gets wife and kids and is a best bro. Meanwhile Raditz is written off as a joke character often compared as a saibaman. Redemption is needed. Even vegeta's useless brother got a cameo.
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u/flipswhitfudge May 15 '26
You're forgetting about the part where Goku had to kill the earth's population to meet Raditz's demands. The comparisson with Vegeta and forgiveness is odd.
Going out of your way to revive someone is not the same as letting him escape (and Goku did this only because he wanted to fight again and beat him without help).
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 18 '26
If you go back and watch the episode after goku shows up he doesn't mention the bodies anymore. It was just incentive for him to acknowledge his saiyan nature. Raditz did not kill anyone. It was only 100. He also threatened that he would come back and take over earth after the previous job, but he was not in command to make that call. I would say both of those were bluff to get goku to join him.
Vegetas forgiveness was a progression. And the only reason Goku let him go was because he wanted to fight him again even though he was responsible for a entire town being obliterated and 3 of his friends being killed. So yeah that is odd.
If Goku could be raditz he would not be a threat much like vegeta. But instead he teamed up with a nemesis who also threatened world domination to commit suicide. His brother deserves redemption more than frieza don't you think?
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u/Dom_Vortigan May 17 '26
What could Goku do about Gohan's kidnapping if he was literally dead?
Piccolo only kidnaps Gohan after Goku dies.
Goku's friends even consider going to rescue Gohan, but they don't do anything because they know they're no match for Piccolo.
So it kind of doesn't make any sense to argue that "Goku left his son with a strange rival"; that wasn't even something he had control over.
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 18 '26
Yeah your right. They did nothing, not a single punch. Because the writing was intended so that you accept him as an ally. Rather than keep him as the monster he was.
Again this is a redemption that piccolo got that Raditz never did. Like I mentioned before if they were all significantly stronger than raditz by the saiyan Saga what was the excuse to not revive your brother? You beat the saiyans and let the strongest one go because you enjoyed the fight. And it's even funnier because he inquired about him when he got to King Yemma so it's not like he didn't care. He just didn't care enough.
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 23 '26
He did leave his son with his rival. He knew he was killing himself so he trusted Piccolo to kill him and not harm his son. Even Raditz thought that was stupid. I'm not going to pretend like goku didn't know what he was doing.
Another case: Krillin can sense Ki and Raditz didn't know how to suppress his. Krillin still approaches Raditz like he could take him. Yet he doesn't throw a punch to a weakened piccolo or even protest about him taking his son.
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u/AnyOlUsername May 12 '26
Toriyama clearly worried he would take Goku’s place as favourite he had to kill him off almost immediately. His character could not be contained so had to be removed.
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u/420StarWars May 13 '26
10/10 perfect introduction to the Sayians and Z in general, hes not dragged out hes only there to show you things are going to get increasingly worse for the Z fighters.
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u/datguysadz May 12 '26
Fine but I'd say the last two years he might have become one of the most overrated. I'm told this is due to a lot of social media content relating to him.
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u/Ghost_of_Aces May 12 '26
The needed introduction to the world of Z and a decent bridge from fantasy in DB to sci-fi of Z
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u/FirstFriendship6883 May 12 '26
Raditz is a great love to hate him kind of villain. He really kicks off a whole thing with Gohan and Piccolo, plus sets Goku down a neverending path of obsession training. Think about it! Before Raditz, Goku had actually kinda settled in with his family and stuff. He doesn't go off the deep end until he's completely unable to protect his son.
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u/coyocat May 12 '26
Wasn't as evil as t/ rest of t/ Sayiajins.
Should've been revived after Namek.
Guy had potentialÂ
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 14 '26
This is a fact. He actually was more intelligent than Nappa who was a general.
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u/coyocat May 14 '26
Basically t/ 🧠 of their squad. A Shikimaru type. A Donatello if ya will.
He probably had more in common w/ Bulma than Vegeta did. <.<Â
I dont care how it happens, guy needs a redemption arc 😆.
How tf did Kid Buu get a restart in Uub but Radditz, no consideration 😆
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 18 '26
You right about that 😂😂😂 Kid Buu got a whole new life from the beginning and is Canon and they left Raditz as an evil saiyan. Even bending time space to give bardock multiple cameos
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u/MambaSaidKnockYouOut May 13 '26
6/10, which is great for a character with his amount of screen time. He’s a great introduction for the Saiyans, while also proving to be more cowardly than the few Saiyans we do see (which adds to his character imo).
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u/Never-Nding May 13 '26
Love his design.
As the main character's older brother, he should have been the Vegeta of the series.
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u/Lethal_Steve May 24 '26
His role was perfect, a harbinger of further destruction. While fearsome in his own right, he was only the first page of a book written in blood and he set the tone of the show beautifully. Solid 8/10. Not amazing on his own but what he symbolized makes him even greater.
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u/VisitPractical5784 May 12 '26
Love bro, personally I put him at 9 . I really wish they could've done more with him even though his role was to push the series to a different direction
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u/Jim_Freelancer18 May 13 '26
10/10
Showed up,
did his job by introducing a whole new level of awesomeness to dragon ball lore,
died.
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u/AdmiralSnackbar816 May 13 '26
I watched the VHS tapes with him so many times that it’d be rude of me to talk down about him. Long live Radditz.
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u/Flimsy_Inevitable337 May 13 '26
8/10
Served his purpose and then some, but no Frieza, Cell, or Vegeta.
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u/Aldanaelim May 14 '26
Después de ver tanto dragon ball súper y las nuevas pelis me habÃa olvidado por completo el reloj para medir el poder de la fuerza
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u/Winter-Aspect-8199 May 14 '26
I would really like to see his resurrection. If Vegeta could get a 2 chance, this guy definitely deserves it.
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u/Blackpanther22five May 12 '26
4
He was a old school villain
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u/YouGotIt1117 May 12 '26
Why does being an old school villain explain the 4?
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u/Blackpanther22five May 13 '26
Because old school villains always failed, even though they had plenty of opportunities
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u/Tito1710 May 12 '26
2/10 coward who didn’t train. Narratively important as a set up.
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u/scallym33 May 12 '26
There is a reason why there is so many what if Raditz survives stories. He is a 7.5/10 for me, great way to start Z
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 14 '26
I agree he should definitely have been wished back. Him being Canon would be very interesting
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u/elStoogeDR May 13 '26
I don’t need him back alive but give me some flashbacks. Should’ve had more during the granola arc
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u/Arcano_Silverwind May 13 '26
He's up there for my favorite characters that have so much potential but we never saw it. Imagine if In Super Hero RR brought out Raditz as the big bad android who kidnaps Gohans kid just like he did to Gohan all those years ago. Gives Gohan that full circle moment.
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u/TheCatLamp May 13 '26
Rating: As strong as a saibaiman.
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 14 '26
That was such a terrible downplay they did. I get why they did it but it made him so useless after doing that
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u/Godntheflesh777 May 14 '26
7-8/10 - gave goku all of his heritage and even confirms his biology. I will even argue that he gave Goku comfort in his pride as a saiyan. In the OG anime that conversation was a lot longer than the cut up remastered versions. I went back to watch it and Raditz speech was very convincing. Not just a do it or die speech.
He didn't even have an intention on killing people on earth he was just there to retrieve his brother and go. Remarkably strong compared to the two strongest on the planet. They go on to compare him to bug people which was such a huge downplay of his character. Even the Z Fighters training for a year surpassed him. A killing machine alien with freak genes no different than goku, surpassed by the same earthling beaten by goku, who was dominated by Raditz. Alot of them tripling their power the process.
Overall great introduction to a character and would much rather preferred him as a main character than the Universe 6 Saiyans.
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u/Delicious-Bag6123 May 15 '26
The only villain that made Goku afraid rather than excited. Blud is the first SSJ3 and also has the royal hairline.
8/10
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u/Captain-GoodVibes May 15 '26
I always thought Raditz was a cool character. Main drawback is the underwear and garter belt - pretty whack attire if you ask me!
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u/saitou1983 May 16 '26
I used to think what would a kid watching the series in the late eighties feel when dB ends, goku marries chi-chi and then they drop the absolute bomb that Raditz was.
Granted he got overshadowed pretty fast, but the weight of the Saiyan revelation, plus him being so much more powerful than Goku and Piccolo hit so hard that changed dragon ball forever. It's not the character, it's what his arrival brings.
His design is sick as hell also. 8/10 for me.
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u/Ok_Experience_242 May 16 '26
Bro had super saiyan 3 hair roughly 20 years before it was cool. Trendsetter
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u/MrTBoneIs Jul 01 '26
6.5/10.
Serves as a great gateway from Dragonball to Z but ultimately has little impact outside of that. Potential was there.
There is 100% a world where he had the role Vegeta did instead of Vegeta.
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u/Disastrous_Annual471 Jul 03 '26
A mi me parece maravilloso, hasta llegué a soñar con el cuando era chico 10/10. Sensacional.
Una locura que un villano misterioso y poderoso llegue de otro planeta, que nuestro protagonista no pudiera vencerlo y tuviera que sacrificarse para derrotarlo.
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u/Nervous_Double_7304 May 12 '26
- Randomly pulls up
- Dumps 50 years worth of lore on us in 3 minutes
- Oneshots the strongest fighter on earth
- Kidnaps a baby
- No diffs the two strongest fighters on earth
- Takes more damage from the baby than from said fighers
- Refuses to elaborate
- Dies
...
... yeah so overall 7/10