Super Saiyan Goku Dragon Ball - Figures

For a large amount of the western world, say anime, and people will say Dragon Ball; the terms are almost synonymous. In recent years enjoying a revival Dragon Ball is back on the radar in Japan and overseas spawning a number of spin-offs (Yamcha Gaiden), continuations (Dragon Ball Super), and alternate storylines (Dragon Ball Super Heroes). First debuting in Japan in 1984 as an action-comedy following the adventures of the young Saiyan boy Son Goku, the series expanded and eventually gave us Dragon Ball Z, the continuation of the original Dragon Ball story. Dragon Ball Z was far more action-focused than its predecessor often sticking to the tried and true shonen manga formula. When the animated adaptation of Dragon Ball Z came to an end in 1996, the television studios were at the hands of an unsatisfied fan base, begging for more Dragon Ball. This brought about the birth of Dragon Ball GT, the non-canon studio only continuation of Dragon Ball Z. GT ran from 1996 until 1997, it was retconned and the original story was picked up again in 2015’s manga serialization of Dragon Ball Super in V-Jump.

With an epic lifespan of over 35 years and counting, the Dragon Ball cast is diverse and expansive. Of all of the most loved and recognizable characters though, only one stands out time and time again, the protagonist, Son Goku. Here are some of the most popular figures of Son Goku in his powerful Super Saiyan form such as the “Master Stars Piece Son Goku”, “Dragon Ball Legends Collab Figure: Kamehameha Goku”, “Dragon Ball Legends Collab Son Goku” and the “Dragon Ball GT Ultimate Soldiers”

Dragon Ball Z Super Master Stars Piece Son Goku: Manga Dimensions Figure

Battle fatigued with worn and torn clothing, Son Goku has reached the peak of his powers to unlock the legendary Super Saiyan form. Born of pure rage during his arduous battle against Frieza, the Super Saiyan form grants Goku a hefty 50x multiplier on his base power level. His classic jet black hair rises, turning gold and spiky. 34cm tall and with astonishing levels of detail, even the veins on Goku’s shoulders are clearly visible.

Series: Dragon Ball Z
Product Line: Master Stars Piece
Manufacturer: Banpresto
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale PVC & ABS figure
Height (Approx.): 34 cm | 13.4"

Dragon Ball Legends Collab Figure: Kamehameha Goku (Re-run)

Following the huge success of the smartphone exclusive ‘Dokkan Battle’, Bandai Namco got together again for another incredible smartphone game release, ‘Dragon Ball Legends’. Innovative controls and an active PvP element make Legends one of the most popular smartphone apps around. Topping the charts a number of times alongside its predecessor Dokkan Battle it’s easy to see the appeal of a collaboration figure. 17cm tall in classic battle-worn orange gi and set to fire his signature Kamehameha. The level of detail is extraordinary; a high-level sculpture with incredible attention to finer nuances like the insertions of Goku’s musculature and facial detail that looks almost pulled straight from the source material.

Series: Dragon Ball Legends
Manufacturer: Banpresto
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale PVC & ABS figure
Height (Approx.): 17 cm | 6.7

Dragon Ball Legends Collab Son Goku Figure

More than anything else, Goku is known for his standard orange gi and his goofy jet black hairstyle. At one time though, he came back to Earth wearing something else. On the way back from his battle with Frieza on a self-destructing planet Namek, Goku stopped to recover at the relatively unknown planet of Yardrat. There he received a new set of Yardratian clothing. A white puffy large collared shirt and an assortment of blue armor plating. The lower half of his costume is the typical orange gi. This costume has become a fan favorite due to the brevity of its appearance and refreshing twist on Goku’s standard getup. 23cm tall, painted and non-articulated, Goku is holding the exact pose he used to deflect Trunks’ sword attacks during their first meeting on Earth.

Series: Dragon Ball Z
Manufacturer: Banpresto
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale figure
Height (Approx.): 23 cm | 9.1"

Dragon Ball GT Ultimate Soldiers Figures

For all the ill reviews and negativity from fans, Dragon Ball GT offered us a number of refreshing changes from Dragon Ball Z. One of which was costumes. All characters received an updated look to continue on from the costumes last seen at the end of Dragon Ball Z. Goku’s GT costume is the same, a blue top, white obi, and orange pants. Goku is seen wearing these clothes at the end of Dragon Ball Z following the events of the Majin Buu saga. Presumably, a long time had passed since then and the new costumes were a way to demonstrate this concept. 15cm, hands forward and clasped in the Kamehameha technique position.

Series: Dragon Ball GT
Manufacturer: Banpresto
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale figure
Height (Approx.): 15 cm | 5.9"

About Super Saiyan Son Goku

The idea of a Super Saiyan was something that occurred to author Akira Toriyama much later into the series. At first, Goku was just a strange tailed child who turned into a giant ape upon seeing a full moon; likely inspired by the old Chinese classic Journey to the West. Moving into Dragon Ball Z, it was revealed that Goku was in fact a member of an alien race called Saiyans; a warrior race whose job was to seek out and exterminate life on various planets for their leader and overlord Frieza. Having a tail and being able to transform into a giant ape is a genetic trait possessed by all members of the Saiyan race without exception. Removal of the tail however inhibits the ability to transform. As for the Super Saiyan ability, this is also a form achievable by Saiyans or beings that share Saiyan genes. Originally thought to be a transformation born of crises and need, it turns out a large number of s-cells (Saiyan cells) are required along with an intense emotional trigger to complete the Super Saiyan transformation. Goku received this trigger when his best friend Krillin was killed on planet Namek by Frieza.

Other Important Dragon Ball Characters

As far as Super Saiyan Goku goes, the most important characters are by far Vegeta, Krillin, and Frieza. Vegeta gives Goku a final speech about how his race was destroyed by Frieza and begs Goku to take revenge for them all. This gives Goku another reason to defeat the galactic tyrant Frieza. Krillin is potentially the most important part of the puzzle, however, as it is Krillin’s gruesome death at the hands of Frieza that pushes Goku off the edge and into the Super Saiyan form. If it weren’t for Frieza attempting to find the Dragon Balls on planet Namek coincidentally at the same time as the Z-Warriors, Goku would likely never have achieved the Super Saiyan transformation at all.