The Frieza Saga
One Piece may be Shonen Jump’s current powerhouse. However, Eichiro Oda and other mangaka owe a lot to Akira Toriyama. While Toriyama wasn’t the first person in Japan to publish comics, he’s certainly one of the best. From Wonder Island to Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, Toriyama’s made quite a career for himself.
However, one of Toriyama’s greatest works was Dragon Ball. Inspired by the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, Dragon Ball follows Goku and his friends’ quest for the seven magic dragon balls. After facing countless foes and obstacles, Goku and his friends found peace.
At least for a while until certain alien warriors called Saiyans arrived to ruin it all. In this series of recaps, we’ll explore Goku and his friends’ adventures in Dragon Ball Z (Z). This article will cover Z’s second saga, the Frieza Saga.
How does the Frieza Saga begin?
This saga takes place sometime after our heroes agreed to visit Planet Namek (Namek). Everyone is at a hospital. Goku, Krillin, and Gohan update Karin and the others on how they’re doing. Bulma arrives and tells everyone someone found Nappa’s pod. Bulma presses a button on Nappa’s pod’s remote. Nappa’s pod explodes. Bulma and Krillin argue with each other.
Mr. Popo arrives and tells our heroes he has a spaceship. Bulma and Mr. Popo visit the ship. Mr. Popo discusses Kami’s past with Bulma. Then, Mr. Popo says “Piccolo” and the spaceship’s entrance opens. Mr. Popo rambles about Kami’s early life with Bulma while Bulma tries to understand the spaceship’s structure and capabilities.
After more rambles ensue, Bulma tells Mr. Popo to have the spaceship fly them near Jupiter. Mr. Popo complies and the two head to Jupiter. Bulma and Mr. Popo celebrate.
Who’s going to Namek with Bulma? What does Cui tell Vegeta at Frieza’s base?
Bulma reports her and Mr. Popo’s achievements to the others. Mr. Popo tells Bulma he can’t visit Namek. Bulma convinces Krillin to visit Namek with her. Gohan convinces Chi-Chi to let him go with Bulma and Krillin. Some time passes.
Krillin and Bulma visit Roshi’s home with the spaceship. Gohan arrives in a ridiculous outfit. He, Bulma, and Krillin enter the spacecraft. They depart to Namek. Our heroes change clothes. Elsewhere, Vegeta arrives at his boss Frieza’s base and receives swift medical treatment.
Vegeta bumps into Cui. Cui tells Vegeta that Frieza went to Namek. He confirms Frieza went to Namek to gather its Dragon Balls. Vegeta takes a pod to Namek. He doesn’t want Frieza to get the Dragon Balls.
Who plans to hunt Vegeta down for Frieza’s sake? What happens to our heroes’ spaceship?
Bulma, Gohan, and Krillin arrive on Namek. Our heroes learn someone gathered four Dragon Balls already. Before they depart, our trio spots a space pod in the air. Krillin thinks it’s Vegeta. He tells Bulma to update everyone on what’s happening and leave him and Gohan behind.
Krillin says he and Gohan will collect Namek’s Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Vegeta uses a scouter to track Frieza down. At the same time, Bulma updates Roshi on things and we learn Cui’s arrived on Namek too.
Cui heads to Vegeta’s location and challenges him. Meanwhile, two Frieza Force members confront Bulma’s group. They destroy our heroes’ ship. Gohan and Krillin defeat these two. Zarbon reports the men’s defeat to Frieza. Frieza says they can handle the people that defeated his men later.
Meanwhile, Bulma’s upset about the spaceship. Krillin tells Bulma they can have one of the Nameks fix the ship.
Does Vegeta defeat Cui? How does Goku plan to travel to Namek?
Vegeta and Cui have a stand-off. Despite Cui’s efforts, Vegeta prevails. Meanwhile, Krillin senses something nearby and urges everyone to seek shelter in a cave. After Frieza and his men fly past our heroes, Krillin tells Bulma that Frieza has the Dragon Balls.
Also, Krillin argues Frieza and his men seem stronger than Vegeta. Bulma informs Krillin and Gohan about the fifth Dragon Ball’s location. Krillin and Gohan leave Bulma behind to obtain that Dragon Ball. Meanwhile, Roshi and Yajirobe arrive at the hospital. Roshi updates Goku on Bulma’s new intel and Yajirobe gives Goku a Senzu Bean.
Now recovered, Goku travels to Bulma’s house. Goku plans to use a spaceship Bulma’s dad made for him to reach Namek. Goku arrives at Bulma’s home. Dr. Brief (Bulma’s father) gives Goku a tour of the spaceship. Goku tinkers with the spacecraft and heads off to Namek.
How does Frieza obtain the 5th Dragon Ball? Why do Gohan and Krillin get involved?
Krillin and Gohan spy on Frieza and his men. Frieza interrogates an elder Namekian because he wants intel on the Dragon Balls. The elder refuses to give Frieza a Dragon Ball. Suddenly, more Namekians show up and defeat Frieza’s weaker henchmen. At the same time, the elder Namekian destroys all the scouters he sees.
Dodoria defeats the Namekians who helped the elder. The elder gives Frieza his Dragon Ball. Frieza orders the elder to tell him where the final Dragon Balls are. The elder refuses so Dodoria hurts him. Frieza tells Zarbon they’ll be able to locate the remaining Dragon Balls without their scooters.
He and Dodoria kill the elder and one of the kids. Before Dodoria hurts the final kid (Dende), Gohan stops him. Krillin joins Gohan, grabs Dende, and tells Gohan they should scram. Our heroes depart.
Dodoria chases after them. Despite the odds, Krillin and the others escape and look for Bulma.
Does Dodoria Die? Who does Dende want our heroes to meet?
Vegeta and Dodoria chat. The former crushes his scouter. Vegeta argues he doesn’t need his scouter because he can sense energy. Dodoria and Vegeta fight and Dodoria tells Vegeta that Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta, the Saiyan’s homeworld.
Vegeta kills Dodoria. Seconds later, Vegeta senses strong power levels nearby. Krillin, Gohan, and Dende sense something strange and hide. Vegeta arrives. Krillin and the others spot Vegeta in the sky. He can’t believe Vegeta can sense their ki now.
Vegeta mistakes Dende’s faint ki for a fish. He departs, hoping to find the remaining Dragon Balls before Frieza does. Krillin, Dende, and Gohan enter a cave and find Bulma there. Bulma tells Krillin, Gohan, and Dende that Goku will arrive soon.
Some time passes. Vegeta visits a nearby Namekian Village and steals a Dragon Ball. Meanwhile, Gohan, Krillin, Bulma, and Dende discuss a plan. Dende wants to take Krillin and Gohan to the Grand Elder Guru.
What does Frieza order Zarbon and Appule to do? How do Krillin and Dende avoid Vegeta’s detection?
Vegeta hides his Dragon Ball and departs to find the final one. Meanwhile, Frieza orders Zarbon and Appule to locate the two remaining Dragon Balls. Zarbon and Appule depart. Frieza takes his five Dragon Balls to his spaceship. At the same time, Dende tells Krillin and his friends that Guru has the final Dragon Ball.
Krillin tells Dende to take him to Guru immediately. Gohan promises to look after Bulma while Krillin and Dende are away. Then, we see Goku training on Dr. Brief’s spaceship. Kai uses his powers to communicate with Goku. Goku discusses things with Kai and the fallen Z-Warriors.
Kai warns Goku to stay away from Frieza despite Piccolo telling Goku to do whatever he must to secure those Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Vegeta senses someone’s power and discovers it’s Zarbon’s. Zarbon and Vegeta meet, chat, and fight.
This gives Krillin and Dende a chance to escape.
Does Zarbon defeat Vegeta? What does Guru do for Krillin’s sake?
During Zarbon’s fight with Vegeta, Zarbon transforms. Zarbon tells Vegeta that Frieza can transform too. He defeats Vegeta and departs. At Frieza’s spaceship, Zarbon tells Frieza he defeated Vegeta. Appule arrives and tells Frieza that someone destroyed a Namekian Village.
Frieza argues Vegeta did it. He tells Appule to tell the Ginyu Force to head to Namek. Meanwhile, Frieza tells Zarbon to bring Vegeta to him. Zarbon departs and finds Vegeta. Zarbon grabs and departs with Vegeta.
Meanwhile, Krillin and Dende arrive at Guru’s home. Nail leads them inside. Guru greets Krillin and Dende. After Krillin helps Guru catch up on Kami and Piccolo’s life, he hands Krillin his Dragon Ball.
Guru tells Krillin to make his wish soon because the former will perish in a few days. Krillin understands and Guru awakens Krillin’s hidden potential. Krillin asks Guru if he could do the same for Gohan. Guru argues he can. Krillin departs.
Does Gohan find Vegeta’s Dragon Ball? Does Zarbon die?
Zarbon and Appule discuss Vegeta while Vegeta’s in a recovery chamber. Then, Zarbon leaves. Vegeta awakens, kills Appule, and finds Frieza’s Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Gohan locates Vegeta’s hidden Dragon Ball and departs. Vegeta toys with Zarbon and Frieza. Then, Vegeta tosses all five Dragon Balls into the sky and hides.
Vegeta hops into an ocean, finds Frieza’s Dragon Balls, and ponders somewhere. Vegeta spots Krillin with a Dragon Ball in the sky and follows him. Krillin confronts Bulma. Bulma tells Krillin that Gohan left to find another Dragon Ball.
Vegeta and Zarbon arrive. After the two chat, they fight. Vegeta reminds Zarbon that Saiyans get stronger after they recover from a near-death experience. He kills Zarbon and confronts Krillin. Krillin hands Vegeta the Dragon Ball so he doesn’t harm him or Bulma. Vegeta departs.
Krillin hopes Gohan found the final Dragon Ball.
Does Guru awaken Gohan’s potential? What evil group arrives on Namek?
Eventually, Vegeta and Gohan chat. Vegeta hurts Gohan and departs. Gohan’s happy Vegeta didn’t find his Dragon Ball. He regroups with Krillin and Bulma. Vegeta looks for his Dragon Ball He realizes Gohan used his device to find his Dragon Ball. Vegeta returns to Krillin’s hideout and learns he and the others fled.
Meanwhile, Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma hide in a ditch. Krillin tells Bulma to wait here. He wants to take Gohan to Guru so Guru can awaken Gohan’s potential. Vegeta’s lost in thought. Then, Vegeta senses two people nearby. Vegeta hides five Dragon Balls somewhere, takes one, and departs.
Eventually, Guru awakens Gohan’s potential. Vegeta arrives at Guru’s home. He senses the Ginyu Force and begs Gohan to hand over his Dragon Ball to him. After some convincing, Krillin tells Vegeta and Gohan to follow him. Guru tells Nail to lend our heroes a hand.
Our heroes arrive at Bulma’s location. Krillin grabs the Dragon Ball they left there. He and Gohan follow Vegeta to his stash of Dragon Balls.
Who kills Guldo? Why can’t Frieza make a wish with Namek’s Dragon Balls?
The Ginyu Force arrives on Namek. Frieza orders them to track Vegeta down. Jeice hands Frieza some scouters and he and the others depart. The Ginyu Force finds and confronts our heroes. Burter and Guldo steal our heroes’ Dragon Balls. Ginyu tells his allies he’ll bring the Dragon Balls to Frieza.
He tells his friends they can decide who should fight whom. Ginyu departs with the Dragon Balls. Guldo fights Gohan and Krillin. Vegeta joins the battle and beheads Guldo. He taunts Guldo before killing him.
Recoome and Vegeta fight next. Recoome pulverizes Vegeta, enticing Krillin and Gohan to get involved. Recoome hurts them too. Meanwhile, Frieza learns he needs to do something to get Namek’s Dragon Balls to function properly. He uses his scouter and finds several Namekians nearby.
Frieza tells Ginyu to look after the Dragon Balls while he’s away. Ginyu complies and Frieza departs.
What happens when Goku arrives on the battlefield? Why does Vegeta leave Goku to fend for himself?
Recoome knocks Gohan out. He, Burter, and Jeice notice a spaceship nearby. Goku arrives on Namek and swiftly arrives at the battlefield. Goku gives Krillin, Gohan, and Vegeta Senzu Beans. Goku approaches Recoome and Vegeta is surprised by Goku’s calm demeanor. Vegeta questions if Goku’s become a Super Saiyan.
After some amusing theatrics, Goku defeats Recoome. Jeice and Burter attack Goku, but fail to hit him. Goku defeats Burter. He warns Jeice to flee Namek with Burter and Recoome. Jeice departs to inform Ginyu about Goku’s power.
Vegeta kills Recoome and Burter. Meanwhile, Jeice informs Ginyu about what happened to their allies. Ginyu tells Jeice to hide Frieza’s Dragon Balls. He and Jeice depart. Meanwhile, Vegeta learns that Namek’s Dragon Balls won’t work if Guru dies. Vegeta’s concerned because Frieza is heading toward Guru’s location.
Eventually, Ginyu and Jeice arrive. Goku orders Gohan and Krillin to locate the remaining Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Goku says he and Vegeta will handle Jeice and Ginyu. Krillin and Gohan depart. Vegeta leaves Goku behind. He hopes Ginyu and Goku will defeat each other.
What happens during Goku and Ginyu’s fight? What does Ginyu tell Gohan and Krillin?
Goku and Ginyu fight. Then, Ginyu stops fighting Goku. He orders Goku to showcase his true strength. Goku charges up. Ginyu’s bewildered by Goku’s power level. Meanwhile, Guru awakens Dende’s latent power. He tells Dende to leave and help Krillin and the others.
Dende departs and Frieza arrives at Guru’s home. Nail stops Frieza and tells him the Dragon Balls won’t work if he kills Guru. Frieza confirms Nail’s remarks himself and challenges Nail to a fight. Nail and Frieza head somewhere. He and Frieza fight and matters don’t go well for Nail.
Meanwhile, Ginyu swaps bodies with Goku using his technique. Ginyu and Jeice depart. Goku departs, hoping to find Krillin and Gohan. After Krillin and Gohan retrieve the Dragon Radar from Bulma, they head to Frieza’s ship to find the Dragon Balls.
They find the Dragon Balls but can’t summon Shenron. Ginyu and Jeice arrive. Krillin mistakes Ginyu for Goku. Remember, Krillin and Gohan didn’t see Ginyu and Goku swap bodies. Ginyu attacks Krillin and tells him he swapped bodies with Goku.
How do our heroes defeat Jeice and Ginyu? Who finds Dende first?
Goku arrives. He tells Ginyu that he can’t tap into Goku’s true strength. Gohan and Krillin fight Ginyu. Vegeta fights and kills Jeice minutes later. Vegeta fights and pulverizes Ginyu. Before Ginyu swaps bodies with Vegeta, Goku gets in the middle of their attack. Goku and Ginyu return to their original bodies.
Ginyu tries the same tactic again. Goku throws a frog in front of Vegeta. Ginyu and the frog swap bodies. Goku convinces Vegeta to let Ginyu retreat. Vegeta brings Goku inside Frieza’s ship. Goku enters a medical machine to heal his wounds. Meanwhile, Gohan, Vegeta, and Krillin get better gear.
Vegeta tells Krillin Goku should fully recover in 40 to 50 minutes. Krillin departs. He wants to ask Guru what they must do to make the Dragon Balls work. Meanwhile, Frieza pulverizes Nail and demands Nail to tell him how to make the Dragon Balls work.
Nail tells Frieza it’s pointless. He argues Dende will tell our heroes the words they must say to make the Dragon Balls work. Frieza departs, hoping to locate Dende. Unfortunately for Frieza, Krillin finds Dende first.
What wishes do our heroes make with Namek’s Dragon Balls? Who arrives to challenge Frieza?
Dende tells Krillin he must use the Namekian Language to get his wish granted. Eventually, the two meet with Gohan and summon Purunga (Namek’s Dragon Ball’s dragon) while Vegeta rests. They try to wish everyone back to life but Purunga says he can only bring back one of them.
Our heroes decide to bring Picollo back to life. Picollo convinces our heroes to transport him to Namek with the second wish. Vegeta wakes up and confronts our heroes. He’s angry that they made wishes while he was asleep.
Before Dende asks Purunga to make Vegeta immortal, Purunga vanishes. Dende confirms Guru died. Frieza arrives and plans to make our heroes pay for ruining his plans. Meanwhile, Picollo finds Nail lying on the ground. Nail convinces Piccolo to merge with him.
Piccolo departs. Meanwhile, Vegeta and Frieza fight. Vegeta convinces Frieza to transform into his second form. Krillin, Vegeta, and Gohan struggle against Frieza’s second form. During the battle, our heroes learn about Dende’s healing abilities. Eventually, Piccolo arrives and fights Frieza.
Does Goku ever arrive on the battlefield? Does Vegeta die?
Piccolo gives Frieza a fair challenge in his second form. Frieza tells Piccolo and the others that he can transform two more times. Then, Frieza transforms into his third form. Gohan joins the battle and Vegeta stops Krillin from doing the same. Vegeta wants Krillin to wound him.
He says he’ll have Dende repair his injuries. Vegeta argues this will help him become a Super Saiyan. Krillin blasts Vegeta and Frieza plans to transform into his final form. Vegeta confronts Dende but Dende refuses to heal him. Dende heals Picollo instead and Frieza notices.
Dende confirms that “Warrior Class” Namekians can’t heal people. Gohan convinces Dende to heal Vegeta. Frieza transforms into his final form and kills Dende with his Death Beam attack. Our heroes fight Frieza and struggle. Vegeta steps in and fights Frieza alone.
Frieza remains unfazed. Meanwhile, Goku senses Vegeta is in danger. Once Goku fully heals, he arrives on the battlefield. Goku confronts Frieza. Vegeta wonders if Goku will become a Super Saiyan. He warns Frieza about Goku’s potential.
Vegeta tells Goku everything Frieza did to their homeworld. He begs Goku to kill Frieza and dies.
How does Goku’s fight with Frieza go? What pushed Goku to become a Super Saiyan?
Goku buries Vegeta somewhere. Then, Goku confronts Frieza and promises to defeat him. Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan depart. Goku and Frieza fight. While the two are on equal footing, Goku fears he may not win. Regardless, Goku uses Kaioken Times Twenty to fight Frieza.
Frieza takes decent damage but not enough to warrant Goku a victory. Left with no choice, Goku summons a Genki-Dama. Piccolo convinces Gohan and Krillin to lend him most of their ki. He wants to transfer the ki to Goku’s Genki-Dama.
Frieza catches on. Before Frieza attacks Goku, Piccolo intervenes. Gohan and Krillin lend their support. With their help, Goku throws his Genki-Dama at Frieza. Goku regroups with his friends and everyone thinks they’ve won. Frieza reveals himself and attacks Piccolo.
Goku urges everyone to retreat via his spaceship. Frieza kills Krillin. This angers Goku. Goku becomes a Super Saiyan.
What wishes do our heroes make with Namek and Earth’s Dragon Balls? Does Goku defeat Frieza?
Goku tells Gohan to bring Piccolo to a spaceship. He wants Gohan to take Bulma there and flee via the ship. Gohan departs. Goku and Frieza continue their fight. Meanwhile, Kai and Kami discuss Earth’s Dragon Balls. Kami says he told Mr. Popo to look for them.
Goku lets Frieza reach his maximum strength. Namek starts rumbling. Then, Kai and Kami discuss the wish they should make with Earth’s Dragon Balls. Kai tells Kami to revive everyone Frieza and his men killed. Then, Kai wants to use Namek’s Dragon Balls to bring everyone besides Frieza to Earth.
Mr. Popo has Shenron grant his wish. Kai updates Guru on everything that’s happened since he died. Goku tells Kai that he wants himself and Frieza to remain at Namek. Kai understands. Guru relays Kai’s wish request to Dende. Dende makes the wish.
Goku and Frieza continue their fight. Goku tries letting Frieza go but Frieza refuses. Frieza tries using a new attack on Goku, but this attack backfires on Frieza. Goku gives Frieza some ki and tells him he’s on his own. Meanwhile, Guru makes Muri the new Grand Elder. He tells Muri their Dragon Balls will return over time.
Guru passes away. Before Goku departs, Frieza tries to harm Goku. Goku kills Frieza with an energy blast.
Who do our heroes bring back to life with Namek’s Dragon Balls? Do the Namekians leave Earth?
Goku finds Frieza’s spaceship but it doesn’t work. Goku yells and Namek explodes. Kai and Yamcha discuss Goku, Frieza, and Namek’s fate. Bulma tells them they can wish everyone back to life with the Namekian’s Dragon Balls. Kai tells Bulma this could work for Chiaotzu but not Krillin and Goku.
This is because Namek’s been destroyed. Vegeta offers his assistance and Gohan thanks him for his suggestion. Bulma tells Vegeta and the Namekians that they can stay at her home. Some time passes. Bulma and the others summon Purunga. She asks Dende to convince Purunga to summon Goku and Krillins’ souls to this spot.
Purunga says he can do it for Krillin, not Goku. Our heroes learn Goku survived. Bulma asks Purunga to bring Krillin back to life. Purunga complies and Krillin is resurrected. Bulma asks Purunga to bring Goku to Earth, but Goku refuses to return.
Our heroes decide to bring Yamcha back to life instead. Some time passes. Our heroes summon Purunga again. They use the first and second wishes to bring Tien and Chiaotzu back to life. Then, the Namekians use the final wish to relocate to a new home planet along with their Dragon Balls.
How does the Frieza Saga end?
Some time passes. Gohan wonders why Goku hasn’t come home yet. Krillin calls Gohan and Krillin thinks Frieza’s on his way here. The others sense Frieza’s ki, but Tien argues Frieza’s not alone. Frieza and King Cold (Frieza’s father) chat about Earth. Cold wants to destroy Earth, but Frieza says they shouldn’t.
Frieza wants to show Goku his “powered-up” form because he knows Goku’s on his way to Earth. The Frieza Saga ends with Gohan flying off somewhere.
Conclusion
Dragon Ball is a brilliant manga with an entertaining anime adaptation. While Akira Toriyama may no longer be with us, the future of Dragon Ball looks bright. We’ll discuss the Cell Saga next. Many exciting developments occur in this saga.
Nevertheless, follow our story recaps if you want to know what happens next!
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