The Saiyan 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 to publish Japanese 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 achieved universal peace.
That all changed when certain alien warriors called Saiyans arrived to ruin everything. In this series of recaps, we’ll explore Goku and his friends’ adventures in Dragon Ball Z (Z). This article will cover Z’s first saga, the Saiyan Saga.
How does the Saiyan Saga begin?
This saga is set several years after Dragon Ball’s final arc. A mysterious alien named Raditz arrives on Earth. Raditz wants to find Kakarot. During Raditz’s search, he encounters Piccolo. Piccolo assaults Raditz but his attacks have no effect. Before Raditz retaliates, something catches his attention.
Raditz departs. Meanwhile, Goku visits Master Roshi’s (Roshi’s) home. Goku introduces his son Gohan to Roshi, Krillin, and Bulma. Minutes later, Raditz arrives and introduces himself. Raditz calls Goku “Kakarot” and tells Goku he is his younger brother.
Then, Raditz tells Goku they come from a ruthless alien race called the Saiyans. Raditz explains what the Saiyans usually do and what became of them. Then, Raditz encourages Goku to harm Earth’s inhabitants. Goku refuses and Raditz attacks Goku.
Raditz grabs Gohan. He tells Goku that he must kill 100 humans, otherwise, he’ll kill Gohan. Raditz departs.
What happens during Picollo and Goku’s fight with Raditz? Does anyone die?
Eventually, Picollo arrives at Roshi’s home. Picollo tells Goku he’ll help him defeat Raditz. Meanwhile, Raditz imprisons Gohan in his pod. While Gohan cries, Raditz uses his scouter to check Gohan’s power level. He says Gohan’s power level is high and wonders why. Eventually, Goku and Picollo arrive and fight Raditz.
Eventually, Goku grabs Raditz’s tail. Raditz begs Goku to let go. Goku complies and Raditz assaults Goku. Before Raditz can harm Goku further, Gohan escapes from Raditz’s pod and attacks Raditz. Before Raditz harms Gohan, Goku grabs Raditz.
Goku tells Piccolo to murder Raditz and himself with his Makankosappo. Picollo complies. He tells Raditz that Goku’s friends will wish him back to life with the Dragon Balls. Raditz tells Picollo that he transmitted everything he’s experienced to his comrades. He tells Picollo his comrades will arrive in a year.
Raditz argues his comrades will destroy Earth’s inhabitants and use the Dragon Balls to revive him. Raditz dies. We cut away to Raditz’s allies Vegeta and Nappa. Nappa wants to use the Dragon Balls to bring Raditz back to life. Vegeta refuses and argues they should wish for immortality.
Nappa likes that idea and the two depart to Earth. Bulma, Roshi, and Krillin arrive. Krillin tells Goku he and the others will wish him back to life. Goku thanks Krillin and vanishes.
What do Bulma and Piccolo plan to do? Who does Goku have to meet in the afterlife?
After that, Bulma examines Raditz’s scouter because Picollo’s intel piqued her interest. Bulma plans to rework the device. Meanwhile, Piccolo says he’ll take Gohan under his wing to train. Then, we cut away to the Other World. Kami and Goku chat with King Enma.
Kami wants Goku to train under King Kai (Kai). He argues Kai will help Goku develop new techniques. Enma complies and has an attendant drive Goku to Snake Way’s starting point. The attendant tells Goku this road will lead him to Kai’s home. Goku departs.
How does Gohan’s training session go?
Picollo and Gohan arrive in the wilderness. He informs Gohan about Goku, Vegeta, and Nappa. Picollo tells Gohan he has hidden potential and will help him unlock it. Gohan argues he doesn’t so Picollo throws Gohan at a mountain.
Gohan destroys the mountain. Realizing his strength, Gohan asks Picollo what training he must endure. Picollo tells Gohan he must survive alone in the wilderness for six months. Piccolo departs. At night, Gohan is starving on a mountaintop.
Picollo places apples on the mountain for Gohan to eat. Gohan eats the apples and Piccolo doubts Gohan’s potential. Suddenly, Gohan looks at the moon in the sky and transforms into a Great Ape. Piccolo destroys the moon to return Gohan to normal.
Gohan falls asleep. Piccolo removes Gohan’s tail and gives Gohan Goku’s trademark attire and a random sword. Piccolo wishes Gohan the best with his training and departs to train on his own.
Does Bulma fix Raditz’s scouter? How does King Kai help Goku train?
Bulma reworks Raditz’s scouter. After Bulma checks Krillin and Roshi’s power levels, Yajirobe, Chi-Chi, and Gyumao arrive. Roshi tells Chi-Chi that Goku died and Piccolo took Gohan to train. Chi-Chi faints. Six months pass. We receive updates on Gohan and Krillin’s group’s progress and Goku reaches Kai’s home.
Kai greets Goku. He and Goku discuss his home’s gravity, Vegeta, and Nappa. Then, Kai has Goku complete two types of training regimes. These regimes involve Goku catching Kai’s monkey Bubbles. Goku struggles but eventually captures Bubbles.
Kai congratulates Goku. He argues Goku may master the Kaioken. Goku and Kai train. We receive updates on Gohan and Krillin’s group training. All three groups have improved significantly.
What technique does King Kai teach Goku? Do Goku’s friends wish Goku back to life?
Eventually, Kai teaches Goku how and when to use the Genki-Dama. Suddenly, Kai tells Goku he must return to Earth swiftly because Vegeta and Nappa will arrive soon. Kai tells Goku an attendant will be waiting for him at the end of Snake Way.
Kai helps Goku relay this news to Roshi and asks Roshi questions about the Dragon Balls. Roshi tells Goku that he and the others gathered the Dragon Balls. Alarmed by Goku’s news about Vegeta and Nappa’s upcoming arrival, Roshi tells Bulma and the others to prepare the Dragon Balls.
Roshi and the others wish Goku back to life. Goku departs Kai’s home, hoping to make it to the battlefield on time.
Who dies during our heroes’ fight with the Saiyans and Saibamen early on? Why does Vegeta stop the fight?
Vegeta and Nappa arrive on Earth and cause a scene. Then, the two greet Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan somewhere. Vegeta tells Piccolo he comes from an alien race called the Namekians. Piccolo and Kami are left speechless. Eventually, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu arrive.
Nappa plants a couple of Saibamen into the ground. Once born, Nappa orders his Saibamen to fight some of our heroes. Yamcha fights a Saibamen and dies. Enraged, Krillin defeats most of the Saibamen to avenge Yamcha. Piccolo defeats a couple of Saibamen too.
Frustrated, Nappa joins the battle and fights Tien. During Tien’s battle with Nappa, Chiaotzu sacrifices himself to save Tien. Tien tries to avenge Chiaotzu but he dies. While Piccolo and Krillin fight Nappa, Vegeta stops their fight. Vegeta tells our heroes he’ll give Goku three hours to show up.
While Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan discuss things somewhere, Vegeta tells Nappa why he gave our heroes a fighting chance. Vegeta wants Goku to see his friends die before his eyes. He also wants to fight Goku. Vegeta asks Nappa to get Piccolo to share more details about the Dragon Balls with them.
Does Nappa kill anyone and does Goku ever arrive?
Time runs out. Piccolo tells Krillin and Gohan what he wants them to do. Goku arrives at Kami’s Lookout. He greets Kami and Mr. Popo, receives two Senzu Beans from Karin, and heads to the battlefield. Nappa fights Krillin, Gohan, and Picollo and our heroes stand little chance against him.
Vegeta senses Goku’s power level and urges Nappa to kill Picollo. He argues they can go to Piccolo’s homeworld and use their Dragon Balls. After Gohan harms Nappa, Nappa attempts to murder Gohan. Picollo sacrifices himself. He dies and Kami vanishes.
Before Nappa harms Gohan, Kinto’Un saves Gohan. Goku arrives.
How does Goku’s fight with Nappa go? How does Nappa die?
Goku splits a Senzu Bean in half and hands it to Krillin. He tells Krillin to give the other half to Gohan. Vegeta checks Goku’s power level and tells Nappa it’s over 9000. Nappa fights Goku and Goku defeats Nappa with his Kaioken technique. Nappa begs Vegeta for help. At the same time, Goku tells Vegeta and Nappa to leave Earth.
Goku discusses the Kaioken technique with Gohan and Krillin. Vegeta can’t hear a thing. He hurls Nappa into the sky and kills him. Goku, Gohan, and Krillin are speechless. Then, Krillin asks Goku to take his fight with Vegeta elsewhere.
Goku understands. He leads Vegeta to another rocky area to fight.
How does Goku and Vegeta’s fight go? Why does Gohan want to return to the battlefield?
Goku and Vegeta fight. The two taunt and continuously hurt each other. Yajirobe observes their battle nearby but Vegeta and Goku are too busy to notice. Goku relies on his Kaioken x’s 3 technique and decimates Vegeta. Enraged, Vegeta uses his Galick Gun attack and threatens to destroy Earth.
Goku retaliates with a Kamehameha attack and prevails. Vegeta gets sent into the sky. Yajirobe congratulates Goku, but Goku says Vegeta’s still alive. Vegeta returns to the battlefield. He tells Goku he is one of the few Saiyans who can produce an artificial moon.
Vegeta produces the moon and transforms into a Great Ape. Meanwhile, Gohan and Krillin notice the artificial moon Vegeta created nearby. Gohan heads toward that moon because he wants to protect Goku. Krillin accompanies Gohan.
How does Goku’s fight with Great Ape Vegeta go? Who helps Krillin out with Goku’s Genki-Dama?
Goku learns he killed Grandpa Gohan. He promises to apologize to Grandpa Gohan if he returns to the Other World. Goku struggles to fight Vegeta. He blinds Vegeta with a ki blast but can’t do much else. Krillin and Gohan arrive. They discuss a plan with Yajirobe.
Krillin wants Yajirobe and Gohan to distract Vegeta so he can use his Kienzan attack to cut off Vegeta’s tail. Krillin’s attempts fail, but Yajirobe cuts off Vegeta’s tail instead. Vegeta returns to normal. He attacks Gohan and Krillin. Gohan lands near Goku. Goku tells Gohan to fight Vegeta.
He promises Gohan that he’ll give Krillin something to defeat Vegeta. While Gohan fights Vegeta, Goku hands Krillin a Genki-Dama. He wants Krillin to use it to defeat Vegeta. With Kai’s help, Krillin throws the Genki-Dama at Vegeta. Vegeta dodges but Gohan bounces it back at Vegeta.
Vegeta gets sent to the sky and our heroes celebrate their victory.
Why does Vegeta decide to retreat? Does Vegeta succeed?
Vegeta lands on the ground. He attacks our heroes several times. Yajirobe gets an attack in on Vegeta but Vegeta knocks Yajirobe out. During this scuffle, Gohan regrows his tail and looks at Vegeta’s artificial moon. Gohan becomes a Great Ape. Krillin and Goku tell Gohan to attack Vegeta. Gohan complies.
Vegeta uses Krillin’s Kienzan attack to chop Gohan’s tail off. Gohan lands on Vegeta and returns to normal. Vegeta summons his pod. Before Krillin kills Vegeta, Goku stops Krillin. He tells Krillin that he wants to fight Vegeta again and properly defeat him. Krillin understands and Vegeta departs.
How does the Saiyan Saga end?
Bulma, Chi-Chi, and others arrive. Chi-Chi checks on Gohan and Krillin tells Bulma that Yamcha and the others died. Bulma says it’s okay because they can use the Dragon Balls to wish them back to life. Goku tells Bulma that Piccolo died and Kami likely vanished too. He argues they can’t use the Dragon Balls anymore.
After Bulma and the others gather the remaining Z-Warriors’ bodies, Krillin tells Bulma about Planet Namek (Namek). Krillin argues they can head to Namek and use their Dragon Balls to wish their friends back to life. Goku tells Bulma he can have Kai find Namek for them.
Kai uses his powers to communicate with everyone. After Kai uses his powers to pinpoint Namek’s habitat, he shares more details about Namek with our heroes. Krillin tells Bulma they can use Nappa’s pod to create a spaceship to take them to Namek.
Roshi tells Bulma where Nappa’s pod could be and Krillin shows Bulma a device Vegeta used to summon his pod. Bulma laughs. The Saiyan Saga ends with our heroes agreeing to visit Namek.
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 Frieza Saga next. That saga is known for having one of the most iconic moments in Shonen manga history.
Nevertheless, follow our story recaps if you want to know what happens next!
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Are you a big Dragon Ball fan? What was your favorite moment from the Saiyan Saga? Let us know in the comments below!