It is kind of wild when you think about it. Raditz arrives, drops the biggest bombshell in anime history by revealing Goku is an alien, and then dies within five episodes. He’s the biological brother of the strongest mortal in Universe 7, yet he’s spent the last thirty years of the franchise as a punchline. Most fans basically assume he’s been erased from the series' memory.
But if you’ve been paying attention to the manga lately, especially the Granolah the Survivor Saga, you’ll realize that Raditz in Dragon Ball Super is actually becoming relevant again. Not as a powerhouse villain, but as a key to understanding the Saiyan legacy. Honestly, it’s about time.
That Surprising Flashback in the Granolah Arc
For years, Raditz was just a ghost. Then, Chapter 82 of the Dragon Ball Super manga dropped, and we finally got a glimpse of him that wasn't just a rehash of the Saiyan Saga. While Goku is fighting Gas, he starts recovering his lost memories of his parents, Bardock and Gine.
In one of the most humanizing moments for the Saiyan race, we see a young Raditz. He’s just a kid, hanging out with other Saiyan children, looking surprisingly... normal. He isn't some intergalactic tyrant yet. He’s just a boy on Planet Vegeta.
This tiny cameo matters because it connects the dots between the ruthless warrior we met in Dragon Ball Z and the family Goku never knew. It also confirmed that the Dragon Ball Minus version of the story—where Raditz is off-world with Prince Vegeta during the planet's destruction—is the definitive canon for the Super era.
The Dragon Ball Super: Broly Connection
If you missed the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie, you missed one of the few times we actually hear Raditz speak in the modern era. We see him as a teenager, already showing that signature Saiyan arrogance. When he finds out Planet Vegeta was destroyed, his reaction is basically a shrug.
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"I don't really care about the planet, but it's a shame we lost so many combatants."
That line is classic Raditz. It shows that even back then, he was already leaning into the "weaklings don't matter" mindset that eventually got him killed on Earth. It’s a stark contrast to Bardock, who actually tried to save his sons.
Why Hasn't Raditz Been Revived Yet?
People ask this all the time. If Frieza can come back twice and even the Androids can become park rangers, why is Raditz still rotting in Hell?
The answer is actually pretty simple: Goku doesn't care.
Goku has never been big on "family" in the traditional sense. He sees Raditz as a guy who kidnapped his son and tried to murder his friends. There’s no emotional bond there. Plus, by the time the Z-Fighters had the Dragon Balls to spare, Raditz’s power level of 1,500 was less than a rounding error.
Vegeta doesn't care either. To him, Raditz was a "low-class" embarrassment who couldn't even handle a few Namekians and humans. In the world of Dragon Ball Super, where we are dealing with gods of destruction and multiversal tournaments, a guy who struggles with a Saibaman isn't exactly a high-priority resurrection.
The "Brother" Mention That Actually Mattered
One of the coolest, most subtle moments in the manga happens when Goku is talking to Gas. Gas is mocking Goku’s lineage, and Goku actually acknowledges Raditz. He doesn't name him, but he refers to "my brother" who came to Earth.
It was a brief moment, but it felt heavy. It showed that Raditz isn't just a forgotten plot point. He is a part of the trauma and history that shaped who Goku is today. Without Raditz, Goku never dies, never trains with King Kai, and never learns the Kaio-ken or Spirit Bomb. Basically, without his jerk of a brother, Goku would have been smoked by Vegeta and Nappa.
Is a Resurrection Actually Possible?
There have been rumors for years. "Raditz is the secret villain of the next movie!" or "Raditz is getting a redemption arc!"
While most of that is just fan theory, the Dragon Ball Super manga has been leaning heavily into Saiyan history. With Bardock getting so much spotlight recently, it feels like the narrative door is open.
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If they did bring him back, it wouldn't be to fight. It would be for the drama. Imagine Raditz seeing Gohan now—the "brat" who cracked his armor is now a beast who can rival gods. That’s the kind of interaction fans actually want.
How to Keep Up With Raditz's Legacy
If you want to see more of the "modern" Raditz, you have to look outside the main anime series. He’s a staple in Super Dragon Ball Heroes, where he even gets a Super Saiyan 3 form (yes, the hair is as long as you're imagining).
For the canon stuff, stick to the Dragon Ball Super manga, specifically the volumes covering the Granolah arc. It’s the closest we’ve ever gotten to seeing the family dynamic of the House of Bardock.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
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- Read the Manga: Jump into Dragon Ball Super Chapter 77 through 83. These chapters provide the most significant context for Goku's family and Raditz's place in the new canon.
- Watch Dragon Ball Minus: This is the short story included in the Jaco the Galactic Patrolman manga. It’s the foundation for everything Super does with the Saiyans.
- Check Out the Broly Movie: Pay close attention to the prologue. It’s only a few minutes, but it defines Raditz's personality far better than the old Z filler episodes did.
The story of Raditz in Dragon Ball Super isn't about a comeback tour—at least not yet. It’s about the series finally acknowledging that Goku’s origins didn't start and end with a hit to the head. Whether he ever returns to life or remains a memory, his shadow is still hanging over the franchise.