Dragon Ball 10 Things Bardock Would Be Doing If He Were Still Alive

Bardock died before the events of the Dragon Ball series, but he'd have some business to take care of if he were ever brought back to life.

It’s not easy for an anime series to gain the level of acclaim that’s been found by Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball, let alone be able to maintain it for as long as the iconic shonen series has been able to do. The heroes in Dragon Ball tend to come out on top, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any tragedies in the series, including the deaths of many important figures.

The father of Goku, Bardock, plays a pivotal role in the larger Dragon Ball canon, but he’s someone who's passed away long before the events of the series. However, now that Bardock is finally on Goku’s radar, it’s worth examining what the Saiyan might be up to if he were still alive or brought back to life.

10 He'd Collect The Dragon Balls And Revive Planet Vegeta

The period of Dragon Ball’s history that Bardock occupies is so entrenched in the past that it’s unclear if he's ever made aware of the existence of the Dragon Balls and their powers. The Dragon Balls have become a common presence in modern times, and there are sophisticated means of technology that simplify finding them all. It’s natural to think that Bardock would want to take advantage of these relics and use them to grow more impressive. However, he could also use them to bring his fallen wife, Gine, back to life, or even revive Planet Vegeta as a whole.

9 He'd Settle His Grudge Against Frieza

Dragon Ball has devoted a lot of time to just how evil of a tyrant Frieza is during his prime, especially when it comes to his manipulation of the Saiyans. Goku and Vegeta have built fierce grudges against Frieza that have put a target on his back, but it feels like Bardock would be especially enraged over Frieza’s existence. Frieza didn’t just kill Bardock, but the Saiyan had to watch him destroy his entire planet. If Bardock returned and happened to learn that Frieza was still out there, Frieza's elimination would immediately become one of Bardock's first priorities.

8 He'd Spend Time With His Grandchildren And Extended Family

Most Saiyans back on Planet Vegeta were driven by a desire for conflict and battle. However, Bardock does form a family out of compassion rather than purely reproductive purposes. His dedication to his child’s survival is what triggers Goku’s fateful escape from Planet Vegeta.

Bardock would be thrilled to learn that Goku is not only still alive but also a father of two children, one of which has had a child of their own. It’d be beautiful to see Bardock enjoy the company of his extended family or even help younger members, like Goten, with training.

7 He'd Contribute To Humanitarian Efforts On Planet Cereal

Dragon Ball Super’s manga has recently dropped some bombshell revelations with how it’s brought the memory of Bardock back into the series, as well as slightly revise the character’s roots. This look into Bardock’s past ties the character together with Granolah, the lone survivor of the Cerealian race. It turns out that Bardock demonstrated some rare compassion for Granolah’s family, unbeknownst to Granolah. If Bardock still harbors guilt over not being able to do enough here, then it’s possible he’d return to Planet Cereal to help them rebuild their empire.

6 He'd Train In The Hyperbolic Time Chamber

Dragon Ball has gotten quite creative with not only its approaches to training but also how to take advantage of an incredibly condensed period of time. Training is never in short supply in Dragon Ball, but characters have learned how to maximize their time through environments like the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, which slows down the clock to their advantage. Bardock has a lot of missed time to make up for, and he’s likely much inferior to Dragon Ball’s main characters. The Hyperbolic Time Chamber would help Bardock quickly make up for lost time and grow significantly stronger.

5 He'd Become A Member Of The Galactic Patrol

The heroes in Dragon Ball naturally defend the planet even though they’re not a part of some official police organization. However, as Dragon Ball continues to expand its scope, it also begins to introduce valuable universal safeguards, like the Galactic Patrol. The bumbling Jaco often functions as the Galactic Patrol’s primary liaison to the heroes, but the group has arrested countless fugitives.

The threat of Moro leads to both Goku and Vegeta becoming members of the Galactic Patrol. It’s also easy to picture Bardock lending his efforts to the group and thriving under the structure that the Galactic Patrol provides.

4 He'd Visit Universe 6’s Saiyans On Planet Sadala

It’s a big deal when Dragon Ball Super introduces the concept of a multiverse that’s made up of 12 complementary universes, but the prospect grows more appealing when it’s revealed that Universe 6 still features a thriving home for Saiyans. Cabba, Caulifla, and Kale are all Saiyans from Universe 6, but they explain that their homeworld, Planet Sadala, hasn't been destroyed by an evil tyrant. Considering the tragedy that Bardock experienced during the destruction of Planet Vegeta, it could be quite cathartic for him to visit this other Saiyan world and return to some normalcy.

3 He'd Learn New Techniques On Planet Yardrat

Dragon Ball can return to old concepts, characters, and places in curious ways, like how the series has handled Planet Yardrat. The planet initially plays a pivotal role after the destruction of Planet Namek, since the Yardratians are able to give Goku a temporary home and teach him Instant Transmission. Vegeta later visits Yardrat in Dragon Ball Super, and it becomes clear that the planet is full of incredible energy and spirit manipulation techniques. Bardock could develop a deadly arsenal with Yardrat’s help. If he knew Instant Transmission in the past, he might have even survived Planet Vegeta’s destruction.

2 He'd Experiment With Fusion

Initially, there’s a lot of potential in fusion, especially when it’s treated like a last-ditch effort that might even be permanent. However, Dragon Ball has really run wild with fusion, and there are even video games that are devoted to the premise of exploiting the transformation as far as possible. Dragon Ball may resort to fusion more than it’s necessary, and it’s become a novelty in some respects, but it’s still territory that might end up on Bardock’s radar. Goku at first wanted to fuse with Gohan, so a combination between Bardock and Goku might appeal to them.

1 He Could Officially Become A Super Saiyan

Bardock’s time in Dragon Ball precedes the prevalence of Super Saiyan in the series, but it’s likely a technique that he’d quickly try to master. Bardock doesn’t officially become a Super Saiyan in the series, but the many Dragon Ball video games explore alternative scenarios that have bestowed Bardock with such power. Furthermore, the Episode of Bardock messes with canon and turns Bardock into a Super Saiyan as he travels through time, but it’s still an event that’s up for debate. Bardock’s revival could help settle the argument.