RADITZ
Raditz is a Saiyan warrior created by Akira Toriyama who serves as the opening antagonist of the Saiyan Saga in Dragon Ball Z. As the biological older brother of Son Goku (Kakarot) and the eldest son of Bardock and Gine, his arrival on Earth reveals Goku's alien origins and shifts the franchise into a sci-fi space saga.
Cronologia
Biografia
Raditz is a ruthless Saiyan mercenary and the biological older brother of Son Goku. Characterized by his extremely long spiky black hair, brown and black Battle Armor, and green scouter, Raditz serves as an upper-level warrior working under Frieza's force alongside Prince Vegeta and Nappa.
Arriving on Earth in search of his younger brother Kakarot, Raditz is appalled to discover that Goku forgot his original mission to conquer the planet due to a childhood head injury.
When Goku refuses to join the remaining Saiyans in depopulating worlds for profit, Raditz kidnaps his young nephew Son Gohan to force Goku's compliance. He demonstrates overwhelming martial superiority over both Goku and Piccolo, mocking their weakness and manipulating Goku's sympathy. Ultimately, Raditz is defeated only through Goku's self-sacrifice, holding Raditz in a Full-Nelson while Piccolo pierces both brothers with his lethal Special Beam Cannon.
Storia
Born to Bardock and Gine before Age 736 on Planet Vegeta, Raditz possessed a power level high enough at birth to be classified as an upper-level warrior. Assigned early on to a squad with Nappa and later joined by Prince Vegeta, Raditz spent his youth conquering extraterrestrial planets.
Shortly before Planet Vegeta's destruction, Raditz was stationed off-world on an invasion force. When Frieza issued an order for all Saiyans to return home, Prince Vegeta chose to ignore it, inadvertently saving Raditz, Nappa, and himself from Frieza's genocide.
Raditz spent years under the mistaken belief that his younger brother Kakarot had been officially dispatched to Earth to conquer it, unaware that his parents had stolen a space pod to save Kakarot from Frieza. Unknown to Raditz, his survival was also influenced by a wish made to the Cerealian Dragon Balls by Monaito at Bardock's request for his sons to thrive. After conquering Planet Shikk and facing insults from Frieza's lieutenants Zarbon and Dodoria, Raditz eventually traveled to Earth to recruit Goku to bolster their depleted Saiyan squad.
I PEZZI DI RADITZ
Evoluzione
Raditz's character role has evolved from a foundational narrative catalyst into an enduring icon across non-canonical media and retrospective lore. Introduced in 1988 as the threat that unlocked Dragon Ball's cosmic scope, Raditz established the concept of scouters, power levels, and Goku's true identity as Kakarot.
While his canonical storyline ended permanently with his death in the Saiyan Saga, his backstory has been expanded through retcons and prequel manga such as Dragon Ball Minus, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, and Dragon Ball Super: Broly, highlighting his youth alongside Prince Vegeta and Nappa. Beyond main canon, video games and promotional spin-offs have dynamically evolved Raditz's combat potential. Games like Budokai Tenkaichi 2 introduced popular 'What-If' scenarios where Raditz gains amnesia, bonds with Goku, and turns against Vegeta. Furthermore, spin-offs like Super Dragon Ball Heroes granted him fan-requested transformations—most notably Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 3, where his iconic waist-length hair grows to absurd lengths, preserving his status as a fan favorite.
Da Collezione
As the catalyst of Dragon Ball Z's Saiyan Saga, Raditz occupies a distinct position in the collectibles market. While canonically short-lived, his striking visual design—defined by his massive spiky hair, vintage Frieza Force battle armor, and green scouter—makes him a perennial favorite for retro merchandise, trading card games, and digital collectibles.
His legacy is heavily celebrated across physical card games like Dragon Ball Heroes, as well as high-profile video game representations ranging from retro Famicom titles to 2024's Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. Merchandise interest surrounding Raditz frequently resurfaces during franchise milestones. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball (1984–2024), Shueisha and the official Akira Toriyama Archive highlighted Raditz by re-releasing his original October 1988 Weekly Shōnen Jump introduction artwork. For collectors of retro DBZ memorabilia, items showcasing Raditz alongside young Vegeta, Nappa, or Bardock remain sought-after pieces of Saiyan history.
Raditz's scouter was colored blue on the title page cover of manga chapter 196, but green in the anime and full-color manga.
