Broly is the "Legendary Super Saiyan", a warrior of overwhelming power born on the same day as Goku. There are two versions of him: the villain of the 1990s Dragon Ball Z films, who debuted in Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan on 6 March 1993, and the Broly Akira Toriyama rewrote for Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018), which brought him into the official story for the first time.
Who he is
The original Broly did not come from Toriyama: screenwriter Takao Koyama created him after being struck by the scene in which Future Trunks shows off his bulked-up Super Saiyan form during the Cell saga, while the design was Toriyama's. Like nearly every Saiyan he is named after a vegetable: Broly comes from broccoli, and his father Paragus from asparagus.
The 2018 version came about at the suggestion of Toriyama's editor, and the author overhauled his personality: no longer a sadist bent on revenge, but a withdrawn, naive, good-hearted young man who only loses control when rage takes over.
His story across the series
- The Dragon Ball Z films (1993-1994): born with enormous potential, Broly is sentenced to death by King Vegeta, who fears him. He survives the destruction of Planet Vegeta with his father but grows up unstable, obsessed with Goku, the baby who cried nonstop in the cradle next to his. In the first film Paragus lures the heroes to a new planet: Broly unleashes the Legendary Super Saiyan, crushes Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Trunks and Piccolo, kills his own father and is finally beaten by Goku. In Second Coming (1994) he wakes up on Earth and falls to a combined Kamehameha from Goku, Gohan and Goten; in Bio-Broly (1994) he returns as a mutated clone.
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018): King Vegeta exiles him as a baby to the planet Vampa because he is more gifted than the king's own son. Paragus follows and raises him as a weapon for his revenge, even using a shock collar. Decades later, two of Frieza's soldiers, Cheelai and Lemo, find him and become his friends. Frieza brings him to Earth to face Goku and Vegeta and, by killing Paragus before his eyes, triggers his Super Saiyan transformation. Only Gogeta can stop him, until Cheelai and Lemo use the Dragon Balls to send him safely back to Vampa. In the epilogue Goku brings him supplies and offers to train with him.
- Super Hero (2022): he lives on Beerus's planet with Cheelai and Lemo and trains with Goku and Vegeta under Whis. In a friendly bout with Gohan he manages to turn Super Saiyan without losing control.
Powers and transformations
| Form | Version | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Legendary Super Saiyan | 1990s films | Power described by the guidebooks as virtually limitless |
| Wrathful | 2018 | The Great Ape's boost without transforming, but no self-control |
| Super Saiyan | 2018 | Unlocked after his father's death |
| Super Saiyan Full Power | 2018 | His final form against Gogeta |
Broly learns frighteningly fast: in the 2018 film he adapts to Vegeta's and Goku's fighting styles within a few exchanges.
Relationships
- Goku is his sworn enemy in the classic films; in the canon version he becomes a friend and sparring partner.
- Vegeta pays for the sins of his father, King Vegeta, who exiled Broly.
- Paragus is a father who loves him in his own way but uses him as an instrument of revenge.
- Cheelai and Lemo are the first real friends of his life.
Why he matters: our take
The 1990s Broly is a cult phenomenon: a huge, roaring, nearly wordless villain, loved more for his sheer presence than for his story. His motivation, a grudge over a crying baby, has been mocked even by his biggest fans.
The stroke of genius in 2018 was taking that icon and giving it a soul. The new Broly is a victim: of a jealous king, an abusive father and a tyrant who exploits him. The result is one of the best characters of the Super era, and it is hard not to root for him.
Did you know? When writing the 2018 film, Toriyama chose to leave out the famous Legendary Super Saiyan form. It was character designer Naohiro Shintani who brought it back, under the name Super Saiyan Full Power.
Trivia
- In Japanese he is voiced by Bin Shimada in both versions.
- In Funimation's English dubs he was voiced by Vic Mignogna until 2019 and by Johnny Yong Bosch since.
- Before the 2018 film he also appeared as an antagonist in Toyotarō's manga Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission.