The wish-granting dragon of Planet Cereal, Toronbo, is reintroduced in the latest chapter of Dragon Ball Super, but this inclusion has introduced an unworkable idea that undercuts Goku‘s entire story. In the midst of Bardock’s fight with Gas, the sky turns black and the dragon appears on the horizon ready to grant any one wish. Though the wish Toronbo grants isn’t seen on panel, a wish was hinted at within the chapter… one that would make absolutely no sense.
Dragon Ball Superchapter 84 brings readers back to the tense battle between Bardock and Gas. While Bardock has managed to keep Gas at bay up until now, Gas’ powers are quickly proving too much to handle for the Saiyan. In a moment of desperation, the elder Namekian Monaito runs off in order to summon the dragon Toronbo. For a few moments, Monaito reflects on how selfish use of the Dragon Balls is forbidden, but eventually resolves to use the wish to help Bardock. At first, Monaito tries to wish Bardock back to his home planet, Vegeta, but Bardock refuses. After realizing Bardock will not relent in his battle, Monaito asks him if he does have a wish he would like fulfilled, and Bardock simply responds that he only wishes his sons will thrive.
The actual wish Monaito makes is never seen, but it’s strongly implied that he followed through on the wish Bardock asked for. If this were to be the case, Bardock’s wish within the greater context of Dragon Ball makes absolutely no sense. Bardock wishes for his sons to thrive, but simply looking at the way his sons’ lives turned out would show that this has been anything but true. Raditz ended up becoming a psychopathic murderer who was also bullied by his only comrades and the remains of his own race. Goku, on the other hand, killed his own brother, died in front of his son twice, and was responsible for the death of his only father figure.
There’s no doubt Goku and Raditz have had some great moments throughout their lives, but to say that they thrived, especially in the case of Raditz, is entirely inaccurate. This wish would also completely tarnish Goku’s story for the entirety of Dragon Ball. Goku’s power is meaningful because he’s so strong in spite of how he was born. Raditz, on the other hand, has almost no character development or insight into his life throughout the series, and for all readers know, he was born a slave to Frieza and died one as well. This timeline of events forces Bardock’s wish to either make no sense, or to be a misdirect for whatever wish was actually requested.
Bardock’s wish in the latest Dragon Ball Super chapter will be one of the worst wishes ever made if it turns out to have “come true” within the series. The actual wish is never seen, and it’s possible that Monaito could have used the wish in order to ensure Granolah would thrive, but this has yet to be confirmed. Dragon Ball Super continues to use Bardock to tear away at Goku’s character arc with needless retcons to his past, and this wish is no different.
