Highlights
- Broly's backstory differs between the non-canon and canon versions, with the latter showing more complexity and depth to his character.
- In terms of strength and abilities, the canon Broly is considered to be far superior to his non-canon counterpart, showcasing immense power.
- The 2018 iteration of Broly is seen as a better character overall, with more depth, nuance, and character development compared to the non-canon version.
The villains of Dragon Ball are one of the most memorable aspects of the franchise. This is because, ever since the inception of the series, it has introduced some of the most iconic antagonists in all of anime who have been so legendary that they remain fresh in the minds of fans, decades later. One of these villains is the incredibly powerful and highly dangerous Legendary Super Saiyan; Broly.
Broly was first introduced in 1993 and was so popular among the fans that he was revived for 2 more movies after his initial appearance. Since the Dragon Ball Z movies are all considered to be non-canon, he never made a canonical debut within the series until 2018 with Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Though the legend surrounding him and his power remained quite similar, the character was wholly different from his 1993 counterpart, so let's break down which version of Broly is the superior one!
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Who Had The Better Backstory?
Non-canon Broly's Backstory:
First Appearance | Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan |
|---|---|
Debut Date | March 6, 1993 |
Dragon Ball Z's rendition of Broly was an incredibly powerful and psychopathic killer who fans just fell in love with, however, his backstory is one that the community makes fun of to this day. When he was a baby, he was placed right next to a baby Goku who would cry all the time, which led to Broly's insanity developing a lifelong hatred for him. Moreover, he was born with an incredibly high power level of 10,000, due to which he was made a target for execution by King Vegeta, who believed Broly to be a huge threat.
Surviving the execution, Broly used his strength to save himself and his father by flying them to safety as Planet Vegeta was being destroyed by Frieza. Growing up, Broly was sadistic, violent and maniacal owing to his insanity and traumatic upbringing, relishing in causing death and destruction. This led Paragus to develop technological restraints that would curb his son's violent tendencies, but when he comes across Goku as an adult, he loses his mind over hearing his name, turning him into the iconic destructive villain.
Canon Broly's Backstory:
First Appearance | Dragon Ball Super: Broly |
|---|---|
Debut Date | December 14, 2018 |
The backstory for Dragon Ball Super's version of Broly is very similar to that of his non-canon counterpart, except for the childhood hatred he held for Goku. Broly was born to a lower-class warrior named Paragus and his incubation tank was kept in the same room as Vegeta, where the Saiyan scientists saw that Broly's innate power level was astronomical. However, seeing how it was far greater than his son's own, King Vegeta banished him to Vampa.
Broly's upbringing was very difficult, with Paragus being the only other person in his life. Since he was brought up in a very rough and strict environment, Broly grew up as a very reserved and docile person, but he never had true control over his powers. This meant that once Broly gave in to his rage, he became a mindless monster who had no control over his actions, which is why he was used by Frieza and Paragus to fight the Saiyans on Earth.
Who Had Better Strength And Abilities?
Non-canon Broly's Strength:
Z Broly's strength was incredible, far eclipsing that of every other person that he ever fought against. When he was introduced, he destroyed a galaxy on his own and the Z-Fighters were little more than a joke to him, as he made short work of them all by himself. Due to this, he had an incredibly imposing aura about him, one which instilled fear into the hearts of his opponents. Broly could also turn into a Super Saiyan from very early on and his version of the form was unique, though his Legendary Super Saiyan transformation was the true powerhouse, as it made him far stronger and more physically dominant. Only with the energy of others could Goku defeat him.
If you'd just let me kill you all before, you wouldn't be dealing with his pain now. You're all complete and utter wastes of Saiyan blood!
Canon Broly's Strength:
Frankly, there is no comparison in the strength of both versions of the Saiyan. While destroying an entire galaxy and taking on all the Z-Fighters at once without any trouble is impressive, Super Broly was able to fight against Super Saiyan Blue Goku only in his Ikari form. Though he was initially getting beaten, he eventually adapted to his opponents' strength and overpowered them. However, after going Super Saiyan, Broly was so much stronger than Goku and Vegeta that they had to fuse to stand any chance and although Gogeta toyed around with him, even in his Legendary Super Saiyan form, the Saiyan proved to be one of the strongest characters in the series.
It'd be a shame to see someone so incredible die on this planet... Then who would I train against? - Goku
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Who's The Better Character?
Non-canon Broly's Arc:
Despite being undeniably cool and a terrifying villain stronger than most others in Dragon Ball Z, this version of Broly is a very bland character, all things considered. In his 3 movie appearances, there has not been any depth to him more than being a powerful villain looking to kill the heroes. His motivations to kill Goku specifically are quite laughable and there is pretty much 0 nuance to him, making him an extremely one-note character.
Canon Broly's Arc:
Since his introduction to the series, it has been clear that this version of Broly is a far more nuanced and sympathetic character. Even though he touches the same beats as Z's Broly with his uncontrollable power, it is made quite clear that he has always been led down the wrong path all his life, as he is a good-natured person at heart. He's just misunderstood and he has always been a product of his environment, so when he finally gains some control over himself, he is no longer a threat to the heroes.
Overall Verdict:
The 2018 iteration of the Legendary Super Saiyan is, by far, the better character of the two. Although the non-canon Broly is incredibly menacing and far cooler, he doesn't offer much as a character more than just being a brilliantly designed monster who just happens to be a Saiyan. Due to his lackluster backstory, inferior strength, and lack of any real character development or arc, the version of Broly from Dragon Ball Z loses out over his canon counterpart, who is the better character in pretty much every metric.
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Dragon Ball Super
- Release Date
- July 5, 2015
- Creator
- Akira Toriyama
- Number of Episodes
- 131
