Summary

• Vegeta and Goku's fusion represents character growth through merging strengths and personalities.
• The fusion is a narrative device showcasing evolution and maturity in Goku and Vegeta's rivalry.
• Fusion highlights Toriyama's skillful storytelling, defying expectations and showing character development.

While Dragon Ball franchise, their impact goes beyond how fierce they are in the arena or how many opponents they can overcome. Indeed, the decidedly cool power-up also serves as a cool albeit low-key narrative device that showcases important elements both within the story and with Akira Toriyama's creative process.

First appearing in Dragon Ball Z Chapter #309 (Anime Episode #298), Vegito comes into being after Super Buu defeats everyone he comes up against, including both Goku and Vegeta separately, and at this point is just having fun fighting anyone left before he destroys the Earth. However, just when all hope seems lost, Vegeta appears back on Earth and Goku convinces him that the only way to defeat Super Buu is to use the Potara Earrings and fuse.

which one is stronger between Gogeta and Vegito is far from settled).

No Opposites Attract Like Goku and Vegeta

Their Fusions Represent the Growth of Each Character

Since a fusion results in a complete merger of the two characters into one body, the emphasis on the Vegito and Gogeta forms in the manga and anime has always highlighted the power-ups each can achieve through the combination of Goku and Vegeta’s strengths and abilities. But the fusion is not only expressed in of fighting skill and abilities. One interesting side effect of a fusion is that Goku and Vegeta’s personalities remain present and active in the new physical form. While sharing experiences, ideas, and observations in real-time can be extremely helpful in combat, the potential for debilitating differences of opinion is also possible.

For Goku and Vegeta to really tap into the fusion to the fullest, they need to buy into and commit to the old “all for one, and one for all” mindset. The problem is that with the history of conflict, misunderstanding, dislike, and competition between the two, achieving a meeting of the minds that allows the two irrepressibly prideful warriors to put down their self-interest for the public’s greater interest is a demanding task. Vegeta proves as much in Dragon Ball Z Chapter #309 when he initially refuses to Goku, even though a failure to do so has life-threatening consequences.

In that case … I’d rather die. - Vegeta

Even The Great Goku-Vega Rivalry Can Be Overcome With Fusion

This is where the genius of the fusion power-up as a narrative device shines through. It's not just a simple and effective means to dispatch yet another overpowered individual. It also marks the evolution of the two characters into someone more mature, more stable, and more comfortable with themselves than they were before the fusion. This is because, in order to effectively fuse, they must overcome the long and tortured history of bad blood between themselves, and also put aside their defining element: their warrior's pride.

Indeed, it's a rivalry that goes beyond who's the better warrior in the arena. Goku and Vegeta's conflict stems from their different ways of life, belief systems and values or what defines them to themselves. Accordingly, it's almost impossible to get past a loss to the other, since that would mean their existence - rather than their abilities - is inferior to the other. This tension is deeply felt in Vegeta who, as Saiyan Royalty, can't wrap his head around an out-world commoner being his better.

So, that Goku and Vegeta decide to share a body speaks volumes about how far they've grown over the years. While both characters have experienced this growth, it's more obvious in Vegeta's ultimate agreement to merge with Goku. This is especially true in the case of the earlier Portara Earrings fusion because, at that point of the story, Vegeta's understanding of the fusion was that it might be permanent. However, even with the prospect of a future sharing the mind and body of Goku, Vegeta ultimately agrees to fuse to save his family and the universe.

Why The Fusion Is So Important For Understanding Dragon Ball

Goku and Vegeta's fusion is not just an impressive element that advances the story and characters forward, it's also an equally impressive element of the story writing itself. A long-standing criticism of Dragon Ball argues that while its artwork is outstanding, its writing is very basic. The criticism takes particular umbrage at the series' lack of character development outside convenient power-ups. But, at least where the Fusion form is concerned, that criticism proves unwarranted. In fact, it is arguably one of the best examples of writing in the series.

The brilliance of the Fusion form's sub-plot storytelling lies in how skillfully Dragon Ball's author Akira Toriyama defied fans' expectations of two characters they believed they had fully understood. While Goku might have been the nicer of the two characters, he nevertheless is ruthlessly selfish regarding what he believes he needs to do to become the strongest in the universe. Indeed, he is the man who abandoned his wife and child to practice and train. Conversely, Vegeta's abject contempt for anyone he deems below his status as heir to the once-great Saiyan Royal House is even stronger regarding Goku, a living reminder he will never be the strongest (at least during Dragon Ball Z).

Toriyama baits the audience with these hooks only to upend them with the Fusion forms. Goku - who during the Cell Games went as far as giving Cell a Senzu Bean to make sure the fight was fair - accepts gaining an unfair advantage to beat Buu. Vegeta, on his hand, not only has to throw away his pride, but also accept sharing a body and mind with a person he loathes, all for the love of the family he acquired on Earth.

To be sure, fandom will always call out situations where their heroes make abrupt changes that are not substantiated in the story. In of the Fusion forms, family, friendship, and the security of Earth- the two Saiyan warriors' new home - are unquestionably uncontroverted reasons why each would sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

In a dangerous multiverse where the signature mindset of most characters is to become the strongest, the fact that Vegeta and Goku would agree to fuse is such a perfectly succinct way to show that they've matured and are willing to eject their pride when necessary in service of a greater good. It's a truly brilliant piece of Toriyama's Dragon Ball character writing that should be recognized for the excellence that it is.