For decades, this special was considered "anime canon" but not "manga canon." However, history has been kind to Bardock.
Despite his ferocity, Bardock is no match for Frieza. In a final, sadistic move, Frieza appears from his ship, ignores his soldiers, and uses his Death Ball to obliterate both Bardock and Planet Vegeta, effectively eradicating the Saiyan race. The Tragic Vision
In 2011, a three-chapter manga titled Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock was written and illustrated by Naho Ōishi and supervised by Toriyama. This sequel imagines a what-if scenario where Bardock survives Frieza's Supernova. Instead of dying, he is hurled through a wormhole and sent thousands of years into the past. There, he lands on the original Planet Vegeta and finds himself battling Chilled, a cowardly space pirate who is the ancestor of Frieza himself. In a moment of desperate rage, Bardock harnesses the raw emotion of his loss and becomes the legendary first Super Saiyan , long before the form was ever documented. While a fun and triumphant fantasy, this story is largely viewed as a non-canon "what-if" scenario. Dragon Ball Z Bardock - The Father of Goku -199...
Visually, this is one of the darkest Dragon Ball entries.
Before this special, Saiyans were largely conceptualized through Vegeta’s arrogance and Goku’s pure-hearted heroism. Bardock shattered both molds. He is not a noble savior; he is a brutal mercenary who conquers worlds for Lord Frieza. For decades, this special was considered "anime canon"
remains one of the most impactful TV specials in anime history. Serving as a gritty prequel to the Dragon Ball series, it gives us a window into the final days of the Saiyan race through the eyes of Goku’s biological father, Bardock. The Burden of Foresight
Unlike his son, is not a hero. He is a low-class Saiyan soldier who spends his days conquering planets for the galactic tyrant Frieza . The story takes a sharp turn when, during a routine massacre on the planet Kanassa, a dying survivor strikes Bardock with a "curse": the ability to see the future . The Tragic Vision In 2011, a three-chapter manga
When Frieza emerges, looking down on Bardock with effortless cruelty, the contrast is stark. Bardock gathers the last of his energy into a final energy wave, only for Frieza to launch a planet-destroying Supernova with a casual laugh. As the blast consumes him and his home planet, Bardock receives one final vision: his son Kakarot confronting Frieza on Planet Namek. Dying with a smile on his face, Bardock passes the torch of vengeance to his son, finding peace in the knowledge that his race will be avenged.
Before this special, Goku’s parents were a blank slate. Akira Toriyama’s original manga simply portrayed the Saiyans as a warrior race wiped out by a meteor (later retconned to Frieza). This special gave them a face.