In the Dragon Ball saga, Zarbon is one of the tyrant Frieza's most dangerous henchmen. He is even presented as an important advisor, capable of influencing the fate of entire planets. From his place in the Expanded Universe to his role in the series and Toriyama's work, here's a look back at 8 facts you (maybe) didn't know about Zarbon.
#8 Zarbon's Monstrous Form Is His True Form (Canon)
Zarbon's transformation in Dragon Ball was, at the time of his appearance, a real small event. Indeed, Zarbon is the first villain in the original manga and anime to be able to transform at will, without the transformation resulting in a giant form (like the Great Namekian or Goku's giant gorilla form). The only time transformations like this had appeared was in the film Dragon Ball Z: The Hunt for Garlic, which was therefore not canon and had not yet been distributed outside Japan. But, contrary to what one might think, this form is not a transformation, but a return to a normal state.
Zarbon is therefore originally a massive being, extremely powerful and with a face close to that of a reptile. It is out of coquetry that he chooses to reduce his power and contain his strength behind the appearance of a humanoid creature with fine and potentially attractive features. This change of appearance was very important for Akira Toriyama, who worked extensively on this concept of transformation. Indeed, with this change, Zarbon inaugurates the era of transformations that have become typical of the writing of the saga. It is also Zarbon who, in the manga, announces to Vegeta that Frieza will also have the ability to transform into a more powerful being.
#7 Zarbon is part of a very specific population (Canon)
While the extraterrestrial population to which Frieza belongs remains a mystery for the moment, we do know that his army is mainly composed of survivors from different planets that he has invaded. This is also the case for Zarbon. Moreover, we meet many members of this population in the extended universe of Dragon Ball. The first other representatives of this people first appear in video games. However, characters like Yūzu, Aboga or even Mandarin are just Zarbon whose color has been changed. But things changed in 2016 with the release of the game Dragon Ball Fusion, which introduced Toomel, a warrior from the same world as Zarbon. From there, the canon universe took hold of this idea, and it was in 2020, in Dragon Ball Super, that a new Zarbon counterpart appeared: Yuzun.
#6 Zarbon would actually be two mysterious beings fused together (Fan Theory)
A fan theory suggests that Zarbon would not in fact be a simple shapeshifting alien, but rather the result of a failed fusion. Indeed, his earrings bear a striking resemblance to the Potaras used by the Kaioshins to fuse two beings into one. Some speculate that he attempted to fuse with a more powerful creature using counterfeit versions of the Potaras. However, instead of a permanent fusion, he gained the ability to transform. This theory, however, is contradicted by Zarbon himself, who claims to be a "transformable-type" alien, just like Frieza. Nevertheless, the idea remains amusing, especially since Toriyama often reuses previous designs for new concepts. So, it's not entirely impossible that this resemblance between Zarbon's jewels and the Potaras is not just a coincidence, and perhaps even one of the best-kept secrets of the Dragon Ball universe.
The construction of the rivalry between Zarbon and Vegeta in the Dragon Ball canon is designed to truly advance Vegeta's character. However, it is in the expanded universe that this rivalry takes on a whole new dimension and Zarbon becomes a mirror character of Vegeta. Indeed, as we mentioned earlier, it is first in the film Dragon Ball Z: The Father of Goku that Zarbon's story is closely linked to the destruction of Planet Vegeta. A few years later, the game Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 fleshed out Zarbon's past by making him a fallen prince with a similar destiny to Vegeta's.
According to Raging Blast, he was the first of his people to change his monstrous appearance and seal it behind his attractive humanoid appearance. Apparently, he would have gone several billion years without having to transform (revealing to us in passing that Zarbon is one of the oldest characters in the lore). Later, in Xenoverse 2, it is Frieza who reveals that he kept Zarbon alive after invading his planet and realizing that he was the most powerful person on his planet. Unlike Vegeta, who is forcibly conscripted, Zarbon, attracted by power, voluntarily puts himself at Frieza's service and becomes one of his closest advisors.
#4 Zarbon tried to seduce Bulma to harm Vegeta (extended universe)
One of the oldest running gags of Dragon Ball wanted Bulma to consistently fall for the enemies the group encountered. Before becoming Vegeta's wife, she had already fallen for Oolong when he was a gentleman, Yamcha when he was still a bandit, and even General Blue (of the Red Ribbon Army). When Zarbon appeared for his second confrontation with Vegeta on Namek, Bulma immediately mistook him for a seductive hero who had come to save her. This detail was not forgotten by the developers of the game Xenoverse 2, where Zarbon returns and tries to charm Bulma to obtain hero figurines, provoking the anger of Vegeta, who has not forgotten his wife's reaction to discovering his opponent on Namek. A fun way to revive their old rivalry and exploit this cult gag. src="https://static.hitek.fr/img/up_m/2151568869/4776f_screenshot20250321at160734maxresdefault.jpgimagejpeg1280720pixels.png">
Over the years, the reasons for Frieza's destruction of Planet Vegeta have evolved. In Dragon Ball Z, Frieza justified the destruction by the threat of the Saiyans, whom he deemed too powerful. However, in the film Dragon Ball Z: The Father of Son Goku, a different version emerges: Zarbon, after reporting King Vegeta's revolt and faced with Frieza's growing concern, suggests that he destroy the Saiyan planet. This scenario also offered Vegeta the opportunity to partially avenge his people and his father by killing Zarbon. Since then, Zarbon has no real importance in the story of the destruction of Planet Vegeta. Indeed, in the canon of Dragon Ball Super, it is now Beerus, the God of Destruction, who takes the role of instigator, influencing Frieza. This version also changes Frieza's role, transforming him into a simple executor of a divine order, and leaves room for further revisions in Dragon Ball Super.
#2 It is because of Zarbon that Moro became a threat (Canon)
In Zarbon's shadow, a secondary but recurring character in the Dragon Ball saga played an unexpected role in the events leading to Moro's threat: Cranberry. This soldier in Frieza's army, although of a low rank, survived numerous battles before being killed by Zarbon on Namek. Hit by an attack from a Namekian warrior, he was thrown in Zarbon's direction, who, annoyed, finished him off with a violent kick. However, since Cranberry was killed by Zarbon under Frieza's orders, he was resurrected by the wish to bring back to life all the victims of Frieza and his men on Namek.
Taking advantage of this second chance, Cranberry deserted Frieza's army before being captured by the Galactic Patrol.In prison, he made the fatal mistake of revealing the existence of the Dragon Balls to his fellow inmates, which allowed Moro to hatch his plan to escape and restore his powers. After his release, Cranberry served Moro by retrieving the Dragon Balls on Namek. Unfortunately, after granting two wishes, he attempted to flee, but was coldly killed by Moro. However, Cranberry's story may not end there. A later wish resurrected all of Moro's victims, leaving doubts about the soldier's possible return.
#1 Zarbon could have been avenged by one of his compatriots (Canon)
Defeating Zarbon was a major step in Vegeta's evolution. However, just as Vegeta had taken revenge by killing Prince Zarbon, Toyotaro and Toriyama put a new representative of Zarbon's population in Vegeta's path: Yuzun. The Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga of Dragon Ball Supertells the story of Moro, an evil mage who has devoured planets, who escapes from a galactic prison. After winning the freedom of his companions, he attacks various planets, including Yardrat and Namek. Yuzun is one of the members of Moro's gang, he is part of this escape and the invasion of Yardrat during which he will face Vegeta and therefore have a chance to avenge Zarbon.
Like Zarbon, Yuzun is a humanoid being with fine features, long hair, and he wears jewelry similar to Zarbon's. However, unlike Zarbon, he assumes his monstrous form without hesitation and is proud of his enhanced abilities. During his attack on Yardrat, Yuzun challenges Vegeta, but the latter, with his experience against Zarbon, quickly defeats him. Unusually, Vegeta gives him a chance to surrender without killing him. But Yuzun taunts the Saiyan and flees. Yuzun is then ironically killed by the collapse of a building that he himself had thrown at Vegeta and which crushes him as he tries to escape.
And if you want to discover even more about the Zarbon universe, you can find our files on Freezer parts one and two, King Cold or the Ginyu Special Forces.
0 Comments