Dragon Ball is one of the most famous manga among its readers, written by Akira Toriyama. The story revolves around our protagonist, Goku. Goku may be little, but this courageous fighter packs as much punch as anybody on Earth. After his grandpa passes away, this odd young man is content to spend his days hunting and eating.
But that all changes the day he meets Bulma, a brash, blue-haired beauty who has a thing for guys. They decide to embark on a quest together to find the seven Dragon Balls and grant each other’s wishes. And that’s just the first step! Goku and Krillin also spend some time on Turtle Island, where they train under Master Roshi.
A previous member of Frieza’s Saiyan army, the space pirate Turles, is now on the run. A villain that looks a lot like Son Goku and his minions seeded a wicked seed on the planets, and the fruit of that seed would give its eater immense strength but then destroy the world when it had absorbed all of the planet’s energy.
Not only physically, but in many other respects as well, Turles may be seen as a mirror image of Goku. He is very much like Goku in that he will put off his family and other duties to focus on training and fighting. Even Turles represents the evil of Goku.
Who is Turles in Dragon Ball?
Turles is a Saiyan warrior who used to serve as a henchman for Frieza. Although his age is unclear, it was shortly before Son Goku was born that he gave up on Frieza.
He was able to avoid Vegeta’s destruction by being on a covert mission. He deserted Frieza’s army to form his own, earning him the moniker “Noise Seeker.”
Turles, who, for some reason, had access to the Tree of Might, destroyed planets in an effort to extend his empire. To prove the existence of the Saiyan Kakarot, Turles, and his minions traveled to Earth 25 years after Vegeta’s death. The seed of the Tree of Might has been delivered to Turles.
He doesn’t show up until he witnesses Gohan single-handedly fighting one of his soldiers. After coming to terms with the fact that he is Goku’s son, the two are quickly reconciled. When Gohan discovers that he, too, is a Saiyan, he is shocked to learn that he looks much like his father.
Gohan turns down Turles’s offer to join his squad. Gohan’s ally, Piccolo, arrives quickly to help, but he’s no match for Turles. He has regained control and is now attacking Turles, much to his amazement. Turles barely escapes death at the hands of Gohan in such a condition.
Before Turles’ strike can kill him, however, Goku snips off his tail. After Turles hurts Goku’s kid, Goku vows vengeance. The Saiyan pirates’ troops assault Goku after they effortlessly dispose of the Z Fighters. Turles almost succumbs to Makankosappo and Piccolo’s surprise as he observes, but he survives.
As a result, Turles has no trouble beating Piccolo. Goku kills every one of Turles’s troops with a single swing of the Kaio-ken. Goku’s strength keeps growing, much to Turles’ chagrin. Turles soon eats from the Tree of Might after realizing he grossly misjudged Goku’s might.
Why Do Turles Look Like Goku?
The anime based on this manga recut the 1990 Japanese film Dragon Ball Z: Tree of Might into three episodes. This was Turles’ first time in the series. In the film, Turles served with the Saiyan Army and Frieza’s force from the outset. But he quickly turned traitor, forming a band of rebels to explore the galaxy and subjugate worlds with an iron grip.
They eventually make their way to Earth, which they want to colonize. Their ambitions for evil inevitably lead them into a confrontation with the Z-Fighters on Earth, who are surprised to see that their commander, Turles, looks much like Goku but with darker grayish skin. Despite the fact that Goku has already met a long-lost sister at this time, he doesn’t tell Turles about it.
In reality, they aren’t even biologically connected to each other. Even Turles acknowledges the parallels. Turles claims that he and Goku are both from an inferior Saiyan social stratum. This meant that their physical characteristics, including their facial features, would be decided at birth.
It’s interesting to note that this isn’t the first time Goku has shared a likeness with another character in the Dragon Ball series. Goku’s look is comparable to that of his father, Bardock, although the genetic similarities between their faces account for this more readily.
In another timeline, a bad Supreme Kai took control of Goku’s body and renamed him “Goku Black.” After stealing Goku’s appearance and formidable fighting skills, he wreaked havoc on the timeline of the Dragon Ball hero.
Given how iconic Goku’s visage has grown throughout the course of the Dragon Ball franchise, it makes sense that the show would use it in many forms.
