The History of Broly - IGN (2024)

Because Broly has only appeared in films and manga side-stories until now, he is not considered part of the official Dragon Ball canon, although with Toriyama writing Dragon Ball Super: Broly (which will serve as an effective reboot of the character), that is about to change.

But where did the mighty Saiyan warrior come from, and what makes him so Legendary? Read on, as we explore The History of Broly.

Saiyans were a powerful addition to Frieza's army because, not only do they have higher than average strength (compared to other races), but they also love fighting, stay in prime physical condition until very late in life, and they have the impressive ability to become stronger after every battle (the more damage a Saiyan sustains during a fight, the more significant the power boost when they recover).

Because of these attributes, and legends which foretold the rise of an incredibly powerful warrior called a Legendary Super Saiyan, Frieza eventually began to fear a Saiyan uprising. Around this time, a young Saiyan warrior named Paragus welcomed his son, Broly, into the world.

Frieza wasn't the only one who feared a threat to his rule, and soon the Saiyan King, Vegeta (Prince Vegeta's father), ordered the infant Broly executed.

Paragus begged King Vegeta to reconsider and spare his son, saying Broly could be a great help to the young Prince, and the rest of the Saiyan race, but King Vegeta would hear none of it, and attacked Paragus before stabbing young Broly, and leaving the pair to die.

The same day, however, Frieza destroyed the Saiyan homeworld, and almost the entire Saiyan race along with it. Even as an infant on the brink of death, Broly had enough power to shield himself and Paragus from the planet's explosion, and the pair escaped to a nearby world to recover.

As Broly grew, it seemed King Vegeta's fears were well-founded. Broly became more powerful and sad*stic as the years passed, gaining the ability to transform into a Super Saiyan (which increased his already immense power even further), and soon even Paragus feared his son's strength. Paragus had scientists create a crown which could suppress Broly's incredible power and allow him to be controlled.

With Broly now under his control, Paragus realized he could use his son's power to rule the universe.

Posing as a loyal servant, Paragus tricks Vegeta and company into following him to a distant world called "New Vegeta," under the guise of stopping the rampaging Legendary Super Saiyan, who had already destroyed the South Galaxy.

When they arrive on the planet, Vegeta, Gohan, Trunks, and a few others are greeted by Broly, who remains quiet and well-behaved until Goku arrives.

Although Paragus had planned for he and Broly to strand Vegeta and company on the doomed world, Broly went berserk upon seeing Goku, breaking the mind-controlling crown. Broly transforms into the imposing Legendary Super Saiyan, and it is revealed that it was he who destroyed the south galaxy.

Even with the combined strength of Trunks, Goku, Gohan, Vegeta (each in their Super Saiyan forms), and Piccolo, Broly was easily able to overwhelm them, even killing his father, Paragus, as he attempted to escape.

In Broly - Second Coming, it is revealed that the Legendary Super Saiyan survived the destruction of planet New Vegeta by escaping in a Saiyan pod, ultimately crash-landing on Earth. Frozen atop a mountain range, Videl, Goten, and Trunks discover Broly while searching for the Dragon Balls.

Broly awakens in a rage upon hearing Goten (Goku's youngest son) crying. While Trunks distracts Broly, Gohan arrives, and he and Goten are able to fight back. The Dragon Balls summon the spirit of Goku, who joins his sons to perform a family Kamehameha attack which launches Broly into the sun, destroying him.

In Bio-Broly, it is revealed that a company harvested some of Broly's DNA after his battle with Gohan, Trunks, and Goten, and have created a clone of him, as well as other powerful warriors. While investigating the island lab which created him, Trunks and Goten discover the clone, while he is still in a vat of liquid, and attempt to destroy him.

Broly retaliates and the battle quickly wreaks havoc at the laboratory, rupturing vats of an extremely acidic ooze. Broly quickly devolves into a sludge-like state, but is still able to overwhelm Trunks, Goten, and Android 18 in combat. Trunks lures Broly under a large vat and destroys it, covering Broly in the caustic ooze.

It seems the Legendary Super Saiyan has been destroyed, but the vast quantities of acid begin to break out of the lab and cover the entire island. When the ooze reaches the ocean, Goten and Trunks discover seawater turns it into stone. Broly rises from the sludge to renew his attack, but Goten and Trunks cover him in saltwater, turning the Legendary Super Saiyan to stone before shattering him into pieces.

The film ends with a vision of Goku in the afterlife, who is informed that Broly is causing trouble down in Hell. After finishing his meal, Goku prepares to go fight the Legendary Super Saiyan once again.

For more on Broly, be sure to check out our breakdowns of the first and second trailers for Dragon Ball Super: Broly, as well as our reactions to the initial reveal, and some of the other surprising things we gleaned from what we've seen so far. Dragon Ball Super: Broly hits theaters Jan. 16, 2019.