Is Vegeta’s Brother Tarble Finally Returning to Dragon Ball?

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Summary

  • Tarble, Vegeta’s brother, was introduced in a 2008 Dragon Ball OVA set after defeating Majin Buu.
  • Tarble is mentioned in Dragon Ball Super movies, hinting at a potential appearance in the series.
  • Tarble’s character design reflects his weakness as an exiled Saiyan, adding complexity to the Dragon Ball lore.

2008 finds me in a world where the Dragon Ball series, a significant part of my childhood, seemed to be fading into oblivion. I was fortunate enough to have watched it in the 90s, but even then, its glow had begun to wane since the conclusion of Dragon Ball GT. Yet, here I was, hearing rumors of a new OVA titled “Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!”, the first official one in over a decade for the franchise. Released years after the series’ peak popularity and seven years before the anime adaptation of Toriyama and Toyotaro’s Dragon Ball Super manga in 2015, this relatively obscure OVA was a rare gem for dedicated fans like myself.

Could it be possible that the less-known character, Tarble, Vegeta’s brother, who debuted in the 35-minute animation released to honor the 40th anniversary of Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine, might find his way into the main Dragon Ball series? Given how both Dragon Ball Super and DAIMA have creatively utilized peripheral characters within the franchise, it’s not entirely out of the question.

Who is Vegeta’s Brother?

Introducing Tarble

The “Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! OVA” takes place two years following the vanquishing of Majin Buu. Hercule (Mr. Satan) grapples with feelings of guilt for being acclaimed as a savior of Earth from the demonic menace, leading to the construction of a grand new hotel in his name. To celebrate, he extends invitations to Goku, Vegeta, and their kin for a banquet. However, this festive occasion is disrupted when two Saiyan pods arrive unexpectedly, giving rise to a mysterious Saiyan and an enigmatic extraterrestrial lifeform.

Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! is not part of the anime’s main storyline, Tarble has been mentioned in the first two Dragon Ball Super films, Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Super: Broly. Given that Tarble appears to be part of the Super timeline, might there be a possibility for his appearance in the series?

Vegetable Dilemma

How Tarble Exists in the Canon

Examining Tarble’s character design, it’s evident that there’s a striking resemblance between him and Vegeta, not just in appearance, but also in their names which cleverly reference vegetables. The naming convention, reminiscent of creator Akira Toriyama’s style, is derived from the second half of the word “vegetable” (Vegeta being the first half), underscoring the significance of the Vegeta lineage within the backstory of the vegetable-related Saiyan species. Upon his introduction, Tarble dons a similar set of Saiyan armor to Vegeta, complete with shoulder pads and scouter. However, it’s their facial characteristics that confirm their familial bond.

Another way to put it might be: People sometimes compare him to a slim Gohan, and indeed, he’s quite short, even shorter than Vegeta. His rounder, softer facial features add to his rather unassuming appearance, which is said to reflect the weakness that led to his exile by his father. Contrary to expectations, Tarble is polite and not as battle-ready as his people typically are. However, the two new villains from the OVA mentioned they had some difficulties with him, despite their power levels being similar to first-form Frieza.

In simpler terms, Tarble from Dragon Ball only appears in the original series through the 2008 OVA. While he is mentioned in Battle of Gods and Broly movies, adding him to the canon isn’t straightforward due to complications like Dragon Ball DAIMA. However, Dragon Ball Super further confuses Tarble’s existence because a character named Cabba from Universe 6 shares similarities with Vegeta’s brother.

It’s unclear if the character Tarble will ever materialize in any subsequent Dragon Ball anime or manga following the 2008 OVA, but similar to Bulma’s sister, he is indeed a confirmed character within the Dragon Ball universe. The manner in which Dragon Ball Super and to some extent, DAIMA, have reinvented concepts from earlier versions of the franchise hints at the potential for Tarble to make a substantial appearance in the series in the future. However, the question remains when and under what circumstances this might occur?

Hey, Dragon Ball: Son Goku and His Friends Return!! is now streaming on Bilibili! However, it is currently only available with subtitles.

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2025-06-02 16:05