In the Dragon Ball franchise, Vegeta is the best father, and it really isn’t close. Goku has frequently been criticized for his parenting skills and tendency to be absent at crucial moments in his sons’ lives. However, his rival Vegeta has much fewer criticisms and has proven that he is not only a present parent but a surprisingly loving father in his own right. This is especially true when it comes to his son, Trunks.

On Dragon Ball Official, a discussion was held with Daisuke Akamatsu, who is a lecturer whose research focuses on education and learning methodologies. His expertise and reflection on Vegeta’s story arc reveal what a great parent the former villain actually is.

This is especially surprising given how readily the Saiyan Prince eliminates not only foes, but also allies – as seen with fellow Saiyan Nappa in his debut arc. While Vegeta took a long road to becoming a hero and a parent, his character arc and emotional growth have proven his worth as a fighter and a father.

Vegeta’s Father Wasn’t The Best Role Model

King Vegeta: Dragon Ball Super Ch. 3: “The Rage of Beerus” (Akira Toriyama)

King Vegeta, the Saiyan prince’s father, was killed by Frieza during the destruction of Planet Vegeta. However, Vegeta himself was still very young and in Dragon Ball Z Chapter 63, told Dodoria, “I could care less about the planet, my fellow Saiyans, or my parents.” The Saiyan methodology for child raising does not include nurturing and affection, leaving Goku’s rival with a sense of detachment from his own father, apart from recent small moments, such as in Dragon Ball Super Chapter 3, “The Rage of Beerus.” Vegeta attacks Beerus, defending his father. This could imply a sense of attachment, but it could also be a marker of Saiyan pride.

Ultimately, Vegeta was left to figure out how to be a father on his own, later in life. His way of raising Trunks is very different from the customs followed by King Vegeta and Saiyan culture. Though he has some hiccups and seems to grow into the role of father a bit slowly, he excels at being present and encouraging his son to become stronger. Considering the debut Vegeta had, the cruelty he exhibited towards others, and his lack of nurturing growing up, it’s actually a miracle he became such a good father to his own son.

Vegeta’s Marriage to Bulma Solidified His Emotional Growth Off-Page

Another surprising aspect that led Vegeta to be such a great father is his marriage to Bulma. Within the discussion with Dragon Ball Official, Akamatsu points out how natural the relationship actually is and what makes it so successful. Early in Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta doesn’t seem particularly lovable. However, during the timeskip, his life with Bulma develops from loneliness to attraction, and after the Cell Saga, becomes love. The main problem with this relationship dynamic, is that it is not directly shown within the manga or the anime. It simply occurs and puts Vegeta on the path to having stronger emotional connections to the people he surrounds himself with.

In Dragon Ball Z Chapter 141, “The Terrifying Message, Future Trunks says, “Then she saw my father, sitting all alone, and it just…happened. But they never married…” Bulma and Vegeta are a very unlikely pair, especially since their early days as a couple haven’t actually been seen. Yet his eventual attachment to her led him to not only be a better, more committed partner, but a better father and family man overall. His previous inability to have emotional attachments outside of rivalries and combat competition would have prevented him from becoming a genuinely good dad. This final hurdle puts him on the road to becoming the best version of himself.

Dragon Ball Gives Vegeta the Chance to Be a Father Twice Over

Early on, Vegeta was making the same mistakes as Goku when it came to parenting. He wasn’t around for Bulma when she was pregnant, and in Future Trunks’ timeline, he wasn’t around for his son since he died when Trunks was young. This is very similar to Goku missing his sons’ births and needing to be resurrected at times, leading to an absence between returns. This would make Vegeta’s first attempt at parenting a bit of a failure by certain markers, allowing him to be no better than his own father. Though he does gain some attachment to Future Trunks during the Cell Saga, his second chance was a big improvement.

By the time Vegeta actually raises his own son on the page, he has already grown more as a person. Akamatsu, in the Dragon Ball Official discussion, presents the differences between Future Trunks and Trunks, stating, “If Vegeta wasn’t around for the Trunks of his timeline either, that version of his son might have developed a similar personality to his future counterpart. But since they’re both very different types of people, it’s reasonable to assume Vegeta played a role in his son’s upbringing, which had a significant impact on his personality.” By getting another chance to raise his son in his own timeline, while having a greater attachment to Bulma, Vegeta gets to do things better and improve his son’s future – an opportunity Goku doesn’t have.

Vegeta is Dragon Ball Z’s Ultimate Father

Considering the way Vegeta interacted with his own father and the dynamic the two had, it’s surprising that the Saiyan Prince would be so hands-on with Trunks growing up. He teaches him how to be stronger and appears to have genuine affection towards the boy. As a Saiyan, he can guarantee that his bloodline remains powerful. His life on Earth not only made him the best version of himself, it also made him Dragon Ball’s best father. His fate differed in his timeline, allowing him to be present as a dad and husband. His strength also continues to grow, allowing him to share challenges with his son and allies.

Vegeta’s ability to form positive emotional attachments is one of the biggest markers of his character growth, but it’s also what makes him stronger as a Saiyan and a father. Despite every odd being against him, he has proven that he can improve not only his physical prowess, but his emotional connectivity. As a result, Vegeta is present, encouraging, and a reliable role model in his children’s lives. While Goku has had a more positive outlook and personality from the beginning, Vegeta’s growth and willingness to learn makes him the best father in the Dragon Ball franchise.

Source: Dragon Ball Official