Although most fans have come to know Dragon Ball as an action franchise first and foremost, its roots have always been more complex than that. Dragon Ball was never the straight up comedy-adventure some fans seem to misremember it being– martial arts being an ingrained part of Dragon Ball’s world since chapter 1– but it’s hard to deny how tonally different the first three story arcs are.
Even the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai, an arc all about action, is very unique compared to its successor tournaments. Tonally, it shares the most in common with Uranai Baba’s tournament which closes out the Red Ribbon Army arc. An emphasis on humor, but at a point in the series where Dragon Ball’s action & drama were starting to become more sophisticated, Baba’s tournament is a very unique– and very engaging– last hurrah for early Dragon Ball.
7 Krillin Versus Dracula Man (Match 1)
That said, Baba’s tournament doesn’t exactly open with its best foot forward. Still, it does at least set the tone for the rest of the tournament (which in itself is keeping in-line with the tone of the Red Ribbon Army arc.) Almost immediately, Krillin is attacked by the supernatural Dracula Man and forced to forfeit due to extreme blood loss.
It’s as hilarious as it is frustrating. Up to this point, Krillin has done next to nothing substantial since the end of the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai. He hung around with Goku & Bulma during the General Blue section of the arc, but all he does there is get subdued by Blue. If nothing else, Krillin’s loss here isn’t for nothing as he goes on to help Yamcha win his first match of the tournament.
6 Son Goku Versus Mummy-kun (Match 5)
More than any other story arc in the franchise, the Red Ribbon Army arc is very Goku-centric. He’s alone for a good chunk of the story, only working in tandem with the supporting cast against General Blue and during Baba’s tournament. As a result of Goku’s globetrotting (and his training with Karin,) he’s significantly stronger than everyone else in this tournament.
His fight against Mummy-kun– a character who would have beaten Yamcha to death– is taken out with a single punch by Goku. He’s so far above the supporting cast, that there’s no question about Goku’s raw talent. Still, as anti-climactic as this fight is, it’s an important moment in Goku’s arc.
5 Upa & Puar Versus Dracula Man (Match 2)
Easily the most fascinating and “early Dragon Ball” thing about Baba’s tournament is the roster on Goku’s side. Beyond the main character, Krillin & Yamcha are rounded out by Puar and Upa. Puar– a side character who essentially does nothing else after the first arc– and Upa– a character really only relevant to this story arc– are briefly quite important.
Their fight is also hilarious and very charming. With no physical prowess, they approach Dracula Man by playing on classic vampiric weaknesses. Garlic breath, T-posing, the works. After knocking Dracula Man out, the two even have the foresight to forfeit, letting Yamcha take on the next immediate fighter.
4 Yamcha Versus Suke-san (Match 3)
Speaking of, Yamcha’s fight against Suke-san is one of the last times Yamcha wins a fight in Dragon Ball. It’s not even his win either. Suke-san, the invisible man, manages to overwhelm Yamcha. To help him out, Krillin has Goku bring Bulma to the tournament so that he can flash her in front of Roshi, with Roshi’s blood coating Suke-san, allowing Yamcha to defeat him.
It’s… interesting, and shows off Krillin’s critical thinking skills, but it’s a shame Yamcha doesn’t nab himself a clean victory. That said, the fight choreography here is great and that Yamcha almost manages to defeat Suke-san by listening to his movements is a nice little detail. There’s something comforting about seeing Yamcha in action, even if he’s losing.
3 Yamcha Versus Mummy-kun (Match 4)
And what a loss his fight against Mummy-kun offers him. Yamcha gets utterly throttled during this battle. The anime actually tries to show Yamcha a bit of mercy, allowing him to get some solid hits in on Mummy-kun– but that just makes Yamcha’s loss more brutal. In the manga, Yamcha tries to hold his own but is forced to forfeit fast lest he be killed.
Still, Yamcha puts up a fight and doesn’t go down like a chump. Even in the manga, he’s fighting to survive. Like against Suke-san, Yamcha almost secures himself a victory, knocking Mummy-kun off the arena. If it weren’t for his opponent’s bandages jolting him back up, Yamcha would have been able to lose to Akkuman instead. Maybe he should have.
2 Son Goku Versus Akkuman (Match 6)
Following Goku’s complete humiliation of Mummy-kun, it’s only fair that his next opponent offer the boy an actual challenge. A former Tenkaichi Budokai champion himself, Akkuman is no stranger to tournaments and he’s quite dangerous, fighting to truly kill Goku. All the same, Goku is hardened, and where he once lost the Tenkaichi Budokai, he defeats one of its victors.
Not without a fight, though. Akkuman fights well and would have even won if Goku had any evil in his heart. Goku’s rather easy victory undermines how much of a fight Akkuman otherwise put up, but that in itself is also important: the real challenge is yet to come.
1 Son Goku Versus Son Gohan (Final Match)
Grandson and grandfather reunited, the end of Baba’s tournament leads into one of the most emotional moments in Dragon Ball: Goku embracing his grandfather in tears. It’s one of the only times Goku cries in the series, and that it’s preceded by an excellent fight is really just the cherry on top. Goku may not know he’s fighting his grandfather, but that in itself only adds to the drama.
There’s a mystery leading up to the reveal, but Gohan and Goku fight strikingly similar. More importantly, Gohan further reinforces the idea that there will always be someone better than Goku. That it’s his grandfather is frankly humbling. Filled with excellent action and an emotional ending, this is the Red Ribbon Army arc at its best.