Dragon Ball is no stranger to iconic villains. From Demon King Piccolo, the first truly evil antagonist, to the fascinating Majin Buu, Akira Toriyama has shown a talent for creating villains as memorable as his heroes.
Yet none of these villains are as iconic and unforgettable as the ruthless space tyrant, Frieza. Dragon Ball has never seen a force as merciless as Frieza, and the Namek saga cemented his legendary status.
When Dragon Ball returned in the mid-2010s, the franchise needed something to captivate both new and longtime fans, and no one was a better candidate for a comeback than Frieza. Classic Dragon Ball fans adored him, while newcomers were familiar with his past role. Now, 10 years after his reintroduction in a highly successful series, he remains a key player in the Dragon Ball cast.
Frieza’s Comeback Was a Rocky Start
Although fans eventually embraced Frieza’s current role, his initial return wasn’t smooth. Most were on board when Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ was announced in 2015, but how the series revived this villain surprised many in the community. Since being defeated by Goku and then Trunks, Earth’s heroes had grown immensely stronger. A seven-year-old Goten from the Buu saga could easily tear apart Frieza from the Namek saga.
To address this, the story explained that Frieza’s fighting ability was always superior and that just a little training could exponentially boost his power. In a matter of months, Frieza reached and even surpassed the power of Goku and Vegeta’s Super Saiyan Blue forms. While not the worst writing choice, it was still hard to believe the tyrant could match Saiyan levels so quickly.
Based on this “rule,” it could be argued that Frieza fought enough during the Namek saga to surpass Goku’s Super Saiyan level. However, this new trait gave him a permanent shortcut to reach any Saiyan power level. His early time in Resurrection ‘F’ was fine, and his final defeat after recklessly rushing into battle without mastering his new abilities fit his character. But what came after made his return truly satisfying.
Frieza Reaches New Heights in the Tournament of Power
Frieza’s initial comeback showed him acting as fans expected: stronger and eager to fight, but overconfidence led to another embarrassing defeat. Resurrection ‘F’ felt like a condensed version of the Namek saga. Yet when he was revived for the Tournament of Power, Frieza showed significant growth.
Despite burning hatred for the Saiyans, Frieza was forced to fight alongside them instead of against them. He joined Universe 7’s team with the condition that if they won, he’d be revived and free to do as he pleased. His participation was selfish, but throughout the intense 48-minute battle, he fought alongside Earth’s greatest heroes and even lent energy to Goku, mirroring what Goku once did for him on Namek.
Frieza’s time in the Tournament of Power peaked in the final moments when he helped eliminate Jiren. The villain abandoned his selfish desire to be the sole winner and teamed up with Goku to complete the mission. Their combined effort created one of Dragon Ball’s most memorable moments, with Goku shifting through Super Saiyan forms and Frieza giving his all in his final form, just like their first encounter on Namek. The scene shocked Vegeta, who could only stare in disbelief, while the rest of the team cheered them on.
Since then, the relationship between Frieza and the Saiyans has changed little. His appearance in Dragon Ball Super: Broly in 2018 showed that although his main targets remain Goku and Vegeta, their rivalry has evolved into more of a competition. He understands immortality is useless, and artificially boosting power with Dragon Balls isn’t the path he wants. He wants to defeat the Saiyans on his own terms, without relying on tricks.
The Future of Dragon Ball Super is Frieza
Unfortunately, Dragon Ball Super has been on hiatus since Akira Toriyama’s passing in March 2024, with no signs of a quick return. However, Frieza made a spectacular comeback with the debut of his new Black Frieza form, landing a punch that forced both Goku and Vegeta out of their strongest transformations. Once again, this villain entered the scene as the strongest mortal on the planet, just like in Resurrection ‘F’. This time, though, he showed restraint and left before challenging his opponents.
Much about Dragon Ball Super’s future remains unknown, but fans can expect Frieza to play a central role in what seems to be the setup for the series’ finale before its pause. Some may not want this iconic villain to be Goku and Vegeta’s final enemy, but seeing the Saiyans finally defeat their greatest foe would be a poetic ending.
It’s always possible that Frieza’s story isn’t over and that he has no choice but to team up with his rivals one last time. He might even become one of Earth’s greatest heroes. Whatever direction Dragon Ball takes, fans can look forward to seeing much more of Frieza.
Source: Screenrant