ManyDragon Ballfans may not know about Vegeta’s brother Tarble, who appeared only in the Japanese-exclusive short, “Yo! Son Goku and Friends Return!” which was one of the first new pieces of animatedDragon Ballcontent since the end ofGT. But Tarble deserves his spot inDragon Ballhistory, and he deserves a bigger role in the franchise.
Tarble is Vegeta’s younger brother, whose gentle nature saw him exiled from Planet Vegeta by their father, King Vegeta, at a young age. Tarble grew up on an alien world, and thus wasn’t present when Planet Vegeta was destroyed by Frieza, allowing him to survive the genocide of the Saiyans, alongside a handful of others. As such a gentle Saiyan, Tarble isn’t much of a fighter, much to Vegeta’s chagrin, and comes to the group for help when henchmen of Frieza run wild on his home. The henchmen followed Tarble to Earth, allowing Goku and friends to help Tarble defeat them.
Tarble is a Different Kind of Saiyan
Tarble’s Calm Demeanor Makes Him Stand Out Among Saiyans
What makes Tarble interesting is that he’s very much unlike all the other Saiyans that fans know well, being uninterested in battle. In many ways, he’s more similar to the Universe 6 Saiyans–particularly Cabba, who many believe was directly modeled after Tarble due to their close resemblance. He’s something of an evolutionary throwback to the “good Saiyans,” who were nearly eradicated by the “evil Saiyans” that came to shape a lot of Saiyan culture. He’s had a largely peaceful life, and is even shown to be married to an alien during his appearance in the short.
While some might try to argue that the short is non-canonical, the fact of the matter is that Tarble has been referenced at least twice more: inBattle of Gods,Tarble is brought up as a potential sixth Saiyanfor the ritual, but Vegeta has no way to contact him. InBroly, Nappa asks young Vegeta about his brother’s fate, referring to Tarble, but Vegeta is ambivalent as to whether he survived or not. Tarble is clearly considered to be canon, so why not put the character to use once again and bring him back for another appearance?
As one of the few surviving Saiyans, it should be considered pretty important to keep in touch with Tarble, just from a practical standpoint.Tarble may also have information that the others lack due to his very different life; perhaps he has knowledge of Saiyan history, for example. At the very least, he indicated he can fly a ship all the way to Earth, so Tarble does have some valuable piloting skills, which are sometimes lacking among the Z Fighters. And after all, there has already been one instance where his presence would’ve come in handy–who’s to say such a situation might not reappear in the future?
Tarble and Vegeta Could Have An Interesting Relationship
Vegeta and His Brother Have the Chance to Get to Know Each Other
Getting to know Tarble and making him part of the family that Vegeta has built on Earth could be a great thing for Vegeta’s character, too. Vegeta has certainly chilled out a lot compared to his earliest days in the series, andinDragon Ball Superhas been actively working to make amends for the evils he has donethroughout his life. Vegeta may be turning over a new leaf, and that’s also the perfect time to reconnect with his banished brother and show him there are no hard feelings.
Tarble is also something of a foil to Vegeta. Where Vegeta has been violent and merciless, Tarble is peaceful and kind. Tarble could end up being a good influence on his older brother, which is all the more reason to have him around. Similarly, Vegeta could help Tarble learn to stand up for himself and protect that which is dear to him, making the relationship much more even between them. It was stated that Tarble has a powerful Ki level of his own, so he definitely has the potential to be a great fighter, battling in the name of justice and fighting to defend his loved ones.
It would be a rare opportunity for Vegeta to do something really, truly positive. After all, Tarble doesn’t really know about Vegeta’s misdeeds, so this is a chance for Vegeta to create a new impression on his brother. To show him the kind of man he has become, rather than what he was. By building a new relationship together, Vegeta could take another step towards improving himself as well, something that has often been one of the most interesting elements ofDragon Ball.
How Likely is it for Tarble to Return?
Tarble Could Always Appear, But It’s Unlikely
Being from such a niche entry in theDragon Ballcanon, Tarble isn’t especially popular or anything like that. There aren’t legions of fans demanding that Tarble return, but I suspect a good number of fans would be more than happy to see him return and be put to better use than he was in the original short film.Tarble, asone of the few surviving Saiyans, is an inherently interesting piece of theDragon Balluniverse, especially since he’s so different from how Saiyans have traditionally been portrayed. His very existence makes the Saiyans more interesting, just by way of making them less one-note.
It may not be particularly likely for Tarble to show up, but I still believe that he’s a character that’s worthy of being further explored. He could have an interesting character arc, growing into a valiant warrior under Vegeta’s guidance, making both of them better. As foils for one another, they help to emphasize each other’s differences, and show that Saiyans aren’t a monolith. So long as Tarble is considered to canonically exist, it’ll be a waste to ignore him in favor of more of the same. Let Vegeta have this distinct character arc in some futureDragon Ballmedia, and show fans a new side of a favorite character.
