Superman’s new fusion pays tribute to his many Dragon Ball Z ties

Goku has borrowed so much from Superman throughout the years, so DC is returning the favor

DC K.O. is a five-issue limited series in which a newly omnipresent Darkseid throws Superman, Wonder Woman, Guy Gardner, Cyborg, Zatanna, Aquaman, Lex Luthor, and the Joker into the brutal “King Omega” tournament. Superman teams with Shazam for a battle against Guy Gardner and Hal Jordan. When the two Green Lanterns come close to winning, Shazam transfers his powers to Superman, creating an insanely powerful Man of Steel with magical abilities. The Dragon Ball influence extends beyond the fusion itself: Superman's round earrings are a clear nod to the Potara earrings that fuse Goku and Vegeta into Vegito.

This isn’t the first time the Man of Steel has drawn from Dragon Ball. Toriyama’s influence on recent Superman stories is as clear now as it once was when Dragon Ball was taking cues from Superman. Adult Swim’s My Adventures With Superman borrows anime-style visuals and action reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z, while also echoing a key twist in Goku’s origin: Unlike Superman, Goku was originally sent to Earth to conquer it, not protect it. However, much like Grandpa Gohan did for Goku, Superman was taken in by a loving, nurturing human family and became a hero.

Those similarities also surfaced in James Gunn’s 2025 Superman. Fans spotted the Dragon Ball nods as soon as the first trailer dropped, including a shot of a defeated Superman lying in the snow in a shot reminiscent of Yamcha’s infamous death pose. When the film was released, it was revealed that like Goku, Clark had been sent to Earth to conquer it, not to protect humanity as he had always believed.

Superman’s Dragon Ball Z era has been years in the making, dating back to when DBZ first reached North America, with Canada’s Ocean Productions handling the initial English dub in 1996. That version shaped America’s first impression of the series, leaving a lasting mark even after Funimation took over and adapted Dragon Ball into the version fans know today.

Goku’s original origin, inspired by Sun Wukong from Journey to the West, was later reimagined in the sequel series with a sci-fi twist. Ocean Productions leaned into this version to draw more parallels between Superman and Goku, portraying his father as a scientist from his home planet. In the original story, Goku’s father, Bardock, was a warrior like Goku himself. But to appeal to American audiences, the DBZ dub emphasized the familiar Superman setup, even adding comparable details that weren’t part of the original story.

In recent years, Goku’s origins were officially revised to more closely mirror Superman’s classic story. Dragon Ball Minus: The Departure of the Fated Child and Dragon Ball Super: Broly reveal that Bardock and his wife didn’t send Goku to Earth to become a conqueror. While sending children off to destroy planets was common for the Saiyans, Goku was sent away because Bardock knew their world was about to be destroyed.

In an era where manga has begun to overtake comic books in America, it's good to see Superman creators leaning into his connection to what is essentially his manga equivalent. Although both characters embody hope and altruism, Goku constantly reminds people he is not a hero, and his selfish quest to become stronger is a testament to that. He puts people — and more recently, during the Tournament of Power, entire universes — in danger just to test his mettle against stronger opponents.

Superman should always be a Boy Scout; it’s his defining trait. But he should borrow another page from Goku and always strive to become stronger, if for no other reason than because it makes him a better hero for Earth. The fusion in DC K.O. #3 gives Superman a new look, with all the additional wisdom, strength, stamina, power, courage, and speed of Shazam. This magical boost to his strength may make him the strongest iteration of Superman in official DC continuity.

Superman not being strong enough to defeat two Green Lanterns in this instance should shake his faith that he will always be the strongest hero in any given situation. Superman should always strive to be his best self, because he’s meant to embody humanity’s finest traits, including our constant drive for self-improvement.

In the end, Superman’s fusion with Shazam isn’t just a flashy power-up; it’s a full-on celebration of crossovers, callbacks, and bold “What if?” moments. It blends Kryptonian might with magical firepower, nods to Dragon Ball's worldwide cultural impact, and reciprocates that impact. And maybe DC is already one step ahead. After all, the fusion never explains the earrings, which neither hero wears. The fusion is short-lived (just like in DBZ), but could those actually be Potara earrings, hinting at an official crossover?