Do we like Goku?
A character from Dragon Ball (1984–present)
Our score: 8 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's kind, brave and never gives up, though he picks fights for fun and is a hit-or-miss dad.
Goku is a sweet-natured, simple-minded boy who lives alone in the mountains and has a monkey's tail and enormous strength. Dragon Ball starts when he meets Bulma, a teenage inventor hunting for the seven magical Dragon Balls. He joins her search, then spends years training and entering martial arts tournaments, growing from a wide-eyed kid into a world-class fighter. The series is partly inspired by the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West.
Why he scores well: he is almost always cheerful, he is loyal to his friends, and he treats every opponent with respect. His creator described the idea behind him as simply wanting to become strong. He fights mostly for the joy of testing himself against tough rivals, not out of a duty to save everyone. That is part of why he is a lovable hero and not a saintly one.
Why not higher: his hunger for a good fight can put the people he loves in danger. He sometimes lets dangerous opponents get stronger just because he wants a better match. His family often pays the price, and he can be a far-too-absent husband and father. Even so, he keeps coming back to protect Earth, and many of his old enemies end up as allies.
Goku turns out to be a Saiyan, a member of a warrior alien race sent to Earth as a baby. His gentle nature is what separates him from the rest of his people. As the story goes on, he faces deadly alien tyrants and androids, and he even dies and returns more than once. Each time, he keeps choosing to protect his adopted home.