Goku vs. Superman: An In-Depth Comparison

The age-old debate of which is mightier, Goku or Superman, has been popularized in various media. While Goku is a legendary hero from the Dragon Ball series, Superman is a celebrated force of justice in the DC Universe. Let's dive into their origins, powers, and abilities to determine who would come out on top.

Origins and Early Powers

In Dragon Ball, Goku is just a young, ordinary human at the beginning of his journey. By the time he enters the Kid Goku King Piccolo Saga, he has not yet mastered most of his powers, especially his ability to transform into a Great Ape (Oozaru). However, even a young Goku would be a formidable opponent, exemplified by his accidental killing of Grandpa Gohan as a Great Ape. On the other hand, baby Superman, if exposed to the sun, would be a global powerhouse with nearly infinite power at his disposal, regardless of his age.

Childhood Comparisons

Baby Goku, though powerful, would still be outmatched by baby Superman, who has the powers of a fully grown Superman. If we compare their teenage years, Goku is around Moon to Small Planet level, while younger Superman would be at least Star level. This significant power gap would favor Superman in a direct confrontation.

Adult Power Levels

In Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta reaches an in-universe power of 18,000, which is far above Goku's level of around 250 when he enters the King Piccolo Saga. In the DC Universe, Superman, especially in the DC Animated Movies Universe (DCAMU), is at least Star level, making him a significantly stronger opponent than even Tournament-level Goku.

Superman's Multiverse and Boom Tubes

The DC Universe includes the entire 52 multiverse, but characters can travel to the god realms and gain abilities exponentially beyond their natural universes. For example, the New Gods from Apokolips and Doomsday are giants compared to natural universes, being above space and time. Boom Tubes in the god sphere and beyond can amplify powers to unprecedented levels, rendering feats performed inside these realms essentially invalid.

Superman's feats often involve traveling through various realities and dimensions, experiences that are amplified by the nature of the realms and the ships he uses. For instance, Superman's journey through multiple realities in the Final Crisis series is rendered invalid because his body is separated from his soul, and he travels through these realms in a supernatural form rather than his physical self.

Superman: Fact vs. Fiction

Many of Superman's feats, often hailed as infinite power, are actually based in myth or flawed interpretations. For example, Superman supposedly breaking through countless realities in Man of Tomorrow actually happened in a hellish realm where Superman's soul was separated from his body. Additionally, the famous feat of Superman and Wonder Woman shaking the heavens is a gratuitous exaggeration, as they are gods with godly origins and can fight on equal terms with other gods like Batman.

The Final Crisis: Superman Beyond story is a prime example of these exaggerations. The claim that Superman flew throughout the universe and destroyed reality in the span of a heartbeat is false, as it ignores the fact that Lois Lane would have died if Superman left her side and time was actually frozen during these events.

Superman's speed, often exaggerated or misinterpreted, is another point of contention. The claim that he flew through the DC universe at infinite speed is a misrepresentation. Actual feats, such as the one in Action Comics 553 where Superman destroys a machine that withstood the Big Bang, are more realistic and accurate representations of his abilities.

In conclusion, while both Goku and Superman are incredibly powerful, Superman would hold the upper hand in a direct confrontation. The vast superiority of his canonical powers, combined with his multiversal abilities and the DC Universe's rules, make him a formidable opponent for Goku, even in Goku's most powerful forms.

Conclusion

The true winner of any contest between Goku and Superman ultimately depends on the context and the rules of the universe. However, within the canonical rules of their respective universes, Superman’s multiversal abilities and overwhelming power would give him the edge.