Bora (ボラ, Bora?) is a supporting character in the Dragon Ball franchise. He is the leader of the Karinga Tribe and one of the guardians of the Sacred Land of Karin. He is the father of Upa.
Bora was voiced by Banjō Ginga (most media), the late Kōzō Shioya (DBZ ep. 285) and Hisao Egawa (DBZ Kai) in Japanese, late Bob Papenbrook in the Harmony Gold dub, Dameon Clarke (most media) and John Michael Tatum (DBZ Kai) in the Funimation dub, Lucas Gilbertson in the Blue Water dub, Terry Klassen in the Ocean Group dubs and David Gasman in the AB Groupe dub.
Appearance
Bora is a towering man of tan complexion with a largely muscular and well-defined physique. He has straight, black hair reaching his upper back that is secured in a ponytail. Noticeability, Bora has a cross-shaped scar on the right side on of his chest. He is bare-chested, but wears brown trousers and shoes with a ribbon tied to each arm and a necklace with animal tusks. Decades later, despite becoming a man well past his prime, he remained relatively unchanged, still remarkably powerful in built with only minor wrinkles about his face and not a single grey hair.
Biography
Dragon Ball
Bora is one of the guardians of the Sacred Land of Karin and wants to train his son, Upa, to turn him into a strong warrior like him. One day, He and his son finds the Four Star Dragon Ball near their camp and soon they are surrounded by a brigade of the Red Ribbon Army led by Colonel Yellow. Bora proves to be able to withstand all of their shots and uses his strength to defeat all the soldiers. However, Yellow escapes and takes Upa as a hostage to force Bora to give him the Dragon Ball. Bora decides to obey him but Goku arrives and kills Colonel Yellow, saving Upa. Bora decides to give him the Dragon Ball in gratitude, since Goku was looking for it. Soon after this, Tao Pai Pai, an assassin hired by the Red Ribbon Army to kill Goku arrives. Bora decides to fight on Goku's place to settle his debt, however, Tao immediately grabs his spear and throws Bora very high and then Tao throws his own spear on his chest, killing him in the process. Upa felt terrible for this tragedy and Goku decided to defeat Tao and the Red Ribbon Army to reunite the seven Dragon Balls and wish to revive Bora. Goku, with the help of Upa and the other Z-Fighters, managed to achieve this. Then they summon Shenron and Upa pronounces his wish, then Shenron uses his powers to revive Bora, who thanks Goku and his son for reviving him.
Three years later, Bora meets Goku again with Yajirobe when they are going to the Karin Tower after Goku was defeated and almost killed by King Piccolo. Bora helps them by throwing them up to the tower.
Mystical Adventure
Bora and Upa are persecuted by the Mifan Army after taking a Dragon Ball that he found on his land and refusing to give it to them since he knew that they were going to use it for evil intentions. In Mifan he meets Goku and the other Z-Fighters and becomes allies to defeat the Mifan Army. Bora participates in the Martial Arts Tournament, defeating all participants, but then he has to confront General Tao, who kills him. At the end of the movie he is revived by Shenron after the Dragon Team defeats the Mifan Army.
Dragon Ball Z
When Launch was trying to steal provisions from their tent, Bora along Upa, who has already grown up, goes to stop her. However, Launch changes to her good personality and leaves.
Some years later, Bora and Upa are killed by Super Buu but they are revived by Porunga. When Goku asks all the earthlings to give their energy to him to defeat Kid Buu, Bora and Upa recognize his voice and, along with the other members of their tribe, give him their energy.
Dragon Ball GT
Bora is seen along Upa and the other members of the Karinga Tribe being teleported by Goku to New Planet Plant to escape from the Earth's explosion.
Abilities
Bora dispatches the Red Ribbon Army soldiers with ease while surviving gunfire.
Bora is considered one of the strongest humans of his time. He possesses tremendous physical strength, able to throw both Goku and Yajirobe far above the clouds. He is also strong enough to lift military helicopters. His body can completely withstand barrages of bullets without harm.
Despite not being a martial artist, Bora is a skilled fighter and can defeat several Red Ribbon Army soldiers. Likewise, he is an expert with his spear and uses it effectively in combat. Bora has a high level of intelligence, particularly regarding survival in the wild and combat strategy.
Personality
Bora is the chief of a native tribe who serves as the guardian of Korin Tower. Likewise, he proves to be quite selfless as he put his life on the line to protect Karin Sanctuary when the Red Ribbon Army sent Colonel Yellow and his troops there to search for the Dragon Balls. Despite being his foes, Bora reverently buries the fallen Red Ribbon Soldiers that had attempted to invade his home. To express his thanks, Bora entrusts his Four-Star Ball to Goku and tells him of a mysterious hermit that lives atop Karin Tower.
Trivia
- Bora is the first known character in the entire series to be brought back to life with the Dragon Balls.
- Bora is one of the few characters whose death is not only censored in the edited version of the episode where it occurs, but also in all subsequent edited episodes leading to his revival
External Links
- Bora on the Dragon Ball Wiki
