The raditz saga is the first saga of DragonBallZ. It starts off with Goku going to see his childhood friends at Master Roshi's island. He arrives with his son Gohan.

Suddenly, a saiyan named Raditz also approaches the island. He comes to see why Goku hasn't done away with the earthlings on the planet. Raditz tells Goku that he must get rid of at least 100 earthlings or he will destroy him and the planet. He kidnaps Gohan and runs off.

Goku and Picollo make a temporary partnership to defeat Raditz and return Gohan. They arrive at the spot Raditz has taken Gohan and the battle soon commences. Gohan is trapped in the space ship in which Raditz came in. As Goku and Picollo are fighting, Gohan senses that his father is in trouble and his power increases, causing Raditz to think that his scouter is broken.

Goku grabs on to Raditz's tail and restrains him to give Picollo time to charge up his new technique, the makankozappo. Raditz tricks Goku into thinking that he is sorry and Goku lets go of Raditz and knocks Goku to the ground. Gohan breaks through the space ship and hits Raditz in the chest weakening him tremendously.

Goku manages to restrain Raditz once more for Picollo to start power up his technique once again. This time Goku does not fall for the same old trick and Picollo finally releases his new attack on Raditz, killing both him and Goku. Picollo tells Raditz that Goku can be revived with the DragonBalls and the message is transmitted to the remaining saiyans through the scouter. Raditz tells Picollo that they will be coming within a year, then he dies.