The Dragon Ball Super manga hasn't shied away from violence like Granolah's mother, Muezli's death in Chapter 77. This is something the anime did avoid, but the original Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z series never had an issue with giving viewers bloody violent scenes. Despite Dragon Ball always having a younger target audience, blood was never much of an issue.
Akira Toriyama drew some fairly traumatizing panels and Toei never held back on animating these scenes either. However, that has changed much as Dragon Ball Super came to air, featuring far less blood or gore. Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z on the other hand are well-known for their brutality.
Warning: Contains Graphic Descriptions
Videl vs Spopovich
While Dragon Ball fights often get brutal and unforgiving, many of them still have several moments of enjoyment. However, this isn't the case with Videl vs Spopovich. This fight is unbelievably brutal and one of the most uncomfortable fights to watch.
Videl getting beaten within an inch of her life and Gohan only being able to stand there and watch is just rough. Not to mention Spopovich is unbelievably vulgar, especially when Videl kicks his head, twisting it backward.
Vegeta Killing Zarbon
Vegeta's sweet revenge continued as he killed Zarbon. While Zarbon's blood isn't red, it's no less a fairly bloody scene. Vegeta's fist sinks deep into his enemy and tears a deeper hole through with a one-handed ki wave.
Vegeta rarely spares any lives and caused more than one enemy on Namek to explode into nothing but ashes. But Zarbon's death was by far the most brutal and barbaric and while it may not have been as heartless as when Vegeta slaughtered the Namekians, it was certainly more bloody.
Frieza Stabs Krillin
While there's no question that Frieza is one of Dragon Ball's best villains ever, this scene certainly made him one of the most horrifying. If the scene had ended with Frieza impaling Krillin and then tossing him aside then perhaps this scene would have been more bearable.
However, that's not what happens at all. Frieza continually jerks Krillin up and down between his horns throwing shivering horror through the Earthling. Frieza aligns well as a true villain and is surrounded by horror. Many of his battles against the protagonists are scary, but nothing topped this scene in terms of its gore.
Yamcha Stabbed
Yamcha suffers many losses in Dragon Ball, but nothing really comes close to how brutally injured he was by Dr. Gero. Yamcha being stabbed in the chest, suffocated by Gero's palm while simultaneously getting his energy drained, and not knowing whether his friends will make it in time is truly a horrifying scene.
The impending doom is felt and the smoke encroaching around Yamcha only adds to the suspense. It's a miracle he makes it out alive, though he might have wished he had stayed dead after the Saibamen.
Guldo's Death
Guldo's death is shocking in numerous ways. One, it makes Vegeta a savior, which is not something expected at this point in the series. And two, anyone should be surprised when a character's head is randomly cut off.
In anime or manga, typically if a character is beheaded the scene is often a silhouette, especially for a shonen series. However, in Dragon Ball Z everything is shown in detail with Toriyama not holding anything back.
Frieza Cut In Half
It's perhaps the most shocking outcome that Frieza's own attack is what defeats him in his battle against Goku. While the scene is grotesque and violent with the razor-like discs slicing through him, it's really the aftermath that has more gore.
While the anime doesn't censor too much from the manga, the manga does give more details. As Frieza flies up after gaining some of Goku's energy, blood still drips from where he was sliced and his entrails can be seen hanging out.
Piccolo Ripping Off His Arm
While yes, Piccolo does lose his arm against Raditz that scene is extremely mild compared to the one in the fight against Goku. After an accidental self-injury, Piccolo's arm is reduced to a bloody mess. With no other choice but regeneration, he violently rips his arm off and tosses it aside.
The shocking scene is heavily exaggerated with large surges of blood pouring from the wound. Goku vs Piccolo is certainly one of the best fights in one of the best tournaments in Dragon Ball, but it is without a doubt the goriest fight due to this scene and more.
Marvin's Head Exploding
This minor character happens to have one of the goriest deaths in Dragon Ball with his head exploding cruelly by Babidi's magic. Ironically, it is only a few episodes later that Majin Buu removes Babidi's own head.
The scene was a bit over the top and reminded fans that it's still Akira Toriyama writing this series. At times it felt as if Dragon Ball Z had become more tame, but every once in a while a violent scene would pop up to prove people wrong.
Goku and Raditz's Deaths
With blood gushing from their chests and mouths it's hard not to cringe at the grotesqueness of this scene. It's brutal, bloody, and horrifying. Raditz's expressions of rage and disbelief on his face add to the horror of the scene. Meanwhile, Goku's look of smugness and relief breaks fans' hearts as they watch him die.
While Piccolo had long since tried to kill Goku for good, he finally got his wish but it meant nothing anymore. Such a selfless sacrifice by Goku was one of the first seeds that began to change him from a rival to a friend.
Piccolo's Surprise Attack On Goku
Piccolo had seemed defeated, but before the countdown was up he fired a hole through Goku's chest nearly killing him. This scene is brutal and horrifying. The beatdown Goku delivered to Piccolo moments before would have served as a very good conclusion to the fight, but that's what made Piccolo's surprise attack all the more shocking.
However, the violence didn't end there. More gore was seen as Piccolo mercilessly drove his elbow into Goku's wound and delivered more painful agonizing attacks to his limbs.