Goku has some of the most powerful attacks in the entire Dragon Ball franchise, from his signature Kamehameha Wave to his Dragon Fist strike. Early in Dragon Ball Z, Goku would learn his most devastating attack yet in the Spirit Bomb, a technique that gathered the life energy to form a potent energy blast, capable of completely obliterating its target. But more than just an incredibly destructive technique, summoning the Spirit Bomb is an action that can unify planets, even the entire universe, towards a single, common goal, inadvertently making Goku someone who can bring humanity to overcome its differences and come together.
After being killed in DBZ's opening battle against the Saiyan invader Raditz, Goku travels to the afterlife where he first meets King Kai. An eccentric character whose comedy chops belie his martial arts skills, King Kai trains Goku for several months, teaching him the Kaioken technique to boost his combat power and the Spirit Bomb, warning Goku to use the attack as a last resort due to its sheer destructive potential. And returning to Earth, Goku would use the technique to turn the tide of battle against Vegeta while later upgrading it into a Super Spirit Bomb while fighting Frieza on the planet Namek.
One of the best examples on how the Spirit Bomb unifies those it draws energy from comes in the 1990 non-canon film Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest. As the villainous Doctor Wheelo battles Goku and the Z Fighters, Goku decides to form a Spirit Bomb to destroy the mad scientist. As Wheelo watches the energy blast bear down on him, he senses the energies of Earth's diverse population that make up the bomb. The energy consumption of the Spirit Bomb was increased towards the end of DBZ, with humanity willingly giving their energy to Goku to form a Super Spirit Bomb and destroy Kid Buu after being encouraged by Hercule Satan.
In the non-canon sequel series Dragon Ball GT, Goku would go even further with the Spirit Bomb technique. Facing off against the final Shadow Dragon, Omega Shenron, after the malevolent creature absorbed the power of the Dragon Balls directly into his body, Goku decided a Spirit Bomb was his best bet at defeating his opponent, after both Super Saiyan 4 and the Gogeta fusion proved ineffective. Knowing that a Super Spirit Bomb wouldn't be strong enough, Goku turned to the entire universe for support, forming a Universal Spirit Bomb that would ultimately destroy Omega Shenron and save the day.
Bringing together complete strangers on a universal scale, the Spirit Bomb is one of the most iconic moves in all of Dragon Ball. Goku displayed the ability to bring people together with his pure-hearted nature and willingness to see the best in even his worst enemies, making the Spirit Bomb the technique that perhaps fits him and his outlook the best.
As the Dragon Ball franchise has progressed, so too has the scale and scope, going from a martial arts tale to one that puts the fate of an entire multiverse at stake. And as those stakes have increased, the Spirit Bomb has also grown, moving from its humble origins as a collection of energy to one that draws from the entire universe.
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