Red Ribbon Army

Lore & Background

The Red Ribbon Army's membership comprises humans, anthropomorphic animals, monsters, and Androids. Its hierarchy is organized like a pyramid structure: its supreme leader is Commander Red, followed by his second in command and adjutant Staff Officer Black, who is in turn followed by commanding officers such as General Blue, and so on. Doctor Gero, creator of the Red Ribbon Androids and Cell, is the chief scientist of the Red Ribbon Army. The organization functions as a military dictatorship where orders from a superior officer are absolute, but each member may conduct themselves according to their respective ambitions. Goku's protracted struggle with the Red Ribbon Army begins when he resumes his search for his Grandfather's Dragon Ball following the conclusion of a martial arts tournament he participated in. At the same time, Commander Red directs his forces to raid several settlements throughout the world in search of the Dragon Balls, ostensibly on a quest for world domination. Goku initially encounters and defeats Colonel Silver and his subordinates. Silver is later sentenced to death by Red for losing to a little boy. Though its leadership believes that Silver's defeat was an anomaly, Goku is increasingly seen as a genuine threat when he manages to defeat the forces under General White in their northern stronghold known as Muscle Tower. General White's forces include the android brute Sergeant Metallic, the ninja Sergeant Major Purple and his four identical brothers, and the large extraterrestrial monster Buyon. Other members include Colonel Yellow, an anthropomorphic tiger whom Goku defeated when arriving at the land of Korin; and Colonel Violet, the only known female operative of the army. A General Copper and the Brown Corps are mentioned in passing, but are never seen. The Red Ribbon Army occasionally recruits hired help to further their objectives, such as the assassin Mercenary Tao, and the anime-exclusive thief Husky. During the Commander Red Saga, Black eventually discovers that Red's motivation to obtain the Dragon Balls in a bid for world domination is a ruse; Red, an exceedingly short man, secretly covets the power of the Dragon Balls to wish himself taller. Black turns on Red and attempts to take command of the army and rename it the 'Black Ribbon Army', only to be killed by Goku after he wipes out most of the remaining Red Ribbon forces. Following the downfall of the organization, Doctor Gero continues his research and development work on his line of Android operatives to seek revenge against Goku.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the cold, metallic command center was thick with tension as Commander Red stared at the holographic map of Earth. Red markers pulsed across the continents, indicating their remaining strongholds, but a single green dot near the mountains represented an anomaly they could not compute. 'Report,' he barked, his voice echoing off the steel walls. A trembling officer stepped forward, clutching a datapad. 'Sir... the target has eliminated our entire Ginyu Force and is now heading for the main base. He moves faster than any of our sensors can track.' Red's eyes narrowed behind his glasses as he gripped the edge of the console. 'Then activate Protocol Omega,' he whispered, knowing it was a desperate gamble against a force they could never truly understand.

Reader's Guide

The Red Ribbon Army serves as the archetypal villainous organization in the Dragon Ball saga, representing humanity's darker potential for unchecked ambition and technological misuse. Its primary goal is total world domination, achieved through the acquisition of the seven Dragon Balls. The faction operates through a rigid military hierarchy, utilizing advanced weaponry, mechs, and even androids to crush opposition. Key members include Commander Red, the founder; Staff Officer Black, his second in command; and various specialized generals like General Blue and Colonel Silver. They often operate from hidden bases equipped with cutting-edge technology that rivals or surpasses standard Earth capabilities. In the broader conflict, they act as a catalyst for Goku's early growth, forcing him to evolve beyond traditional martial arts training. Their eventual collapse marks a turning point where the threat shifts from human greed to cosmic and intergalactic dangers.

Did You Know?

• Dragon Ball series creator Akira Toriyama drew inspiration for the military organization, particularly its Muscle Tower base, from the video game Spartan X (known as Kung-Fu Master internationally).
• Some of the Red Ribbon Army members wear uniforms reminiscent of the Hitler Youth, the youth organisation of the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, albeit without their signature swastika armbands.
• General Blue is coded as a stereotypically homosexual character, and is similar in concept to the Sturmabteilung co-founder Ernst Röhm.
• The North American English releases of the manga by Viz Media edited the lips of Adjutant Black by shading them in; D.F. Smith from IGN remarked that the character is a 'ridiculous caricature of a black man'.
• It was decided that the Red Ribbon Army would return as the main antagonistic force in the film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, with new characters serving as the driving collective behind its revival.