Too late to be a fan?

chessercizes · Post by **chessercizes** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:54 pm

Hi guys! I have a question that got me really depressed.
I really like Dragonballz (not so sure about gt), but is it too late to be a fan? I don't own anything dragonball-related, (besides the stickers I made for my calculator) because I was into Dragonball when it played on Toonami. I was like 8 at that time. Then I got out of it, and then I got back into it.
I've read some of the manga at barnes and noble, but my dad would never let me buy them. And by the time I am old enough to buy any manga or DVD's, I don't know if Dragonball will still be around.

Though when I heard Funi was going to remaster them in 2007, I got extra excited. Or something like that, I don't remember exactly.

Any thoughts on this? Because I don't just want to not be a fan of Dragonball. (Well, I guess it's more like Dragonball Z considering i've never seen Dragonball. T.T) I really like it!

Thanks.

-parth

Tanooki Kuribo · Post by **Tanooki Kuribo** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:10 pm

Any thoughts on this? Because I don't just want to not be a fan of Dragonball

I don't think its really a good idea to have people decide if you should be a fan or not. If you like Dragonball then buy the 2007 DVD's. If not then don't.

I don't know if Dragonball will still be around.

The series is out on DVD in many regions. It'll be around forever. Even if its not officially released on the next major media format, people will find a way to transfer DVD video to that format. It may not be popular, but it'll be around.

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:22 pm

Mentoring opportunity! Awesome!

It's never too late to be a fan of anything, dude. Much less something like DragonBall. And don't worry about it's relative popularity. DragonBall (the general term for all 3 series) is still a massive phenomenon in Japan. Goku is, more or less, Japan's Superman. Even over here, DragonBall's still going strong, as evidenced by all the hype over FUNimations releases (anyone's views on their quality aside), the continuing release of games and other merchandise, and so on...

Also, "fan" does not necessarily mean "collector." Don't worry about that. The only real DragonBall merchandise items I, for one, can claim to my name are VIZ Dbz volumes 20 and 26, Fusion Reborn, 3 Freeza DVDs I had a friend order for me and that I'm trying to save up enough to pay her for, and a bunch of GT CCG cards. That's not an especially impresive collection, compared to some of the others on here (Like Tanooki Kuribo, our resident DB Klepto). But that doesn't make me any more or less of a fan.

I exercize myself as a fan of DB by drawing it, and continuously learning more. It's up to you to find your own thing.

...Is I a good mentor?

Post by **desirecampbell** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:38 pm

I've been obsessed with Dragonball since YTV aired the first episode, and I still don't own anything (okay, a couple Jumps and videogames, but over-all I've spent more on Pockey than DBZ).

If you enjoy it, it's never too late to become a fan (guess who's just starting to watch SailorMoon?).

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:41 pm

desirecampbell wrote:I've been obsessed with Dragonball since YTV aired the first episode, and I still don't own anything (okay, a couple Jumps and videogames, but over-all I've spent more on Pocky than DBZ).

If you enjoy it, it's never too late to become a fan (guess who's just starting to watch SailorMoon?).

Oh, I own U.S Shonen Jumps, too. A bunch of 'em. At this rate, I should just subscribe.

(On that note, guess who's just started watching Ranma ½?

Domon · Post by **Domon** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:33 am

If you like the show, then don't be ashamed of it. Simple as that. A lot of people here have been fans of the series for quite a long time and are quite a bit older than you(I'm assuming you're fairly young, judging from certain aspects of your post).

(And to be a trend whore, guess who's just started watching Gatchaman?)

Kogu 87 · Post by **Kogu 87** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:49 am

No, it's never too late to be a fan of an anime like dbz.
I got into it a long time ago, and have watched many different anime since then.
But somehow, i always get back to dbz, it never fails.
Maybe that's just me, but for some reason i can't seem to let it go, i'm always coming back for more. hehe, and that's what makes it so classic.

theoriginalbilis · Post by **theoriginalbilis** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:16 am

I've been a fan since 1997-1998, and I still don't own all of the anime or manga. (*But I soon will own all of the anime if I continue collecting the DB sets and the upcoming DBZ Season sets*)

Being a fan means just loving something, no matter how old it is. Sure, DB's not at the peak of it's popularity anymore, but those who still love it hold it in high regard and will always have a large welcome fanbase (at least this forum does...)

I'm also of the belief that a fan must also support the thing they love in some way, either by buying the DVDs, CDs, manga, or even just the video games. Let the creators know you enjoy DB!

BTW, if money's an issue but you're looking to collect DB stuff, I recommend either the manga (it's the cheapest format for the series) or the upcoming DBZ season sets in 2007 (they'll be waaaay cheaper than the current DVDs)...

Good luck pursuing your love of DB, and I'm glad you're a fan of the best damn anime on the planet (possibly the universe?)!!!

(Continuing on, guess who's just started watching Saint Seiya?)

chibi_goten · Post by **chibi_goten** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:58 am

Course it's nether to late to become a fan, I mean you joined one of the biggest Dragonball forums so you are heading in the right direction!

People will be buying products and merchandise as long as they keep pumping them out, it might be harder for you to pick up a few items because of where you live or just because they are pretty rare now but if you want to become a collector, then go for it.

Kogu 87, Your avatar should be 80*80. Does anyone read the rules? Actually doesn't it say when you go to upload a picture anyway?

(I just started to read/collect One Piece.)

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:11 am

I don't think there is a "too late" period when being a fan. Actually if you get in late, it may be a bit better because you don't have to deal with the hassles that we had to go through like bad dubs, season three, no dvds, season three (it had to be mentioned twice), etc. If you decide to get into very late, then you can pick up DragonBox for cheap instead of the prices they are now.

MartianOddity · Post by **MartianOddity** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:09 am

Mr.Piccolo wrote:I don't think there is a "too late" period when being a fan. Actually if you get in late, it may be a bit better because you don't have to deal with the hassles that we had to go through like bad dubs, season three, no dvds, season three (it had to be mentioned twice), etc. If you decide to get into very late, then you can pick up DragonBox for cheap instead of the prices they are now.

I agree, but the Dragonboxes will probably become even more expensive as time goes by as they're much of the times treated as stuff that one collect.

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:07 am

Youre pretty much screwed if you havent seen the series. I was lucky enough to first catch it back in '99 when Toonami finally aired the Freeza saga. As for DB still being around? Look at the obvious, it aired in Japan almost 25 years ago and its still going strong. I dont think there'll ever be a time where you cant find DB DVDs. Like Star Wars, they wouldnt release the movies every few years if they knew they wouldnt sell like hotcakes.

Godo · Post by **Godo** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:51 am

Myself, I am 20 years old now. I started with Dragonball at the age of 15. At the age of 17-18 I had all the manga volumes.
Today I only have the following: The manga, DBZ budokai 1 & 2, and a Raditz bootleg action figure.
So it's not what you own that makes you the fan.
And if you are not allowed to buy the manga, you can always borrow. There is a possibility that you library has it, or maybe people in your school.
And the DVD's can always be rent.
Then when you like it, you can like buy them when you can.
And there will always be Dragonball DVD's and manga, believe me. If not new, there will be second hand.
I don't know your age, but I guess that you'll be 18 in five to three years. That's not a lot of time. At that time you can decide if you want all that stuff, and Dragonball will still be around.

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:54 am

If you are getting into it now, you have it pretty good if you think about it. First off avoid the internet and fanboys of the show at all costs. Then, watch the show from DragonBall to GT so the events are somewhat of a surprise. Damn, I would love to be shocked seeing Goku as an alien or Piccolo not being a demon (even though its almost impossible to see the show in that light unless you were watching the show from its original airing).

Jerseymilk · Post by **Jerseymilk** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:12 pm

It is never too late to be a fan of anything. Don't pay attention to what anyone else thinks.

DaemonCorps · Post by **DaemonCorps** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:32 pm

As everyone else has said, it's never too late to be a fan of stuff. Me, being the fickle punk I am always seem to be falling in and out of my fandoms (Ghostwriter, Pete and Pete, Yu Yu Hakusho, and of course, DBZ) but that's only because I know that whatever happens, the series will always be there in some way, shape, or form if I ever decide to come back to it.

And yeah, if you are to get back into the swing of DBZ stuff, now would be the time: you've got a fantastical podcast, two great reference sites, and the boxed sets coming out in America any erm... month now

.

Post by **VegettoEX** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:18 pm

If anyone's interested, we actually talked a bit in Episode #0046 of the podcast about this very subject.

There's a huge difference between being a fan of the show when you're younger and still being a fan when you're older... and not ever being into the show when you're younger, and attempting to pick it up when you're older. We had a few perspectives on that, so that might be something interesting to you.

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:31 am

Godo wrote:Myself, I am 20 years old now. I started with Dragonball at the age of 15.

Wow I'm in almost the exact situation, but I started when i was 13.

Bejiita · Post by **Bejiita** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:52 pm

You have to be the judge of things yourself to be honest mate.

People can help you decide but it's your own choice after all. Still, it's quite a coincidence for you to pop up in one of the best places for information on Dragonball. Lucky that.

All I can say is that I watched the DBZ series and I highly reccomend watching it, it is very enjoyable. I haven't seen the original DB series, but from what I've heard it's as good as Z.

Get hold of a DVD of the first few episodes and I bet you'll be hooked after you've got into it.

Eclipse · Post by **Eclipse** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:02 pm

It's never too late to be a fan. I, myself, started being a fan full-time a year ago. Just as long as you love it and are want to learn more about it (A friend told me that if you learn something and you like it, the more you learn about it, the more you WANT to know about it) , then by all means, you've been accepted in!

And yeah, if you really want to show your love, then do it in a way that's possible for both you and your wallet. Sprite comics, fan art, fanfiction, listening to the CDs, playing the video games, watching the darn series. Just by doing it, another cat falls over from joy!

(*dunno why i used the cat metaphor, but whatever!*)