Do you want a spin-off about Gohan?

[LoganForkHands73]

Maybe ABED is right and characters like Bardock, Trunks, Gohan, Piccolo... only work as the lead because it's not "long term". But then I have to ask you too what we should do about it. Maybe being "long term" is what causing harm and not having anything to "counter" it.

Not sure what you're asking me. Are you saying the perpetuality of the franchise is the problem? If so, there's nothing we can do about that.

Beyond voting with our wallet, we can't really do anything regardless. I'm not sure what you're implying.

Fan demand can influence creative decisions as can be seen in countless media franchises in recent years, but indeed, unless everyone stops consuming the franchise which is unlikely at this point, there's no way we can tell Shueisha to just stop producing Dragon Ball.

[ABED]

I'm hard pressed to think of fan demand pushing a franchise into a positive direction. I mean beyond something like keeping a show on the air with a campaign (e.g. Chuck). No, not Sonic in case anyone's thinking that. It made a terrible movie slightly less terrible, but also helped bankrupt a VFX company. If people don't stop watching DB, they are telling Shueisha/Toei they want more DB.

To get back to the spin-off idea, I don't want one about Gohan. If there's a DB spin off, make it about Jaco or Mr. Satan or some tangential character. I don't know what more there is to do with Gohan that can't be accomplished within DB proper. Is there enough left for him to do that you would need an entire series centered around him to accomplish it?

[Grimlock]

Not sure what you're asking me. Are you saying the perpetuality of the franchise is the problem? If so, there's nothing we can do about that.

I mean, would we be satisfied with a long term series with Goku as the lead while sporadically having spin-off projects? Should they try to do things this way? Should Goku retire and someone else take over? I'm asking us to try and find a way that would make most happy.

I ask these questions because clearly the way things are now don't seem to be that okay, we have people asking to give spotlight to other characters. Not only that, Dragon Ball is the kind of project that allows derivative ones. So we are quickly to expect that if these other characters are to be given something, it would be through spin-off, side-stories and etc.

[ABED]

Not sure what you're asking me. Are you saying the perpetuality of the franchise is the problem? If so, there's nothing we can do about that.

I mean, would we be satisfied with a long term series with Goku as the lead while sporadically having spin-off projects? Should they try to do things this way? Should Goku retire and someone else take over? I'm asking us to try and find a way that would make most happy.

I ask these questions because clearly the way things are now don't seem to be that okay, we have people asking to give spotlight to other characters. Not only that, Dragon Ball is the kind of project that allows derivative ones. So we are quickly to expect that if these other characters are to be given something, it would be through spin-off, side-stories and etc.

I think hardcore fans are in the minority on this issue, and there's hardly a consensus here to begin with. The franchise is making more than it has in years, so that doesn't suggest any need for change.

If other characters are to be given the spotlight, my hope is it happens either in spin offs or sidestories like the Trunks special (anime or manga).

I think I'm tapped out on this.

[Grimlock]

If other characters are to be given the spotlight, my hope is it happens either in spin offs or sidestories like the Trunks special (anime or manga).

That's what I would be okay with too. I'm in favor of those works but I think it should be done in a "Marvel way". That is to say, despite being solo projects, they aren't completely standalone or too "detached" from the series. Mostly of these works should matter for the series (in a small or big way) and have the possibility to have a few sequels of their own. I guess that would make the series itself some kind of "Avengers", an ensemble thing. I also imagine this way would have to make things go from "sporadically" to "periodically".

In a scenario like that, the lead wouldn't have to change, other characters would have their own thing (and they could shine in their own stories as well as in the series!) and I imagine most of us would be happy. Wouldn't this be a huge "win-win"?

[dragonballhero]

Yeah, no thanks on the Gohan spin-off. Super Hero even sort of reinforced my belief that Gohan (for as much as I like him as a character) does NOT work as THE main character. Honestly, I think even Toriyama himself feels as though Gohan's story is done with by this point and I would certainly agree with him on that front.

If I'm being honest, I kind of wish Toriyama kept to his original idea of having Piccolo be a solo act for Super Hero (with Pan possibly serving as his sidekick).