When did the Broly fandom overdrive begin?

[Piccolo Daimao]

Now, for a long time, there has been a large fanbase for one character who has been whored out more than any other. Of course, Broly.

But when did this Broly fandom overdrive begin? On Daizex's "Attack Of The Saiyans" review, it relates to since the resurgence of new games post-Final Bout. But this doesn't explain the sudden surge of fan love for Broly. He wasn't even in the Budokai series until Budokai 3, and now we have a Super Saiyan 3 Broly in Raging Blast.

[VegettoEX]

Now, for a long time, there has been a large fanbase for one character who has been whored out more than any other. Of course, Broly.

But when did this Broly fandom overdrive begin? On Daizex's "Attack Of The Saiyans" review, it relates to since the resurgence of new games post-Final Bout. But this doesn't explain the sudden surge of fan love for Broly. He wasn't even in the Budokai series until Budokai 3, and now we have a Super Saiyan 3 Broly in Raging Blast.

I think a lot of it is invented in the heads of people who dislike Broli, but I suppose it's hard to deny just how much Broli "stuff" has come out in the last few years. Maybe it's just a constant self-referential, self-fulfilling cycle of pain...?



I have to imagine that Broli's first appearance in a video game was Super Butoden 2 in 1993, where he was a hidden character (along with Goku). When did he next show up...? Probably Taiketsu, an American-made game in 2003. We'll get back to video games in a minute...

If you look at the Japanese fandom and production at the time, it's clear that Broli had something to him that brought people back... whether they wanted him or not. He has the distinction of receiving three movies, beating out Coola with only two. He also received a figure in the "Super Battle Collection" line -- the only movie character to get one.



Going back over to video games, the reason he didn't show up in the main console series of fighters (the resurgence of them, anyway, post-Final Bout) was because of how much of a "reboot" they were and how individualized per a specific "section" of the series they were -- the first Budokai only went up to the end of the Cell arc, the second went through Buu with no real dips into movie territory, and then the third finally kicked it into movies to expand the roster and story possibilities.

It's these most recent games that blow my mind, though. I mean, including Broli as a hidden character in a role-playing game that only extends to the fight with Vegeta...?! God, I mean, ignoring the placement of him far too early, he's SSJ in his appearance! We don't get hints at that for a while in the actual story! The SSJ3 thing in Raging Blast just seems like a last gasp of air for relevance.

Are people actually clamoring for stuff like that? I don't know. It's hard to get a read on general fandom with it.

I suppose there's an entirely separate conversation to be had with regard to why it is that people like the character, but I know we've been through that before, so let's try to keep the discussion to pinpointing as best as possible when it was that he became much more prevalent .

I'd say that FUNimation releasing DBZ movie 8 in 2003 kicked it into top-gear.

[The Tori-bot]

When his power became maximum.

Podcast episode on this topic kthx.

[VegettoEX]

Podcast episode on this topic kthx.

Is there a notable Broli superfan that we could bring on to talk about it...?

One that can... err... how do I phrase this politely... speak somewhat more eloquently than our character of topical discussion...?

[rereboy]

He`s probably that popular because he is, first of all, a sayan, and, not only that, he`s the legendary super sayan.

Let me explain...

The main fighters by the end of the series are the sayans. They are the strongest fighters and probably the most popular race in Dragon Ball.

Also, the most popular and iconic power-up/transformation of Dragon Ball is the SSJ.

In the Namek saga we were told that the SSJ is a legendary warrior, the strongest in the universe. So naturally we assumed that there would be only one sayan warrior who is in fact the SSJ. This idea is the stuff that legends are made of. Its full of mystique and wonder. God-like wonder.

But when we get to android saga we realize that any sayan can turn into a SSJ if he works hard enough. And so a great deal of the mystique is lost. The SSJ turns out to be just a technique or a power up that any sayans can use under the right conditions, much like the oozaru state (but instead of waiting for the full moon they have to become strong enough and angry enough to turn into SSJ).

And so, here comes Brolly... And we are reintroduced to the idea of only one true legendary SSJ. Like the others are just pale imitations of that power.
The mystique and wonder of the LSSJ just comes right back with that reintroduction... The SSJ becomes special again.

So in conclusion, Brolly is popular because:

- he is a sayan
- he is the LSSJ

Add to that the fact that he is a villain who looks pretty much unstoppable until the very last seconds, and the fact that he always blows things up... And we get a pretty popular character... Even if he doesn`t have a personality.. Its all smoke and mirrors.. The wonder of the idea of legendary sayan warrior.

As for when it started... Well, I guess he was always popular but like all things his popularity varied with the years.

[Piccolo Daimao]

He`s probably that popular because he is, first of all, a sayan, and, not only that, he`s the legendary super sayan.

Let me explain...

The main fighters by the end of the series are the sayans. They are the strongest fighters and probably the most popular race in Dragon Ball.

Also, the most popular and iconic power-up/transformation of Dragon Ball is the SSJ.

In the Namek saga we were told that the SSJ is a legendary warrior, the strongest in the universe. So naturally we assumed that there would be only one sayan warrior who is in fact the SSJ. This idea is the stuff that legends are made of. Its full of mystique and wonder. God-like wonder.

But when we get to android saga we realize that any sayan can turn into a SSJ if he works hard enough. And so a great deal of the mystique is lost. The SSJ turns out to be just a technique or a power up that any sayans can use under the right conditions, much like the oozaru state (but instead of waiting for the full moon they have to become strong enough and angry enough to turn into SSJ).

And so, here comes Brolly... And we are reintroduced to the idea of only one true legendary SSJ. Like the others are just pale imitations of that power.
The mystique and wonder of the LSSJ just comes right back with that reintroduction... The SSJ becomes special again.

So in conclusion, Brolly is popular because:

- he is a sayan
- he is the LSSJ

Add to that the fact that he is a villain who looks pretty much unstoppable until the very last seconds, and the fact that he always blows things up... And we get a pretty popular character... Even if he doesn`t have a personality.. Its all smoke and mirrors.. The wonder of the idea of legendary sayan warrior.

As for when it started... Well, I guess he was always popular but like all things his popularity varied with the years.

We know why, because kids like musclebound morons with a penchant for clotheslining, but that wasn't my question.

[rereboy]

I answered when in the bottom of my post. He was always popular, probably one of the most popular movie characters right from the beginning because of what I said.

And naturally his popularity varied over the years.

But I forgot to mention one thing. He is now more popular than ever, because everyone realized he was popular some time ago.
This generated hype, and the popularity and the hype generated merchandising, which in turn generated more popularity and hype.

And this will grow until everyone gets fed up with the character.

As for when everbody realized he was popular, it probably coincided with periods of Dragon Ball revival. Brolly is a popular character that can explored to attract a large and young audience, so it was a perfect thing to put some focus on.
Everytime Dragon Ball experienced a revival, like when something new appears, like new dvds, the kazenban release, a new game or a new special, Dragon Ball experiences a revival to some extent, and the character Brolly takes advantage, as do the people who sell Dragon Ball.

[Rocketman]

I think a lot of it is invented in the heads of people who dislike Broli, but I suppose it's hard to deny just how much Broli "stuff" has come out in the last few years. Maybe it's just a constant self-referential, self-fulfilling cycle of pain...?

You forgot a couple.

[Piccolo Daimao]

I answered when in the bottom of my post. He was always popular, probably one of the most popular movie characters right from the beginning because of what I said.

And naturally his popularity varied over the years.

But I forgot to mention one thing. He is now more popular than ever, because everyone realized he was popular some time ago.
This generated hype, and the popularity and the hype generated merchandising, which in turn generated more popularity and hype.

And this will grow until everyone gets fed up with the character.

As for when everbody realized he was popular, it probably coincided with periods of Dragon Ball revival. Brolly is a popular character that can explored to attract a large and young audience, so it was a perfect thing to put some focus on.
Everytime Dragon Ball experienced a revival, like when something new appears, like new dvds, the kazenban release, a new game or a new special, Dragon Ball experiences a revival to some extent, and the character Brolly takes advantage, as do the people who sell Dragon Ball.

Sorry about that. I kind of ignored what you said at the bottom.

But anyway, I really do hope that this all blows over. The game developers really need to give it a rest on the Broly fan service. Even in the intros, what good is it going to do having LSSJ Broly beat someone way more powerful than him? It's not that that's going to pull in the Broly fans. A stunt like SSJ3 Broly is.

[UristtheGreat]

I hate Broli with a PASSION. I think his new SSJ3 form in Raging Blast just made his fanboy wank even worse.

[Hellspawn28]

Broly is one of the worst DBZ character I seen get the most wank. I think most Broly fandom overdive when the movies cameout in the USA, and the video games intro made it worst if you ask me. I seen people that think Broly grows stronger by the second and he can already take down both Kid Buu, Super Perfect Cell, and Bebi at once. And one guy on Comicvine said Broly's galaxy busting is greater then Marvel's Odin also lol.

[Metalwario64]

I remember visiting the internet way back in '99 when I got my first computer, and I would always browse Dragon Ball (Z) fan-sites (I cannot possibly remember the names of any of them), and just about every one of them mentioned how Movie 8 was the "best one." So it's not really a recent thing to my knowledge.

[TheMajinRedComet]

In my opinion he does not need to be the primary villain of every game intro.

[Savage68]

Sure, though he's been taken down by a considerable bit.

Budokai 3 - is a challenge for SSj Gogeta. Riiight...

Raging Blast - is a challenge for SSj 2 Goku - Much, much better, though we know from Goku's own statements that Broly's weaker.

[Godo]

Broly is the sole character that constantly reminds me of that Dragonball is a Shônen manga and also of what the mean age of the Dragonball fans are.

'Nuff said,

[IncompetentOverlord]

Broly is the sole character that constantly reminds me of that Dragonball is a Shônen manga and also of what the mean age of the Dragonball fans are.

'Nuff said,

What about Goku, Roshi, Vegeta, All of Freeza's minions, etc., etc.? I think Toriyama constantly makes it clear that "You're reading a Shonen Motherfucker. Deal with it."

[Godo]

Broly is the sole character that constantly reminds me of that Dragonball is a Shônen manga and also of what the mean age of the Dragonball fans are.

'Nuff said,

What about Goku, Roshi, Vegeta, All of Freeza's minions, etc., etc.? I think Toriyama constantly makes it clear that "You're reading a Shonen Motherfucker. Deal with it."

Yeah, but I was referring mainly to the fan base of said character, rather than the intention of the author.

[goku the krump dancer]

If you want to point fingers then you should also be pointing in Youtube's direction for obvious reasons. But in his defense, I will say that for Broly being used in a lot of intros, he is one of the only villains who can handle the heroes post RoSaT aside from Buu and Cell.

[Maphisto86]

If you want to point fingers then you should also be pointing in Youtube's direction for obvious reasons. But in his defense, I will say that for Broly being used in a lot of intros, he is one of the only villains who can handle the heroes post RoSaT aside from Buu and Cell.

Yeah that's true but since many games include the movies and GT that widens the pool a bit. Jenemba was used alongside Broly in Sparking Meteor's opening and Bebi made a few appearances. There is also of course the likes of Bojack and his gang, as well as Hildegarn, Bebi and the Evil Dragons. I don't mind Broly being featured but him taking on the likes of Gogeta for example does confuse the issue with fans over his strength. Then again it is just video game where opponents widely varying in their abilities and strength in the actual story can be otherwise pitted against each other. On the note of canoical power, I always viewed Broly was around Super Perfect Cell's level (assuming Movie 8 took place shortly before the Cell games).

Anyway on the larger issue of Broly's popularity it is obvious that many kids find his abilities in Movies 8, 10 and 11 (especially 8) to be staggering. In the first movie his effortless ability to take on all the heroes and even make the otherwise cocky Vegeta cower in fear (only Freeza managed to do that and not really in the same way). There is also the obvious aspect that he is a over muscled beast with unbelievable stamina.

I also think the reasons rereboy sited for Broly's popularity are also valid. I too happen to like the character for the same reasons . . . not since Tullece in the movies and Vegeta in the Freeza saga was their a saiyan villian. Also despite the LSSJ form being similar to USSJ it is undoubtably different and unique from what the other Saiyan characters achieve, which is also makes Broly an interesting concept.

Yet I sympathise with other fans who have grown weary of seeing Broly touted as the quintasential Dragonball villian. Beyond the concept (or perhaps gimmick) of the legendary super saiyan and a slightly interesting backstory in relation to the concept, Broly never showed much depth as a character. True as a movie villian he never got as much a chance as the villians in the mainstream series, but his personality could have been fleshed out in the three whole movies he was featured in. That is why in many cirlces of Dragonball fandom on the web there has been a backlash against Broly as he has been overused and became a cliche' a long time ago.

[Super Sonic]

Don't know too much of the overdrive, but with my own witnessing, first saw pics and action figures years ago, but as I did then and still do, didn't look up to avoid spoilers. Think with some guys back then who had patience to wait for American release it was a bit of anticipation. Will say though, with how some guys think Broly fandom is already too big, it's also true that perhaps if not for him being a big crazy guy in DBZ, his fandom could've been a lot bigger. (If any of the non-North Americans didn't know, his English VA's female fans can really be described best, as crazy rabid at times).