DBZ discussions, reviews, and the latest news from VegettoEX and Julian of Daizenshuu EX (www.daizex.com) and Meri of Temple O' Trunks (www.templeotrunks.com). Your one and only DragonBall podcast!
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Episode #0231! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian review the "Kokoro no Hane" CD single (the second closing theme to "DragonBall Kai"). Beyond the song itself, the Limited Edition's bonus DVD gives way to all sorts of discoveries! Your regular news, releases, e-mails, and tons more round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0230! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff dive into Volume 35 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". The Cell Game finally comes to a close, but do we reflect as fondly on this part of the series as we otherwise thought we might? Little bits of news, August's last few releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0229! VegettoEX, Meri, and Hujio recap all of the huge news from the last couple weeks, including the upcoming remake of "Saiya-jin Zetsumetsu Keikaku" as a part of "Raging Blast 2", as well as an in-depth look at the state of DragonBall's financial situation both in Japan and worldwide. A recap of all the DragonBall going-ons at Otakon 2010, including the amazing panel with Yuuji Mitsuya, rounds out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0228! VegettoEX and Marc review FUNimation's industry panel from Otakon 2010 and any respective DragonBall announcements. How did our predictions and expectations line up? The Q&A session from our "10 Things You Didn't Know About DragonBall" Otakon panel rounds out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0227! VegettoEX and Marc take a look back over the last year and gauge where North America stands with regard to home releases of the DragonBall franchise. Last Otakon brought us an announcement of DBZ Dragon Box sets... so should we expect any spectacular announcements this year? Referenced sites:
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Episode #0226! VegettoEX and Meri review the "Freeza's Force" series. Are these three-inch figures some of the best deals out there, or should you stick with the higher-priced releases? A bit of voice actor and gaming news along with a guy who thinks he looks like Goku rounds out the episode along with releases and your e-mails. See you next week at Otakon! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0225! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss what little news there has been for the last couple weeks, and concentrate on July's jam-packed releases and your fantastic e-mails, including a bit of a redux on gender roles in Japan (and particularly with regard to Chi-Chi). Hujio joins us mid-show to do a special preview of our "10 Things You Didn't Know About DragonBall" panel for Otakon 2010 coming up in just a few weeks! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0224! VegettoEX and Meri give some initial thoughts on "Origins 2" for the Nintendo DS. Are the refined controls enough to save the game, unlike its predecessor? Catching up on all sorts of news, July's jam-packed releases, and your e-mails round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0223! VegettoEX and Marc cruise through all of the week's news, including a surprising video game remake coming our way. Sean joins us later on to talk about Freeza's and Coola's transformations and all of the crazy fan theories behind their usage and relevance to each other. The rest of June's releases, your e-mails, a contest winner, and some great donor naming all round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0222! VegettoEX and Julian catch up and go over the news from the last two weeks. The second "Kai" ending theme is getting eleven different releases, and a new guide book is coming our way! A great bunch of listener e-mails round out the episode, including some franchise-introduction thoughts and general life advice. Someone also has a very special announcement! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0221! VegettoEX and Hujio discuss "Ougon no Senshi" ("The Golden Warrior"), a new art and illustration book released in Japan this year. It has a wealth of new and rarely-seen images, along with three interviews. Is it worth it for the price? A good batch of news, all of June's releases, great e-mail responses, and a plethora of contests round out the episode. Win a copy of the very book reviewed on the show! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0220! VegettoEX, Meri, and Hujio dive in to FUNimation's domestic release of "DragonBall Z Kai". Having already covered "Kai" as an entity (and specifically the first story arc) extensively on the show before, we figured the best course of action was to cover the one entirely new aspect of this release - the new English dub. Is it truly the most accurate and faithful English dub the series has received, or is it traditional FUNimation where one little aspect somewhere holds it back from being everything it can be? A little bit of news, releases for the next month, and e-mails that make us think real hard about our viewpoints round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0219! VegettoEX and Meri catch up on the last two weeks worth of news. "Kai" has a new ending theme and a certain young, purple-haired boy has made his appearance. There is more "Kai" news in North America, fun distribution across France and Latin America, video game financial figures... busy times for our favorite franchise! Our "Attack of the Saiyans" contest winner is announced and we also read out some of our favorite entries. May's releases and your e-mails round out the show. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0218! VegettoEX and Meri take a listen in on Shoko Nakagawa's latest cover album, which includes both a DBZ and a DBGT cover! A little bit of news discussion, releases for the next few weeks, and a nice little batch of e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0217! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff dive into Volume 34 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". The Cell Game has finally begun, and Goku has just as quickly turned it on over to the next fighter. Was the build-up to Gohan done as well as it could have been, and are we buying it? Was this also the last great transformation sequence in the series? Our live broadcast covers a bunch of questions from the audience, talk about the upcoming new closing theme to "Kai", and so much more! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0216! VegettoEX and Hujio go it alone this week diving into all of the news. Birthdays, anniversaries, new books and video games, "Kai" updates both in Japan and the US (including Nicktoons censorship)... we have some busy times going on these days. We also discuss Vegeta's one-on-one rivalries during the Freeza story arc, most notably with Kewi and Ghurd. April's releases and other jabber round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0215! VegettoEX, Meri, and Heath dive in to what little news there was this past week, but spend some extra time dissecting it all and relay stories of fandom past, present, and future. As much as we try to avoid talking about "Kai" so much, it seems we just cannot avoid it. April's jam-packed releases schedule and some great e-mails from you all round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0214! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian take a look at the French fan-manga, "Dragon Ball Multiverse". Taking the idea of multiple, parallel universes from the original series and running with it, we have a series with a huge online fanbase that deserves a look. Some American "Kai" tidbits, convention appearances, some upcoming releases, and more rounds out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0213! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff do a mid-month "Review of Awesomeness" and compare the "TRUNKS: THE STORY" manga chapter with the second DBZ TV special, along with all the standard analysis you've come to expect. The rest of March's releases, an e-mail, a contest winner, and a bunch of other good stuff rounds out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0212! It has been a big week with lots of things going on, so we break up the show into a bunch of individual segments to cover it all. The core trio of VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian cover the introductions, releases, e-mails, and other good stuff. Hujio joins us to talk about the news, including the Nicktoons airing of "Kai" coming this year. We also speak with Amber Rosier, the founder of the "Dragon Ball Z Appreciation Club" at Shawnee State University! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0211! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff dive into Volume 33 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". No fights truly come to a conclusion, and our heroes end up taking some time for themselves. Was this a necessary transition period to get everyone where they need to be? Some brief news, all of March's releases, and some great e-mails from our listeners (including the on-going aspect ratio debate!) round out the show. Also... Cell has a tiny, pointy nose. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0210! VegettoEX, Meri, and Hujio have a chill week and discuss the incredible amount of news. FUNimation has confirmed more about the domestic release of "Kai", the new "DragonBall DS 2" is announced for the US as "Origins 2", and a whole lot more kept us on our toes this week. We also catch up with a huge batch of listener e-mails with topics ranging from more name mispronunciations to the ever-resurfacing prospect of FUNimation re-releases. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0209! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss jokes in the series based on the mispronunciation of a character's name. Remember such characters as Tenka-ichi Budokai competitors Mago Gosora and Gyoza...? Domestic "Kai" release news (including some dub recasts), February's releases, and a whole lot more rounds out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0208! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss the latest news about "DragonBall Kai" before we bring in some friends to talk about specific aspects of the licensing news. Hujio joins us to give a recap on what "Kai" is in the first place and its domestic name change, Kendamu joins us to talk from the manga fan perspective, while Gozar joins us to talk from the dub fan perspective. We do not have a whole lot to go on just yet, but fandom seems braced for all the extra attention coming its way. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0207! VegettoEX, Meri, and Hujio discuss one of the earliest characters to be both introduced and subsequently tossed aside - Yamcha! Does he have any depth to him, and what makes him a memorable character, if at all? Your thoughts on the character, various news tidbits, February's releases, and so much more rounds out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0206! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian remember one of the great anime voice actors, Daisuke Gôri, who recently passed away. What made his performance of roles such as Mr. Satan so undeniably memorable? Home video and game news from across the world, February's releases, and tons of your comments round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0205! VegettoEX and Meri jump into a hodgepodge of discussions. Kaboom joins us to talk about fans that truly do enjoy battle power discussions, we briefly review Ryô Horikawa's voice acting coach DVD, and Corey joins us to talk about everything else! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0204! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff dig into Volume 32 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". Characters are doing stupid things all around, resulting in Cell reaching his perfect form. Is the fantastic artwork enough to overcome some of the story's pitfalls? A tiny bit of news, January's single upcoming release, and a batch of your great e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0203! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian cover the biggest news stories from 2009. So many curve balls were thrown our way this year, and checking in on our predictions from last year could not be anymore humiliating. We also cover our Top 5 stories of the entire last decade, and get your thoughts, as well! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0202! VegettoEX and Meri bring on Julian and Hujio for a run-through of different reviews for all of November 2009's new CD releases - the "Progression" CD single, Kai Song Collection, and Kai OST Volume 2. Will any of them stick around as prime examples of DB music greatness, or should they be shelved for good? No news, but some releases and e-mail goodness rounds out the full episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0201! VegettoEX and Meri reflect on Episode 200 awesomeness, DBAF prank fallout from Argentina, and a Mafuba in the skies over Norway. After catching up on the news for the week, we answer an e-mail from a father looking to show some edited versions of the series to his children, and that wraps it up. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0200! DragonBall hits 25 years, Daizenshuu EX as a website closes in on 12 years, while the the podcast hits 4 years and 200 episodes. For a fitting topic, Hujio and Corey join us live in-studio to talk about community as it relates to DragonBall fandom. How has it changed over the years, what still needs to change, and what are we all thankful for? Before taking off to celebrate, we give away "Raging Blast" and two Dragon Box sets! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0199! VegettoEX is joined by our buddy Kendamu to talk about the new DS RPG, "Attack of the Saiyans". Like the recent Wii game, is it another mostly-competent release filling an empty niche? Meri joins in to talk this week's news, December's releases, a couple e-mails, our contests, and some other banter to round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0198! VegettoEX, Hujio, and Corey review FUNimation's first Dragon Box! Nearly three years after the first faux-"remastered" debacle of a release, do we finally have reason to change our tune with regard to a home release from FUNimation? Were our wishes truly granted? Meri pops in to cruise through the news, releases, and contest information, and that rounds out a show! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0197! VegettoEX and Meri review the new PS3 and 360 game, "DragonBall: Raging Blast". Does Spike's first high-definition offering live up to and exceed the prior series, or should fans looking for the best "DBZ-simulator" on the market just stick with "METEOR"...? No news, but November's releases, your e-mails, and contests to give away "Raging Blast" and a Dragon Box round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0196! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff dive in to Volume 31 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". Cell has made his presence known, and our heroes have become outclassed just as fast as they became the strongest. Do we finally have an interesting villain for the story arc, or is everything just a little too convenient and confusing? Dragon Boxes are arriving, other news catching-up, November's continued releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0195! VegettoEX and Meri review "Revenge of King Piccolo" for the Nintendo Wii. We finally get a console release that is something other than a fighting game, but does it cure the itch we have all been cursed with? A little bit of news, November's cram-packed releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0194! VegettoEX and Meri briefly review the first Blu-ray volume for "DragonBall Kai". We have spoken endlessly about our thoughts on the series, so a quick rundown of the release is all that is necessary. Lots of catching up on news, November's jam-packed releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0193! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff all dive into Volume 30 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". It's another volume full of exposition, but is Toriyama pulling it all together in a coherent fashion, or are there too many characters doing too many things? Lengthy commentary on FUNimation's final details for their own Dragon Box audio tracks and the manga being pulled from a Maryland school library round out the rest of the episode, with a little bit of releases and e-mails to finish it off. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0192! VegettoEX and Meri cram out a short episode to catch up on some music release news and cover October's releases. A couple quick thoughts on some other current items and a short lesson about redbook audio round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0191! VegettoEX and Julian review the "POWER OF DREAMER" CD single and the "DragonBall Kai" Original Soundtrack. Have we gotten the best b-side in years, and despite our feelings on "DragonBall Kai", does its soundtrack somehow manage to stand on its own? Tons of news (including several delays) and your great e-mails round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0190! VegettoEX and Meri bring on Jeff and Scott to talk about ethics in fandom. Things have changed a great deal since the days of VHS fansubs, but with the franchise finally slipping into the modern distribution era with "Kai", questions on how to conduct yourself as a fan have never been more relevant. September's releases, your great e-mails, and a full catch-up on donation item namings round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0189! VegettoEX and Meri discuss the first arc of "DragonBall Kai" with Heath and Corey. After such a huge lead-up to this "refreshed" version of the DBZ TV series, was it all really worth it in the end? How do we feel about it now, and what are we looking forward to, if anything? Julian joins in for the rest of the episode to run through the news, September's releases, and some fantastic e-mails. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0188! VegettoEX and Meri bring on Herms from Kanzentai to discuss the concept of "sento ryoku" in the DragonBall series. Battle powers, power levels, combat strength... whatever it is you want to call them, they have become an important part of fandom and its culture. Are they really that significant in the grand scheme of the series, though? And where did this concept even come from, in the first place? "Raging Blast" news (including SSJ3 Broli), the rest of August's releases, your questions, and much more rounds out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0187! VegettoEX and Meri split up the episode's recording and bring on all sorts of guests to discuss things. Hujio stops by to recap the week's news, while KaiserNeko pops in to give us an update regarding the Toei and YouTube mass-takedown. Finally, Jeff joins us to finally review the Bardock DBZ TV special after seeing it for the first time. Does it hold up nearly 20 years later, and particularly to someone mostly familiar with only the manga? August's releases, your e-mails, and other great stuff rounds out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0186! VegettoEX and Meri finally get around to reviewing "DragonBall Evolution" for the PSP. Is this game truly as horrific as you have been led to believe, or are there possibly some redeemding qualities? Home release news from around the world, more "Kai" voice replacements, August's tons of releases, and your great e-mails round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0185! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff dive into volume 29 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". Toriyama has genuinely kicked-off a new story arc... but not without some input from his previous editor. Are we being kept on our toes, or is Toriyama writing himself into a hole? More FUNimation Dragon Box reactions, August's releases, tons of great e-mails, and more round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0184! VegettoEX and Meri bring on Heath (Kanzentai) and Marc (The Fanboy Review) to discuss FUNimation's announcement of "Dragon Ball Z" Dragon Box sets for North America. How did we get to this point, how will the releases compare to their Japanese counterparts, and what can we expect in the future? It's a special episode dedicated entirely to the most comprehensive history lesson and speculation you can imagine! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0183! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian interview Lanipator and Takahata101 from TeamFourStar, the voices of Vegeta and Nappa in the "DBZ Abridged" fan parody series. What do they have in store for us in the next season, and what has the reaction been to the first season, both online and offline? A mini-discussion about the pronunciation of Goku's last name, July's release, your fantastic e-mails, and our "Yeah! Break! Care! Break!" CD single giveaway contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0182! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff dive into Volume 28 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". The Freeza story arc finally comes to a close, new characters are introduced, and many years pass in-universe. Is Toriyama keeping things fresh, or is he grasping at straws? Julian joins us for the rest of the episode to discuss all the late-breaking news. The song of the week, July's releases, your e-mails, and our CD giveaway contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0181! VegettoEX and Meri review the CD single for the closing theme to "DragonBall Kai", "Yeah! Break! Care! Break!" Is the shonen spirit still strong with Takayoshi Tanimoto, and what of this new image song? Tons of "Kai" home release news, FUNimation's DB Season 1 set all but confirmed, and tons of other news keeps us busy. July's releases, your e-mails, and a contest to win the CD single reviewed this episode round us out. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0180! VegettoEX and Meri discuss the crazy news involving Blu-ray "Kai" boxsets in Japan and the original DB forthcoming "remastered" sets from FUNimation. Julian and Jeff then join in for a wonderful interview with members of TeamFourStar! "DBZ Abridged" has now completed its first season, so we brought on KaiserNeko and MasakoX to reflect on where the series has taken them and what to expect in the future. June's releases, an e-mail, and the giveaway of the "Dragon Soul" CD single round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0179! VegettoEX and Meri talk up the recent all-speculation news week with possibilities of a sequel to "Evolution" and a new, remastered "DragonBall" season one boxset from FUNimation. June's releases, your e-mails, and our "Dragon Soul" CD single contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0178! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff dig into Volume 27 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". The Freeza arc is still going, but is it still going strong? A huge transformation has finally taken place, but was it what the doctor ordered? A remix of Tapion's theme, great news for American DBZ video game fans, June's releases, your e-mails, the end of one contest, and the beginning of another contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0177! VegettoEX and Meri review the "Dragon Soul" CD single, along with talking about the most recent "Kai" episodes. Bizarre video game games and corporate restructuring, June's releases, your great e-mails, and our "Super Exciting" contest round out the episode (along with tons of great tunes)! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0176! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian bring on Herms (and eventually Hujio) from "Kanzentai" to discuss the recent "Super Exciting Guide" books from Japan. While there is plenty of recycled information, the new bits that we do get (such as Mr. Satan's real name and the Makaioshin) are intriguing beyond belief. Video game news, your e-mails, and a contest to give away the two "Super Exciting Guide" books round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0175! VegettoEX and Meri bring it with a music-filled episode. Vitek from Spain graces us with a new-age cover of "CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA", and we review CD singles from both Maximum the Hormone and Sherry (amazingly enough, both DragonBall-related). May's releases, your great e-mails, and more round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0174! VegettoEX and Meri get back into the swing of things with a discussion about the most recent three episodes of "Kai", catching up on some news, May's releases, some great e-mails, and the debut of the "song a week"... or whatever we are calling it. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0173! VegettoEX and Meri take it easy before the big move to crank out a fun little episode talking about episodes 2 and 3 of "DragonBall Kai". There is a lot of neat stuff going on, but where did our pools of blood go...? The rest of April's releases, some great e-mails, and a look at where we're heading rounds out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0172! VegettoEX and Meri bring on a slew of guests to discuss the movie we have all been anticipating in some way for what feels like years -- "DragonBall Evolution". A group of fans and non-fans give their take on the movie as a whole, its acting, script, special effects, and worth. No matter what you think will be said, it's guaranteed that you'll be surprised in some way. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0171! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff settle in for a monster episode with the debut of the "DragonBall Kai Review of Awesomeness" (as episode one has just aired in Japan), and also Volume 26 in our regular "Manga Review of Awesomeness". How does "Kai" live up to its twenty-year-old original self, and how does Toriyama's continued Freeza arc fare over in the manga? April's releases, great e-mails, some donation item namings, and so much more round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0170! VegettoEX and Meri go back and give an in-depth review of the deluxe CD+DVD package for Ayumi Hamasaki's "Rule/Sparkle" single. How is the music in general, and then how does it fit in with the DB world? Is it worth purchasing, and if so, should you just upgrade to her new album instead of the single? Lots of great news, April's releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0169! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss what it means to be a "true fan" of the series. Is that even possible? What distinctions are made, and how do they even come to be? The expected "Kai" news tidbits, some licensing news from Europe and Asia, random video game news, the rest of March's releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. We also (briefly) discuss the new "Donate" page available to readers and listeners, and name our first memorial item! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0168! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian review all things "Dragon Ball Evolution". We start out with Ayumi Hamasaki's CD single for the movie's theme song ("Rule"), go into the VizKids junior novel adaptation, and finally... the big one... Julian reviews the actual movie itself from its Japanese theatrical debut. It seems like it has been such a long time coming, and an impossibility, at that. How does it all stack up? Is it even worth the ticket price? Some random news bits, March's releases, and a quick e-mail round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0167! VegettoEX and Meri bring on Hujio (Kanzentai) and Corey to discuss the most recent information and commercial for "DragonBall Kai" and all of its implications. There appears to be re-framed cropping going on, so how does this compare and contrast with FUNimation's faux-"remastered" release? Random bits of news, March's releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0166! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian and Jeff go through volume 25 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". This one seemed like an awkward volume to go through, as the action just doesn't stop and Goku is incapacitated right after (finally) arriving back on the scene. Does this hurt the volume's enjoyment, though? DBZ ABCs, Meri's Top 5, March's releases, the obligatory "DragonBall Kai" news, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0165! VegettoEX and Jeff end up doing another episode on their own, completely buried in news. What we thought were just a few tidbits about "DragonBall Kai" end up being an avalanche. Some other news like VizBig delays, a new French DVD boxset, and a few other items of interest keep things moving along. We happened to be streaming this episode live while we recorded, so we took some questions from the live audience to round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0164! VegettoEX and Meri go it alone this week to discuss the (few) hints at love we have in the DB series. The various couples, the courting, the marriage... oh, it's so romantic! Except it's really not, so we have to dig pretty deep to find these hints. Little bits of news, February's releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0163! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian bring on Hujio and Herms from Kanzentai yet again to discuss perhaps the biggest news of the last decade: DBZ is being "refreshed" for a new HD and re-voiced presentation to air on Japanese television. An overview of the confirmed facts and current rumors brings you up to speed. We even get a call-in from our buddy Bryce up at New York Comic-Con to give us an update on the "Dragon Ball Evolution" PSP game. DBZ ABCs, February's releases, and your e-mails round out the show. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0162! VegettoEX and Jeff wind up doing a show by themselves to discuss volume 24 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". Goku has finally returned to take center stage, and we keep getting hints about some kind of legend. The Freeza arc is full swing now, so is it holding its own or starting to drag on a little bit? Some brief news, February's releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0161! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian review two recent CD releases: the CD single and full original soundtrack for "Infinite World" on the PlayStation 2. We have two new vocal theme songs from Hironobu Kageyama, and new music roughly in the same style as older "Budokai" games. How do they stack up? DBZ ABCs, February's releases, and your great e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0160! VegettoEX and Meri bring of godofchaos (The Fanboy Review) to talk about FUNimation and their upcoming plans for the DragonBall series on Blu-ray. What have they already done that we can compare these plans to, and what other reference material is out there? Catching up on a couple quick news bits and some great e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0159! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff take a look at volume 23 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". The proverbial excrement has begun to hit the fan, with Goku still on his way, and Vegeta being forced to team up with Kuririn and Gohan due to the arrival of Ginyu-Tokusentai. Is the story still moving along, though? News about layoffs and cover art, DBZ ABCs, January's last release, and your great e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0158! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian take a look back at the extraordinary year that was 2008. Amazingly huge news stories, shocking surprises, and crazy releases summed up the year. In the end, though, what were the biggest stories and surprises? How did our predictions fare, and what do we see happening in 2009? January's releases and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0157! VegettoEX and Meri tear through some old bags of action figures to see what has been sitting around for the last ten years! Japanese figures, hilarious American attempts, and naming fun are plentiful. January's releases, some more DBZ music homage e-mails, and tons more fun round out the episode and 2008. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0156! VegettoEX and Meri bring on Hujio (Kanzentai) and godofchaos (The Fanboy Review) to talk about FUNimation's recent "DragonBall GT" boxset. It seems to be a complete shift from what they did with DBZ, but is it worth it? Lots of video talk and speculation, December's last release, and some e-mails round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0155! VegettoEX and Meri talk about news from all over the world, and somehow manage to talk about the live-action movie without the show eating itself alive. What does the general population see the movie as, and now that there is an official trailer, how do WE see the movie? Jeff drops in to do Volume 22 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness", and the Freeza saga seems like it has begun to pick up now that everyone has arrived on Namek. Releases and your e-mails round out the episode! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0154! VegettoEX and Meri bring on Meghan and Kat (Julian shows up for a little bit, too) to talk about cosplay! DB cosplay has significantly grown in both popularity and quality over the last couple years, and they are here to tell you about everything from funny stories to taping down body parts. A few bits of news, December's releases, and fascinating e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0153! VegettoEX and Meri bring on Hujio and Herms from "Kanzentai" to discuss the Jump Anime Tour special! It has been over ten years since the last real new story, and we are absolutely beside ourselves with joy. Was it a genuinely good product, though? Nearly everything this episode is dedicated to the new special, so come rejoice with us! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0152! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff get through volume 21 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". We have taken off into space, and the universe has expanded for our heroes. We are getting tons of new information, but is the story taking a hit in the process? Fun bits of news, DBZ ABCs, some releases, and great e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0151! VegettoEX and Meri give some initial thoughts on "DragonBall Z: Infinite World" for the PS2 and "DragonBall Origins" for the Nintendo DS. Various bits of news, Mike's Top 5 DB Video Games Of All Time, some releases, and great e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0150! VegettoEX and Meri return from their wedding and honeymoon to join Julian back in the swing of podcasting! Nearly a month's worth of news to catch up on (including some heavy-hitting material), DBZ ABCs, tons of releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0149! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff tackle volume twenty in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". Toriyama has hit full-on-action in the Saiya-jin arc, and perhaps the story has hit its stride. Lots of random news bits, some e-mails, and a look to the future round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0148! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and even Jeff ATTEMPT to talk about the live-action movie and the recent trailers that have leaked online, but it was not meant to be. Is this a sign? An omen from the heavens? Who knows?! We stitch together the coherent beginning conversation, and even get an extra story from Herms about trying to sneak in to the Jump Anime Tour! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0147! VegettoEX and Meri recap AWA and all of the shenanigans that went on. We also review three CDs ("Burst Limit" OST, Dragon '98 Special Live, Animelody Night). Some e-mail and music discussion and general awesomeness rounds out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0146! VegettoEX, Meri, Julian, and Jeff discuss Volume 19 (DBZ Volume 3) of the manga. Death and destruction are all around, and Goku has finally returned to the battlefield. Lots of news, DBZ ABCs, September's releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0145! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian bring on our buddy Desire Campbell to talk about the idea of "canon" as it relates to the Dragon World. How do you even begin to explain the concept as a whole, and what types of breakdowns can we make? Video game and manga news, September's releases, DBZ ABCs, and your great e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0144! VegettoEX and Meri are plagued with recording problems all weekend, but somehow manage to pull something together! While there is no real topic to speak of, plenty of (good!) news rears its ugly head this week, and we check in with all of September's releases and a bunch of your e-mails. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0143! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss Viz's fantastic release of the first daizenshuu in English ("The Complete Illustrations"). It's a day we thought would never happen, but here we are! Even more video game news come our way, new characters for the upcoming DB short, Julian's DBZ ABCs, and a whole lot of other good stuff rounds out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0142! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff discuss Volume 18 (DBZ Volume 2) of the manga. The Saiya-jin arc has hit its stride: Goku is on his way back, someone is already dead, and new attacks abound! Is Toriyama's magic still working, though? Tons of video game news, movie and book news, releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. We've got plenty of Otakon recaps to discuss, too! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0141! VegettoEX and Meri were down at Otakon for the weekend, but recorded an episode ahead of time for your listening pleasure! We went over some brief news and discussed all of the various henchmen over the course of the series. While they started as comedy relief, their purpose drastically changed over the source of the series. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0140! VegettoEX and Meri review the new "Super Survivor" CD single. How do the new songs stack-up against some of the other (both new and old) DB songs? We also check out some news, August's releases, and give away the very CD we reviewed! Make sure you listen through to the end on this one! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0139! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss some "DragonBall DS" and live-action movie news. Herms from Kanzentai joins us for a discussion about the three DBZ "Side Stories", with an in-depth analysis of the Trunks story in particular, which is now available as a result of a joint project for a translated release! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0138! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss the upcoming DBGT boxsets from FUNimation with godofchaos, and then dive in to a large batch of e-mails. Future boxsets, character ages, Japanese honorifics, dramatic effect for the sake of dramatic effect... we cover it all. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0137! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss some of the latest news, including the Jump Anime Festival DB short premiering this year, new McDonald's toys in Japan, and "DragonBall DS". DBZ ABCs, July's releases, and our contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0136! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff finally hit the "Z"-era with volume seventeen of our "Manga Review of Awesomeness". The innocence is lost as Goku discovers his true origin, and Toriyama's story will never be the same. Julian rounds out the rest of the episode with us as we cover all of this week's news, hit up the DBZ ABCs, read some e-mails, and start up a new contest! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0135! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff interview some of the brains behind the new "DBZ Abridged" series from TeamFourStar. Where did this hilarious new fandub series come from, and what can we look forward to in the future? Julian joins in to discuss all of the latest news, including our own creation of drama between dub voice actors, the live-action movie, video games, music, and so much more! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0134! VegettoEX and Meri get together with a bunch of friends to ask the sole question... What do you think is the biggest story or issue affecting DB fandom today? Interestingly enough, even seemingly-different answers have a little bit of cross-over. Stay tuned at the end for a couple of check-ins from AnimeNEXT! Referenced sites:
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Episode #0133! VegettoEX and Meri check in with Julian, and then give some initial thoughts on the latest DBZ video game, "Burst Limit" for the Xbox 360 and PS3. We're now seven years into the game-a-year pattern... is it starting to get a little old? Tons of hilarious news rounds out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0132! VegettoEX and Meri check in with Julian, and then review the new album that came out in Japan this week, "Inazuma Challenger". Despite having nothing about DB in its packaging, we got all new versions and remixes of the DB opening and ending! Tons of songs samples, the rest of June's releases, and our DVD giveaway contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0131! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian discuss all of the huge news from the last week. Viz shenanigans, multiple new Japanese CDs, Spanish DVDs, and even a domestic daizenshuu release...?! It's big times in the Dragon World. June's releases and our DVD giveaway contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0130! VegettoEX and Meri bring on a very special guest to discuss the latest news and happenings. From various "Burst Limit" pieces to Viz and their insane manga schedule, there is a plethora of going-ons. Releases, e-mails, and a special DVD contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0129! VegettoEX and Meri review the Garlic Jr. Saga. That's right, we sat through the first of two entirely original story arcs in the DBZ TV series, and lived to tell about it. Why was it created, is it worth watching, and why does it have the reputation it has? May and June releases, your e-mails, and much more round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0128! VegettoEX and Meri review "The Dragon Ball Z Legend" from Cocoro Books, which purports to be "an essential source for every anime fan". What we found, instead, was a horribly-written attempt at a guidebook filled with spelling errors, factual inaccuracies, and more flip-flopping than one should ever have to read. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0127! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff tackle volume 16 of the manga. The 23rd Tenka-ichi Budokai is more or less at a close (depending on which country you are in), and there is no turning back now with regards to the story-telling style. Lots of news, May's releases, and your e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites: Referenced sites:
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Episode #0126! VegettoEX and Meri review the so-called "Chouzenshuu" set (actually the "Complete Song Collection Box"). 13 CDs, a couple hundred songs... how is it, and who is it for? Some great news about a possible new animation for DB, great e-mails, and our DVD set contest winner round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0125! VegettoEX and Meri tackle yet another inconsistency between the manga and TV series. In DBZ TV episode 95, Piccolo is shot through the chest by Freeza after knocking Goku out of the way. However, in the manga, it doesn't appear that Piccolo actually pushes Goku out of the way, and rather, the blast was intended for Piccolo all along. Your e-mails and the last chance to enter the current contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0124! VegettoEX records an episode without anyone else, but decides he should at least invite Jeff over to make it more interesting than a conversation with himself. Our first episode without a real "topic" section ends up with one, anyway, discussing IGN's intriguing "What's Wrong With DBZ" series of articles. Your e-mails and our on-going DVD contest round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0123! VegettoEX, Meri, and Jeff tackle volume 15 of the manga in our regular "Manga Review of Awesomeness" segment. We are closing in towards the final battle, and we have seen a lot of maturity in the author in terms of overall story structure and character development. Your e-mails and a contest to win a free DB DVD set round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0122! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian react to the amazing news of JAM Project appearing at Otakon 2008 by coming up with their own completely illogical, unlikely, fanboyish, ideal set-list of DBZ-only songs to be performed live. More news, DBZ ABCs, April's releases, and your e-mails (and YouTube comments, even) round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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Episode #0121! VegettoEX, Meri, and Julian go through and thoroughly update the "Rumor Guide" on the website. Obviously DBAF has some updates, but we also discuss things like Goku and Tullece not being brothers, so-called "Lost Episodes", and even some funny old fansub translations. DBZ ABCs, some releases, and a great batch of e-mails round out the episode. Referenced sites:
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