Return to Pojo's Dragonball - Interviews

Q: Well, it's been a while since I have done one of these, but let's go ahead and get this started. Now, you work for Beckett's Magazine. What exactly do you do for Beckett and how did you go about getting the job there?

A: I basically write articles or features for the magazine that are based solely on information from Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and of course Dragon Ball GT. A lot of the magazine is devoted to information on prices, collectible items, and extra tid-bits, (like the self-defense feature), so I take on any task that is series related. As for how I actually got the job, it was about 50% luck and 50% skill. My boss, Doug Kale, was checking out DBZ websites, looking for someone well-versed in the world of Dragon Ball. The luck part was that he happened upon my site. The skill was, he liked what he saw ^_~ So one day back in October, I got an e-mail with the subject: Will you write for our magazine?. The rest, as they say, is history.

Q: After you released an issue of the DBZ Beckett Issue, VegettoEX did a little feature on it and he seemed to have some problems with it. How do you respond to the criticism that you get about your work?

A: (laughs) He did? Wow, wasn't aware of that. Well, EX has had problems with me in the past, publishing Brian Real's editorial about me entitled, "There Goes a Sack of Crap", so I wouldn't really base his as real criticism, more of a bias. However, I do enjoy constructive criticism very much. I've not received any yet from fans of the magazine, I'm my biggest critic actually. I'll look over the articles or features and think, "Aw, how could I forget to mention that?", or "Why did I put THAT in there?". Little secret, there were some Microsoft Word problems caused by Autocorrect that messed up some names, (Hsi Yu Chi became His Yu Chi and Dr. Myu became Dr. My), for the first couple of issues. I felt really bad about that, but the problems have since been rectified. Fan response has been phenomenal though and the Z Files article I do every month is very popular.

Q: Well, let's jump on over to your site. A lot of webmasters get real tired of working on their sites. Now, even taking into account that you have less frequent updates you have to get tired of working on the site. What are you feeling as of now towards your site and do you see yourself going anywhere anytime soon?

A: Hmmm, I'd say, for myself at least, it's not so much getting tired of it. It's just that I'm involved in so much now outside of the site, that it's difficult to sit down for three hours, (the minimum time for a really good update), and just write summaries, or info. My site will always be there, and it will never ever be finished. Long after Dragon Ball is gone from the minds of fans, I will continue to work on it whenever possible, because even though the series may be gone, there will always be those people 10, 20 years down the road who get a ping of nostalgia and want to revisit that world. I intend to be there for fans now, and then.

Q: Banners...what were you thinking? Just kidding, but the fact that you need to place banners on your site would show that you need to get money to pay for your site. What are the different expenses that you need to pay to keep your site running? Also, what will you do if the banners don't work because at this point the banner market seems to be lagging.

A: (laughs) Yeah, that was really really hard for me to do. I abhor banners, everyone who knows me knows that. But it's now neccessary with college closer than ever. The costs associated with the site are purely for bandwidth that accessing the information takes up. It's incredible that despite the fact my site is only text and pictures, it still takes up so much! The banner is working really well though! And in conjunction with what I make working for Beckett, it works out great leaving more than enough money for college.

Q: Now, I see that you just got a new section up. The Ultimate Battles Section. Now, I myself have created some pretty long sections, but how much time has been put into this section and about how long do you see until it gets completed?

A: (chuckles) Technically or literally? Because technically it's filled with info that I've been working on for about four years, but that of course is because all it's comprised of, (at the moment), is what was the meat and potatoes of the Gokou Biography. I have yet to make any original information for that section. But it will start to fill in over time.

Q: Any other news sections planned for your site and if so can you tell us what they are or at least give us a little hint as to what they are?

A: Yes, just the other day, I opened up The Shenron Times. That's a section soon to be filled up with interviews of major players involved with Japanese Dragon Ball. I have one finished, and another is about 1/4 finished at the moment. It's really exciting! I'm learning so much that I never knew about the series as I go along. I also have the Hsi Yu Chi section planned. There are TONS of refferences and themes from Hsi Yu Chi used in the series, so I hope to surprise everyone a little bit.

Q: Ok, time to move away from your site for a while. What do you think about the production of a new DBZ game and what are you opinions on Wizard Works, the group who will be handling the production of the game?

A: Um......DBZ game? (laughs) Actually I don't know anything about it beyond the multiple system thing. I made a resolution a while back to stay away from just about anything US DB related. I broke the huge Cartoon Network 2001 line-up story back in February, after attending the conference, which delved into US DBZ, but I rationalized that as being about CN as a whole, which is a station I really like ^_^.

Q: What are your opinions on the BFP project and how do you think it will compare to other DB games. Also, have you gotten a chance to play the game at all?

A: Um......BFP project? Just kidding. Actually, I don't like computer games at all. I used to love point and click adventures, (King's Quest, Laura Bow, Blade Runner, Black Cauldron ((if anyone remembers that game, you deserve a pat on the back)) and even a little C&C), but to be honest, my comp isn't designed to handle the new games. I don't even have a 3D Accelerator card. I much prefer gaming consoles. Much more reliable. As for the BFP project, I've heard little tidbits about it here and there and saw screens a while ago. It looks very nice, and I commend the fans working on it! But it's not my thing.

Q: What are you opinions on the new Akira Toriyama project coming out and how do you feel about it only being a one-shot?

A: I'm not worried. Dragon Boy was a one-shot and look how that turned out ^_~ Actually, the chances of something like that happening again are slim to none, but regardless, anything from Toriyama, in my opinion, is gold. His characters are always brimming with life. I'm hoping it might be something dark, THAT would be different and very intriguing coming from Toriyama, but....once again, I doubt that will be the case.

Q: What are your opinions on all of the Dragonball AF bullshit going around? I have to tell you, I am getting pretty sick of all these people sending me pictures of "SSJ5 Gokuh".

A: I think it's pretty funny, (in a non-sarcastic way). I mean first there was SSJ4 Son Gohan, which was really cool, and now this, (which also looks kind of cool). But I really like it because it sorts the men from the boys so to speak. I knew from first glance that it was fake because of the outfit. We've seen Saiya-jin at their most primative state, and they went from that to Freeza's grip, in which they then donned the Armor. And as far as the present goes, Dragon Ball is futuristic in nature, so why revert style to something like that? And oh yeah, the signature was horrid. Hey, at least when I pull a prank, I put Toriyama's real signature in!

Q: FUNi, yep, this is the part of the interview where I usually get to read about how bad FUNi is doing, so let's see if this trend will end. What are your opinions on the job that FUNimation is doing with Dragonball Z?

A: As I mentioned before, I stopped covering US DBZ news. I have my opinions of course, but I don't feel qualified to comment on the issue because of my lack of interest on the overall scene.

Q: How do you think FUNi will handle DB and then looking even further into the future, how do you think FUNi will handle DBGT?

A: One thing I have heard is that they may use the original music in DB. Which is nice, but then you have to ask yourself, if it is being allowed in DB, then why not DBZ? As for GT, I think everyone will see how that will turn out once DB starts, since GT is a fusion (pardon the pun) of DB and Z style.

Q: What do you think of the DBZ CCG? Have you ever played it yourself?

A: I was never much for playing CCGs. However, I collect the things like crazy. Used to that is. I have complete sets of the Premier Black Border Star Wars CCG as well as A New Hope and Hoth decks. The only card I was missing from the Ani-Mayhem DBZ deck was Kami. And despite the fact that I have all these cards, I never played a single game in my life. Call it a sickness.

Q: I have been talking to a lot of Daizenshyu distributors and it seems as though they are going out of print at a pretty rapid pace. Do you have your collection complete at the moment?

A: Oh yeah. I completed it about.....gosh...I guess two years ago seems about right. The real pain to find were the GT Perfect Files! I could not find Part 2 anywhere! Luckily, a friend of mine, James Sundheim, lost interest in DB and gave me his, (stickers and all). I hold them near and dear to my heart. I also consider myself extremely fortunate to have all the Shenron's Newspaper booklets.

Q: I know that you may/are going to Japan this summer. Can you give us some details on that?

A: Sure! Where to start? Well I'm travelling with the Rotary Club District 2670. I first heard about this program last year, but I was too late to apply for the dead-line. Basically it's a free trip. I have to pay for my plane ticket, but the rest of the expenses are covered by the Club. The organizers loved my application, (I sent them a letter describing the history of how I became interested in the Japanese culture entirely in Japanese writing). I've been appointed as Aide de Camp to the group leader. I'll be leaving end of June, early July, and I'll be there for three weeks. For the first couple days, we'll be on the large main island touring Kyoto, Hiroshima, and other famous places. Then we'll spend the rest of the time on Shikoku, (the smallest main island), living with four different host families. Oh, I forgot to mention, there's twenty people going total. We'll be a group on the main island, but we'll be split up to live with the families on Shikoku. Anyhoo, should be very exciting. I wasn't aware of the fact, but apparently, this is a really big event, we're going to be on Japanese TV and meeting government officials, so I'm all but exploding with excitement. Um, if I may, I'd like to add a funny little side-story. When I went to the first meeting with the organizers, it was one on one with them. In other words, we didn't meet the other people going. But as I was leaving, I saw a boy in the other room. And that was that. Later that night I got an e-mail from a Josh Neale, the boy who I saw. He related to me how during his conference he brought up how he enjoyed anime. The organizers asked him if he knew of Greg Werner. He said, "Yes!". And they told him I was the person who came right before him. Long and short of it, Josh told me he almost, "died of heart failure", when he found out, "I was in the same room as the DBZ Info Master!". So anyway, cute story.

Q: There are a lot of good conventions coming up in the near future. Do you plan on going to any sometime over the summer and if so what cons are you thinking about attending?

A: I think it would be kinda fun. If Sam Spencer's DBZ Otacon goes through chances are I will do my darndest to attend, but maybe just incognito.

Q: Now, to finish it up I will ask you a few questions about your favorite things from the series. First off, who is your favorite character from the series and why?

A: Piccolo. He's the first "hero" I saw that fatefull day in October 1996, and Mr. McNeill did such a spectacular job with him, that I just thought he was the coolest guy in the world. Then in the Japanese version he was even better! I love his "deep-down hero with sad past, that causes him to be a villain" attitude. His mannerisms, his outlook on life, everything about him just hits me the right way.

Q: Out of all three DB series, which one has the best music and which is your overall favorite song?

A: WOW! Tough question. Um....it's gotta be a toss-up between...wait no...ah..damn. Sigh....well Spirit vs Spirit is really nice when watched in that scene, (but not by itself). I also love the Scouter song....but that gets old quickly. Cha La Head Cha La holds a special place because that was the first I heard...and We Gotta Power was the first I heard and liked. Blue Velvet kicks ass along with Hikari no Will Power....hmmmm. Dan Dan is really great in GT episode 64 too. Hmmm, okay I got it....Darn, despite the fact that I own the 5 CD set of all songs in the anime and movies, I just spent 15 minutes looking for the title of this song and I can't find it. Well, anyway, it's the song that plays when Mr. Satan finally convinces everyone on Earth to give their energy to Gokou for the Ultimate Genki Dama, and when Gokou gives his speech to Buu before he kills him. Love that song, even though there aren't any lyrics, it's very emotional!

Q: Last, but not least, let's say that you had to have your favorite character from DB (all 3 series) fight a character from another Anime. From what Anime would this character come and of course, who would he/she be?

A:....hmmm.....wow, you're good. These are the only DB questions I've been stumped on in years! (laughs) Okay, got it. Well I've narrowed it down to two. Well I could decide on a battle that would settle a dispute of magic vs ki, but instead I'll just pick something cool. Even though I don't like the series that much, I think Dark Schneider from Bastard! VS Piccolo would be kind of interesting.

Andy: Well, that's all for me, it's been a while, but I think everything turned out ok. I just want to thank you for taking your time to do this interview and I wish you much luck with your site in the future.

Greg: You're a great interviewer! I thought about that last question for a good ten minutes! Thank you so much for this opportunity!