QUESTION TIME
(got one?)

After some thought and a pack of skittles, I decided that, in a grand Daizenshuu EX fashion, I would open up a weekly question section, which is really only updated whenever someone writes me (cause it sure ain't on a weekly basis). Now, I'm not the TOTALLY ULTIMATE EXTREME #18 fan EVARRR!!! But I seem to know a lot of stuff about her that a good number of people don't. So write in to my email address with any #18-related question you seek to be answered!

SEPTEMBER 19th, 2004

QUESTION: Hi, I just wanted to let you know that the term "android" *is* the Japanese equivalent of "jinzouningen."

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=android

So Cell, 18, 17, 16, 19, and 20 are all androids. True, 16 through 20 may also be called cyborgs, but you can't say they aren't androids with that dictionary definition page. I hope that actually clears it up for you.

ANSWER: Please read the Cyborg or Android section on my site.

http://www.lovelycyborg.com/misconceptions.shtml

The term "jinzouningen" is a blanket term and can be used to describe a cyborg, android, or robot. However, just because someone is called a jinzouningen does not mean they are all three, or both android and cyborg (being both is impossible, anyway).

Also, the definition of android you gave me only strengthens the fact that 17 and 18 are NOT androids. They were human to begin with. This is explained all in depth in the Cyborg or Android section of my site. Here, have the link again:

http://www.lovelycyborg.com/misconceptions.shtml Please read it.

HIS RESPONSE: Why would it matter if they were humans first? It doesn't really, they are still androids. A cyborg is a type of android. I do speak much Japanese. jinzouningen actually means "robot." jinzou by itself means artificial, and ningen means human. So is the manga wrong all together then? Are they artificial or even robots? FUNimation didn't really change anything said.

MY RESPONSE: On this matter, you're an idiot.

Hopefully, you will realize your ignorance when you notice that everyone else you will ever talk to about this does not agree with you. Or maybe when you attend college. Who knows.

Please don't bother responding. I don't feel like arguing over a topic that you are so clearly misinformed on. Thanks.

FINAL WORD? See, this isn't really a question, but I felt like posting this just to let other people see what kind of emails I get most often. This isn't the first person I've dealt with who has tried to tell me I'm wrong. Before, I tried to politely inform and correct people's ignorance, but they always wanna argue with me. There are only so many times I can take it before I start getting belligerent... ;-;

JUNE 4th, 2004

QUESTION: I was wondering if you had any idea as to what KIND of machines, modifications, etc. were made to #17 and #18. I've read the Android vs. Cyborg section, but I want your opinion. I'm not looking for anything fancy; an educated guess, perhaps?
nessthing

ANSWER: We know the twins have eternal energy generators. We know they have few cybernetics and are mostly bio-organically enhanced. We know that Cell was a completely bio-organic jinzouningen. So...I'm thinking that because they have those generators, the bio-organic enhancements must be chemicals, hormones and the like, that enable their body to function at such a level. The reason we age and die is because our bodies become worn out from all the use, so I think that if the twins never get tired, they must be absolutely pumped full of stuff that keeps their human bodies young and fresh.

The "few tiny cybernetics" probably include those generators and maybe something else in the brain or other part of the body, like a chip that regulates these bio-organic enhancements, the chemicals and other things (maybe nano machines?) that replenish their bodies at a constant rate. Also, the twins make mention of certain people not being in their records, so I must also assume that there is indeed some sort of cybernetic device in their brains that give them access to this information. And even though I don't recall the twins doing it themselves, #20 had a bionic eye, much like the Terminator...so I've always assumed the twins did also.

The version of #18 that I role-play has cybernetic eyes, brain implants, and nano machines in her bloodstream that keep her going, healing her when she's injured and stuff like that. While I'm not entirely sure of the actual possible capabilities of nano machines, I like to think that the DBZ canon #18 might have nanos as well, to do crazy things like make her skin stronger and more resilient. One thing is for certain, though, and that's that the twins don't have metal skeletons and all that similar crapola. I don't really like the idea that they must weigh a lot because they're cyborgs, either (this is of course probably something made up on the assumption that they have metal skeletons, which isn't true).

Hope that gives you some ideas!

NOVEMBER 24th, 2003

QUESTION: Let me just say that I love your site. The content's great and so is the layout. But anyway, I noticed a new section and I've been wondering: Do they ever say anything about Juuhachi's past before becoming a cyborg? I read somewhere that Akira Toriyama mentioned that Juuhachi and Juunana were two delinquints, but I'm not sure.
Thanks
juuhachi18rr

ANSWER: Well, in the Cyborg or Android section of my site, near the bottom, I quote some information provided by Patti of Family Photos fame. Her information supposedly comes from Daizenshuu 7 (page 122 to be exact), an encylopedia type art book done by Akira Toriyama himself. I say supposedly because I haven't read Daizenshuu 7 myself and couldn't even if I owned it, since it's in Japanese. So we're going solely on Patti's word here, which I seriously doubt would be fabricated. On that note, I think it's better if I take a direct quote from her trivia page.

"Before they became jinzouningen, the twins were a notorious pair of delinquents. Dr. Gero met them by chance while looking for test subjects. He turned them into jinzôningen against their will, hence their hatred of the man. Combined with their naturally rebelious nature, this is why Dr. Gero had problems controlling the twins in all the different timelines. This is also why, in an attempt to keep them in line, he put self-destruct bombs in them in our timeline, not that it did him much good."

If you search around the internet enough, you'll be able to find scans of a certain doujinshi called Horison of Nightmare. Since I can't read Japanese, I can only give a very simplistic summary. It appears that #16 asks #18 something, most likely about her past, and this prompts her to flashback to how her brother and she came to be. It shows the Red Ribbon Army and Dr. Gero showing interest in the two. It shows their capture and their slow, cruel, and eventual transformation into cyborgs. An impressionable picture is when #17 is released from a pod or operating table by Dr. Gero, his shirt off, with completely new, bionic arms. I dearly wish I could know the full story or actually own this doujinshi, since it gives such fantastic insight and so deeply explores what's said by Akira Toriyama in Daizenshuu 7.

Other than what's said in Daizenshuu and that one fan-made comic, there is an episode of Dragonball Z where the twins encounter a rowdy biker gang (read: the biker gang chases the trio all OVER the damn place in their pink box truck, #17 laughing it up the whole time, #18 looking very uninterested and annoyed, and #16 in the back of the truck rolling around like crazy). Eventually, the twins get out of the truck and basically throw some ownage down on the punks, with much hilarity. It's interesting to think perhaps the gang knew #17 and #18 before in their own gang days and wanted to challenge them. Or maybe the twins just felt the need to show they were still the tuffest around.

For my first question, this was a long-winded one! But I hope I helped to answer your question.

QUESTION: How many times does ( present ) 18 smile, laugh, or show other signs of happieness to Krillen, Marron and the others throughout the Anime & Manga ?
superrob86

ANSWER:Ah, good question. To be honest, I don't know the exact number of times our lovely cyborg woman gets openly affectionate with the rest of the cast - I don't own any of the DBZ DVDs (and REALLY don't want to go fast-forwarding through hours of VHS footage). However, a few instances do come to mind. The first and most obvious one is the notorious smooch she plants on Krillin's cheek after the rest of the Z fighters get a beat down. Then there are a few scenes later, after the Cell Games (during the budokai, to be exact) where Juuhachi and Krillin seem to share some loving moments on the tournament grounds, even though it seems more like she's just making fun of him. I believe when Buu or Babidi first appears, Krillin insists that Juuhachi stay put with Marron and he tells her he loves her. It's a very cute scene. I THINK she smiles then, but I'm not sure. And I do remember a few times #18 looking down at Marron and smiling at her. One of those times was in the 3rd Brolly movie, I think, when she's waiting for Mr. Satan to pay up. Like I said, I don't have the DVDs to go check on this stuff. I really wish I could give you more concise answers...

Then of course, there is the other notorious scene in Dragonball GT where Krillin is ruthlessly killed by Super #17 in an attempt to get his sister to join him once again, causing Juuhachi to cry for the first time and proclaim her love for her husband. I'm quite certain that this event in GT is the only time Juuhachi crys or says she loves Krillin, and we should all know by now that Akira Toriyama did not write GT.

As far as laughter goes, however, Juuhachi laughs all the time. Er, kinda. There's only one obvious time that comes to mind in the present timeline where she laughs, and that's during her fight with Vejita in the Japanese version. The two are fighting on the tops of cars on the highway. The Prince of Saiyans goes to punch her and she dodges, flying off, her high-pitched, mocking laughter following behind her. Now, in the Trunks Special, she's laughing when she kills a human, when she's on the swings ride at the amusement park, when Juunana's clothes are all a mess...she's practically a laugh riot! But you asked me about the present time. ^_^;

All in all, it seems #18 is pretty reserved around the Z gang and saves all the affection and laughter for more private times and places. For some reason, the Z gang just doesn't seem like her type of crowd where she can feel at ease. Or maybe she's got a more sadistic sense of humor, since the times we see her laugh seem to all be when she's kicking ass. The adorable Marron seems to get a smile out of her every now and again, but that's about it. Rest assured, Super Rob, someday I WILL own all the Dragonball Z DVDs and comics, and I WILL chronicle these events. And I shall dedicate them all to you. Awwww. :)