As you have no doubt ascertained from your own life experiences, challenge is what spurns us onward. It is a driving force that demands us to improve, lest we be left behind. It’s like some sort of selection, perhaps natural in nature and since nobody has ever flown such a theory before, I shall claim it as my own. Brilliant. Anti-social Darwinism aside, challenge also holds a myriad of forms, some more entertaining than others and others…well, others are sometimes a literal punch in the gut. Since he first popped his face through a solid stone wall, Togata has been a…noticeable presence. Standing as the numero uno of U.A. and all those within (perhaps even the faculty), he is a new major player in the make-up of this world. Apart from possessing the same lustre and dynamite hairstyle of one Symbol of Peace, Togata brings one element to the table that our Class 1-A lacks: Experience. Okay, so they’ve dealt with some serious Villains and found themselves on the wrong end of a decades long …

In the years upon years of superhero tales, concepts once unheard of have been explored with tremendous amounts of realism and fantasy. How does one with the power to life a mountain cope with a day job? How does a champion of justice remain impartial to their own desires? How does nobody ever figure out that their closest friend looks identical to that guy who breathes fire? Questions of varying validity, but fun to pick apart regardless. Even villains are not exempt from this treatment, building sympathetic tales of woe and injustice, toying with our emotions and making us realise that even seeming lunacy can have its explanation. Still, there are those well worn tales that breathe once more, surprising us all with their poignancy. Of all the things I thought would kick off this episode, a subdued monologue by Twice was not even on the list. But this is why My Hero doesn’t use my lists. Having appeared as your standard goofball villain, Twice thus far existed for one gimmick (as ironic as that …

The human mind is a complex system. Born within are the ideas, concepts and observances that comprise a person and their world. Of course, such a lofty notion is seldom on the forefront of thought and people tend to focus on what is occupying their mind at the current moment. Of these possible lingerings, anger sets the deepest roots and can take a hell of a lot of effort to weed out. Filter this into the ol’ anime engine and you’ve got yourself one prime foundation for some serious percussive maintenance…which hopefully stops short of crossing the concussion and serious injury threshold. Since the day he first screamed into our lives, Bakugo has been impossible to ignore. Whether his bombastic posturing irked you, or charmed you, our Heroic futures have been lined with the presence of Lord Explosion Murder. Personally, the guy kinda pisses me off. Though your part and parcel Shonen friend/rival, Bakugo never really added anything but pain to Midoriya’s life. Hell, the first time we met him he told Midoriya to kill …

In every fictional competition from the 90s onward, subversion has seen our heroes fall short of that gleaming gold trophy that signifies first place. Sure silver can be just as shiny, but it also carries the lesson that there is always something new to learn, some new metaphorical hurdle to soar over. Of course, reliance on this subversion saw that it became just as predictable as our hero scoring first, if not more so; thus, the results of the Provisional Hero Licence Exam come as a wonderful surprise that shouldn’t have surprised anyone. With exactly who you’d imagine managing to fail the test to begin all provisional careers, this episodic outing showcases the searing pain of consequences. Though Shonen logic dictates that rivals combining their powers to fight a larger threat equals victory, there was no conceivable way that kind of thinking could counteract Todoroki and Yoarashi’s clash. In a real combat situation, their lack of emotional control could have meant the deaths of countless civilians and most likely themselves. I know Endeavour sucks as …

If anime has taught me anything, it’s that the truest moments of self-discovery occur during the heat of battle. When pushed to the absolute limit, to the brink of this mortal coil, the truth comes out and people learn who they are. The retrospection, the insight; unavailable in any other situation, in any safer locale. With that in mind, it sure is a nice thing that awesome, soul-searching combat takes place in barren fields, far away from the innocent masses. I mean, it does…right? Back to our regularly scheduled arc, we find ourselves face-to-face with Gang Orca; a character so awesome that he alone is the “Gang” in his name. He also appears to have a gang, but they aren’t nearly as whale-like. Still, they do have guns that fire fast-acting cement and their loyalty to their boss is admirable, so I’ll give them points for that. Either way, this collection of characters provide a substantial threat to our Heroes-in-training and their hopes of passing the Provisional Licence Exam. Due to the nature of the …

Every once in a while it’s nice to take a break from it all and get away somewhere fun. Perhaps visit the sunny coast, or take a flight to countries unexplored, maybe return to school for an additional test or two? For those with particularly keen eyes, you may have noticed that that third option is a little different and is definitely the one we are going to talk about; because who would want to spend a special episode at a dumb beach? Certainly not every anime in the history of ever. With its very first movie running in Japanese theatres, My Hero Academia is doing its darnedest to ramp that ol’ interest meter ever higher. How? By taking a break from all that pesky Provisional Hero Licence Exam malarkey and giving us a soft introduction to the basis of said film, throwing in a splash of mystery solving for good measure. That being said, the movie references don’t really hit hard until the end of the episode, at which point the notion of promotion …

When traipsing down the arduous path of heroism, one must learn an important lesson: Not every problem can be solved with a punch, no matter how powerful and able to change the weather. There are times when it is more important to save those in danger than pursue those causing it, to show that the truest offence against evil is a solid defence of the innocent. Of course, when a punchable threat appears every ten seconds, it can be easy to forget this simple fact, but that is why we’re here. Remember the basics, champions-of-justice-to-be, working smarter towards your goal and never forgetting those who look to you for guidance and protection. Even if they’re really annoying… Having passed the first round by the skin of their teeth, Class 1-A have joined the ranks of those standing in shock as the arena around them explodes. However, rather than heralding the appearance of the League of Villains yet again, said detonations are merely part of the (probably very expensive) second round. With such carnage around them, …

First of all, should anyone ever ask you why shape-shifting characters inexplicably possess non-human biology or colouration, please direct them to this episode. Though it is true that My Hero has shown us how a clever mind may turn a strange Quirk into a force for justice, there are still those that shall ever remain…weird. I mean, on paper the ability to willingly manipulate your body and render opponents harmless is a winning combination, just ask Kamui Woods; however, things get a skosh grosser when, instead of timber, said malleability and binding comes in the flavour of malformed flesh. So, if I’m being completely honest, the main reason I find Meatball to be such a disturbing Quirk is the vagueness regarding the state of those rendered lumps. Though none seem to be frantically squirming during their unwilling transformation, I can’t imagine the experience to be anything less than horrific. Shishikura even specifies that each victim of his Quirk retains their senses in totality, so are they in pain? Are they cognisant of being a wad …

As a wise and fictional man once said, “There’s always a bigger fish.” Now, whilst he may have actually been talking about a literal bigger fish, one can extrapolate the message of his statement to be far grander. No matter how strong or smart one thinks they are, there is somebody out there in that wide and crazy world who stands just a little taller, jumps just a little higher. When faced with such a harsh reality, many may lay down their arms and submit to an inescapable fate; however, those are not the people we are talking about. This is the world of Shonen and in this world, willpower alone can topple the very foundations of rhetoric and reality. With last episode planting the idea in our heads that Todoroki may not be as cool and in control as he appears to be, we are immediately reminded that characters we have never seen before are seldom allowed to make valid points. It takes, like, two minutes before the technicolour ninja brigade is sent, flying …

Being popular can sure be a drag. I think, I don’t know from personal experience, but fiction has led me to believe that it can, in fact, be a drag. This is most especially true when pitted in direct competition against those who hold feelings of animosity and envy towards the popular and even doubly more so especially true when said animositous and envious can shatter the earth itself with a single open palm. So, as we learnt last week, having your Quirk broadcast across the country does not for a subtle Hero make. Combined with the general bubbling fury each other school feels for U.A. and the unstable nature of teenage hormones, a perfect storm of chaos is a-brewing in the Provisional Hero Licence Exam. You know, it’s moments like these that call the teachings of Stain back into the mind. What was it again? That Heroes have forgone the ways of altruism in favour of compensation and recognition? Well, though I definitely can’t abide his murderous actions, one can’t help but think there …

Nobody likes tests. they’re stressful and nerve-wracking and if you say that you actually do enjoy tests, then I think you’re lying. Fine, sometimes they’re necessary to measure the growing skills of their participants, but how many people in this world actually need to know the total internal angles of a triangle offhand? It’s 180° by the by. I know this and never have I needed to know this. I’m not some kind of…triangle-making guy. Now, if tests were used to test how well I could fend off 1,530 budding Heroes whilst simultaneously keeping myself from failing…it would go horribly. Who the heck could actually pass a test like that? Why, you’d have to be part of the main cast of an anime series to pull of something that monumentally tough. You see, because we’re watching an anime that has a main cast. Infallible humour aside, it’s finally time for us to watch our Heroes-to-be shine as they take to the grandiose stage of the Provisional Hero Licence Exam. Not just in intensity, mind you, …

If you have ever once dreamed of being a superhero, chances are high that you have also pondered how you will deal that decisive blow. Will it be a single punch? Perhaps a flurry of blows, accompanied by a hearty shout? Maybe nobody can even see your move, completed with such speed that there is only time for a pithy one-liner before your enemy hits the ground. Whatever the case, I am certain that it is something fully suited to your personal tastes and screaming with the voice of your honest inner-child. And in the end, isn’t that what really matters? Apart from actually beating the bad guy. With the violent reunion of the Musketeer motto fading into history and the dorm room competition summarily concluded, it is time to once again enter the hallowed halls of U.A. and get back to some schooling. I know, I know, you’re all excited to see some good ol’ fashioned learning, but we’re going to have to put the classroom in our rear view mirror and traipse on …

In tales of youth and the trials that lie held within, metaphors of change are a given. Heck, we’ve seen more than our fair share thus far. So, why not mix things up a little and throw in a good ol’ fashioned physical shift in scenery? Not sure why I phrased it like a question, because it’s happening regardless. Yes, those budding heroes we all know and love are leaving the nest and getting a place of their own. Rent’s pretty decent too, all they have to do is train tirelessly in preparation for entering one of the most dangerous careers in existence. Also they get a fridge. With the drama of All Might versus Mama Midoriya still fresh in our minds, this episode takes another step down from the blood-boiling action no too far in our pasts and presents the U.A. dormitories in all their splendour. Dubbed Heights Alliance, said rooms will serve to house the entire student body and the numerous hijinks they will undoubtedly get into. For this reason, the bulk of …

In the final moments of good versus evil, everybody clenches their fists and prays that the side of justice will prevail. Luckily for us, fiction provides an infinite number of scenarios wherein that is the case. However, what happens after the villain falls? More often than not, the hero ventures onward to thwart new evils that may arise, content with saving the day. This is not one of those times. Having finally reached the limits he spent his life breaking, All Might is the Symbol of Peace no longer. Reduced to the frail form the world now knows true, we catch our first glimpses into what comes after the cape. With All Might and All For One’s clash still burning within the collective conscious, this episode takes us on a more subdued path through the repercussions of such a titanic bout. Looking much like his protege after every fight, All Might is laid up in hospital, pondering the revelation that Shigarakiis the grandson of his mentor. To Gran Torino’s credit,he spends much of his time …

Since time immemorial (roughly around the 1940s), superheroes have grasped the hearts and minds of children and non-cynics the world over. Few, however, continue to represent the pinnacle idealism of the fictitious breed. Serving as mirrors into the struggles of mere mortals, heroes serve as examples and warnings, cross-sections into how one should treat their fellow humans, despite any differences they may hold. And that is a beautiful thing, a guidebook of social interaction that also includes a justified scrap now and then. But what happens when the original existence of a superhero is combined with the flawed personifications we have come to expect? What happens when the infallible is felled, when the image of perfection is tarnished? What happens to idealism then? Well, for those resolute enough in their champions, perfect and ideal they remain. Since we first entered the world of My Hero Academia, All Might has stood as a bastion against the forces of evil. Though his weakened state was known to a select few, to the world he stood as justice personified, an ever-present guardian whose mere existence …

When dealing with the fictitious legions of villainy, and other assorted vileness, there is always a top dog, one who commands in the aim of conquering. They may not always be the best at all things evil, but they possess an ability frightening enough to inspire loyalty in those who revel in chaos. That being said, there are a select few who are both cunning and powerful, threats who even the best-of-the-best fear. And wouldn’t you know it, this just so happens to be one of those times. All For One is here…and he isn’t playing nice. So, that didn’t turn out how we thought it would. The Pro Heroes were so close to wrapping up the bad guys and calling it a day, then the most powerful villain in history decided to turn up and roger things rightly. Of course, by that lovely turn of phrase, I mean he looked in a direction and took Beast Jeanist down without so much as moving. Props to the denim dynamo for not only surviving, but managing …

When it comes to the world of amateur heroism, the proper channels are never flowing the way they should. Police are so hung up on solving cases that they miss the bigger picture and professionals pass the young’s concerns off as imagination. That’s why it’s always up to the ragtag group of teenagers to band together and…oh, the adults already saved the day? Well…good. I’m glad. It’s not like there was going to be a cool moment where everybody forgot their fear and hesitation in order to band together and save the day or anything. What’s that? A villain blinked and levelled a city block? Well, sure is good All Might is around. Always trusted that guy, never once thought he wouldn’t be on top of things and totally didn’t buy a silly disguise to sneak by any abandoned warehouses, no sirree… So, Bakugo got swiped, this our heroes know. What was kept hidden from them, however, was the actions of people whose job it is to save the day. You know, professional heroes…and the …

As far as I am led to believe, the kidnapping of one’s friend by a dastardly coalition of up-and-coming villains is a tumultuous time in any young adult’s life. Some reflect on what they could have done differently, others question what they will do come the next time and those plot chosen few pick up their shattered bones, forge an unsteady alliance with classmates who lack their ability to forgo logic for the sake of logic and head out into the hustle and bustle of night-time Japan. And yes, we will be focusing on the latter…because it’s way more interesting than the first two. Between Kirishima reminding us that he is Bakugo’s honest-to-goodness friend and Iida’s proclaimed worry for all classmates he represents, it would seem that our explosive dynamo is not quite as alone as the League of Villains believes him to be. With the intention of turning the obviously prideful and aggressive child to the side of villainy, Shigaraki is on the receiving end of a rather painful lesson. Yes friends, it would …

You know those people who always talk about what would happen if the heroes didn’t save the day? Well, I hope they’re happy, now that their dreams have come to fruition and made us all feel emotions and such. Like, I understand the objective concept of differing world views, but how do you slide so far down that scale that kidnapping a teenager seems like a good idea? First of all, they’re obnoxious and second-through-infinity, it’s just plain wrong. Now, I don’t mean to compare fictional kidnappers to the aforementioned people who want to see the villains win, but if the shoe fits…after a paragraph written in such a way that said shoe fitting seems likely. When we last left our heroes, they were attempting the most intense three-point landing in history. With the kleptomaniac villain who stole their friends quite literally underfoot, things were looking up for ol’ Class 1-A. Heck, they still were riding into this episode…then they weren’t. With a demonstration of why sleight of hand is simultaneously awesome and devious, the …

They say that everybody has a dark side, some part of themselves that seldom sees the light of day and is often a source of fear or shame. Normally, this relates to a secret one would rather keep buried, of something they themselves wish to hold no sway over others’ perception of them. Of course, in the world of My Hero, this concept is equally likely to relate to a dangerous shadow entity that dwells within somebody, longing for an excuse to go buckwild and unleash its fury upon all who dare come close. We are, of course, dealing with the latter. With an archetype centring on his mature stoicism, Tokoyami has had a somewhat difficult time leaving his mark on the goings on of Class 1-A. Yes, he does have a bird-face, but his moments of notoriety are towards the lower end. Though fans of this figure who finds revelry in the dark may dislike this, Tokoyami’s quieter existence has the benefit of making his moments shine. Remember when Tokoyami was standing still and …

Poison gas is rising, fire has a bright blue glow. According to some villains, UA has to go. ‘Cause tonight for, like, the second time, roughly around midnight, just when you thought you’d seen it all, it’s gonna hit the fan. Or, to put it less lyrically, the terror of the Vanguard Action Squad of the League of Villains is far from over, their plans seemingly unhindered by the man known as Muscular making very fast friends with a mountain. Which is bad news, in case you were wondering. With roughly ten thousand more bone pieces than he began the night, ol’ Midoriya is looking a little worse for wear, which, by now, should no longer surprise any of us. However, unlike his bout with Todoroki, he doesn’t have the time to rest off his grievous wounds and instead makes a beeline for his friends and allies, who are apparently fighting blue fire and purple gas, both of which are very dangerous colours for those particular forms of energy/matter. Necessitous as this may be, Midoriya’s …

Fate, destiny, call it what you will, the proverbial, primordial force that drives coincidence and chance can be a real jerk sometimes. Sure, more often than not it drives fictional characters together through a series of meet cutes and charmingly playful happenstance, but it also has the potential to drop the murderer of your two superhero parents right in front of you. Is there a much slimmer chance of the latter? Yes, but that still isn’t a risk I’m willing to take. Which means a lot, because I’m pretty sure destiny is like Tinkerbell…only less mentally scarring to small children when it might fade away come Act Three. Since the self-proclaimed bad guys can’t get enough of our protagonists, for various reasons all similar and their own, we once again find ourselves witnessing a superpowered attack. Now, whilst I will go into how that is a cool concept that makes for some dope visuals, I do wish to take a handful of steps back and really drive home the horror of this fictional reality. This …

Work it, make it and do it, for that makes us harder, makes us better and, if that weren’t enough, faster and stronger too. Wise, wise words, once spoken by a pair of robots who hail from places unknown and make really cool movies about aliens who want to jam. And if words of such bizarre origins cannot find truth in My Hero Academia, then I ask you, my friends: Where can they? True, this is a tale of real emotion and resolving one’s personal demons in order to attain greatness, but it is also one where a bunch of kids run around a forest like crazy, dipping their hands in scalding water and eating chocolate until they throw up. As is always the case with this series, the wacky bonkers visuals that assault your senses the second you press play on your streaming service of choice all have a purpose, carrying enough vague scientific basis to sate that rampant curiosity which has already claimed six of my nine lives. In order to strengthen the …

The past is passed and there’s no going back. Well, there’s no going back, as of…now. We did the flashback thing, we spent time at the pool, but now we’re dried off and ready to kick this shindig off the right way. No need to hold back, My Hero, show us what you’ve got. We survived USJ, we beat down Stain, what more could you possibly have to throw at us? Really? That much? Well, I stand by what I said…I’m just going to stand by it really far away from where you are. Like, a few kilometres. That forest looks safe… Manufactured scenery is out, boys and girls, it’s all about that nature. Fresh air, trees, mud monsters specifically designed to push students to the limits of their tactical knowledge and stamina. You know, nature. Or at least the nature that My Hero presents, in its universe of loose child safety laws…or really solid contract lawyers. Yes, the life of a hero-in-training is not an easy one and our group once again find themselves …

It’s been a spell, hasn’t it? Since we last got to see those crazy cats at UA, saving the day, doing what they do best. Don’t get me wrong, the wait hasn’t been all butterflies and blushing, partly because we’ve all been, like, super busy with our lives and partly because we’ve all been dreading one thing: The League of Villains. Well, in-universe dreading, out here in the realm of the real we’ve all been thinking about the new thread of vicious energy they’ll inject into the story. Like that Stain guy, remember him? Boy was he crazy. Still, a breath of painfully fresh air that really hit hard, like drinking cold water after brushing your teeth. And before any of you get worried, I still want the good guys to win, it’s just interesting to see them beat the bad guys, preferably with their cool powers. Man, imagine all the things you could do with those powers. You could fly around without a care in the world (except for lighting storms and errant Boeings), …