It was supposed to be an innocent summer camp. Of course, under Aizawa, a (sadistic?) mastermind of torture, the students should never have expected any fun. I laughed at the students who had the worst torture: Katsuki Bakugou, who had to submerge his hands in boiling water; Ochaco Uraraka, who had to hold in her puke as she rolled down a mountain in two air bubbles; Fumikage Tokoyami, who had to wrestle with his dark half; Denki Kaminari, who had to electrocute himself with a car battery; and Yuga Aoyama, who had to endlessly shoot lasers from his belly into the sky. Oh, and maybe Eijirou Kirishima, who was relentlessly beaten by Mashirao Ojiro to toughen up his outer shell.
Disclaimer: There are spoilers for the series (from both manga and anime) in here, so continue reading at your own risk. In addition, the word “quirks” is the word this series uses to mean “superpowers.” Featured image is from YouTube.
Cute
Image from Pinterest
Deadly Hilarious
Image from KnowYourMemes
Hello guys! We’re back with Part 4 for 14 Reasons Why Fans Love My Hero Academia (MHA) / Boku No Hero Academia (BnHA). Just to recap, in the last three posts, we covered several reasons:
- Shounen Trope Killer
- Inspirational Quotes
- Motivational Moments
- Epic Soundtrack/Music
- Multi-Dimensional & Simultaneously Developing Villains
- Rising Stakes as the Series Progresses
You can click on each reason to go to their respective post.
Today, we’re only going to have time to discuss Reason #7 which is one of my favorites. Actually, I’d be lying if I said that because ALL the reasons are my favorites because this series is just THAT good!
7. Comedy
We all love stories that can get us to laugh despite rising tensions, emotional moments, and serious sh*t breaking down right in front of our eyes. I think that is one of the reasons why the Marvel Cinematic Universe is incredibly popular because it can still weave some laughs into the epic tale of superheroes and villains (although, I have to say “bathos” is sometimes a problem (ask me in the comments what that is if you’re curious)).
Here are some instances where the comedy aspect and Kohei Horikoshi’s, (the creator of the series) sense of humor shines through his work.
Summer Training Camp A.K.A. Summer Torture Camp
Image from Pinterest
During what the Class 1A students thought would be a normal summer field trip, their homeroom teacher, Shouta Aizawa, has them instead take on an intense quirk training regimen to increase their muscle capacity for their quirk.
The funny part of all this? It was supposed to be an innocent summer camp.
Of course, under Aizawa, a (sadistic?) mastermind of torture, the students should have never expected any fun. I laughed at the students who had the worst torture for their training regimen, namely: Katsuki Bakugou, who had to submerge his hands in boiling water; Ochaco Uraraka, who had to restrain herself from puking as she rolled down a mountain in two air bubbles; Fumikage Tokoyami, who had to wrestle with his dark half; Denki Kaminari, who had to electrocute himself with a car battery; and Yuga Aoyama, who had to endlessly shoot lasers from his belly into the sky. Oh, and maybe Eijirou Kirishima, who was relentlessly beaten by Mashirao Ojiro and his tail to toughen up his outer shell/skin.
Image from YouTube
Here’s the video for you guys to watch again or for new fans to see and to understand what I mean above. The narrator is super hilarious as he comments about each student’s regimen and goal.
Video from YouTube
Even better are the YouTube comments. You got to love your fellow MHA / BnHA fans 😉
“Revelry in the Dark”
All 3 of the above images are from Tumblr
You can find all these moments in the video below:
Video from YouTube
Fumikage Tokoyami had a period of time where he kept repeating “revelry in the dark,” a hilarious statement coming from a boy who was always courting darkness due to his quirk’s nature.
Image from CrunchyRoll
The above image is from Season 3 when the students visited each other’s rooms to decide the best one for the “Best Dorm Room” contest.
Inside Joke about Toru’s Invisibility
In the series, there is a character named Toru Hagakure who has the quirk of invisibility and there are so many instances where the creator makes a joke about her quirk and the sad uh, inconveniences (?) that it causes her. It’s a sweet, endearing inside joke that Horikoshi creates between her and Mashirao Ojirou (YES, I SHIP THEM!).
Video from YouTube
I would suggest watching between 0:05 to 0:40 for the relevant funny moments poking fun at her invisibility quirk and how it makes her life difficult/hilarious.
Aoyama and Breaking the Fourth Wall
If you paid attention to the series as you watched the episodes or if you need to watch it, you will see (if you have a good eye) Yuga Aoyama directly looking at the audience, whether it’s during the opening song or during scenes when he plays a minor role or is in the background. I think that by doing this, Horikoshi is putting a delightful and lovable element and adds a final unique touch to his story. Aoyama is so original and goofy as a character that him adorably staring at the viewers when he thinks we’re not aware is so friggin’ cute. I just want to give him a big hug and give Horikoshi a solid high-five. This makes consuming the series more fun, interesting, and enjoyable.
Here are some of those instances where he is watching us watch MHA/BnHA (:
Image from AminoApps
Image from AminoApps
Image from AminoApps
Video from YouTube
Mineta’s Pervertedness
Image from GFYCat
Okay, I think I will get attacked for this, but I actually do NOT hate Minoru Mineta. I think he’s friggin’ hilarious. He’s a short guy, so of course he has a small man complex which is displayed via his perverted-ness. I know that people find it disgusting and annoying; however, I think Horikoshi acknowledges that Mineta is the character he uses to display his inner thoughts, too. Then, again it makes the creator perverted and doesn’t help my defense. I guess I just don’t take it seriously ^o^’ and well, he has to channel that energy somewhere, right?
Video from YouTube
My favorite moments from this guy is when he reveals what his quirk is to Izuku Midoriya and Tsuyu Asui on the ship during the Attack on the USJ Arc. My second favorite moment is when his English Dubbed Voice Actor (Brina Michelle Palencia) speaks during his climb up the wall dividing the male students from the female students at the hot springs of their Summer Camp.
Todoroki’s Cluelessness
Image from Twitter
Shoto Todoroki is a handsome character who is quiet around his classmates, but has an adorable quiet side. He also has a sense of cluelessness around him that makes him more lovable and huggable. It’s understandable why he has so many admirers, both within his class and outside, within the audience. Some notable instances of his cute clueless side are when he talks about being the hand crusher; during his Final Exam with Momo Yaoyorozu vs. Mr. Aizawa; and him considering ol’ Katsuki Bakugou as his FRIEND in the manga (Chapter 241).
Image from Pinterest
After Todoroki, Midoriya, and Tenya Iida defeat the Hero Killer: Stein, they are in the hospital and after a tense encounter with the police, Todoroki eases the mood by wondering out loud if he is something like the hand crusher because Midoriya injured his hand in their match in the Battle Tournament round of the Sports Festival and now Iida’s hand/arm is injured too.
Image from Reddit
In his Final Exam with Yaoyorozu, after they successfully neutralized Mr. Aizawa, Yaoyorozu is emotional and begins to cry, happy that she had finally reclaimed her self-confidence back and passed the Exam. However, unaware about her inner mental struggle, turmoil, and doubt during the test, Todoroki assumes that Yaoyorozu covering her mouth and crying meant that she wanted to vomit, so he advises her to poke her belly or foot (depending on the translation) to induce the puking. 😂😂😂
Image from Mammoth Base Opera Castle
Image from Viz
Another favorite moment of mine demonstrating Todoroki’s obliviousness is when he is interviewing with Bakugou and declares that Bakugou is his friend (or that they get along, depending again on the translation), much to our hot boy’s annoyance. He also misunderstands another character’s comments about being a lady-killer.
Image from Twitter
Bakugou’s Anger
Image from Tumblr
Bakugou’s anger and short-temper is one of the best aspects of the series (in my own personal opinion). The way he is easily manipulated by his peers to blow up in anger is obnoxiously hilarious. Check out my Katsuki Bakugou post to see several examples. To list a few here though, I have a preference for the scenes when he is screaming as he dunks his hands in boiling water at the Summer Torture Camp; when he has to take out the trash for his classmates during his suspension after his fight with Midoriya (Round 2); and when Mineta and Hanta Sero tease him about not vacuuming the window sills of their dormitories.
Image from YouTube
Poor baby is mad he placed 2nd place in the Calvary Battle Round of the Sports Festival.
Video from YouTube
Image from Pinterest
Midoriya’s Crying & Fanboy-ing
Image from Tenor
Midoriya is a so genuinely kind and fragile as the main hero of the series. I love that when he cries, it is a literal waterfall. One example is when he is extremely grateful to Fumikage Tokoyami for grabbing the 579 point headband that allowed their team to move on after the Cavalry Battle.
Image from Virtual Citizens
Furthermore, Midoriya’s ridiculously insane love and admiration for All Might is very heartfelt and touching. His room is covered with all things All Might: merchandise, posters, figurines–you name it, and our big, um adorable fanboy has it all.
Image from Pinterest
Image from AminoApps
Bakugou: “Shut up Deku”
Image from Tumblr
Image from We Heart It
Iida’s Dramatic Hand/Arm Gestures
Image from Wattpad
Iida’s straight arm jerk-waves and creative arm movements rightfully matches his rigid, responsible, and rule-following personality. I don’t have to explain it. Just look at these GIFs and images. It’s a sweet addition to Horikoshi’s world and an inventive quirk to his beloved characters that make them unique from each other, but suits their character and demonstrates their personality.
Image from Imgur
Image from Pinterest
Nieto Monoma Being a Competitive Clown/Jerk to Class 1A
Image from Tumblr
Ah, Nieto Monoma, the clown from Class 1B who enjoys openly comparing his class to Class 1A whenever he can to laugh at their faces and try to one-up them. He, at first, was annoying to me because I love Class 1A so much. However, upon realizing that he is intentionally being used by Horikoshi for comedic purposes in the series, I’ve begun to enjoy his presence whenever he decides or gets a chance to pop onto the screen.
Kaminari’s Fried Brain
Image from Pinterest
Aww, Denki Kaminari, a powerful friend to have on your side and a strong opponent to defeat if he is your enemy. As a character whose quirk is electrification, whenever Kaminari decides to use his incredible power to indiscriminately electrocute everything around him, the downfall to this immense ability is his brain being fried, leaving him dumb for a few minutes (or hours) after the attack. I love his facial expressions and the fact that he is the butt of jokes after such demonstrations of power. Just look at how much of a kick Kyouka Jirou gets whenever he goes dumb. Or whenever she has the chance to make fun of him. Don’t you just enjoy their relationship?
Image from Twitter
Image from AminoApps
Image from Tenor
All right guys, that’s all for today. Check out Part 5 by clicking on the link!
Did you guys catch my Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3 of this post? Click on those links and you will be taken directly to those posts to stay up-to-date with all the reasons MHA/BnHA is so beloved! Enjoy! Have any questions, thoughts, comments, or concerns? Please share them below in the comment section or if you’re shy, contact me via the Contacts page for my email. If you want to read more from me, please click on the Life and Asian American tabs on the menu up above. Happy Reading guys! Until next time, stay safe and spread positivity in the world!