Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
When it comes to underrated Shonen anime,Black Clovertakes the cake. Written by Yuki Tabata, the series focuses on themes of heroism, determination, and courage. While it may not be as canonical as the Big 3, it is in a league of its own. From its well-written characters to its blend of fantastical elements, the series sets itself apart in the Shonen genre.
Furthermore, Asta’s strong will and determination stand in contrast to Deku Midoriya’s naivety and weak resolve. His zeal and pursuit inspire the readers and keep them hooked as pointed out by the series’ Director and Asta’s voice actor in an interview.
Yuki Tabata moulded Asta’s character into the traditional hero
Asta is the main protagonist ofBlack Cloverwritten byYuki Tabata. As an orphan who grew up in the Clover Kingdom, he faced harsh realities. Despite being looked down on, he displays determination and strong will. His ambition and self-reliance outweigh his suffering. Furthermore, hischarisma and sense of justicemake him a traditional hero.
Despite itshate and treatment from the Naruto fanbase,Black Cloverexcels in many ways. This holds especially with Asta’s well-written character. Like most Shonen heroes, he hones his abilities and displays unwavering faith in himself. His healthy rivalry with his foster brother Yuno makes him different fromNarutoas most fans claim. However, there’s more to it.
In aninterview with Crunchyroll, Asta’s voice actor Gakuto Kajiwara describes Asta’s unique traits. He quotes:
He ends up pulling the people around him into his life, but in a positive way. His enthusiasm, strong will, and his desire to never give up end up moving the hearts of those around him. Even if no one ever wanted to acknowledge it, people would end up wanting to see him and acknowledge him because of his determination and strong will, and he just kept flipping how people felt about him. I don’t think this just applies in the story. I think as readers of the manga, he gives us the same kind of power. I think just by seeing him, we’re able to find hope and energy in our own daily lives.
While he is born without magical abilities his perseverance and determination toward his dream make him more familiar and relatable. On the other hand, Deku Midoriya lacks this very trait making him appear as a weak character.
Izuku Midoriya’s lack of perseverance makes him a weak hero
Izuku Midoriya, fondly known as Deku, is the main protagonist of My Hero Academia. Written byKohei Horikoshi, the series follows Deku’s journey from a quirkless character to a hero. The similarity between Deku and Asta is that both are born without any powers or magical abilities. While Asta is headstrong, Deku is more timid in his approach towards his goals.
While he may not be an archetypal hero, he’s relatable in terms of his quirkless nature. However, hislack of determinationcoupled with his timid nature and powerlessness makes him a weak hero. Although the power system of quirks topples the idea of a single uncontested hero, it falls flat with Deku’s naivety and inconsistency in the series.
All in all,My Hero AcademiaandBlack Cloverapproach heroism in their unique way. While Tabata portrays a strong-willed and determined hero, Horikoshi san’s writing of Deku fails to construct him as a hero figure. Despite their similarities, both characters are complete opposites in terms of their personalities and approach toward their goals.
Black CloverandMy Hero Academiaare available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Both mangas are available for reading on Viz Media.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
