Episode 55: Intro to 'My Hero Academia '

and I are doing a spoiler episode you can listen to. Yeah, it will come out later in this week. So to get your hand off that pause button, because I know you got afraid of spoilers and you hit the pause or you might have seen it by now and you're like, give it to me, won't wait till Thursday? So if you can, I say something real quickly before of course. Yeah, So, um you and I had this private conversation which I'm making public now, but um so some of the because

press normally gets to see it. If you're if you're wondering why, I don't know. I think everyone kind of assumed that, but sometimes randomly still get people like how did you get to see it early. Press and industry normally get to see it. Um get to see it early, and um some of our colleagues were tweeting jokes from the film, yeah, just to I think flex that they got to see it, and I don't understand that. And

I also think they're credential should be taken away. They should be a lot of But it's so it's such a weird gross flex like everyone knows you got to see it, Like, don't write jokes, are like, it's just weird. I don't like it. It made me feel weird. Yeah, I always think it's such an especially you know, having seen it, there's so much stuff I want people to be surprised by. I wouldn't even begin to imagine doing some insider jokes and all that, because we know what's

going to happen. We know there's the the that we're in that age of the internet where once everybody has seen it, we're gonna go crazy with the memes, just like we did with Infinity War. It's gonna be fun. Everyone's gonna have a good time. So why are you thinking you're gonna get around to it first? Are you in risk ruing it and I don't. I don't see it, but you know, some people just gotta ruin. Thanks, that's why we can't have nice things. We are not alone today.

We're joined by a good friend of ours. He is a host you've seen on BuzzFeed also NBC also Nerdiced recently. That is our friend, Chris Lamb. Hi. Thanks so much for having me, Thanks for coming on. Yeah, no, I I used to see Chris quite a bit when I was working. They had his video and heavy rotation, so I would I remember I took a picture once. I was like, hey, it's you. So my claim to fameo lobby. Yeah, look the lobby and millions of computer screens. Don't sell

yourself short. You know how you been? How's what are you geeking about the speaking out about this week? Well, um, I'm seeking about the articles I've been cirt relating the fact that Marvel is looking for a gay slash by slash queer Asian guy for the Eternals. I'm just really happy about it. Um, a lot of auditions, so funny story about that. On Facebook, Like you know, I run plenty of circles, including Gausian ones, and several people do know that I'm an entertainment and stuff what people did

tag me. But the thing is that people just tag me without reading the article because the article actually doesn't have any points of contact, you know it. Of course it wouldn't write its Marvel, and but everybody's like, oh my god, I'm like, it doesn't say anything in the article, just saying that, you know, people are being auditioned for it. Um. And I heard from the grapevine that they already cast it.

I think I did too, But I feel like Chris, this is just um, I feel like you have enough sweat. Like if you tweeted at Marvel and be like, hey, I'd love to be considered. I feel you could get your fault the words behind you and they would be like, you know, because it's it's not just you're not just asking for you know, you you're not asking for the rule. You're asking to just have the opportunity to audition. And plus, because you are an entertainer, you're not just like a

random person off the street, right. Yeah. I was toying with the idea I'll do it in the future, though, Like, even if they have cast it, hopefully that's not the only one. You know, in the Superhero franchises. So yeah, it's exciting that that that they're doing that. I'm just super excited because, um, this is going to be like, you know, the first gay Asian representation I guess on

Marvel Movies, which is really cool. Um. You know, it's definitely something that I've been asking for for a while, just because I get kind of tired of listening to straight Asian and talk about how difficult their lives are, especially when they're hot. They're like, oh, people don't think that we're sexy, and I'm like yeah, And meanwhile, like all of the LGBT and women in the room were like, yeah,

tell us how hard it is. Um, yeah, I I wanted them, and I think that they probably eventually will have America Chavez, who's a queer um Latin X character. But I do believe that we're getting one over at d C, which I can't quite talk about yet because I think it might spoil some stuff, but I think that there might be one over there as well. Oh right,

right right. I think I remember totally doing about this too. Yeah. Um, so that's yeah, I'm I'm it's I'm glad that they're embracing that I would say that sometimes their fan base doesn't always appreciate or want that, and so I'm glad that they're like, well, we're doing it anyways as they should. I'm just more concerned about actually about all of the straight Asian men that are complaining about this, because I've

actually seen I actually shared this on my Facebook. I'm not sure both men and women are like, we're like, oh, like, doesn't really have to be a gay Asian guy because like this is going to ruin. This feed into the stereotype that Asian people are effeminate. And I'm like, so you're using a white mindset that has been used to keep us out of Hollywood. Two tell me people like me that I'm ruining things for the community you exist like like you exist in in your you deserve to

have a superhero. It's such a weird mentality to be like, um, we don't want to see this. Yeah, it's you know, it's it's the same way that I think a lot of movements are where where it's like they want there's no there's not a lot of intersectionality, and you know, there there's you know, there's a lot of people that are like, oh, you know it's it's the same way, you know, like in in the um in the women's movement, where like it was it was white women being like okay,

black women like, let's well, we'll handle it. You guys be quiet. Yeah, I just I feel like a lot of times queer people and women of color left out of the conversation, like as far as what you're saying intersectionality and so, and also like here on this podcast, I feel like we try to just remind people that's not the same for all of us, Like you were saying, there hasn't ever been a queer Asian character that we've seen on in superhero form on the big screen that

I can think of. I can't think. I can't think of. Um, Yeah, I feel you. I think you should still audition. We gotta make it happen. I'll tweet them, I'll tweet them if he what are you speaking about this week? I mean, you know, you know what it is. It's it's it's in game. No you can't talk about I know we can't talk about. But that's this is just gonna be me plugging the bonus episode we're dropping this week, and that's because that's all all my energy can take. I'm

trying to think of anything else exciting has happened. I mean, you know, getting getting ready for you know, Borderland's three E three's coming around the corner. I got my badge. But all that's on the brain is the end game on the brain. If he is hardcore plugging our endgame episode, Uh, that will come out shortly. My thing I guess that I'm spaking out about is I produced a piece called The Impact of Black Panther for Nerdice that was this past summer. Yeah, this past summer was like in May,

um if He is in It? We um interviewed several black filmmakers and actors and writers and it actually won an Emmy. And that's really cool because a bunch of my friends were in it. It was directed by Princess Films, who's an awesome director. Now I believe she's in the Disney program. Um. I'm I think that they might have also seen this because it was so great. I think it was just this great piece talking about the influence

of it. We had um if he was in it? Um. Joel Monique, who has been on here, was on it. Who else? Michael J. White, whose Spawn was on it. He had his whole family and his girls. He has two young girls, and they were talking about he was talking about how he can, you know, kind of pass on this fandom to fandom to them. Um. So many people were in it and it was just awesome and it's it's great that we want a Webby anyways, That's what I'm getting. I've never been to the Webbys before.

Jenny Slate is Doe Dope, Dope, I haven't. I'm not gonna say, Okay, today we're covering today. We brought on Chris because he is such a huge fan of my hero Academia or Bocono Hero. And I mean literally, like, I think you're the person I think of as like the but you and our friend Cheyenne I think are like the biggest my hero fans. But this is something that Iffie and I have also latched onto as well. It's such a great anime. When when did you first I mean, did you start watching it right when it

came out? No, so I started watching it, um, I think around season the middle of season two. I think while season two was running, just because I think I usually never watch an animy when it first comes out, unless it's like Sam and Crystal or Car capt Socca. Because I'm like it was gonna be any good, like if it's I don't want to latch onto something, if it's kind of if it might get canceled or something,

or if it's not good. Um without the anime that has like one season and then you're like, what happened? What is going on? I mean there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes at the animation studios. That's what I hear. Like even with some of the bigger series, like they'll have the animator cycling now, it is like a lot and it's just that's sometimes what happens over there, right exactly when it tells the story and it's done, Like Tanga Top and Gore and Logan they got there

two seasons. They're like, this is the story we're telling peace and like cool, I don't have to follow for the rest of my life. That's how long that is. It's still wild to me. Like I went to Japan recently and like they still had like you know, a one piece children's area like in Tokyo Tower, Like it was wild. Um, yeah, so you hopped on. So did you watch season did you start with season one or did you say that you went into season two? So,

so it was while season two was running. But one of my friends who is also a super fan that I actually met in San Diego, we were hanging out. It was a it was a tinder date that didn't mean anywhere, okay, but what did come out of it was he made me sit down and watch the first three episodes of Book Hero Love It, um and UM.

I think it was just because it was like still a date and stuff, and so I was still like kind of like not completely there watching but but like so so there were like maybe a few weeks where I was like I didn't really feel the need to continue watching it, but I finally found time to sit down and watch the rest of it, and yeah, I can definitely say that it's probably one of the best shown an anime like to come out very on brand for me if he is I had a writer that

you know that I was kind of seen and the first time he came over, I had the Twilight Zone on. UM. He kind of made a joke about like, oh, we should watch dvs, Like there's absolutely no way that I'm going to hook up with you watching like that's just too much. No, I'm like, that's just too on brand, Like I couldn't handle it. It's I can't do that. That would make me feel sad. It wouldn't be the opposite. But now I just introduced men into like old episodes

of The Twilight. Um okay. So so my hair Academia actually first came out. It began as a serialized manga and weekly shown in Jump that started in July. Now I seem to be very attract like all of my favorite anime is shown in. Do you feel that way or like, why do you think? Sometimes I feel like it gets a bad rap? Why do you feel that way? Well, because it's like kids. It's seen as like a little kid. No,

I don't know. I don't think that at all, because because you know previous shown in anime that have come before it, like Bleach and Arrow too, I don't feel like they were kids shows at all, Like you know, we should preface so people that don't know shown in is essentially like for young boys. Yeah. Yeah, so so like DBC One Piece my her Academia, Like yeah, those are Naruto Bleach one Piece. Yeah, so I definitely don't feel like they're kids necessary because like they're they're pretty bloody.

H and and also you know there's definitely like some body horror that Japan loves doing. Um I feel like actually the reason why everybody's latching onto Bocano Hero, especially people like Knew who like kind of was disillusioned by Naruto and and bleached to a degree. Um. I actually watched like a few YouTube videos in preparation for this, talking about like how the animals kind of decline in popularity. Um I think it. Bocono Hero addresses the issue of

the power creep. Um. It addresses the the typical shown in formula of like, Okay, so we have this super determined but kind of like off you know, like off the beaten path dude. Um and he's able to like use his macho now to be able to like you know, to kill the first thing, and then the more powerful than come and then it's stronger than him. And then he trains for like, you know, two days because he's

you know, he has a lot of potential. Uh you know, he trains in two days what normally people have to train for a hundred years, and then then he wins, and then more powerful person comes. He gets even more power. The main character gets more powerful, more powerful guy comes in, main character has another training montage, he gets more powerful, he wins, and then it just goes on until it

was popularity. That's kind of how I feel the formula is, and Bocono Hero beautifully addresses that because our main character, well I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but our main character, like it's very clear that the power he attains it's way too strong for his own body, and so like it's kind of this internal not internal, but like it's there's a very clear path of progression in a way of where like he's harnessing the power that he can right now and he's doing his best

to like not destroy his body. Yeah, so let's just hop right into decu Um, the main character, which is mean in him and all might have such a beautiful relationship at How would you describe Ezuku? I would try I would describe Ezuku as he's kind of like this new form of an every man that I think is just a little bit more relatable and also thankfully, you know, he's not a meat sack like a harum anime is

what's wrong with meat sack? Um that's stream meats. Acts can be useful sometimes, you know, Like yeah, but he's like, so he's high school age, so so he's high school agent, and like he's I really like his character because he's basically like a comic book nerd in a world where comics, where superheroes from those comic books are actually real. You know,

he's he's basically like an almight otaku. Like you know, he has a notebook that were like he references all the time, like of every like major superhero that's that's like working right now. Um, and you know, he has like every all Might action figure in his room. You know, he watches like YouTube videos of all my all the time him And he's also like, yeah, he's just super nerdy. Like he mumbles himself. He gets really nervous around girls, which is I'm sure it's very relatable for a lot

of young men. Uh and um he I think what I find compelling about his journey is the fact that he slowly realizes that, oh, like this power is for me to shape and for me to decide how to use. And I'm like it, I'm learning from what all Might teaches me, but I'm form my own identity as opposed

to know before where I just wanted to be him. Yeah, I was gonna say he kind of reminds me not to compare him to our comics, but Peter Parker a lot because Peter Parker idol like he has comics, he idolizes superheroes, and then he gets to be a superhero. So and you know, yeah, I feel like they're definitely similar. Yeah, it's it's so funny that you mentioned that because the creator of the of the manga he actually sided in two thousand teens commic on that Spider Man is his

favorite superhero. Yeah, so that must have influenced it totally. Just to give people who who kind of have no clue about My heroide Academia or Boku no Hero, which is another one of those anime things where people argue about the way you pronounced the title. It's like you don't say that h X Hunter and YadA, YadA, YadA. Anyway, My Hero Academia is about a world where superheroes are common and so common that they have schools for them,

and everyone is born with a quirk. Some quirks are better than others, and in this story, which makes it unique is Medoria or zuku uh. He is born without a quirk, which makes him the odd ball out in a world of of of countless superpowers, he has none, and like you were saying, he's this huge o taku,

he wants to be one more than anything. So his world is kind of crushed when he figures out that he won't be a superhero and he's like it starts right before everyone kind of transfers to the superhero school and he has no powers. He has a bully who has fist that blow up and he and he's kind of teased for it, but he is. He's in I think to once again go back to comics. He's kind of like Steve Rodgers in the sense of, like well, where Hector was saying last episode that big moment of

him jumping in the bomb. There's a big bad guys situation where a Zuki zuku Um or Decu as we'll know him as, runs towards the It gets his butt kicked eventually, but it catches the eye of all Might, who then reveals that his quirk or superpower is the ability to pass on his quirk and it changes everything and that which I yes, that made me cry too. I will admit though it was it is a little

bit convenient. I admit that. Um, but those things in superhero world are right and and and also like I do think they do a good job like mixing it into the world where like yeah, like they're they're actually used to exist this power, like you could give people a quirk. Yeah yeah, but it's it would I think one of the things. And that's why I kind of gravitate towards shown in uh anime a lot is because it's the same thing that kind of has started my love,

which was dB Z, which is the idea. I feel like you don't get that as much in American media.

You do. I think the the power creep is commonplace and never addressed in the sense of like you're strong and then if you get beat up by an enemy, you just have to think about somebody you love and then you get stronger, right Like I remember in Bleach, like I remember rolling my eyes literally at the storyline where it's like the last season they've said to the character if you do this, if you unleash this power, you will never be able to do anything ever again,

Like you will not be able to seek ghosts like you will have no powers, but then like the next season is like, oh, if you just shoot like a few millimeters away from your heart and it doesn't kill you, then like it will reawaken your powers. I'm like, but you just But it's the same thing of like you know Blade who gets like beat up and then he gets thrown into the pool of blood and now he's back right right. Like there's that where it's like a lot of shown an Enemy, it's like, no, you train,

you work hard, you get stronger. And I think that's what I liked about my hero that really kind of clutched enemy was this idea of like, oh, everyone said this was impossible, and for all intensive purposes it is, but with the right opportunity and the gumption, you're able to make your dreams come true. And I was like, that is the type of info I do want instilled in kids, where it's like, opportunity changes everything. If you

come ready for it, you can make anything happen. And oh yeah, um, just like that scene in La La Land where she just so happens to be a casting director there and in her little sketch show just so happened to be there to change my life love la la la. But I can see where why a lot of people were very annoyed by it because if you were in the soul crushing industry, to look at this move where someone just just at the right place she went to the little play that nobody would know about,

just so happens this huge person. It's very old Hollywood, but like it. But but but it does carry into it does kind of carry into Bocano here where like all Might literally like I like your hood spot hid truly. Um, it reminds me that Funk reminds me a little bit of sky High that Total does. Um, which was this a school of teenage superheroes? Um, so I've made that comparison. That's probably the only thing it hasn't common. But um yeah, so let's talk about all Night because we've said his

name quite a bit. So what should people know about all Night? So? I think all Might is basically like the Superman of this world. Um, you know, he's like the classic superhero like he like even his color palette is like very American, like he actually has the same color palette as miss as Miss Marvel as Captain Marvel.

I would say black, red, and yellow, and it's extremely clear that the creator made this character kind of acknowledging like this, this American industry of Western superheroes, because he has moves called like you know, smash towards smashing Texas and and like also like all my breaks into English sometimes, which I think is so funny. Um, he's so like, okay, so if we can, if you can envision if Captain America like got injected with steroids and was just a

a little bit bigger. Yeah, it is hilarious to me because I thought it was kind of poking fun, not poking fun. I think it's a little poking fun at our superheroes. And they dressed it in like American colors, and it's like the yeah, the sto not ster but yeah, stereotypical, big puff blonde, super right exactly. Like like I would love for him to have like more moves named after American like pictory smoke like that, just something like that.

That'd be really funny. But so basically, yeah, all might. He's like you know, the superhero like he's he's ranked apparently there's a ranking system in this world, and he's ranked number one, easily ranked number one by far and um, yeah. He so, yeah, he meets Decu, he saves him from the situation. Uh. And as he saves him, Deco like latches onto him and it's like can someone with no quirk be a hero? And He's like, I don't. I

don't know about that. And then but but the thing is that because he wasn't expecting for Decu to like talk to him, uh, he ends up like poofing back into his actual form. Uh. And his actual form is like this really real lanky, real sticky guy. He has like super angular angular features, like super emaciated looking um and right, and all my basically like, oh crap, you know my secret, Please don't tell anybody. Um. And he he shows him like this really horrible scar that he

has like on his abdomen. He's basically saying like, yeah, I I sustained this this injury, and you know, I'm like it really weaken me. You know, I had to do a lot of surgery. I had to like you know, it permanently damaged me. And so now I can only hold like my muscle for for three hours and nobody except like his close confidence, like you know, in the hero world, in the in the police force, know about

this secret. I did want to go over all my because we talked about Detroit smash, but he has so the Texas when you were talking about was Texas Smash, Missouri Smash, Caroline New Hampshire Smash. I'm surprised that as much as we watched this, we haven't like picked up like I mean, I paid attention the Detroit smash one and the other one I know is the United States

of smash uh in Oklahoma smash. So it really is a commentary on our on our country, which is it's just and probably paying nomagin like in some way to iconic like Marvel DC superheroes. Um So, his his power one for All? Can you explain to people what that

quirk is? Yeah? So he explains his power one for All as basically as this power that can be passed down from generation to generation by something by like you know, a chosen um by like a chosen disciple I guess of the current holder of the power one for All, And it basically just grants you know, like super strength, like an amazing type of super strength, probably you know, even better super strength than miser incredible. I would say

by five. Yeah, I think he could easily be defeat miser incredible and yeah, like you could like level buildings with that power, like you know, it gives you super speed, like it just really it's just like it's power that can that just courses through you. Basically it's all like very physical attacks though, so like it's it's not like you can shoot the energy out of your eyes or anything like that, and it can be passed down by with the consent of the holder of the power and

by ingesting that person the whole current holders DNA. Basically that sounds suspicious. Can you just that I didn't think for people? What are you talking about, Danny? Um, I would say, so, uh, basically all might all might say seticulate all right, like if you can do this certain task of like cleaning up this beach very environmentally friendly. Um, if you can help us help me clean up this beach with your own strength, I'll let you eat my hair. I'll let you eat a strand of my hair. So

that's how it's passed on to him. The thing is that I don't I don't know. Mh. I'm gonna not say anything because like spoilers, you know, we're going to take a quick break and then we're going to jump back into my hair Academia right after this and we're back. So Chris, there, there's a lot of characters in this series. There's a lot of bad guys in good guys um and so typical shown in Yeah yeah so and of

course like all of his classmates. Who are some of your favorites, we'll just say some of the big characters and what their quirks are. Sure, So let's see. I would say that the first hero that I would say that comes to mind would be Momo. I really like her power because she has the power of creation and

it's not you know, an op thing. She she uses lipids in her bodies to like form whatever type of material she wants, and so it's not like immediately combat heavy, but it's like it requires a lot of intellect and it can also it just offers a lot of utility, but outside of combat, so she can make like anything she wants as long as she knows like what the molecular like shape it is. So what I like about

her is she's very kind. She has like and she struggles with like an inferiority complex in the beginning, which and which I really relate to and she gets over the inferior to a complex on two or three, I think, so what I like about her also is the fact that she has like a book instead of like, you know,

a typical weapon. She has a book, so like if there's something that she doesn't know how to make, she just pulls out the book and it's like, okay, like I need to look up how do you make like you know, heat resistant blanket, and you look at how you make a subwoofer? Like, um, she can make anything that she wants as long as it's not a person. She kill you with knowledge. Yeah, um, I like her. I mean I think this is very common for everyone

to say. But I also like bacco Go. It was very difficult for me to latch onto him as hard. It wasn't as easy for me as other people to latch onto him. But especially after season the end of season three, I really understood his character more and I

really relate to him. Uh. And I also think I also interpret his character as like this representation of like toxic masculinity actually, because he's so aggro all the time and his power is Sorry, no, I was gonna say to me, he's like an antihero totally um like on the hero team, but as they typically are, But like he he kind of represents like the typical macho shown and guy like cranked up to like twenty on a scale of one ten um and his powers are basically

like he can. I think it's something about like he can use the sweat on he can. He has like this explosive sweat gland and he can detonate it whenever he wants. Yeah, terrifying, don't sweat. Hey, that's that I have a thyroid disorder. I don't swear. Can you imagine having me that quirk and having a thyroid disorder? Um? Also, I would say um, I really like to Chan, I believe that's her name. That's that's like her. I'm saying

Chan because that's how everybody refers to her now. But to you, a Sui, she is just a really cute frog girl. It's like she just she just has a lot of characters. Yeah, and she's like super level headed, really really smart. Um, and she's just a really good person and she's super capable. Yeah, if you what about you?

What are some of the characters that you Yeah, definitely, I definitely love Deco, but Also I love baku Go as well because it's just once again, like you're saying, you have that Nardo sask kind of rivalry and when you and it's you just see it from the beginning when baku Go is so mean to him, but he's just like, come on, man, you know, and and like I remember, like I think I tweeted it when I first started watching My Hero was like I just need Deco to just just wipe the floor with this loser

guy and they're lying, well, just keep watching. I was like, Oh, they're gonna make them friends, aren't they just like they do you know, right? And um, I like I remember thinking about their relationship and I really think that a lot of bacco Goes confidence is actually based on demeaning Decku.

And so I definitely was fascinated with this struggle that it was very very subtle, which I actually really appreciate for a shown an anime where you could see him becoming more and more insecure because he because he realizes that he might not be able to bully him anymore. Because I think it's this very typical man thing. I'm sure where it's like, oh well, as long as I can, I know that I'm better than this person. I can be confident in myself, like, no matter how bad I get,

I know I'm better than him. Um, can you describe to people, Anetta? I think I said that in a very Spanish way. Next character in the show Grape he is he is male anime trash. Um. Yeah, he's like, how would you say such a thing? Because he wants to molest girls like all the time. Oh yeah, he's like the master she Sorry, I'm sorry. Do you like him as a character? I like? I guess I just like his cause play like when I was playing. Um, because he just looks like a bunch of grapes. He

looks like a fruit of the loom, right, um. And his super moves are like grape rush and um, grape buckler, which doesn't sound good. Um. Yeah, so I guess yeah, if you could explain this person. Yeah, so he's like the super short, stubby dude. He has like these balls that come out of his head. Um, and they're like super super adhesive. Um. There is a limit to his power. That that's another thing that I like about the animals, that everybody has a limit to their power. The balls

always grow back. But if he throws too many, like he starts bleeding from the head. Um. But yeah, they're super adhesive. They're really good for like you know, capturing people and stuff or like you know, yeah, just incapacitating somebody. And he really really it's pervy. He's super pervy. Yeah, that's true. M D. He just likes the great guy. Like his entire goal is just see women naked all the time. That's that's the other thing that always comes

with shown and there's always the super horny character. It's like, we gotta gotta get a horny gotta gotta look at the hot springs. That's why I like Tinchimo because they like flipped it on its head where it's like, oh no, it's these women who are horning for this. Yeah yeah, yeah so much. But I'm afraid if I went back and looked at it and be like, oh no, there we go, I haven't. I haven't gone back and looked at it. Um Totaroke totoro Kei. Oh my god. Okay,

so Totoroki, I mean he's basically Zuko. I'm just kidding. So uh. He does have one side of his face burned, and it is also because of his father um and uh, he's really cool. He lukes guywalking honestly, who knows it might be might be influenced rum so totoro key. He has powers over both ice and fire and both like one side is ice, one side is fire. And it's because his parents are you know, one has fire and

the other has ice. And I found his story so fascinating and I really liked it because in this world, well you know, there are quirks and they can be passed down to your children. It makes total sense, right, there would be like this dark undertone to like, especially rich privileged families would like set up like two powerful people to marry other something with that way, they create a powerful kid with combined powers, you know, you know,

very feudalistic. Um and uh. And he has like this horrible relationship with his father, Like I think his father is like his father is abusive. I think I can just say that, right, he has a pretty abusive father. He abused in the past, and he abused his mom. And he's like, you know, the cool hot character in the bunch. I guess yeah. I think that it's really fascinating that they allow that conversation to happen. For you

know a quote unquote like kids show. You know, obviously we don't consider it, but I think a lot of anime here, like when it was shown on two Nami and stuff that parents normally would consider it kids that they're having that conversation because that is a real life thing that happens for a lot of kids, like maybe not there in their nuclear family, but in you know,

maybe their friends. They have friends that have divorced parents, or their parents have been you know, have dealt with abuse in the home or dealt with you know, so it's interesting that they're allowing that conversation. Same with know the stuff that Deco has gone through. I feel like it was that first episode where he's like bawling in front of his computer screen and his mom is there and he's just like, I'm sorry that I can't be.

That was heartbreaking. But it's just like, wow, this is so because I do feel like I remember well now but even when I was younger, like it's just you you blame yourself for your shortcomings, you know, and so and I feel like it's such a tricky time, like

middle school. Middle school was I don't know you're going to get middle school is such a weird like now that he's got I mean, now they're in high school, but like middle school is such a I think in that scene he was in middle he was younger, he was like elementary school, middle school or whatever. But like, middle school to me is so such a fascinating time that I feel like more media should focus on because you're not a kid, Like you're not quite a kid anymore.

You're not on elementary school, but you're not quite a team yet, and you're like in this this awful, awful time where you're struggling with your identity. And so in high school, it's really fascinating to me that they have that with Deco, where he's struggling with his identity of wanting to be a superhero and then when he gets his powers, like still struggling with that, but also struggling

with what it means to be. Maybe that's why I like shown in so much of shown in that takes place in high school, is they're not only struggling with their powers and that identity of where they fit in the world and their purpose and and like not using their powers selfishly but also using it to help the world, but they're struggling for where they are as people, right, Yeah, Like I definitely feel like this show specifically, it's always asking the question like what does it actually mean to

be a hero? Yeah, like especially you know in an age where like it's kind of been commodified. You know, like there entire industry around being a hero, right, Yeah, they have like battles and everyone watches and it's just like, yeah, it's kind of it's almost it feels like Hunger Game Hunger Game Z like to me, but um, yeah, I like that conversation that they that the having of um once it is marketed and branded, what does it mean to be a superhero? Like what what are you actually

doing with your powers to help the world? Yeah, And and because of that, I actually kind of think that this show is almost kind of in conversation with One Punchman in a way, because One Punchman is also kind of a response to Passion in as well. Yeah, I love that One Punchman makes fun of the trope and totally, um, it's like such a comedic take if we'll have to do an episode on that as well. But yeah, it also looks at like how co modified superheroism can be.

Um yeah, yeah, I just yeah. That's one thing I really do like about One Punchman is because it not only does it make fun of anime, but it also just makes fun of the concept of superheroes and what that is like. And and it is so funny that they came out so close together because they share a lot of similar themes, like the ranking of superheroes and

what that means and the effects of those type of things. Right, and also also like in the world where superheroes are common, like of course they're going to be like do she superheroes are like yeah, I'm awesome. Oh yeah. And and and it's funny because you know, I see Deco in One punch Man, but not as a central character, but

as Kamal writer, Like that is Deco. He is the if you don't watch One punch Man, there's a character who is like he I think he's like c class trying to make it to be but he has he has like no, he has no powers. He just rides a bike, but like he just wants to be a hero.

And like that's that was a scene that got me was there's an episode where like they they have to have this last stand against this like Gigantic c King and it's like Kamu writer and he's like won't go down and like stuff like that, Like just the concept because I think it's just so prevalent and important nowadays

of just not backing down and not giving up. So whenever you see that, anime does such a good job of just showing that of just like what it really looks like to stand up in the face of everything being against you and going at it. And he was able to hold him off until Saitama got there, and it really was a beautiful moment. And yeah, we'll talk about that more on that episode. Like one thing I liked about that is their color schemes are the same.

They have the same attitude towards it, so you know, I don't know if it was on purpose or not, but coma writer and deco are very similar. That's like such a cool thing. We have to take another quick break. We'll jump back into some more of our favorite characters and some of our favorite quotes from Bokunu Hero and

we're back. So we're still gonna go over some more of these characters because there's a huge roster, so not gonna tackle every single character ever, But who are some more of your favorite ones that you've seen the fandom really latch onto. Other people have the family. Well, there's definitely U, who is who is known for zero gravity powers. There is Ida who is like the class representative. He's like the super stuck up one, but he's also like

super earnest, which I like. He has engines on his calves. I know, it's so such I love like. However, um who is the creator again for BOCU New Hero. The creator's name is Kohei hiro Koshi. Yeah. So he's worked on a couple of others shown in, but um said that he was like heavily influenced um by um like you were saying in a couple of other and Marvel comics. Um so, I think it's fascinating whenever he was like brainstorming and these characters. Yeah, um yeah, I love these

powers because they're just so unique in some way. Um yeah. So there's also a Toko Yami who is the dark shadow guy who has like this bird being. Yeah. Yeah, ever since I've been a big fan of bird being combinations. You need to that bird. You can't kill me. You got to kill the bird, right. I think I brought up in our m c U episode at iron Man UM two with um Mickey Rourke had a parent because you know, they normally have the bad guys have not saying that he's a bad guy with the bad guys

normally have like a cat or whatever. I like that they switched it up sometimes and have a bird. That's what I want to do. You know what, Jafar, how do y'all go? So there? Right? So I'm saying, you know, Claude really started the cat game when he was doctor doctor No. But before that it was gold Member, right, I think so, I don't know. I was definitely not alive. Then I think I think it a gold finger. I

think gold member is the you know what? As I said gold member, I was like, that's the original, right is it gold because gold fingers sounded even more suggestive? Gold member is your member? I know it's your remember, but at least member could be something else, like a part of a club where finger is very suggested if you like he's like he's like little fingers cousin. Yeah, Okay, anyways, I've taken us off course, staring us back on. Uh

there is let's see where who else? Oh, there's Kilka Jiro, who she has like earphone Jack's kind of hanging off of her ear lobes, which is super cool shifts. I think she can unlease unleash sound waves as well as like here through just here vibrations. And they have like a rival team that they go against, right, like a rival school, right, are you talking about class by? Are you talking about like the other school, like like the completely different from you A. They're like the villains. Yes,

so they're not. Am I giving anything away? I don't think you're giving it. It happens later in later seasons. It happens a little bit later, but I mean like at some point, you know, like who, like you expect for there to be a villain. Yeah, it's called the League Villains. They're not a school, but the League of Villa. Yeah, that's all we can say. I guess that's all we can definitely say about that. There there is like the

main villain that shows up. I don't know, I don't know if it's a spoiling necessarily saying who he is, but like he's just super creepy and like a great villain. Very Kylo Wren. Yeah, so can you talk about some of the obstacles that these characters face. This like our

our team of um school classmates. Yeah, so I think I would say that the general conflict in the school on top of you know, just getting through school and like you know, the exams are also are the exams in the school are usually very difficult, you know, like you have to battle teachers, you have to like run tests with them, you have to pit yourself against each other. But there's also you know, in the meantime, the very

real threat of the League of Villains. And the League of Villains are basically a bunch of people, you know, anarchists who are unhappy with the way that the hero industry is right now. And it's not field until later who's pulling the strings. But this person has a connection with all Might, And I think what I'm understanding is that people are seeing that all Might is weakening and so and because all Might is teaching at you a, they're now like targeting the high school students to get

to him. And and they're targeting him, you know, like during their training sessions sometimes, like so it's very aggressive and like in response, the school is like accelerating their studies and like you know, making all of its harder to prepare them for attacks and stuff. What what is an episode you want people to get started in, because we are like, what three seasons so honestly, yeah, we're three seasons in, so honestly, people do could catch up?

What is the other anime? I'm like, now you're gone. I'm sorry. Yeah, like some of those you're good, go go go watch one punch Man. So but yeah, you can definitely catch up, especially since I know a lot of y'all seeing you all on the timeline if you were able to burn through all the Game of Thrones. So many people are like, I don't rewatched the whole thing. You got time to watch my hero. You got time to watch my hero, and you should definitely check it out.

Uh yeah, I think it's it's great. I think, you know, I kind of nailed at least for me. Said why I love the series and why I love series like it, It's just I love a series where someone achieves their goals through just hard work and determination and just someone really standing up for what they believe. And I feel

like it's such a strong message, especially in times like now. Totally, and you know, like I said initially, you just feel a lot more happy for the characters when they do win something, when they gain something, because you're like, Okay, I've seen like how hard you've struggled actually to do something, as opposed like I said before, the whole thing of like, oh wow, have so much potential. You mastered something in an hour that usually takes people years. So what is

your pitch for everyone to watch this? My pitch for everyone to watch this would be that it is a great action anime while understanding all of the previous action animes that have come before it, that it has a lot of heart to it, and that it also doesn't shy away from like the darker parts of what a hero is. In a real world where heroes would be

would just be around all the time. I like that there's a character for everyone, yes, like even if you're not necessarily latched on a deckoo Like, I feel like there's other characters. I don't know why I don't go for bad guys in real life, but I do in my anime. Very ndorious though. Um yeah, so I feel like I like to Like you were saying that it's real world, what would happen if you've got superpowers? Because not all of them act in a way that I

would say superheroes should like. So they're not all pure of heart. Um, and so it shows so even if you're not pure of heart, you're still awarded superpowers. You know, what do you do with that? And um, I like those implications because I never I mean, I like the characters that are pure of heart, but I feel like there's so much harder to relate to, right yeah, yeah, all right? Well then Chris, where can people find you? People can find me on all social media as one

we and Chris. And also, if you liked what I was saying about Bocono Hero, you can also check out my episode on Bocono Hero on my show Chris lamb Recommends on gam Ray TV, where I recommend Animate to newcomers. And uh, I also have a live show weekly where I make my straight friends watch drag Race with me. I'll do that for free. And I love me some drag Race. You know. I love seeing ch Angelus thrive after they've screwed her a million times anyway, truthfully, Uh,

and you know me, your boy. If F Y n W A d I W E on Twitter and Instagram, you can definitely get some of that nerd Difficent merch on t public dot com slash Nerdifficent. We got lots of different constantly updating it. Uh. And you know if

D's on Twitch come through. A lot of the nerd fam has been coming through and blessing me with them Twitch Prime subs and as always, you gotta reap the sub every month of y'all pulled up to the stream like, oh, I didn't know, thanks for reminding me on the castle. Now I'm not gonna do it every time, but thank you all so much, truly appreciate you. And Danny Um, I'm at Miss Danny Fernandez M S D A and I F E R n A N D e Z.

I plug it every week. I guess watch my show w z r D. We have new live from w z r D. We have new episodes that drop on Verva every Thursday. It's a very good show. Yeah, it's so funny. I love it, and it's really weird and bizarre and looks it is a very good. My friends love me. Um, but I really want to I really want to season two with my friends, and they let us have several of our friends on so that I just want to keep giving jobs to my friends and

playing with my friends. But even if you don't like me, well you'd probably like Danny. If you don't like what I'm saying, I'm just saying there's some good spicy Danny content, uh you know. Or you can come to my instagram. You'll bring the spice. Spicy too. It's spicy too. Yeah. Yeah, no, no, that's what I was saying. Oh no, I forgot to plug one thing. If you are in the Phoenix area this weekend, I will be doing the Phoenix Improv Fest

with my group White Woman. Definitely go to the white Woman instagram for details on that and come see us make you laugh and like we always say, stay