REVIEW: Chapter 54 (Re-Ingenium)

Iida remembered when he told Midoriya about his affiliation with Turbo Hero Ingenium, that they are brothers.

He even mentioned how Ingenium prizes the rules and guides the people.

Now Iida knew that he deviated from the kind of person his brother is. He realized he is not worthy of being called a hero since instead of helping those in need, he is the one being protected by his friends.

Flashback:

Tenya and Tensei were having a conversation. This was five years ago when Iida was only ten.

Since he was young, Tenya wanted to become a hero. He asked his brother what drives him to become one. Tensei jokingly said he wanted to become cool to which Tenya replied "How impure!"

On a serious note, Tensei said he wanted to become a hero because his parents and grandfather all heroed. Tensei added that a guy helping a lost child is cool.

I think he means that you don't have to accomplish something really big to be called a hero contrary to what Stain believes.

Helping those in need, being kind, inspiring people to be better is enough to be a hero.

Tensei added that if Iida admires him, he mist be an amazing hero afterall. No mention about how many his sidekicks are, how much he earns, how popular he is. Just because his little brother looks up to him made him say he is amazing.

Current Situation:

Iida knew that Stain was right, he can't be someone like Midoriya and Todoroki. Nonetheless, if he don't stand up, they will outpace him and he won't be able to catch up.

Todoroki was currently engaged with Stain. He used fire within the ice but Stain was able to dodge it and knew what Todoroki did with his quirk.

Stain said Todoroki focus too much on his quirk.

As Stain was about to slash Todo's left arm, Iida attacked with Recipro Burst. His kick split Stain's sword in two.

Stain acknowledged Iida's speed.

Iida then apologized to Midoriya and Todoroki (so Iida) and said he can't allow them to spill any more blood. Which is only fitting since once Stain ingested their blood he will take their mobility away from them.

Now Stain's mood suddenly shifted and it was terrible to behold. His mood darken and called Iida a fake who prioritizes his own selfish desires. He called Iida the cancer of society warping the word hero.

Todo advised Iida not to pay attention to what Stain just said but Iida said he is not fit to be called hero. But he can't afford to fold now because if he does, Ingenium would die.

Confirmed, Iida will be taking the torch frim his brother and claim the name Ingenium as his own hero name.

Todo let out another fiery attack.

The pro hero told them to run away because it was him and Iida that Stain was after. Which is a heroic display in my opinion. This proves that Stain's way to purge those he call cancer of the society, is extreme. This Pro Hero is willing to die and let others live.

Todo observed that Stain was trying his best to kill Iida and the Pro. He noted considering Stain's quirk, he needs to approach his enemy and ingest their blood. The blood type cannot be determined beforehand, too. His quirk is not that powerful so Stain needs to rely on his physical strength, speed and strategy.

As a result of his ultimate kick, Iida's recipro got fried.

He asked Todo if he can adjust his temperature. Todo revealed he isn't used to his left side. I thought he will exhibit mastery of his fire side because I assumed Endeavor trained him hard using the element. But no, the fact is, Todo has not mastered his left side - yet.

Back to Iida. He asked Todo if he could coo down his legs without plugging his exhaust pipes.

Stain wasted no time and threw blades towards Todoroki but Iida immediately blocked them... and the blades hit him in the arm.

Stain threw another blade which is the thicker and ragged and the force threw Iida to the ground. Serioisly, just how many blades are there in Stain's person? Will he ever run out of it?

Todo was about to help Iida but Iida told him to do what he requested.

Finally, after being forgotten for some time, Midoriya recovered from being immobilized. It seems like his left leg is at an angle. I assume he broke it because of continuous OFA use.

I'll have to emphasize on Iida's statement, "I'll give up this arm" as he removed the blade, using his teeth, and attacked Stain.

Will Iida lose his arm?

Was that the reason for Midoriya's vague statement a few chapters back, before they went on to separate ways for their on the job training? Was Iida losing his arm made Midoriya regret that he should've talked to him more?

I certainly hope this is not the case otherwise the Iida brothers are going to be: one lost his legs while the other lost an arm. I won't be even telling you guys that Iida doesn't need arms because his legs are his glory but no! Iida won't be the same without his hand gestures! Please, don't make him lose his arm!

Combo attack!

This end panel was pure epicness.

Midoriya's fist and Iida's kick, dude! I wonder how Stain is going to recover from that. Last chapter, Midoriya noticed something with his speed that I assumed, got slower.

Going back to this chapter, I liked how Tensei was finally introduced even if it was a flashback. He values his brother so much.

He definitely has contrasting principles from Stain.

Iida was shown when he was ten years old with robotic-like movements. Imagine the sound of a robot whenever it moves. That's the kind of sound Iida produce while moving. I don't know if it was intentional on Iida's part.

Tensei said Iida never playef and he was better than him at that age. It is possible that Iida is more talented than his brother.  He will obviously surpass Tensei.

Ditch the glasses, Iida,
you look better without them!

I noted how Todoroki advised Iida not to listen to Stain, how kind. I really think they are going to be close friends.

I was really hoping to see All Might this chapter but alas, he did not arrive. Maybe he will, but on a later time.

The pacing is really good. No intervening panels about what's happening to other characters. The focus is just on Iida and Co. versus Stain.

I like the character growth of Iida. I wonder how he'll manage to change and be the kind of hero his brother was. In the first place, I never thought of his reason to become a hero as selfish.

What I love about the manga is that, each character thinks in a fight. Also, each has strength and weaknesses, no OP quirk because abilities have limitations.

Best of all, the mangaka believes in the power of TEAMWORK unlike most mangas where the MC is the only one who can take the best villain and therefore takes credit once the villain is defeated. It nice that each character has the chance to shine and have personality development.

I am sure next arc will involve Uraraka and Bakugou. Oh, but let's focus on this chapter.

BnHA: New Cover Design for Volume 5

It's difficult not to feel objective about the latest cover especially when it is Shouto Todoroki in his full glory is in it.

I let out a huge gasp when I saw it I know. It's really over-reacting. But! But even Midoriya, the main character, hasn't been in a cover - solo!

It's a surprise. An awesome surprise especially for me who is honestly going to place Todoroki after Aizawa in her list of favorite characters.

Just when I thought Iida was the center of this arc, Todo showed up. Haha.

He is staring at his left hand and light is cast on his fire side symbolically expressing that he finally is free from the shackles that prevent him from using his left side.

Toward the end of the sports festival arc, he was seldom seen and when he was indeed shown, he's wearing this gloomy expression.

I can't help but feel like the mangaka had certain favoritism towards Todo... He's always well-drawn. Apparently he's not really a snob as I thought he is. He actually has a personality that cares for others (coming to Midoriya's aid and showing concern for Iida). He's extremely likeable now.

Go Team Todoroki!!!

REVIEW: Chapter 53 (From Todoroki To Iida)

Todoroki to the rescue

Okay so I thought Midoriya texted Todoroki to ask for help but I was wrong. Midoriya mass sent his location PIN to all his contacts. Todoroki knew Midoriya wouldn't do something like that unless he is in a tough situation.

Because of this I am now gunning for All Might's appearance soon.

I am not particularly in an excited mood for Uraraka or Bakugou's appearance, it might take away the focus from Iida. Also, I like how Todoroki suddenly appeared, he needs screen time because after the awarding ceremony, he was seldom seen. Now I think it was a deliberate move from the mangaka. I noticed that Bakugou was pretty noticeable on the last chapters, it might be also because he won't appear for some time.

I strayed from the review, pardons.

Todoroki appeared and was freely using both his power and we now see his new hero costume which looks better than the last. The all-white hero costume he had looked boring and did not do him any justice. This one, though, although I am still comparing it to Bakugou's (who has the best hero costume, for me) and it's not as detailed and unique but knowing Todoroki, I guess he'll go for functionality and not the aesthetics.

Midoriya warned Todo about Stain's ability. Stain threw a knife towards Todo's direction and grazed his left cheek. A sword was thrown the same time as the knife so while Todo's attention was on the sword, Stain used the opportunity to approach Todo and ingest the blood flowing from his cheek. Since the cut was on Todo's left, instead of dodging Stain, Todo unleashed fire from that side. Stain backed away.

But even if Todo managed to prevent himself from getting immobilized by Stain, he knew the enemy is very strong and calculating. Stain is advancing slowly by two to three strides with every move.

Because of Stain's superior speed, Todo used ice to block his movements. Stain cut through the ice wall. Stain knew the strategy Todo was trying to use against him.

Todo was about to use his fire but Stain threw daggers at his right arm.

However, Midoriya was able to move and used Torino movements to tackle Stain.

Thus, the nature of Stain's quirk was revealed. Finally.

Since Todo is losing too much blood, Midoriya adviced that he must take Iida and the pro hero with him and Midoriya will be the one to attract Stain's attention. Todo agreed to it and said the two of them will protect Iida and the Pro.

This was followed by the Todo's train of thoughts. He said when he learned about Iida's brother, he became concerned.

He knew what a person's face looked like when it's full of hate and resentment. He knew that in time, that person's field of vision will become narrow.

In Iida's case, vengeance.

Then we saw a flashback about what happened to Todo and his mother's reunion... I was so waiting for this!

Todo's mom apologized and forgave him (what for?!), she said she'd be happy and saved if Todo won't hold back.

Todo chose his father's office but it's not an act of forgiveness. He just acknowledges the fact that Endeavor is number 2 and he needs to experience with his own eyes. He admits that his father's judgment and insight i worth of being called Number 2.

Todo reflected that it was so simple yet he was blind to it. It was his power.

Glad that line still held such an impact even if Midoriya said it from the previous arc. It was something that provoked Todo to use his fire side which caused Midoriya's defeat. It was that act where All Might told Midoriya about butting one's nose in is a principal quality of a hero.

Todoroki hit by Stain's blades

Now there were a succession of panels where Iida remebered Stain's Save Him dialogue. Then shifted to Midoriya saving him then to Todoroki saying the two of us (Midoriya) will protect them. The last was Iida's outburst that he will kill Stain.

Back to Midoriya engaging Stain. He noticed Stain's movements. Maybe they were slower.

Now Iida was telling them to stop. But Todo responded by saying, " If you want us to stop then stand up!"

During that time, Midoriya's blood was ingested by Stain. It was when Midoriya engaged Stain and got slashed in the leg.

Midoriya exhibiting another Torino-move

It was do or die because Midoriya got immobilized, Todo is losing too much blood, no one will be of help and Stain will deal the final blow.

Then, Todoroki said:

"Set your eyes on the man you want to be!"

From that, Iida knew he strayed far from the kind of person his brother is - the man he wanted to emulate.

This chapter! Of course if there is a person who could relate to Iida in terms of dealing with hate, that would be Todoroki. And both of them experienced the pain when a loved one got hurt. I can't think of a stronger word than that...

I'm glad the mangaka involved the secondary characters to inspire another. It's mostly the MCs job description to Talk no Jutsu other characters. But let's not forget Midoriya's It's Your Power Speech that triggered something in Todoroki to think twice about his stand on using his fire side to spite his father.

Even if Todoroki's words will also trigger Iida's realization that what he's doing is far from what his brother is as a hero, it still made Midoriya's words felt.

I think the most important part here was when Todoroki told Iida to become the man he want to be (Ingenium), it's like he butted his nose onsomeone else's personal issues. It was not called for, Iida was not asking for his opinion or advice but Todo gave a piece of his mind anyway. From this, Todo exhibited one of the principal qualities of being a hero.

Todo mentioned about the time he saw Ingenium and told Iida about it. He said something about how Tensei never made a face like that. I am confused because Tensei's hero costume is definitely something similar to Iida's. I'm sure it had a helmet that covered his head. Scrap the thought of Todo meeting Ingenium wearing his hero costume.

I hope we will be able to know what transpired during that time.

Overall, I love this chapter! The succession of panels where Todo was reminiscing about his mom and Iida's train of memories was quite confusing since all we can see are balloons. I got confused as to who wss the one speaking so I had to reread a few pages.

Speaking of Todoroki's concern... I believe I mentioned how Todo was different from stereotypical quiet character with everything, I will still praise his personality. He's able to empathize to what others are feeling. I am glad the mangaka let us into Todo's thoughts because it made room for me to understand more about his character.

I am now a Todoroki fan. Definitely.