One of the best things about Shonen media is the way in which it is in constant communication with itself. Tropes, character archetypes and even the skeletons of stories are used and reinterpreted by each emerging title, and those that are considered legendary continue to have an interesting impact on their successors.My Hero Academia: Vigilantesisthe prequel spin-off seriesof the manga by Kohei Horikoshi, written by Hideyuki Furuhashi with art by Betten Court, and it is important for its incredible depiction of pro hero Shota Aizawa’s past.
The spin-off series contains several Easter Eggs throughout its 127 chapter run, but one thing it does in particular is make several greatDragon Ballreferences, culminating in one of the most interesting Son Goku references seen in recent anime, Oboro Shirakumo. Here’s howMy Hero Academia: Vigilantesmakes extensive references to Akira Toriyama’s legendary franchise.
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Vigilantes
My Hero Academia: Vigilantestakes place a slightly confusing amount of time before the events of the main story. The sequence of events and how they link up to main events in the original story point to there being not more than a few years separating the events of either story, with Vigilantes also occurring over the span of three years in-universe. The presence of various contemporary heroes is a major clue in terms of piecing together the timelines; however, the fact that the series shows the origins of the person who eventually becomes the Hero Killer, Stain; as well as Iida’s older brother prior to his career-ending encounter with the aforementioned, mean that the events ofVigilantesare at the very least, two years prior to those of the main storyline, and no more than four or five years off.
One of the biggest reasons why fans of the spin-off had been pining for an anime adaptation ofVigilantesis because of the brilliant way it handles the origin story of one of the franchise’s most popular characters, Shota Aizawa (Hero Name: Eraser Head | Quirk: Erasure). The series gives more context to the main story’s revelation of the villain Kurogiri’s true identity as Shirakumo, who died during their work study under Prince (like, the musician) one day due to events caused by none other thanAll For One himself. Shirakumo is introduced in chapter 59 ofVigilantes, showing him to be a jovial foil to the gloomy and broody Aizawa.
“Don’t Lose, Shota!”
Back in high school, Aizawa deeply lamented his lack of power, and did not think his Quirk was the kind that could be useful when it came to saving people. ThroughoutVigilantes,All For One is seen regularly stealing and experimenting with Quirks, orchestrating large-scale terrorist attacks and producing insanely powerful villains. Having seen Shirakumo’s Quirk, All For One wanted it for himself, at the time continuing to test out the genetic horrors known as the Nomu. No. 6, a sentient Nomu is one of the major driving factors behind several horrific incidents prior to the main story, and it is his actions inVigilantesthat inspire All For One to eventually create the kind of Nomu that could go toe-to-toe with All Might.
A giant villain known as Garvey was unleashed, with Aizawa and Shirakumo in the area during their work study. The villain’s ability to steal Quirks cause widespread carnage, and Shirakumo is crushed under a collapsing building after being knocked unconscious by the supersized villain.Unable to process his friend’s deathin the moment, Aizawa mistakenly believes he’s hearing Shirakumo’s voice from a speaker in his gourd water bottle, spurring him on to defeat the creature. Feeling motivated by Shirakumo’s cheering, Aizawa takes down a giant beast by himself, saving the citizens in the area. It’s only once the dust settles, and rain falls that Aizawa’s reality catches up: he wasn’t being cheered on by anybody - Aizawa did it all himself. Oboro was already dead.
Buu? Is That You
InVigilantes, a lot of villain appearances are due to the distribution of a highly potent and addictive drug that greatly augments an individual’s Quirk. There are various kinds of villains spawned from this substance’s impact on the story as part of the overarching plot of series antagonist All For One. Vigilantes chapter depicts Pro Hero Eraser Head in hot pursuit of a pair of villains who robbed a bank and were making a getaway.
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One of the villains' designs appeared to be making a direct reference toDragon Ball Zvillain Majin Buu, dressing the character in a similar vest and baggy pants as the Innocent and Evil versions of Buu respectively. The reference is complete when one of Aizawa’s classmates, Sensouji (Hero Name: Mister Blaster | Quirk: Blast) displays his ability, which enables him to fire blasts from his hands. His usual move is to fire them rapidly in a flurry from both hands like Vegeta.
Shirakumo Oboro
Also known by his Hero Name, Loud Cloud, Shirakumo was a gregarious and happy-go-lucky character who was one of Aizawa’s closest friends. Shirakumo had a positive effect on everyone he met, and there was a simple air about him. He had flowing blue-white hair (it has an astral quality about it), green eyes and two bangs that descend over his forehead. His Quirk enabled him to summon a white cloud that he can ride and use in a variety of contexts. When in his Hero costume, Oboro sported a purple Karate gi with an overcoat that bears the Kanji 天 – Heaven, like Tien Shinhan, on the back, and a pair of aviation goggles. His equipment also includes another telling artifact - a staff.
What’s interesting about Shirakumo as a character concept is that the Sun Wukong reference is clear as day, except that Shirakumo Oboro is not act a Sun Wukong reference - he is theMy Hero Academiauniverse’s Son Goku. What supports this is the fact that his debut chapter, 59, and subsequent chapters feature various elements that referenceDragon Balldirectly.
The first is his Quirk being a parallel to the Monkey King’s use of the Kinto-Un, and the staff being analogous to Wukong’s Ruyi Jingu Bang, the staff capable of changing its length and size at Sun Wukong’s behest. Goku rode the Flying Nimbus as a child, used the power pole in combat and also wears clothing akin to martial arts training gi. Shirakumo’s boots also greatly resemblethose worn by Goku throughoutDragon Ball Z.
Cloud 9000
The reason why Oboro is specifically a Goku reference is because of elements on various levels; from appearance, to personality, and finally, toMy Hero Academia: Vigilantes' overt employment ofDragon Ball-themed Easter eggs throughout the Aizawa Arc. From chapter 59 to 63,VigilantesusesDragon Ball-inspired onomatopoeia and lettering (“POM!"; “BOM!"), features a character who uses ki blasts, and when it comes to Oboro himself, his hair is a clear nod towardsGoku’s Super Saiyan transformation, and his goofy introduction comes complete with a reference to the originalDragon Ball’s penchant for nudity as a gag, something whichMy Hero Academiabarely does.
Oboro, like Goku, loved to eat and is often seen munching on copious amounts of food. Other Dragon Ball references inVigilantesinclude the featuring of a Hero group known as the Buster Union, an obvious nod to the flamboyant Ginyu Force (although the true progenitor of such expression in Shonen would have to be Araki’sJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure).
The inclusion of Oboro in the main timeline indicates that the events ofMy Hero Academia: Vigilantesare in fact canon. Given the existence of Oboro in this universe, and the copious amounts of references made toDragon Ballin the five chapters between 59 and 64, not to mention Oboro’s character, Quirk, and overall influence on the other characters in his short life, it can be surmised that Shota Aizawa and his classmates have a unique perspective in the overall world of anime and manga: they live in one of the few universes where the death of Son Goku is permanent.
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