“My Hero Academia is now in its final stretch and it’s not disappointing. With heroes and villains fighting with all they’ve got, the world’s eyes on them, the stakes are incredibly high, and the battles are becoming more intense and brutal. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for moments of relaxation, nods, and references, as there always have been in the series. Even if this time around it’s so subtle that it’s very likely many people completely missed it.”
“Currently in the manga, All Might and All One are engaged in what should be their final battle, while La Brava is live-streaming the fight for all of Japan to see. With an interesting twist. As the battle commences and she starts the stream, a secondary character exclaims, ‘Is this your bankai?’
This seemingly subtle line is actually a reference to Bleach, the legendary manga by Tite Kubo. Bankai refers to the secondary forms of the weapons used by Soul Reapers, which can only be activated under specific circumstances. To make this possible, the Soul Reaper and their weapon, the Zanpakuto, must not only have a strong enough connection but the Soul Reaper must also possess enough power to wield the weapon itself.”
“In this way, La Brava’s explicit reference to how the characters in Bleach activate their bankai is a way of showcasing how she is giving her all in her own unique manner, much like All Might and All One are doing, while also paying a heartfelt homage to Bleach. It’s a small, seemingly insignificant detail, but it demonstrates the deep appreciation that Kōhei Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia, holds for the manga creators who have come before him in his career.”
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