Volume 29 Concept Sketches

MHA Team Up Mission Volume 5 Cover

Mirko

Fellas is it gay to think about holding your “rivals” hand for over a decade? It’s more likely that you’d think

NEW HORIKOSHI SKETCH FOR KATSUKI BAKUGO RISING

🥺

New Decchan drawing by Noguchi-San

In another life, maybe…

Used Horikoshi’s concept sketch to imagine a more finalized version~ 

Volume 29 looks incredible, but I’m also really happy he shared some of these alternate cover ideas

Decchan !! Deku looks gorgeous as always

Today I offer you smoll bkdk

Isn’t he always watching him?

The choice of wording used here is something that I find very fascinating. I mean, it would’ve been enough if Monoma simply taunted Izuku by saying that Katsuki isn’t as great as he thinks / a bad hero, by calling their relationship delusional, or by criticizing Katsuki’s abrasive behaviour. Izuku could’ve gotten angry enough to create an opening for OFA to explode from just that alone and we all would’ve bought it.

But that isn’t what happened here. Horikoshi specifically had Monoma mock the fact that Katsuki continues to smile / laugh (depending on the translation) despite causing the end of All Might. That’s the truly messed up thing about all of this. This isn’t just normal playground teasing or jealousy. He’s implying that someone like Katsuki doesn’t deserve to be happy. It isn’t the damaging of Katsuki’s pride, his honour, their rivalry bond, or their shared dream that is presented as being Izuku’s weak spot, but the idea of someone threatening Katsuki’s happiness as a person. Someone mocking the emotional turmoil and resulting strength that Katsuki gained after moving forward.

I think that says a lot about how Izuku thinks of Katsuki. He isn’t just some beacon of victory for Izuku to admire and idealize in his head or a fellow hero to put a lot of expectation on for the sake of chasing after. For Monoma to decide to poke this nerve in particular and for Horikoshi to decide to have this be what triggers him into losing control, the message really seems to be that Izuku just wants Kacchan to be happy no matter what he’s doing in life. Counting by the severity of the situation, he feels this way the strongest out of all other feelings he may have concerning Katsuki.

And that’s just the sweetest thing.