Would Brightburn Make a Great Villain in My Hero Academia?

For those unfamiliar, Brightburn is a superhero origin story contrasting a flawed hero with tragic consequences, while My Hero Academia (MHA) is a popular anime series focusing on a teenage superhero’s journey and the ethical implications of having superpowers. Comparing these two, would Brightburn fit into the MHA narrative?

Thematic Discrepancies

Brightburn centers around the story of a powerful being sent to Earth to annihilate humanity, aligning more closely with the Goku origin story in terms of a destructive force. In contrast, the My Hero Academia universe is built upon the premise that everyone in the world has superpowers (quirks in MHA terminology), and the setting revolves around the impact of these quirks on society. Brightburn’s themes would require a significant adaptation to fit within the MHA framework.

Motivations and Role

Brandon’s motivations and background in Brightburn involve exile and a period of evolution due to a lack of contact with Earth. In MHA, characters with quirks are either terrestrial residents of Earth who have developed their abilities over time, or special cases like Izuku Midoriya, who was granted a unique quirk. For Brightburn to become a villain in MHA, his motivations would need a complete overhaul, making him a character who could pose a significant threat to the heroes but would fit within the terrestrial context.

Scaling and Impact

In Brightburn, the protagonist’s abilities are shown to be immense, capable of lifting and destroying objects on a city scale. However, in MHA, the All Might character is a benchmark for power, a peerless hero with unmatched strength and durability. Brandon’s powers in comparison would place him beyond All Might, creating a significant power imbalance. In a world where heroes like All Might and other strong characters are the norm, Brandon would be overly powerful and unchallengeable, disrupting the balance of the MHA universe.

Narrative and Character Dynamics

The narrative in Brightburn typically involves an alien hero or villain entering Earth, interacting with humans, and driving conflict as they adapt to their new environment. In the MHA setting, such an entity would be seen as an external threat and would likely be dealt with by more experienced heroes or special teams. Brandon’s ability to casually destroy objects and cause widespread destruction would not align with the internal dynamics of MHA, where heroes rise through rigorous training and experience.

Conclusion and Potential Applications

Despite the compelling story and character development in Brightburn, it would be challenging to directly incorporate Brandon as a villain in My Hero Academia. However, elements of his story, such as his unique origin and tragic flaws, could inspire new story arcs or villains in MHA. For instance, a character with a similar background, initially misunderstood and powerful, could add depth to the series without disrupting the established balance and narrative.

In summary, while Brightburn does not perfectly fit into the My Hero Academia framework due to thematic and scaling discrepancies, there are opportunities to adapt its core ideas for MHA, potentially enriching the universe with new and engaging narratives.