This One Goes On My Main Art Blog Because It’s One Of My Fav Posts That I’ve Ever Written. I Will

This one goes on my main art blog because it’s one of my fav posts that I’ve ever written. I will always feel a very special fondness towards Isamu and 66′s bond, I’m so glad they continued to show more of it over the years.

The parallels and contrast omg

I don’t have all that much energy and my brain is only half-working so it’s being hard to put into words what I want to say exactly but I still wanted to highlight THIS! The way both Phoenix and 66 see so much worth in Child Emperor, the way they are so vocal about it, the fact that there is so much parallelism between their interactions with him but how different the intentions and results and emotions conveyed behind those words are.

This kid is NO FOOL and sees right through all of it, but he’s still taken aback by the words of both these very clever, very charismatic adults. There is a lot of talk about relationships and interactions between adults and youngsters in One Punch Man and especially in Mob Psycho 100, and I love that they make an effort to show how creepy and dangerous grown ups can be behind very convincing arguments, rationalization, fallacies, etc. and these adults sometimes won’t even realize it themselves. However, I find it also important that they show actually wholesome relationships too, in this case in what seems direct contrast to the “bad ones”.

(The whole conversation is really long so I edited a couple panels with some of the quotes I wanted to highlight)

Even though every 2 panels Child Emperor was telling himself “this is just a trick don’t fall for it”, he still didn’t enjoy it one bit having his “dark emotions” exposed aloud like that. Of course, there is nothing wrong with feeling lonely and getting stressed out about the state of things, but he seems to think that letting those things get the best of him sometimes, makes him “weak”. And he probably feels really bad about the fact that he… hates adults. He wants to trust them, he wants to be trusted by them… he wants to have someone older and wiser to rely on, he wants to be able to show weakness sometimes, and fail, without the weight of the world falling on him if he does… and he wants to be told that he did good all those times he didn’t fail, he wants to be USEFUL and is continuously overcompensating. He’s a genius with great emotional intelligence on top of all his other qualities and skills, but he’s 10 and extremely lonely and stressed. And the fact that he is calling himself USELESS of all people?!

Even if Phoenix does feel some connections to the kid and can empathise with a lot of what’s going on with him, it is made very clear that he’s all about scouting Child Emperor (and Garou) for his own “noble” goals and also for his own self-approval. The worst part is, he’s being completely honest, and he thinks he’s right… nevermind his superhuman powers, that’s a very dangerous adult right there. He physically forced himself on Garou before, and now he forces himself on Child Emperor, too: he holds his hand, pats him on the back, touches his forehead as he talks to him. The kid reacts with apprehension almost every time. Child Emperor is tired of adults trying to use him and patronizing him AND also of adults acting like he doesn’t realize what they are doing.

But even then, even knowing all this, Phoenix still manages to get a bit through him. Both Phoenix and 66 make the kid feel “useful” with their words… but in the end, only 66 makes him feel APPRECIATED in the way he needs.

Look at him… the surprise? shock? on his face, the expression he’s making is so similar during both conversations, in that moment when Phoenix and 66 really get through him… in that moment when he’s thinking about that companionship he so desperatedly seeks. Phoenixman and Child Emperor exchanged many MANY words in person, even touches, even a mental-space-thing, and yet, in comparison, it took Zombieman only like 10 seconds and 5 sentences over a communicator to get throught the kid. A simple apology, heartfelt thanks, a wish that they both return safely so they can share some milkshakes and peace together. Little did the birdbrain know, this kid already has a trustworthy companion… they just never got the luxury to have this kind of heart to heart before, for Child Emperor to realize that all the respect and admiration and wish for companionship he has been feeling towards the person he considers his role model is very much reciprocated… 

To finish up, I want to mention the way in which 66 had been approaching the kid all this time: in contrast to Phoenix (and in contrast to what many “bad adults” often do) 66 never forced himself on the kid, even when 66 took the initiative almost every time they interact (going to check on him, asking if he’s ok, reminding him “I am here, if you need me”) he always left the boy to his own business and simply quietly supported his work when needed (or even not so quietly, when confronting Amai on Child Emperor’s behalf that one time). Actively seeking little interactions, while giving the other his space. Maintaining a good-colleagues thing, but occasionaly getting a bit more personal, if the moment seemed right. Kind, but never patronizing, just like he would talk to most other fellow heroes.

Anyway I must go to sleep I just really love these two and please be a good adult, in special towards kids!!! And no I didn’t forget Saitama’s role in all this but that’s a talk for another day