Spider-Manis a character that transcends genre and medium - and region. Spidey has had a surprisingly strong audience in Japan, dating back toSpider-Man: The Mangain 1970. Now, over 50 years later, Spider-Man’s newest manga debut shares a touching and exciting connection to a pillar in contemporary manga,My Hero Academia.
Spider-Man: Octo-Girlby Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court is a charmingly cute story in whichDoctor Octopusends up in the one place anyone would least suspect: inside the body of a Japanese school girl. After falling into a coma, Otto is forced to take up his new life as Otoha Okutamiya while continuing to battle her consciousness for control.
Fans ofMy Hero Academicamay recognize this series’ creative team becausethey are the creators of theMy Hero Academiaspin-off series,My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.Surprisingly, this isn’t the only connection betweenMy Hero Academiaand Spider-Man.
Spider-Man: Octo-GirlandMy Hero Academia: VigilantesAre by the Same Creative Team
Written by Hideyuki Furuhashi with Art by Betten Court
After the vibrant success ofMy Hero Academia,the new series,My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, follows Koichi Haimawari, an unlicensed hero who uses his Quirk for good. Overall, fans really enjoyed the spin-off series, noting that, while it’s more laid back compared toMy Hero Academia, it contains just as much heart. After an astounding 126 issues, the prequel ended in May 2022, leaving fans wanting more fromthe now-iconic duo of Furuhashi and Court.Fortunately, just two years later, the pair have returned withSpider-Man: Octo-Girl.
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Immediately,the tone of the Marvel series from Viz Media is recognizableto those familiar with theMy Hero Academiastyle. Court’s style reflects the originalMy Hero Academiaby Kohei Horikoshi, noticeably translating intothe pages of Spider-Man’snewest manga series. While reading the manga, it’s sometimes hard not to see traces of Uraraka, Himiko Toga, and Tsuyu Asui coming through Doc Ock’s new design. That’s not to say that Furuhashi is slacking at all. As expected, Okutamiya and Otto bicker a lot, but despite their clear antagonism, the two’s relationship feels remarkably similar to Deku and Bakugo’s.
My Hero AcademiaWas Originally Inspired by Spider-Man
The Two Franchises Share an Interpersonal History
It’s no surprise that Spider-Man andMy Hero Academiahave finally officially crossed paths. Spider-Man has beena household name in Japanfor decades, dating back toSpider-Man: The Mangaby Kosei Ono, Kazumasa Hirai, and Ryoichi Ikegami, which was released in 1970.
Decades later, Spidey would once again inspire another piece of iconic Japanese media.
Spider-Man continued to see overseas success whenStan Lee partnered with the Toei Companyto create alive-action Spider-Man show, an instrumental piece of media that would inspire the use of giant robots in future franchises likeSuper SentaiandTransformers.Decades later, Spidey has once again inspired another piece of iconic Japanese media.
In an interview withComicBookfollowing the conclusion of theMy Hero Academiamanga, creator Horikoshi was asked if any real or fictional heroes inspired his work. Horikoshi admitted that therunaway train scene in Sam Rami’sSpider-Man 2played a major part in how he wanted to write heroic characters:everyday people who help each other when in need. As Horikoshi says in the interview:
‘What is a hero?’ A hero is a person who helps ordinary people, and ordinary people who help them in turn. I think this is the answer to the question, and there is nothing more to it than that.
Now, over two decades after the film’s release, Spider-Man and Doc Ock are now attached to the writer and artist Horikoshi entrusted his life’s work to.
Spider-Man Proves That He Can Transcend Cultural Barriers
As Stan Lee Said, “Anyone Can Wear the Mask”
For the super nerds out there, the connections only deepen from there. In the months leading to the release of the MCU’sInfinity War,Marvel Studios andMy Hero Academiapromoted a “Special Hero Collaboration.“To co-celebrate the release of the film alongside the release of theMy Hero Academiaanime’s third season, a special poster designed by Horikoshi was revealed, depicting a one-to-one recreation of the MarvelInfinity Warposter using the cast ofMy Hero Academia. In fact, All-Might’s Japanese voice actor, Kenta Miyake, voiced Thor inInfinity War’sJapanese dub.
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The connection betweenSpider-Man: Octo-GirlandMy Hero Academiais far more than a cute Easter egg: it’s part of a long history. The legacy of Spider-Man’s popularity, especially in Japan, directly inspired the manga’s creation and, in turn, inspiredSpider-Man: Octo-Girl.It’s a full circle moment. Spider-Man transcends both time and culture. Like Stan Lee once said, “anyone can wear the mask.” People look atSpider-Manwith awe, knowing that he could be their friend or neighbor, a concept that is heavily present inMy Hero Academia,Vigilantes, and, of course,Spider-Man: Octo-Girl, which is available now from Viz Media.
Source:ComicBook
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a multimedia franchise that follows a young boy named Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without superpowers. These superpowers, known as “Quirks” are found in most people after birth, but Izuku wasn’t so lucky - until a fateful encounter with All Might, Japan’s greatest hero, Izuku inherits his Quirk and enrolls in U.A. High School to learn the true meaning of heroism. Alongside his classmates, each endowed with unique abilities, Izuku faces rigorous training and lethal threats from villainous forces.
