Analysis & Speculation on Ethan Drive
Who he is (Canon):
Full name: Ethan Drive (イーサン・ドライブ)
Age 53 (current, post-timeskip), 6'3", black buzz-cut, gray eyes, mustache, built like a tank.
U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, callsign “Bravo Leader”
Commander of the elite squadron that was permanently assigned to support America’s No. 1 hero, Cathleen Bate — Star and Stripe.
Basically her personal air wing: they flew the X-66 Pegasus supersonic bombers/fighters that carried her into battle and provided fire support with precision lasers.
One of the very few people Star and Stripe truly trusted and considered family. They had a decades-long bond; he and the squadron watched her grow from an insecure 18-year-old recruit into the strongest hero on the planet.
He used to beat teenage Cathleen in hand-to-hand sparring (no Quirks allowed). She eventually surpassed him physically, but he was genuinely proud.
During the Star and Stripe vs. Shigaraki fight (chapters 330–333), Ethan and the squadron disobeyed direct orders from the U.S. government to stand down, flew into Japanese airspace anyway, and provided close air support until Shigaraki stole New Order and obliterated most of the jets.
Ethan himself told Star that if her final plan required vaporizing him along with Shigaraki, she had his full permission — he was ready to die with her. She couldn’t bring herself to do it.
After Star’s death, Ethan (as the surviving senior officer) personally delivered every scrap of data they recorded on “Tomura Shigaraki”/All For One to All Might and the Japanese heroes. That data became critical for planning the Final War.
Current job/role after Star and Stripe’s death (as of the latest manga chapters in 2025):
Still active-duty U.S. Air Force, still Bravo Leader of the remaining squadron.
The U.S. military and government now treat the Shigaraki/All For One threat as a global extinction-level event, so Ethan’s unit has effectively become part of the international coalition supporting Japan.
He and his pilots are stationed at the joint command center seen in the Final War arc, providing real-time air/space reconnaissance, satellite targeting, and (when needed) stand-off precision strikes using the rebuilt/next-gen X-66 jets.
He is the de facto liaison between the U.S. military and Japan’s heroes — whenever we see American jets or drones assisting Deku & co. in the sky, it’s almost certainly Ethan’s squadron.
Horikoshi has repeatedly drawn him in the background of the Final War command room panels, still wearing his flight suit, coordinating with Tsukauchi, Nezu, and the U.S. general.
Speculation & Theories:
He might get one last on-screen moment flying close air support during the very end of the Final War (Horikoshi loves him and has said so in volume notes).
Some fans think he could sacrifice himself and the squadron in a kamikaze-style laser barrage to create an opening for Deku in the absolute final battle.
Very small theory that his Quirk (if he has one — never confirmed) is something minor but combat useful, like perfect spatial awareness or enhanced reflexes, which is why he’s such an ace pilot.
He is basically the American equivalent of Crust or Midnight — a high-ranking pro who was personally closest to the fallen No. 1 and now carries her will.
In short: Ethan Drive is the commander of Star and Stripe’s personal air force squadron and, even after her death, remains one of the most important military allies the Japanese heroes have in the sky. Also they helped Izuku and co. alot during this...
