#joiirinaka

Overhaul Crew and Humarise Alliance in the MLA-Dark Might AU

Context and Setup

Humarise in the AU: Drawing from the World Heroes' Mission film and the HPSC’s darker operations (as seen in the provided document, pages 2-3), Humarise is reimagined as a clandestine faction within the Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC). Unlike their canon depiction as a global cult, this AU positions Humarise as a secret task force created by Madam President to counter Quirk-related threats through extreme measures. Their ideology aligns with Chisaki’s anti-Quirk stance, but they operate with HPSC resources, including advanced technology, covert agents, and access to global networks.

Trigger Event: After the Overhaul crew’s scuffle with the MLA-Dark Might alliance (as described in the prior conversation), their survival and public exposure of the Quirk-Destroying Drug draw Humarise’s attention. Scouts, posing as HPSC operatives, approach Chisaki in a neutral underworld hub, impressed by his ability to evade capture and his drug’s potential to neutralize Quirks.

Mutual Interests: Humarise seeks to weaponize Chisaki’s Quirk-Destroying Drug to trigger widespread Quirk loss, aligning with their mission to “purify” humanity. Chisaki sees Humarise’s resources and global reach as a means to scale his operations and counter the MLA-Dark Might alliance, which he views as a threat to his yakuza revival.

Formation of the Alliance

Initial Contact: Humarise scouts, led by a high-ranking agent codenamed “Purifier” (inspired by Flect Turn’s leadership style), meet Chisaki in a fortified Shie Hassaikai safehouse. Using intelligence gathered by Shin Nemoto’s Confession Quirk, Chisaki verifies their anti-Quirk ideology and HPSC backing. Purifier presents Humarise’s manifesto: Quirks are a genetic deviation destabilizing society, and their Trigger Bombs (explosives that amplify and destabilize Quirks, seen in World Heroes' Mission) complement Chisaki’s drug.

Negotiation: Chisaki, wary of being subordinated (as seen in his defiance of the MLA-Dark Might alliance), demands equal partnership. He offers the Quirk-Destroying Drug formula and Eri’s Rewind Quirk in exchange for Humarise’s funding, tech, and operatives. Humarise agrees, seeing Chisaki’s Overhaul Quirk and strategic mind as key to executing large-scale operations.

Agreement: The alliance is formalized with a shared goal: eradicate Quirks globally, dismantle hero society, and establish a new order (Chisaki’s yakuza dominance and Humarise’s “purified” humanity). They establish a joint command structure, with Chisaki leading field operations and Humarise handling logistics and intelligence.

Structure of the Overhaul-Humarise Alliance

Leadership

Kai Chisaki (Overhaul): Strategic mastermind and field commander. His Overhaul Quirk allows precise reconstruction of environments and bodies, making him ideal for surgical strikes and drug production. He insists on controlling Eri and the drug’s development.

Purifier (Humarise Leader): A pragmatic strategist inspired by Flect Turn, wielding a Reflect Quirk (redirecting attacks) and HPSC resources. Purifier coordinates global operations and ensures HPSC cover for the alliance’s actions.

Shared Command: Decisions are made jointly, with Chisaki focusing on Japan’s underworld and Humarise targeting international hero networks. Disagreements are resolved through Nemoto’s Confession to ensure trust.

Key Members

Shie Hassaikai:

Shin Nemoto (Confession): Extracts secrets from captives, ensuring loyalty within the alliance and exposing MLA or hero plans.

Rikiya Katsukame (Vitality Stealing): Enhanced by Humarise’s Quirk amplifiers, he weakens enemies in combat, complementing Trigger Bomb chaos.

Joi Irinaka (Mimic): Manipulates environments for ambushes and escapes, synergizing with Humarise’s tech-driven traps.

Eri: Her Rewind Quirk is exploited to produce Quirk-Destroying Drugs, with Humarise providing advanced containment to secure her.

Eight Bullets: Enhanced with Humarise tech (e.g., Quirk-boosting implants), they serve as elite enforcers.

Humarise:

Field Agents: Covert operatives trained by the HPSC, skilled in espionage and sabotage, posing as heroes or civilians.

Tech Specialists: Develop Trigger Bombs and Quirk-neutralizing devices, adapting Chisaki’s drug for mass deployment (e.g., aerosolized versions).

Global Operatives: Recruited from international HPSC branches, they target hero academies and agencies abroad, spreading the drug’s influence.

Resources

Quirk-Destroying Drug: Refined with Humarise’s tech to increase potency and scalability, allowing deployment via bombs or injections.

Trigger Bombs: Humarise’s explosives overload Quirks, causing chaos that the Overhaul crew exploits to distribute their drug.

HPSC Funding: Madam President (per the document, page 3) covertly funnels resources to Humarise, believing their actions serve society’s stability by countering Quirk escalation.

Black-Market Networks: Chisaki’s yakuza contacts, combined with Humarise’s global reach (inspired by their canon international cells), secure rare materials and intelligence.

Safehouses: Jointly operated bases in Japan and abroad, fortified with Mimic’s Quirk and Humarise’s surveillance tech.

Operations and Tactics

Phase 1: Testing and Sabotage:

Objective: Weaken hero society and the MLA-Dark Might alliance by targeting key figures and infrastructure.

Tactics: The Overhaul crew launches precision strikes on hero agencies, using Mimic to trap heroes and Katsukame to drain their vitality. Humarise deploys Trigger Bombs to destabilize Quirks, framing the MLA for the chaos. Nemoto extracts intel from captured heroes, exposing MLA plans.

Example: An attack on UA’s training facilities combines aerosolized Quirk-Destroying Drugs with Trigger Bombs, temporarily neutralizing Class 1-A’s Quirks and sowing public fear. Chisaki escapes via Mimic’s environmental control, while Humarise agents cover their tracks with HPSC influence.

Phase 2: Global Expansion:

Objective: Spread Quirk-Destroying Drugs worldwide, targeting hero-heavy regions like the U.S. and Europe.

Tactics: Humarise’s global operatives distribute the drug through black-market channels, while Chisaki’s crew trains local yakuza allies to administer it. Trigger Bombs are used in major cities to amplify Quirk chaos, justifying the drug as a “cure.” HPSC cover stories blame villains like the MLA.

Example: In New York, a Trigger Bomb detonates during a hero convention, followed by Overhaul operatives distributing the drug as a “safety measure.” Humarise agents manipulate media to paint heroes as unreliable.

Phase 3: Confronting the MLA-Dark Might Alliance:

Objective: Eliminate the MLA-Dark Might alliance as a rival, exploiting their Quirk-worshipping ideology.

Tactics: Chisaki and Purifier orchestrate a multi-pronged assault on Deika City, the MLA’s stronghold. Mimic collapses buildings, Katsukame weakens Re-Destro’s forces, and Humarise’s Trigger Bombs overload MLA Quirks, causing internal chaos. Nemoto’s Confession exposes Dark Might’s weaknesses, allowing Chisaki to target him surgically with Overhaul.

Outcome: The alliance survives but is severely weakened, with Re-Destro’s Stress Quirk neutralized by the drug and Dark Might’s unstable power disrupted by Trigger Bombs. Chisaki and Humarise escape using HPSC evacuation protocols.

Dynamics and Synergies

Ideological Alignment: Both groups view Quirks as a societal curse, but Chisaki’s yakuza-driven pragmatism (reviving the Shie Hassaikai) complements Humarise’s ideological zeal (purifying humanity). This shared vision ensures cooperation, though Chisaki’s ambition to dominate occasionally clashes with Purifier’s HPSC loyalty.

Operational Synergy: The Overhaul crew’s precision (Mimic’s traps, Nemoto’s intel) pairs with Humarise’s scale (Trigger Bombs, global reach). Chisaki’s drug neutralizes Quirks permanently, while Humarise’s bombs create temporary chaos, creating a one-two punch.

Trust and Tension: Nemoto’s Confession ensures transparency, preventing betrayal. However, Chisaki’s refusal to be subordinate (as seen in prior MLA-Dark Might talks) creates friction when Humarise pushes HPSC agendas. Purifier mitigates this by deferring to Chisaki’s tactical expertise.

Eri’s Role: Humarise’s tech enhances Eri’s containment, increasing drug production but raising ethical concerns among some HPSC agents (mirroring Madam President’s conflicted stance on corruption, page 2). Chisaki’s ruthless exploitation of Eri solidifies his control but risks alienating softer Humarise members.

Impact on the AU Narrative

Escalated Threat: The Overhaul-Humarise alliance creates a unified anti-Quirk front, surpassing the MLA-Dark Might alliance in coordination and resources. Their ability to neutralize Quirks threatens hero society’s foundation, forcing heroes like Izuku Midoriya and All Might to adapt strategically.

Hero Society Response: The HPSC’s covert support (per Madam President’s morally dubious decisions, page 2) complicates hero investigations, as Humarise operates under official cover. Heroes like Hawks, already tasked with infiltration (page 3), face divided loyalties when uncovering HPSC’s role.

MLA-Dark Might Rivalry: The alliance’s attacks weaken the MLA-Dark Might coalition, exposing Re-Destro’s reliance on Quirks and Dark Might’s instability. This creates a three-way conflict, with heroes caught between two anti-hero factions.

Character Arcs:

Izuku Midoriya: Faces a personal crisis as the Quirk-Destroying Drug threatens One For All, pushing him to rely on strategy and teamwork (as seen in prior arcs like the Forest Training Camp).

Katsuki Bakugo: His pride in his Explosion Quirk fuels his rage against the alliance, driving him to counter Trigger Bombs with precise blasts.

Shoto Todoroki: Uses his dual Quirk to resist drug effects, balancing fire and ice to protect allies from Humarise’s chaos.

Ochaco Uraraka: Her empathy (noted in prior conversations, June 29, 2025) drives her to rescue Eri, clashing with Chisaki’s exploitation.

All Might: Grapples with the HPSC’s corruption (mirroring his canon distrust, page 3), rallying heroes to expose Humarise’s ties.

Thematic Depth: The alliance amplifies themes of control vs. freedom (Chisaki’s yakuza order vs. MLA’s liberation), morality vs. pragmatism (Humarise’s HPSC backing vs. their extremist actions), and sacrifice (Eri’s suffering vs. hero resolve). It challenges the value of Quirks, echoing prior discussions on Quirk restrictions (July 23, 2025).

Comparison to The Light (Young Justice)

Drawing from the document’s description of The Light (pages 5-17), the Overhaul-Humarise alliance mirrors their structure as a sophisticated, ideologically driven villain group. Like The Light’s seven-member council (Vandal Savage, Lex Luthor, etc.), the alliance operates with a tight leadership (Chisaki, Purifier) and specialized roles (Nemoto as intelligence, Katsukame as muscle). Both groups employ pragmatic villainy (e.g., The Light’s avoidance of hero family attacks, page 10; Chisaki’s calculated escapes) and manipulate heroes into serving their goals (Humarise’s HPSC cover parallels The Light’s public faces like Lex Luthor, page 9). However, Overhaul-Humarise is more ideologically unified (anti-Quirk vs. The Light’s diverse motives) but less globally ambitious, focusing on Quirk eradication rather than galactic dominance.

Challenges and Future Conflicts

Internal Strains: Chisaki’s ambition to dominate the post-Quirk world risks clashing with Humarise’s HPSC ties, especially if Madam President (killed in the Paranormal Liberation War, page 4) is succeeded by a less sympathetic leader like Yokumiru Mera.

Hero Counterattacks: Hawks’ infiltration skills (page 3) and prior knowledge of HPSC corruption could expose the alliance, especially if he uncovers Humarise’s role. UA students, trained for war (page 2), may target Eri’s rescue, disrupting drug production.

MLA-Dark Might Retaliation: Re-Destro and Dark Might, weakened but not defeated, may ally with other villains (e.g., minor yakuza or international syndicates) to counter the alliance, escalating the underworld conflict.

Eri’s Liberation: Eri’s Rewind Quirk remains a linchpin. If heroes free her (as in the canon Hideout Raid), the alliance’s drug production collapses, forcing them to rely on Trigger Bombs and risking overextension.

Conclusion

First Confrontation: Overhaul Crew vs. MLA-Dark Might Alliance

Setup and Context

Location: An abandoned industrial district in Musutafu, a neutral territory where criminal factions meet to negotiate black-market deals. The area is littered with derelict factories, rusted machinery, and narrow alleyways, ideal for ambushes and escapes.

Timing: Early in the AU timeline, shortly after the Overhaul crew begins distributing their prototype Quirk-Destroying Drug, drawing the attention of the MLA-Dark Might alliance, who see Chisaki’s operation as a potential asset or threat.

Trigger: The MLA, led by Re-Destro, and Dark Might arrange a meeting with Kai Chisaki to propose an alliance, expecting him to join their cause or submit as a subordinate. Chisaki, however, views their Quirk-worshipping ideology as an affront to his goal of eradicating Quirks and restoring yakuza dominance. Initial negotiations turn hostile when Chisaki refuses to bow to their authority.

Key Players

Overhaul Crew (Shie Hassaikai)

Kai Chisaki (Overhaul): Leader, wielding his Overhaul Quirk to deconstruct and reconstruct matter. His strategic mind drives the crew’s tactics, aiming to outmaneuver rather than overpower.

Shin Nemoto (Confession): Uses his Quirk to extract truths, providing real-time intelligence by interrogating captured MLA operatives during the fight.

Rikiya Katsukame (Vitality Stealing): Enhanced by black-market Quirk amplifiers, he drains enemy stamina to weaken MLA fighters and Dark Might’s minions.

Joi Irinaka (Mimic): Manipulates the environment by possessing objects, reshaping the battlefield to trap enemies and facilitate escape.

Eight Bullets (Supporting): Other members, like Sakaki Deidoro (Sloshed), provide distractions with their Quirks, sowing chaos to cover the crew’s movements.

MLA-Dark Might Alliance

Re-Destro (Rikiya Yotsubashi): MLA leader, using his Stress Quirk to amplify his strength as the fight escalates. He seeks to absorb Chisaki’s operation into the MLA.

Dark Might: A narcissistic, power-obsessed villain wielding a corrupted version of One For All-like abilities (stockpiled strength and speed, but unstable). He views Chisaki as a potential subordinate or rival to crush.

Skeptic (Tomoyasu Chikazoku): Deploys surveillance drones and hacked systems to track the Overhaul crew, feeding data to MLA fighters.

Geten: An MLA elite with Cryokinesis, creating ice barriers and attacks to control the battlefield.

MLA Operatives and Dark Might’s Minions: A mix of MLA soldiers with diverse Quirks (e.g., hardening, telekinesis) and Dark Might’s enhanced thugs, outnumbering the Overhaul crew but less coordinated.

The Fight: From Scuffle to Conflict

Phase 1: Tense Negotiations and Initial Clash

Setting the Scene: The meeting takes place in a dilapidated warehouse. Chisaki arrives with Nemoto, Katsukame, and Mimic, while the rest of the Eight Bullets are positioned nearby. Re-Destro and Dark Might, flanked by Geten, Skeptic, and operatives, demand Chisaki hand over his Quirk-Destroying Drug formula and pledge loyalty.

Breaking Point: Chisaki rejects their offer, declaring Quirks a “plague” and the MLA-Dark Might vision a “delusion.” Dark Might, enraged by the insult, lunges with a super-speed punch, which Chisaki dodges by deconstructing the floor beneath him, collapsing it into rubble.

Scuffle Begins: Katsukame charges into MLA operatives, draining their vitality to slow their attacks. Nemoto uses Confession on a captured operative, revealing Skeptic’s drone positions. Mimic possesses the warehouse walls, causing them to buckle and disorient the enemy. The Overhaul crew’s precision catches the alliance off-guard, but Dark Might’s raw power and Geten’s ice attacks force them to scatter.

Phase 2: Ideological Clash and Escalation

Chisaki’s Defiance: Chisaki rebuilds the rubble into spiked barriers using Overhaul, trapping MLA operatives and taunting Re-Destro’s Quirk supremacy as “mindless worship.” Re-Destro, stressed by Chisaki’s defiance, bulks up with his Stress Quirk, smashing through barriers and closing in.

Dark Might’s Aggression: Dark Might, refusing to let Re-Destro take the lead, unleashes a shockwave that levels part of the warehouse, nearly hitting his own allies. Chisaki exploits the chaos, deconstructing debris to create a smokescreen and ordering Mimic to manipulate the surrounding factory walls into a maze-like trap.

MLA Counterattack: Geten freezes the maze’s pathways, slowing the Overhaul crew, while Skeptic’s drones pinpoint their movements. MLA operatives with ranged Quirks (e.g., telekinetic projectiles) bombard Katsukame, forcing him to retreat. Nemoto extracts more secrets, revealing Dark Might’s unstable Quirk limits, which Chisaki files away for future use.

Phase 3: Overhaul Crew’s Survival and Escape

Turning the Tide: Chisaki, recognizing the numerical disadvantage, shifts to survival. He uses Overhaul to fuse debris into a massive golem-like structure, distracting Dark Might and Re-Destro. Katsukame drains vitality from Geten, weakening his ice attacks, while Nemoto sows doubt among MLA operatives by shouting their confessed secrets, causing hesitation.

Mimic’s Gambit: Mimic possesses an adjacent factory’s machinery, triggering a chain reaction of collapsing structures and steam explosions to cover the crew’s retreat. Chisaki deconstructs a wall to create an escape route, carrying Eri (kept hidden until now) to ensure her safety.

Final Stand: Dark Might pursues, but Chisaki reconstructs the ground into spikes, slowing him. Re-Destro, enraged, smashes the spikes but is delayed by Mimic’s collapsing factory. The Overhaul crew slips into the alleyways, using pre-planned escape routes scouted by Nemoto’s intelligence.

Aftermath: The MLA-Dark Might alliance regroups, realizing Chisaki’s refusal to submit and his anti-Quirk ideology make him a dangerous rival. The Overhaul crew escapes with minimal losses, though Katsukame is injured. Chisaki vows to destroy both the MLA and Dark Might, seeing their Quirks as the ultimate disease.

Dynamics and Themes

Ideological Rift: Chisaki’s anti-Quirk crusade directly opposes the MLA’s liberation and Dark Might’s power obsession, setting up a three-way conflict that destabilizes the criminal underworld. This rift forces heroes to contend with multiple threats later.

Precision vs. Power: The Overhaul crew’s surgical tactics (Mimic’s traps, Nemoto’s intelligence, Chisaki’s Quirk control) contrast with the alliance’s brute force (Dark Might’s shockwaves, Re-Destro’s strength), highlighting Chisaki’s strategic edge despite being outnumbered.

Eri’s Role: Chisaki’s protection of Eri during the escape underscores her value to his plans, foreshadowing her exploitation in the Quirk-Destroying Drug’s production.

Mutual Underestimation: The MLA-Dark Might alliance underestimates Chisaki’s resolve, expecting him to fold like other criminals. Chisaki, in turn, underestimates Dark Might’s raw power, prompting him to seek stronger allies or enhancements in future arcs.

Theme of Control: Chisaki’s refusal to submit reflects his obsession with controlling society’s Quirk “disease,” while the MLA-Dark Might alliance’s demand for loyalty exposes their own control issues, setting up future betrayals within their ranks.

Impact on the AU

Overhaul’s Survival: The crew’s escape, facilitated by Mimic’s environmental control and Chisaki’s Quirk, establishes them as a persistent threat. Their survival forces the MLA-Dark Might alliance to divert resources to hunt them, creating openings for heroes to exploit.

Alliance Tension: Dark Might’s reckless attacks and Re-Destro’s frustration highlight cracks in their partnership, foreshadowing internal conflicts that weaken their hold on the underworld.

Hero Society’s Response: The fight’s aftermath leaks to the public via Skeptic’s hacked footage, edited to frame heroes as unable to stop the rising criminal tide. This boosts demand for Chisaki’s Quirk-Destroying Drug among fearful civilians, escalating societal unrest.

Chisaki’s Evolution: The close call prompts Chisaki to accelerate his drug production and seek new allies (e.g., minor yakuza factions or black-market Quirk dealers), setting up his role as a recurring antagonist.

Conclusion

Mimic was cool because his powers work differently than one would think—of a different sort than Mirio's. His Quirk lets him inhabit any non-living thing he can touch (things up to the size of a fridge normally, things up to the size of a large building section with a Quirk booster). Along with being able to control it like his own body, he's also capable of freely moving around inside whatever he's inhabiting. His Quirk has little to do with mimicry and more to do with animating inanimate objects. The reason for the name seems to be that he makes the objects he inhabits act like the Mimic monsters from fantasy games.

Joi Irinaka (Mimic) vs. Katsuki Bakugou: A Deep-Dive Comparison

Joi Irinaka, aka Mimic, and Katsuki Bakugou share a striking number of similarities that make fans do a double-take, but their differences reveal two characters on opposite trajectories in the My Hero Academia universe. Below is a long analysis comparing their designs, personalities, Quirks, roles, and thematic purposes, emphasizing why they feel like warped mirrors of each other.

Visual Design: Blond Delinquents with a Snarl Mimic and Bakugou could pass for cousins at first glance. Both sport spiky ash-blond hair, a hallmark of their aggressive personas. Their sharp, angular facial features—pointed noses, square jaws, and near-permanent scowls—scream “don’t mess with me.” Mimic’s olive-green eyes (especially when enraged) are close enough to Bakugou’s red-orange glare to feel intentional. Mimic’s goatee and Yakuza-style dress shirt with suspenders contrast Bakugou’s modern hero costume, but both lean into a “tough guy” aesthetic. Horikoshi clearly designed Mimic to echo Bakugou visually, likely to mess with fans when Mimic unmasked in chapter 132.

Personality: Rage as a Defining Trait Both characters are defined by explosive tempers that dominate their every interaction. Mimic loses all sense of strategy when Himiko Toga and Twice taunt him, screaming about crushing them and exposing his position. Bakugou similarly flies off the handle when provoked, like during his early fights with Deku or when mocked by peers. They share a volatile mix of inferiority and superiority complexes—Mimic believes the Yakuza are destined to rule the shadows again, while Bakugou is obsessed with being the undisputed #1 hero. Both lash out when disrespected, and their loud, vulgar speech patterns (Mimic’s rants about the Yakuza’s revival, Bakugou’s constant insults) make them feel like they’re shouting from the same script.

Personality Divergence: Growth vs. Stagnation Despite their shared rage, their motivations and arcs couldn’t be more different. Bakugou’s anger stems from a burning desire to surpass everyone and prove his worth, but he evolves—learning to work with others, respect Deku, and channel his fury into heroism. Mimic, by contrast, is stuck in a delusional fantasy of reviving a dead Yakuza era, loyal to Overhaul and a comatose boss. Where Bakugou uses mockery as fuel to improve, Mimic lets it destroy him, as seen when Toga’s insults make him abandon his stealth advantage. Bakugou’s pride is forward-looking (his potential as a hero), while Mimic’s is backward-looking (a lost criminal empire). Bakugou is a prodigy fighting for the future; Mimic is a has-been raging against obsolescence.

Quirk Comparison: Power vs. Control Their Quirks reflect their personalities but highlight their different approaches. Bakugou’s Explosion is raw, direct, and devastating, letting him blast through obstacles with sweat-fueled blasts. It’s versatile for offense, mobility, and even precision attacks as he refines it. Mimic’s Mimicry lets him merge with and control objects (originally up to refrigerator size), making him a master of stealth and environmental manipulation. With the Quirk-enhancing drug Trigger, he can dominate entire structures, like twisting the Shie Hassaikai’s underground tunnels. Bakugou’s Quirk is about overwhelming force; Mimic’s is about cunning and surprise. However, Bakugou constantly innovates (e.g., AP Shot, Howitzer Impact), while Mimic relies on the same trick (hide, manipulate, attack). Mimic’s Trigger dependency also mirrors his desperation, unlike Bakugou’s self-reliant growth.

Quirk Limitations and Weaknesses Bakugou’s Explosion is limited by his sweat production and recoil damage, but he trains to overcome these, pushing his body to new heights. Mimic’s Mimicry is initially capped at smaller objects, and even with Trigger, he’s vulnerable once exposed—Shota Aizawa’s Erasure shuts him down instantly. Mimic’s biggest weakness is his temper; he can’t resist reacting to taunts, which lets Izuku pinpoint him. Bakugou, while also hot-headed, learns to stay focused under pressure, especially post-Sports Festival. Mimic’s Quirk makes him a one-trick pony without the drug, while Bakugou’s versatility keeps him a top-tier combatant.

Role in the Story: Foil and Mirror Mimic and Bakugou serve as foils, highlighting what Bakugou could have become without growth. Mimic is a tertiary antagonist in the Shie Hassaikai Arc, a loyal cog in Overhaul’s machine, driven by a futile dream of Yakuza dominance. His role is to obstruct the heroes (Nighteye’s raid team) and show the Shie Hassaikai’s desperation. Bakugou, a main character, is a hero-in-training whose arc is about overcoming his flaws to become a true successor to All Might. Mimic’s loyalty to Overhaul parallels Bakugou’s early obsession with being the best, but where Mimic doubles down on a toxic cause, Bakugou redirects his passion toward saving others. Mimic’s defeat—knocked out by Nighteye’s seal after Toga baits him—shows his inability to change, while Bakugou’s victories (like rescuing Deku in the Final War) prove his evolution.

Thematic Purpose: Pride and Its Consequences Both characters embody pride, but their stories explore its different outcomes. Mimic’s pride in the Yakuza’s “glory days” blinds him to their extinction, making him a tragic figure who can’t let go. His rant to Toga and Twice about the Yakuza’s revival is pathetic because it’s so clearly impossible. Bakugou’s pride, while initially toxic, becomes a strength as he learns humility and teamwork. Mimic represents the danger of clinging to a dead past, a theme central to the Shie Hassaikai Arc (Overhaul’s obsession with erasing Quirks to restore Yakuza power). Bakugou represents the potential for growth, even in the most stubborn people, a core theme of MHA’s optimism.

Combat Style and Narrative Impact In battle, Mimic is a schemer, using Mimicry to manipulate the battlefield from the shadows. He separates the heroes, traps them in tunnels, and protects Toga and Twice, but his emotional fragility undoes him. Bakugou is a frontline brawler, charging in with explosions and adapting on the fly. Mimic’s defeat is a minor plot point, quickly overshadowed by Overhaul’s fight, while Bakugou’s battles (like against Shigaraki or in the Final War) are pivotal to the story. Mimic’s role is to show the Yakuza’s fading relevance; Bakugou’s is to show heroism’s future.

Speculation: Why the Similarities? Horikoshi likely made Mimic resemble Bakugou to create a “what-if” scenario. If Bakugou had been born in a different era, with no hero system to channel his aggression, could he have ended up like Mimic—a angry, loyal thug serving a lost cause? Fans also speculate Mimic was a visual gag, with Horikoshi trolling readers by giving a minor villain Bakugou’s face. There’s no evidence they’re related, but the resemblance fuels crack theories about Mimic being a distant cousin or alternate-universe Bakugou gone wrong.