#otheon

Something I'm really curious about in the My Hero world is how Quirk laws work in other countries because it is simply not possible for anything Quirk-related to be completely universal across the globe.

Are there nations that don't allow hero training until an individual is eighteen years old, therefore making it a college-level degree?

Are there nations where the practice of professional heroes is not a thing but Quirk usage by law enforcement is?

Are there nations where women are not allowed to use Quirks/be Pro Heroes?

Aside from Humarise, are there other cults or even major religions that took a stance to say Quirks are unnatural? Do major religions have denominations that disagree and say Quirks are part of their deity's grand design.

Are there nations that banned Quirks entirely and focused their efforts on anti-meta human countermeasures?

Other worldbuilding headcanons I have:

Otheon: I think the Otheon/Klayd island was originally created by one or more heroes to be a ceasefire zone where Quirkless refugees found safety in the growing chaos of the new reality.

Otheon Analysis

Overview

Otheon is a fictional European country introduced in My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission. Located on an egg-shaped island in the Celtic Sea, it neighbors Klayd and serves as the headquarters for Humarise, a villainous organization aiming to eradicate Quirks. Influenced by French, Spanish, and Portuguese cultures, Otheon uses English as its official language and the Euro as its currency.

Location and Structure

Location: Situated at the southwestern rim of the Celtic Sea, Otheon is a mountainous nation with grasslands and forests, becoming barren near the Klayd border. Its coastal position along the Bay of Biscay enhances its strategic importance.

Main City: The capital is a prosperous, tourist-friendly city with European-style architecture, featuring boulevards, public squares, and the iconic Otheon Towers. It includes administrative buildings, the Otheon Police HQ, the Team Standby Hotel, and the Humarise Otheon branch, with public transport systems like subways and trams.

Shanty Town: Across the river lies a slum area with densely packed, low-quality housing, high crime, and minimal hero presence. The nearby Otheon Airport is a key logistical hub.

Strategic Importance

Humarise Hub: The Humarise Otheon branch is central to the organization’s global Quirk-destroying plot, making the city a focal point for the heroes’ mission.

Social Divide: The contrast between the affluent Main City and the neglected Shanty Town highlights societal inequalities, with the latter’s residents, like Rody Soul, playing key roles in the narrative.

Infrastructure: The city’s modern amenities and landmarks facilitate both hero operations and Humarise’s covert activities, with the airport and bridge being critical to the plot.

Narrative Role

World Heroes' Mission: Otheon is the primary setting for the heroes’ battle against Humarise, with key locations like the Otheon Towers, Police HQ, and Shanty Town hosting major events. Rody Soul’s involvement bridges the city’s social divides.

Symbolism: The Main City represents wealth and power, while the Shanty Town reflects neglect, with the suspension bridge symbolizing potential unity through heroic intervention.

Key Events: The heroes’ mission to stop Humarise’s bomb plot culminates in battles across the city, dismantling the villainous organization and highlighting Otheon’s global significance.

Current Status

Post-World Heroes' Mission, Otheon remains a functioning nation, with the Humarise branch likely dismantled. The Main City continues to thrive, while the Shanty Town may see improvements due to increased hero focus, though long-term changes are unspecified.

Cultural Context

Some people thought it was French, due to there actually being a place in Paris called Othon.

There were a few that were heavily advocating that Otheon was in Greece due to some of the buildings seen in the trailer. (Even though a lot of Europe has that style lmao)

I personally was on Team Germany because there wasn’t any of the other heroes going to Germany in any of the announcements. I also had some hope for Italy- again for the same reasons.

So I'm having fun speculating on the culture, history, and geography of Otheon and Klayd. Because it was 2am when I started writing this and I had nothing better to do, so here's an analysis no one asked for.

Otheon and Klayd are two nations that share an island located between Ireland and the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. The island is slightly bigger than Ireland and based on its location...well, anybody who's looked at a map knows there's no land mass that big there. Everything else in the series indicates My Hero is our world if people spontaneously started getting superpowers set in the near future of early to mid-2100s.

The simplest explanation available is we're just looking at an alternate universe where there is a large island in the Celtic Sea.

Or!

New islands are created naturally a variety of ways.

Volcanic activity

Glacial retreat

Growth from ocean sandbars

Sediment from river deltas

But these processes take longer than a hundred years, and sometimes new islands aren't even permanent. Hawaii was formed via volcanic activity over the course of millions of years. Ireland (formed by tectonic plate movement) is also four times the size of Hawaii, so it's highly unlikely the larger Otheon/Klayd island formed and grew to its size naturally.

...

My headcanon is in the early days of Quirks, a bunch of guys with lava-Quirks and other geology-related powers got high and created it for no reason other than just to see if they could do it. Because humans are really determined to do pointless shit sometimes.

"Yo, what if we just created a fuckin' island, bro! Let's gooo!"

Alternatively, a villain with a similar Quirk could have created the island for the purposes of having a really conspicuous lair.

"How did you discover my secret lair?"

"It's the size of Ireland, dumbass!"

Assuming the Otheon/Klayd island is manmade (and created by one or more persons acting independently of any existing nation), it's location makes things interesting.

Here's Otheon/Klayd's location.

And here's an approximate map of the maritime waters of western Europe. (Approximate because I pulled this off of Google images and have no idea how accurate it is.) As you can see, Otheon/Klayd could be just far enough away from everyone else or just enough in everyone's space that there can be no obvious claim.

Because you know Spain, Portugal, the UK, Ireland, and France all probably did what nations do best: Took one look and the new spit of land and said, "Hey. That's ours."

If we do an overlay of the map, and allow some liberty under the assumption the animation team did not draw the European map 100% perfectly accurate or the boundary was changed by My Hero's 22nd Century, Otheon and Klayd's shared border could be an extension of the Irish/UK maritime border.

Since we know the Trigger bomb was in Rody's home city, we can tell the larger northwestern country is Klayd and the smaller southeast one is Otheon. Taking into account the maritime border, it'd be interesting if Klayd was or still is an Irish territory.

So who claimed Otheon?

Otheon's main city seems to be based on Lisbon, so I guess Portugal won that debate on who got Otheon? And built an identical bridge? I don't know. Admittedly the bridge is not concrete evidence, but based on the architecture, there is definitely a Spanish/Portuguese/general Mediterranean influence. And French. So one of those nations could claimed Otheon based on proximity.

But Otheon and Klayd appear to be independent nations, not part of anyone else. So now I'm imagining some country colonized an uninhabited new island only for those colonists to say, "Nope," and declared independence in under a hundred years.

But setting everything I've written above aside because it all is just wild speculation, the headcanon that I like the most regarding Otheon is the island was created by some hero or group of heroes during the early days of Quirks and it started off as a refuge/ceasefire zone for civilians hoping to escape the chaos of the new reality. Especially since Quirkless people were more common in those days, seeking shelter in a world where people are starting to have powers that can range from a minor inconvenience to god-like destruction would have been a dire need. As a result, the Quirkless population of Otheon and Klayd is much higher compared to other nations.

After society got itself re-stabilized, the island was officially established as a new territory with its two independent nations.

Were Humarise Right About the Quirk Singularity?

Humarise's ideology in My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission hinged on the Quirk Singularity Doomsday Theory (also called Paranormal Singularity Theory). They believed Quirks would evolve uncontrollably, dooming humanity, justifying their genocidal purge of Quirk users.

Canon confirms the theory is partially correct, but Humarise exaggerated the "doomsday" inevitability and used it hypocritically to fuel terrorism.

Points Where Humarise Was Right

The core phenomenon—Quirks growing stronger, more complex, and harder to control across generations—is proven true in the manga:

Generational Evolution: Quirks blend and amplify. Children often surpass parents (e.g., remedial course kids overpowering pros in mock battles). Dr. Garaki's theory, once fringe, shows early signs in the fourth generation.

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Visual explanations of the Quirk Singularity theory from the manga.

Uncontrollable Examples: Eri's Rewind accidentally erased her father; young children manifest volatile powers early.

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Eri's uncontrollable Rewind Quirk as a child.

Peak Proof: Tomura Shigaraki's mutations (hundreds of fingers sprouting, body adapting defensively) are explicitly tied to reaching "beyond the Singularity." All For One and Garaki confirm bodies can morph to handle power, but it risks loss of control.

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Tomura Shigaraki's grotesque mutations embodying Singularity-level adaptation.

Humarise correctly identified rising Quirk power and control issues as a societal threat.

Points Where Humarise Was Wrong

Not Inevitable Doomsday — The manga shows humanity adapts. Bodies evolve biologically (Shigaraki's changes), and society responds via Quirk counseling programs (expanded in the epilogue, led by heroes like Ochaco Uraraka and Tsuyu to help children with uncontrollable Quirks). No total extinction occurs; society manages it through education, support, and tech (e.g., Deku's data-gathering suit).

Hypocrisy and Projection — Flect Turn blamed his uncontrollable Reflect Quirk for personal isolation, projecting it universally. Humarise relied on Quirk users (e.g., Beros, Serpenters) and killed innocents (including Quirkless), contradicting their "salvation" claims. Deku notes the theory lacks full proof at the movie's time, and their genocide would cause more chaos than prevent it.

Manga Resolution — The epilogue (Chapters 425–431+) addresses strains subtly: counseling expansion, reduced villainy, hopeful society. The "doomsday" is averted through empathy and reform, not purge. Many fans view full exploration as underdeveloped, but the tone rejects apocalyptic inevitability.

Verdict

Humarise was right about the Quirk Singularity phenomenon occurring (evolution, increasing complexity, control challenges)—validated by canon events like Shigaraki's mutations and epilogue counseling needs.

Otheon (MHA) Analysis and Speculation

Geographic and Physical Analysis

Island Nation Characteristics

Celtic Sea location: Southwest rim positioning near major European powers

Size comparison: Slightly larger than Ireland (~70,000+ km²) total, shared with Klayd

Smaller partner: The lesser of two nations on the shared landmass

Bay of Biscay coastline: Atlantic access providing maritime connectivity

Mountainous terrain: Diverse landscape from mountains to grasslands and forests

Border Geography

Barren borderlands: Landscape becomes more desolate near Klayd border

Environmental degradation: Possible resource depletion or territorial disputes

Strategic implications: Harsh border conditions may indicate historical conflicts

Natural barriers: Mountains potentially serving as defensive boundaries

Political and Economic Structure

European Integration

EU membership: Full integration with European Union systems

Euro currency: Economic alignment with continental Europe

Democratic governance: Implied by EU membership requirements

International cooperation: Participates in global hero coordination efforts

Economic Disparity

Wealth concentration: Prosperous main city contrasts with impoverished shanty towns

Tourism economy: Main city designed to attract international visitors

Income inequality: Stark divide between affluent and poor areas

Limited hero presence: Economic factors affecting superhero coverage

Cultural and Linguistic Identity

Multi-Cultural Influences

Latin heritage: French, Spanish, Portuguese cultural influences

English language: Official language despite Latin cultural elements

Colonial legacy: Possible historical connections to multiple European powers

Cultural fusion: Unique blend creating distinct national identity

European Character

Architecture: European-style buildings and urban planning

Infrastructure: Modern transportation systems (subway, trams)

Administrative centers: Government institutions and landmarks

Tourist appeal: International destination with recognizable attractions

Urban Development and Social Issues

Capital City Structure

River division: Physical barrier creating economic and social segregation

Suspension bridge: Connection point highlighting urban divide

Bisected society: Literal and metaphorical separation of classes

Transportation hub: Airport located near impoverished areas

Main City Prosperity

Tourist infrastructure: Boulevards, squares, pedestrian areas

Iconic landmarks: Otheon Towers as recognizable symbols

Government presence: Administrative buildings and institutions

Economic activity: Commercial and business centers

Shanty Town Problems

Urban poverty: Dense, low-quality housing conditions

Crime concentration: High criminal activity in neglected areas

Hero absence: Professional heroes avoid unprofitable areas

Infrastructure neglect: Limited services and poor living conditions

Hero Society and Law Enforcement

Economic Hero Model

Profit-driven deployment: Heroes concentrate in wealthy, profitable areas

Service inequality: Poor areas receive inadequate superhero protection

Social stratification: Hero society reflects and reinforces economic divisions

International presence: Foreign heroes operating during crises

Law Enforcement Challenges

Dual systems: Police and heroes operating in different areas

Resource allocation: Limited resources spread between competing priorities

Crime displacement: Criminal activity concentrated in unprotected zones

International cooperation: Working with global hero networks

Humarise and Villain Activity

Terrorist Organization Presence

Humarise branch: International anti-Quirk terrorist organization

Ideological appeal: Possibly exploiting economic and social tensions

Recruitment potential: Poverty and inequality creating vulnerable populations

Strategic location: European base for continental operations

Villain Ecosystem

Diverse threats: Various villain types operating in different areas

Economic motivation: Crime driven by poverty and inequality

International connections: Links to global villain networks

Social impact: Villains filling gaps left by absent heroes

Rody Soul and Family Dynamics

Socioeconomic Representation

Working-class hero: Rody represents ordinary citizens in hero society

Family responsibility: Supporting siblings in difficult circumstances

Economic pressure: Crime driven by financial necessity

Social mobility: Limited opportunities for advancement

Character Development Implications

International cooperation: Foreign heroes working with locals

Cultural exchange: Japanese heroes adapting to European context

Social awareness: Highlighting inequality in hero society

Personal growth: Overcoming circumstances through heroic ideals

Infrastructure and Modern Development

Transportation Systems

Public transit: Subway and tram networks in main city

International access: Airport facilities for global connectivity

Urban planning: European-style city development

Economic efficiency: Infrastructure supporting tourist economy

Architectural Identity

Otheon Towers: Iconic wavy skyscrapers as national symbols

European style: Buildings reflecting continental architectural traditions

Government facilities: Administrative and institutional buildings

Tourist attractions: Landmarks designed to attract visitors

Speculation on National Development

Historical Background

Colonial past: Multiple European influences suggest complex colonial history

Independence movement: Separation from Klayd indicates political evolution

EU integration: Modern European alignment and democratic development

Economic transition: From traditional to tourism-based economy

Future Challenges

Inequality reduction: Addressing stark wealth disparities

Hero reform: Improving superhero coverage in poor areas

Economic diversification: Reducing dependence on tourism

Border relations: Managing relationship with Klayd

International Relations and Geopolitics

European Role

EU representation: Voice in continental decision-making

Tourism economy: Economic ties with European partners

Security cooperation: Participation in international hero networks

Cultural exchange: Bridge between different European traditions

Island Diplomacy

Klayd relations: Managing shared island governance

Resource sharing: Cooperation over limited island resources

Border management: Peaceful coexistence on shared landmass

Maritime boundaries: Ocean territory agreements

Social Commentary and Themes

Economic Inequality

Hero society criticism: Professional heroes neglecting unprofitable areas

Class division: Physical separation reflecting social stratification

Opportunity gaps: Limited social mobility for disadvantaged populations

International perspective: Global issues reflected in local context

Cultural Identity

Multicultural fusion: Blending different European influences

Language choices: English adoption despite Latin cultural heritage

National symbols: Creating distinctive identity despite shared island

European integration: Balancing national and continental identity

Story and Narrative Implications

Setting Advantages

Economic disparity: Rich storytelling potential in class conflicts

International cooperation: Platform for global hero collaboration

Cultural diversity: European context for Japanese heroes

Villain complexity: Socioeconomic factors driving criminal activity

Character Development Opportunities

Social awareness: Heroes confronting inequality and injustice

Cultural adaptation: International heroes learning local customs

Economic motivation: Understanding crime driven by poverty

Heroic ideals: Overcoming systemic problems through individual action

Conclusion