#whewww! i was away for the day so this took a while - but oh yes i had many thoughts for this chapter!

[the-nysh]

Opm150 thoughts: Master & Disciple. Well! What an unexpected yet welcome surprise of a chapter! I’d gladly take more self-reflective chs like this -as opposed to pure fighting chs- that take the time to reveal more historical context & further insight for the characters we know. This time the focus expands more of Bang & Bomb’s past in their prime, and how it relates to Garou. So to me, this ch was well worth the wait!

Current Garou, apparently while he’s still not even fully ‘conscious’ or lucid yet, happens to take the stance of Bang’s old sealed technique, ‘Explosion Release Fist’ - something previously completely unheard of to us, that both reminds and confronts Bang with the vices of his past self. 

Now, this is all brand new context that has never been shown before - not even in the webcomic, so my eyes are wide open here.

Hmmm~ Why indeed? Garou breaking into Bang’s vault to view the hidden scroll techniques for himself does sound like a douchey move from one perspective (especially if it was done in spite immediately after Bang expelled him). But this also tells me, that perhaps in Bang’s negligence to properly instruct and be there for him, Garou compensated by taking the initiative to learn and pick up most skills on his own. (Independently without Bang’s guidance in his hero absence.) Including the dawning sense that there was more to it that Bang was holding back. Looks like Garou was right. :’)

We get the manga’s formal debut of Bang in his prime (design previously teased before on Murata’s streams) and...HRMMM?!

The behavior on the left page, as an ‘out-of-control ruffian’ brimming with talent yet swift to pick fights...hmm, well gee that image is pretty reminiscent to early hunter Garou’s grandstanding when he ‘declared war’ on the Hero Association. But the right page...depicting Bang as a sleazy, self-absorbed womanizer *record scratch* oh hell no, that is ABSOLUTELY NOT like Garou! D8 (I am genuinely taken aback in disapproval; what an unexpected trait his past self used to have!) Cause THAT behavior is more akin to Suiryu’s initial mindset, that omg if I’m being completely honest, if Garou met young Bang back then I’d fully expect him to punch him in the face in distaste, much like he did to the HA employee, for similarly fooling around and behaving Like That. (As an aside, if young Bang truly was getting that much action, it’s curious why he never gained any biological descendants or bastard children. Mayhaps Garou could be some long-lost grandson of sorts, but I guarantee -that at least compared to this side of Bang’s- Garou thankfully shares no relation to that.)

Whew;;; okay yeah. If I may say so - this early version of Bang, complete with both sets of negative traits (ie some of the worst behaviors from early Garou & Suiryu) leads me to believe he was this close at risk to going down the path of genuine self-absorbed villainy. O.O;; (He would not look out of place as one either.) That oh god, someone stop him.

THANK YOU, Bomb! ;A; My respect for prime Bomb as the responsible, level-headed, disciplined older brother has increased immensely. Seeing how he shares the same disapproval I feel for Bang’s behavior as well. Smack some sense & perspective back into that fool who’s let the hubris get to his head!

Ah. :’) And of course, Bomb defeats him, complete with a ‘cool off for a bit’ scolding for Bang’s ‘rampaging.’

Now interestingly for me, Bang was able to tell Bomb’s fist had no killing intent towards him, whereas he, brandishing his special ‘explosion release’ fist, even against his own brother (!!), did. That it will be very telling if Bang notices how current Garou, who’s somehow wielding that same ‘killer’ technique and all, holds no killing intent either. 👀 I will be interested if Bang can begin to discern the difference between his past self and Garou like that. (Because then he’ll be that much closer to finally seeing Garou’s true nature~)

Young Bang soon took a more reformed path after his defeat to his brother, sealing his old technique (and essentially his past self) away, developing the new defensive WSRSF technique instead, and following in his brother’s footsteps to contribute his wisdom through teaching. (It also makes sense if Bang couldn’t fully impart the principles of his defensive technique, made for empowering the weak, down to his countless students - when his old self, originally with an opposite attack style, still always prioritized the strongest. See the disconnect where perhaps Garou had to intuitively pick up things on his own to fill the gaps? Hmm~)

Older Bang became a hero (also to advertise his dojo) and...oh. 🥺

Looking at it this way, Bomb was already his hero, for saving young Bang from going down that dark path. :’))  (That longtime bond between brothers is heartwarming~) That from Bomb’s perspective, becoming a hero was perhaps Bang’s way to show him how much he’d changed. Also recognizing that Bang similarly going after a disciple whose path had strayed (Garou) was just like what Bomb once had to do to save him. :’) Therefore, Bomb felt the obligation to help his younger brother successfully see this effort through.

Current Bang could use his old technique again to counter Garou, but as Bomb observes, he will not. Because unlike his past self, getting through to Garou - as testament to the ‘master,’ hero, and person Bang is now - all that has become his utmost responsibility and what he personally wants to show he can achieve.

So look at that. :’)) In contrast to the time when Bomb once disapproved of Bang’s old ‘twisted punk’ ways, now he looks to his brother in fond approval at how far he’s come.

As for Bang’s thoughts towards Garou...ahhh. :’))

So important: he regretfully admits those faults, including his failure as a master by neglecting the relationship with his students (which, coupled with his absence away from the dojo on hero duties, had so far been something heavily implied, so it’s nice to see that thought - about his negligence to be there with the attention Garou needed - finally voiced.) Bang internally accepts accountability for that, along with the consequences and punishment that follow, as the reasons towards his hero retirement post-arc. :’)) Webcomic readers already knew he would, but finally seeing his thought process and further context leading up to that decision is...;o; But even more than that, he...!!

Ahhhhhhh! ;A; Honestly Bang’s words feel like a genuine apology to him, while expressing the willingness to properly be there for him next time. :’)) I’ve always wanted to see the signs for their potential reconciliation someday (in the webcomic), so the fact that at least on Bang’s side he’s already eager to try and ready to start over, is quite the big deal! The groundwork is potentially laid; we just need to hear from Garou’s side of the equation too. Which of course, Bang still doesn’t know how he actually feels (especially if he assumes Garou’s rage, intent & behavior are all comparable to the traits of his past self), but aaah!?!

The ‘shell’ of his caked-on volcanic fury is beginning to break. 👀 I can see those cracks forming over his eyes!! Whether this means Bang’s words are starting to get through to him with the right sentiment, where he’ll soon ‘awaken’ to his full awareness or evolve to something further, at this point I’ll be ready for anything. :’D (Fuhrer Ugly’s still on his way to intercept them as another incoming but potentially very rude wake up call.) I’m sooo ready to finally see Garou TALK more like himself and actually be a responsive participant in the action again, because he may be here in the flesh, but he’s also not here yet mentally either. So alright, next chapter here we go~