“His upbringing could’ve made him a villain”: Only Reason Yuki Tabata Got Away with Making Asta the Good Guy in Black Clover

SUMMARY

• A recent fan theory suggests that Asta could very well be turned into a villain!
• He faced relentless ridicule, bullying, and social ostracism for his lack of magical abilities in his early days of childhood.
• If it had not been Shonen, one can clearly see Asta becoming a master antagonist with his dark/anti magic!

Black Clover has really left a mark on the modern Shonen scene with its all the great characters, and a thoroughly engaging plot. However, the early episodes of the series may feel a bit unorganized, especially when one talks about Asta’s sorrowful past.

On the surface, he always seems to have that sporty smile, spreading positivity, but some fans are still not sure how he always has that cheerful demeanor after all the things he has gone through.

Asta from Black Clover | Credits: Studio Pierrot

A recent fan theory suggests that his cheerful outlook could have actually been a deliberate creative choice by the author, Yuki Tabata, just to fit into the Shonen genre. Given Asta’s past life as an orphan and how he was treated, he could have easily become the very villain the series pits him against!

Asta had all the reasons to become a villain!

Asta proposing to sister Lily | Credits: Studio Pierrot

Asta’s story in Black Clover is filled with pure optimism; it always holds up the message of persistence and perseverance. However, on a closer look at his past life, one can find there lies a dark reality. Asta had to endure non-stop mocking, bullying, and social isolation because he did not possess magical powers at all, in a world where magic is the ultimate worth.

As a certain Reddit post also suggests, this led to some unfair classism in the Clover Kingdom, as it treats individuals with little to no magic with utmost disrespect. Furthermore, Asta’s early life as an orphan was even harder, as he got rejected not once, or twice, but multiple times by his crush.

It’s a chilling idea to think that, if Asta had been in a different show, he might have become someone like Rades, a villain from Black Clover. However, Asta’s inherent goodness and his willpower helped him rise above all the cruelty. This is where the complexity of Asta’s heroic path is drawn into the narrative.

The Shonen aspect of Black Clover is what turned Asta into a good fellow!

Kid Asta and Kid Yuno | Credits: Studio Pierrot

For not possessing magic at all, Asta was bullied mercilessly as a kid and was made a subject of ridicule. There were several scenes where the villagers and other orphans like Nash would make fun of him; even Father Orsi’s favoritism toward Yuno proves that. In fact, when Yuno rejected him as his rival at the Acceptance Ceremony, this could have easily crushed Asta’s spirit.

In any other genre, Asta’s past would have surely made him a villain. His situation screams the origin story for a master antagonist. Also, the fact that he has the incredibly powerful anti-magic would perfectly fit in the narrative as a dark and complex character.

One may argue, that the shonen framework of Black Clover is what turned Asta’s trauma into the power of friendship. The eventual support of Yuno later healed his past scars. Although his heroism has become more remarkable in the face of such a choice, at the same time, however, acknowledging the darkness he could have embraced adds depth to the character of Asta and the world of Black Clover.

Black Clover anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll.

Written by Diganta Mondal

Articles Published: 295

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