As a long-time connoisseur of the animated realm, I must say that the characters showcased in this list are nothing short of extraordinary. Each one possesses abilities that would make even the most seasoned superheroes green with envy.
Representation of Black characters in anime is scarce and often problematic when they do appear, as pointed out by Professor Nor Azlili Hassan from Malaysia’s University of Tunku Abdul Rahman to The Toronto Observer. He emphasized that not all representation is positive representation, and the portrayal of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities has frequently been racist and stereotypical in anime. These persistent negative attitudes towards Black people can lead to offensive and problematic depictions of them in this medium. However, it’s important to note that it’s not a universal issue across the industry; there are instances where Black characters have been portrayed correctly, with many of these characters possessing immense power.
This ranking focuses on sheer power rather than how likable a character is. And, so that certain series don’t completely dominate the rankings, we’re limiting this list to one character per franchise (with the exception of one notable double act). We must also acknowledge that a lot of darker-skinned anime characters don’t have a clearly defined ethnicity. Many anime fans have head-canonned characters like Yoruichi Shihoin from “Bleach,” Uub from the “Dragon Ball” franchise, and Enrico Pucci from “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” as Black, but this list will stick to examples where the characters’ Blackness is widely recognized.
10. Canary (Hunter x Hunter)
It’s tough to determine Canary’s true combat capabilities from “Hunter x Hunter,” as she isn’t shown in many action scenes. However, it’s clear that the young apprentice butler of the Zoldyck family can hold her own in a fight. Raised in the rough streets of Meteor City, Canary mastered intricate abilities like Shadow Step and Rhythm Echo without formal training; instead, she relied on her raw power and intelligence.
At the tender age of 10, roughly three years prior to her debut in the Hunter Exam storyline, Canary managed to overpower both a Blacklist Hunter and a hundred of his minions effortlessly. Her mastery over Ten and Ren suggests proficiency in at least two fundamental aspects of the Nen magic system. Although she may not yet be considered among the most powerful characters in “Hunter X Hunter,” given her rapid learning abilities, there is significant potential for her power to expand substantially.
9. Pyunma (Cyborg 009)
In the “Cyborg 009” series, Pyunma, also known as Cyborg 008, is the African representative on the international cyborg team. On solid ground, his strength matches that of his teammates and he excels in hand-to-hand combat, making him a formidable fighter. Moreover, he is strategically the sharpest among them. Interestingly, when it comes to underwater environments, Pyunma’s power amplifies due to his cybernetic lungs, making him more powerful than his counterparts there. Essentially, if the 00 Cyborgs were analogous to the Justice League, then Pyunma would be their equivalent of Aquaman.
Over the years, various interpretations of character 008 in manga and anime reveal progress in portraying Black characters. Initially, Shotaro Ishinomori created 008 as a powerful and multidimensional character in his original manga (1964-1981), but unfortunately, he depicted him in a way that was offensive for the time period. However, subsequent anime adaptations have made improvements to Pyunma’s design, making it more authentic and realistic. Additionally, his backstory has been revised, transforming him from an escapee slave into a guerrilla fighter.
8. Ogun Montgomery (Fire Force)
Among many manga artists, Atsushi Ohkubo stands out for devoting significant focus on developing robust Black characters, and here are two such characters from his works: First is Ogun Montgomery, hailing from “Fire Force.” He’s the grandson of a heroic sea captain who assisted people in escaping an apocalypse and finding refuge in the Tokyo Empire. Aiming to emulate his ancestor’s heroic feats, Ogun graduated at the top of his class from the Special Fire Force Training Academy before joining Company 4.
As the gaming avatar of Ogun, the Yoruba deity of blacksmiths, I harness my fiery powers to craft any weapon I need. My deadliest move is Flamy Ink – intricate fire-lit tattoos that amplify my strength, agility, and resilience. However, this ability comes with a caveat; if I don’t manage its activation carefully, the flames could consume me. But when wielded skillfully, it’s an unstoppable force – not only does it give me an edge in battles, but it also looks downright awesome!
7. Muhammad Avdol (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders)
In the third and notably popular installment of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,” titled “Stardust Crusaders,” a group of Stand users embarks on an adventure to Egypt, aiming to vanquish the wicked vampire Dio. Among them is Muhammad Avdol, an Egyptian astrologer and fortune teller who commands Magician’s Red, a Stand with a bird-like appearance. Avdol is the one who initially realizes Dio has resurfaced and leads the team on their perilous journey. His unique blend of wisdom and courage plays a crucial role in ensuring their survival.
In the ’80s and ’90s, it seemed like a tragic pattern for Black characters to meet their end first, even in popular series like “Stardust Crusaders,” which was written from 1989 to 1992. However, the creator of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” explained that Avdol’s death wasn’t a reflection of racial stereotypes, but rather because his powers were too strong and challenging for him to draw consistently. As he put it, “Drawing Magician’s Red was quite a struggle for me.” He admitted that he found himself limited when it came to using flames and poisonous gas in the series after Avdol’s demise. In hindsight, Hirohiko Araki wishes he had given Avdol more significance within the story, stating that he regrets not fully utilizing his character potential once it was revealed he was still alive.
6. Afro (Afro Samurai)
In more straightforward terms: The character Afro from “Afro Samurai” isn’t known for having magical abilities like some other characters on the list, but given that he can endure incredible wounds and is so masterful with a sword that he can cleave RPG missiles in two, it’s only fitting to include him here. The character design by Takashi Okazaki (who later gave us a fresh interpretation of Batman for the movie “Batman Ninja”) is truly impressive. Moreover, it would be hard to overlook a character like Afro, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, when compiling an article about remarkable Black anime characters.
In the advanced yet feudal world depicted in “Afro Samurai,” there’s a unique power structure: The one who dons the “Number One” headband is essentially considered divine, and the individual who dares to confront them in combat wears the “Number Two” headband. However, anyone can challenge Number Two. As a child, Afro witnessed Justice (Ron Perlman) kill his father and claim the Number One ranking. This event sparks Afro’s vow for revenge. He rises through the ranks to become Number Two, eventually claiming the Number One position, thus establishing himself as the strongest warrior in this brutal realm. However, attaining this position comes at a heavy cost of bloodshed, and it becomes more of a curse. In the comic adaptation, Afro’s lethal instinct frequently takes over, making him even more ruthless.
5. Fire Emblem (Tiger & Bunny)
Among the three fire-themed characters on this roster, Nathan Seymour from “Tiger & Bunny” goes by the codename Fire Emblem as a pyrokinetic superhero. The series “Tiger & Bunny” was pioneering in its representation; not only is Seymour a Black character, but they also identify as queer and non-binary. In combat, they are formidable, and their quotes resonate deeply with LGBTQ+ fans, such as: “They say a man is made of courage and a woman is made of love. So what does that mean for people who are both? We are invincible!” (This implies that individuals who don’t fit traditional gender roles possess extraordinary strength.)
In the first season of “Tiger & Bunny,” Seymour’s moderate standing among the competitive heroes could be attributed to the fact that Fire Emblem’s powers were exceptionally strong – a potentially hazardous and precarious ability when adhering to a non-lethal profession. However, their ranking significantly enhanced in Season 2, as they had the opportunity to display their full potential teaming up with Sky High, the reigning King of Heroes. Furthermore, Seymour isn’t just a hero; they are also the proprietor of Helios Energy, making them the sole hero who sponsors themselves. They undeniably rank among the coolest LGBTQ+ superheroes.
4. Killer Bee (Naruto Shippuden)
Prior to Naruto Uzumaki mastering the Nine-Tails, Killer Bee was undeniably the strongest jinchuriki due to his absolute command over the Eight-Tails. This aspiring rap star can tap into all of the beast’s transformations without compromising his self-control, and he possesses enough chakra to keep battling tirelessly in his transformed state. Even in his normal human form, Killer Bee is no pushover — he wields seven swords for kenjutsu and excels with lightning-infused abilities. He’s also proficient in the dance-like combat style known as Disturbance Taijutsu.
Among various Black characters from the Naruto series residing in the Hidden Cloud Village, it was Killer Bee who emerged as the standout choice, even surpassing the Third Raikage, a figure widely recognized as the village’s strongest leader and Killer Bee’s adoptive father. In their confrontations with the Eight-Tails, the Third Raikage and the creature ended up in a stalemate. By harnessing the raw power of the Eight-Tails combined with his own strategic intellect, Killer Bee would likely prevail if hypothetically pitted against his father in combat.
3. Sid Barrett and Mira Nagus (Soul Eater)
In the series titled “Soul Eater,” the second creation by Atsushi Ohkubo to appear on this list, a star system simplifies power rankings. Sid Barrett is an elite meister with a maximum three-star rating, making him one of the top students at the Death Weapon Meister Academy. His weapon, Mira Naigus, is equally impressive and even teaches martial arts at the academy. Since meisters and their weapons are inseparable, they are jointly featured on this list – both Sid Barrett and his partner, the Black characters Mira Naigus, show incredible power individually.
Originally, Sid was extraordinarily skilled in using knives, firearms, and martial arts. His tragic demise occurred while performing his duty, but Franken Stein’s resurrection turned him into a more powerful zombie than ever before. He demonstrated incredible strength by burrowing through the earth swiftly and employing his own gravestone as a formidable weapon. Mira, in her Demon Knife form, stands as Sid’s most reliable ally. She is equally proficient in hand-to-hand combat, an uncommon trait among weapons. Her exceptional talent lies in creating traps, a skill that proved invaluable during the climactic battle on Lost Island.
2. Blackbeard (One Piece)
As Blackbeard, the pirate renowned in “One Piece,” I stand apart from my fellow seafarers due to a unique advantage: wielding not one, but two Devil Fruits. The Dark-Dark Fruit, the most malevolent of these enchanted fruits, grants me control over the shadows, allowing me to summon black hole-like vortexes and strip my adversaries of their powers derived from their own Devil Fruits. My other power, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, enables me to generate earthquakes of diverse intensities – in combat, I use these quakes to deliver smaller shockwaves, but should the situation escalate, I have the ability to unleash tremors powerful enough to shatter entire worlds.
In simpler terms, the character ranking for “One Piece” by Looper places Blackbeard above Luffy himself, indicating how powerful and formidable he is. Throughout the series, this pirate has employed his skills to advance his goals. Notably, he’s responsible for the deaths of Whitebeard and the betrayal of Ace, delivering him to the Marines. Created by Eiichiro Oda, who suggests that Blackbeard would hail from Somalia in reality, this character is one of the most sinister figures in the series. As “One Piece” approaches its conclusion, many believe that Blackbeard could be the final adversary that Luffy must face during his epic journey.
1. Lille Barro (Bleach)
In the expansive cast of major shonen anime series like “Bleach,” there are numerous potent Black characters that could potentially be included in such a list, but due to a rule limiting us to one character per series, we’re focusing on just one. Among these characters, Lille Barro stands out as the most powerful. His unique power, The X Axis – Schrift, makes him an unmatched marksman.
Using his winged form, Quincy: Vollständig, enables Vollständig to reach greater spiritual power levels. Any injury sustained by his body can be healed in his second form, making him virtually immortal and invulnerable. However, Lille’s primary weakness lies within his own immense power. While other attacks fail to harm him, Nanao Ise managed to reflect Lille’s Trompete blast back at him, causing significant damage and draining much of his divine power. Despite this setback, Lille remains a formidable fighter and a force to be reckoned with in the “Bleach” universe. As far as we can tell, he is the strongest Black anime character currently around.
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2024-10-13 21:30