(AfroGamers.com) Oh isekai, how I dig thee. However, there are times early into a series when I become angry for the protagonist. Sure, the writer would’ve written the antagonists as so insufferably d**kish and over the top with their oppression that it’s easy for you to hate them. The main character could be an utter pushover and you’re going to dislike the opps more.
I mean, that doesn’t excuse the MC from not sticking up for themselves. They’re sitting there, getting obstacles thrown at them, being nerfed, eating sh*t sandwiches as if they’re buy one, get one free—it’s annoying to read and watch. Regardless, this antagonist has to be put in the dirt!
Yes, Shield Hero comes to mind. As a matter of fact, it’s the first series I thought of because Naofumi was really getting done dirty throughout. Touka in Failure Frame is another prime example of getting done dirty—only he crashed the f**k out early on. It’s different from Extreme Edgy Violence Boss Seyoung the Rooftop Sword Master crashing out and annihilating everything he encountered in South Korea.
No, Touka just decided to do his own thing and let it be known he didn’t care for anyone else. Honestly, Touka was annoying with it to the point that I don’t care anymore. Just smash your opps and look after your core party.
On that note, Failure Frame is a fun series with a pace I enjoy. Shield Hero is a series I got into several years late but it’s great!
Respect All Summons
With that said, this isn’t about hyping series, it’s about getting some respect for all summons. In a nutshell, my thought is this:
“Listen, you summoned me here. I didn’t ask to be here. I got things to do.”
Believe me, being isekai’d to another world sounds like it could be amazing—if you’re sent to another world where you could survive and receive some blessings. Even better if you get a status screen. That’s a lot to request but it should be in the summoning welcome package.
Like, this circle of summoners, this god, this royal family—they have the magical power and aptitude to summon a living human from an entirely different universe to theirs. Many MCs come from a version of Earth where it’s one way, they can’t summon beings to their Earth.
Also, the rules of summoning—and alien invasions for that matter—make the MC’s Earth a lesser world since other worlds can just pluck from them all willy nilly. Then the terms of returning home is always vague. Unless it’s just not possible.
“Yes, we summoned you here to clean up our mess and save the world. You can go home when you defeat the Demon King.”
You could say they’re dealing with world destruction and they didn’t have time to think out this plan. They don’t have all the answers. The last time they had to summon someone was like three generations back about 125 years ago. Important information can be lost in that time and common sense is different for different worlds.
In our world, the smart thing is not to summon anything we can’t send back. That’s just irresponsible. In their world, they probably summon a being to their world every few years just because.
Even worse is when they’re summoned and treated like trash because they don’t have a preferred skill or power. Better than that is the audacity to want the MC destroyed when faced with the error of their ways. Just creating the next Demon King through treating them harshly when they shouldn’t be in that world.
So, let’s put some respect on these other world summons’ names and let us know what isekai MCs you’ve rooted for. What series have worlds where you wouldn’t blame the MC for crashing out and becoming the villain?
Staff Writer; M. Swift
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.