Comedy has always been a tool to mask the real pain and trauma underneath. It’s a coping mechanism for many people, including myself, but it can also be utilized effectively in movies or television series. Similarly, To Be Hero X’s humor may seem chaotic, but it hides something sinister.

From the exaggerated expressions to the consistent gags, the series uses humor as a crutch. It tends to overshadow the truly dark premise of To Be Hero X. However, these jokes are also deeply relatable and often make me rethink what they meant by it.

The characters of To Be Hero X have all been through traumatic experiences. Mental health is a huge aspect, so the humor complements that narrative perfectly. How do they use it?

To Be Hero X’s Characters Weaponize Humor to Protect Their Heart

The first ever instance of absurd humor in To Be Hero X happens in the first few minutes itself. When Nice falls to his death, it isn’t sad. He’s not taking a moment to think about what he’s doing, and Lin Ling is too shocked to talk him down. All he does is throw his signature pose, and then he dies.

When I first witnessed that scene, I just laughed in disbelief. I thought Nice would be the main protagonist, but I never predicted he would die in such a bizarre way. You find yourself failing to explain the premise because of it. However, it gets even more absurd from there.

Miss J recruits Lin Ling and pretends to be Nice. It’s an ironic sentence because he might be the nicer version than the original. He meets Moon at their shared apartment, who was the original one’s girlfriend, and it doesn’t go very well.

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To nobody’s surprise, she wasn’t happy with their relationship, and it was more of a show. She often gagged at the thought of Nice, and her reaction to Lin Ling brought a lot of chaos. It was funny at first, but it’s an indication of how she truly did not like the original Nice.

Cyan’s arc might be the darkest one in To Be Hero X. She was only a child when she was used and was manipulated for her powers of luck. She often panicked and animated quite exaggeratedly when people asked her for favors. It’s cute and funny to see it, but it’s a mask for how dark it is to do this to a child. They had to present it in a digestible way.

To Be Hero X Nails Dark Humor Better Than Most Comedians

Loli and Nuonuo from To Be Hero X. [Credit: Studio BeDream]

To Be Hero X might not have dark humor that everyone will like, but it’s one that I appreciate. It’s an essential coping mechanism that adds more depth to a character’s personality, which completes their story.

While dark humor is a great tool to talk about trauma, some comedians and series use it in a way that is crude and serves no purpose but to offend others.

Others nail it by doing it tastefully, and To Be Hero X is one of them. It’s more personal and a reflection of the character’s mental health rather than an offensive commentary.

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Loli’s arc, which the series is now on, is the perfect time to use it. It offers a girl’s perspective on how objectification affects her life and dreams. She doesn’t take it, however, and neither does Wang Nuonuo. When they insulted the stalker, I felt proud. Her drunk ramblings were also too relatable for me.

To Be Hero X might look chaotic and rather childish on the surface. However, once you peel those layers, it reveals how broken these characters are. The humor gives them a way to cope with their situation and be hopeful.

Loli’s arc might be amping up the humor, but many more protagonists will have similar traits. The comedy could get more absurd, especially when To Be Hero X switches its style so often. It’s ready to push boundaries, not just with comedy, but with its layered narrative that is worth exploring.

To Be Hero X can currently be streamed on Crunchyroll.
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