Time to see what the fuss was about then, with MHA Chapter 285 - Katsuki Bakugo Rising. And from the name alone, you know we're in for a treat. Right off the back of last week's excellent elaboration of Bakugo's character, he retains the spotlight through to this week #MHA285

This line kinda rubbed me the wrong way when it first came around since it felt like Deku had a couple of get-out-of-jail-free cards, but now he's burning through all his second chances in one go I have no issues. There's no damping on the consequences, which is what's important

And I don't think we'll get a miraculous rejuvenation thanks to Eri or Recovery Girl after this either. Like I said last week, MHA goes heavy on the repercussions of actions and injuries alike, and it'd be out of place to suddenly stop caring about them now

None of these attacks are random - they're all the same as when Deku or All Might have used them previously. Detroit Smash was All Might's weather-changing downwards punch, Wyoming Smash is a strike with the forearm or elbow,

St Louis Smash is a roundhouse kick (shown by the impact and motion lines here, since Deku's moving so fast) and Texas Smash is a shockwave-causing straight punch, hence the wide shot we get of it

Deku's arm is heavily broken after this barrage, which is how we know the last attack was a punch despite not seeing it.

It's fitting that both attacks Deku borrowed from All Might (that we know of) were first seen in chapter 1, since 285 calls back to it quite a bit

Shigaraki comments on his body as the "krk" sound effects tell us he's falling apart again. That also explains the break marks reappearing, since that's not the sort of damage you'd expect from punches and kicks

He also prepared to use (presumably) Air Cannon before the Texas Smash interrupted him. In fact, the 2 attacks might've collided mid-air, which would explain the severe damage taken by both parties and the massive shockwave

Shigaraki also uses it after commenting on needing to focus on defence, so firing Air Cannon in the hopes of softening the blow makes sense strategically too

We know part of the reason hero society is dysfunctional is because it relied on one person - All Might. There's been speculation that the end of MHA will have many symbols and pillars rather than everything being built around one hero. But here, Deku's repeating All Might's

mistake. Meanwhile Endeavor, whose first major battle after becoming No. 1 saw him relying on the help of others to win, is also getting a boost here. If he's the first step towards a better future, then Deku's "It's my duty alone" approach is straight up wrong

At any rate he was certainly way too singleminded about it, since he was surprised when Endeavor, the current No. 1 and arguably strongest pro hero, steps in to help out. He was too focused on his supposed destiny to think that anyone else might lend a hand

Bakugo accidentally (?) reveals that Deku has multiple Quirks here, though since people see Todoroki as having 2 it's probably not a big deal. To everyone else it's more like "controlling multiple distinct applications of his Quirk simultaneously", but mercifully less wordy

And his analysis is largely correct. Unless Shigaraki hits some sort of limit, Deku can't beat him. No single 100% Smash can put Shiggy out of commission, and even in the air he's still fighting back and buying time to regenerate enough to withstand each blow

This is some insane control from Bakugo, never mind strength. Carrying 3 people's weight (with a boost from Todoroki, but still) right up to the clash between the 2 successors. I doubt he could've done this before interning with Endeavor

Endeavor anticipated that Deku wouldn't be expecting this (maybe partly cause Deku knows he can't get much height on his own) and planned to leap in when the kid was furthest away, to give him as much time as possible to get out of the way

These 7 panels are really interesting to me. I'm not sure if it's indicating that the 3 on the right are linked, or if they're 3 different motivations for Bakugo's actions here. I'm inclined to say it's the latter, with each pushing Bakugo more and more

And what's he saying about OFA exactly? It's cursed by its link to AFO in a multitude of ways, but what's the "Even if"? It's All Might's power, and did a lot of good in the world? It let Deku stand up for himself, and believe in his potential? It's his rival and friend's Quirk?

The T-shirt Bakugo has on here carries an X, like his hero costume does now. I wonder if it's the symbol of another hero, or maybe he just likes the design. The word "explosion" starts with an X sound, which would explain his attachment to it

The way Prominence Burn blows out the panels to the periphery, leaving them curved, is a great emphasis of its power. We can also see Deku just off to the side, obscured by the heat a little

And whether it's cause Endeavor went full throttle, cause Shigaraki got caught unawares or even that his regeneration's slowed down, this is too much for him. We once again get a similar visual as before and briefly enter the vestige of All For One

I think what AFO did here is pierce the attack through Shigaraki's body to hit Endeavor. If pain was understandably immobilising Shigaraki he might also carry some resistance to that, like how the vestiges of OFA can function through Shinsou's Brainwashing

I didn't specify the Quirk since we don't know if Forcible Quirk Activation (FQA from here on) actually takes this form or if the... hand spike things... are some other ability used in conjunction with it. But I think FQA is definitely being used in the attack on Deku

See, if FQA is used on OFA it could trigger the transferral mechanism and hand the Quirk right over to Shigaraki. Blood is a viable transfer medium, so he'd just have to grab some off the end of the spikes after impaling Deku.

Even if OFA can't be taken unwillingly even by AFO,

FQA is a valid workaround. That could be why Garaki told Shigaraki he'd be able to get ahold of a power that had evaded AFO. And remember, at Kamino All Might didn't have a Quirk any more. There's no way the villain could've used AFO or FQA on him

Can't wait to see this panel on @dailytomura. Shigaraki's gone through a number of designs over the course of this fight, but this is by far the most inhuman. He's a charred, blackened mess with monstrous tendrils coming out his hands

And here we get a callback to the very first chapter of the series. Embodying the spirit of a true hero, Bakugo put himelf in harm's way to save Deku before he could even think, finally returning the favour

And that's a phenomenal note to end the chapter on, as well as an incredible step forward for Bakugo's character. But we're not done with the analysis yet

Deku and Bakugo's core dichotomy has been "win and save", since the start of MHA. And in this fight we can see them both having reached the opposite side to where the began - Deku risking life and limb not to save someone, but to defeat a villain, while Bakugo puts himself in

danger to save Deku. And the self-sacrificing nature Bakugo was always slightly scared of is finally something he can embody, bringing the pair closer to understanding each other

And Deku vs Bakugo 2 isn't the only fight they've shared which is called back to here. Bakugo's desire to win all on his own in their exam against All Might is mirrored by Deku facing Shigaraki alone, and their compromise of teaming up to beat him is what Bakugo ends up doing,

with the help of Endeavor and Todoroki. He even copied Deku's usual method of operation by making a plan incorporating others' Quirks and capabilities

So while the injury Bakugo's suffered will be bad (hopefully not fatal), he's made some incredible strides as a character, something his rival has yet to match... sort of. Deku has developed, but his attitude in this fight is ultimately not a good step

So while Bakugo's character arc has now left him better off as a person, Deku's is in a much more negative position. I'm fully expecting Hori to use this as a stepping stone to develop him further following this arc's conclusion, and I'm looking forward to it

And I truly have no idea where we're going from here. With Deku not impaled he might be able to deal enough damage to AFO-controlled Shigaraki to take him out, but equally AFO's mastery of his Quirks could prove an issue

Deku will probably put Bakugo as a higher priority though, and AFO might even try to use him as a bargaining chip. Even if Deku can beat Shigaraki, there's still the incoming Machia to deal with, at which point he'll barely be able to move

This arc will have some seriously major repercussions, both on the personal and societal level, and I can't wait