“When the Hero Blade defeated the Overlord, he lost all his powers. For him, this should be a dream come true—he can finally experience life as a normal student. Unfortunately, as a veteran Hero at a school meant to train future Heroes, he has little chance of blending in. What's more, the students Blade meets there, like him, have a rather skewed view of what's “normal.” He'll have to contend with the school's overbearing Empress and her icy glares, his own way-too-flashy attacks, and even an escaped dragon! Despite it all, can Blade manage to make friends and enjoy school life without exposing his true identity?” (Yen Press)
Buy This Title
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Shin Araki's “Classroom For Heroes” presents a rather lighthearted scenario of a hero turned ‘normal' citizen who has made finding friends his new goal. It is a wholesome concept, with light comedy being the major focus over action, at least as far as the inaugural volume goes. This results in potential limitations, but in equal measure to appeal, depending on the reader's preferences.
What is irrefutable about Araki's writing is his knack for comedy, with protagonist Blade acting as the perfect blank slate to decipher what it means to be a civilian. Dealing with life with unwavering optimism, the character's approach to every interaction becomes humorous under his enthusiastic push to try to understand others and find comradery. Much of this is expanded on in Blades's internal monologue, which shows a sincere kindness behind his otherwise peculiar approach to socialization. The best example of this comedic balance comes in the second chapter, in which Blade dates fellow student Sophie. Their awkward interactions and regimented approach to dating create one of the most hilarious sequences of events committed to the medium.
Follow us on Twitter by clicking on the image below
At the same time, Araki weaves in heartfelt moments to push the story forward while giving the book an endearing sentimental edge. The reader will want to cheer for Blade, even though he is essentially a dog in human form, with the most simple concepts often causing him to get overly excited. The action, which is little in the inaugural volume, is well executed, and one can get an idea of the scope of the students' powers at the school. “Classroom For Heroes” works best as a comedy with the beats of a slice-of-life story, but it does not neglect other elements and comes across as well-rounded.
Still, the lack of major conflict in an introductory volume will dissuade some fantasy fans as the focus here is solely on character building. Combine this with the focus on comedy and ‘friendship,' and the approach may feel slightly shallow and aimless for some. The other slight shortcoming of the book is its use of scenes within chapters. This is implemented to offer a quick change of scene, but in certain instances, it feels like a crutch to offer a quick transition. Shin Araki's writing is witty and confident, but there are several instances where one gets the impression of an inability to transition without breaking down the structure into quick segments. This does not deter from the overall experience, but it raises questions about the limitations Araki may face as a writer in the odd jumps that irregularly come up.
The accompanying visuals from Haruyuki Morisawa perfectly complement the light novel. Leaning (mostly) away from fan service, the illustrations instead capitalize on touching or thrilling scenes within the story. Notably, Blade opening up to Sophie about his time as a hero is a wonderful moment to capture. The release from Yen Press is pretty straightforward yet up to the expected quality. The afterword from Araki is entertaining while also explaining their use of color-coding characters; a fact most astute readers will pick up before getting to that point.
The simplicity of “Classroom For Heroes” may be a limiting factor for some readers, especially those who like action-heavy, high-stakes storytelling in the fantasy genre. For those looking for an easy-to-pick-up book with light-hearted humor and endearing characters, the light novel is a must-read.
