One Piece is one of the few manga/anime series that have been continuing for ages, and the hunt for its replacement is still on. Over the years, there have been plenty of contenders, and Black Clover was one of them. But at the end of the day, it simply could not measure up to the series, for various reasons.
There are plenty of themes that are similar between One Piece and Black Clover. The latter can also be called a model Shonen anime/manga since it utilizes most Shonen tropes. But at some point, the series could not stand out like One Piece did.
Black Clover had the potential to be the next One Piece
Now that One Piece is on its final saga, fans have already begun their hunt for their next hit. Black Clover is one of the series that could have filled up the void due to how similar it is to One Piece. Asta aims to be the Wizard King, much like Luffy, who wants to be the next Pirate King. The protagonists are pretty similar in nature as well, with both being optimists who help everyone on their journey.
Both series feature well-developed characters. Black Clover has successfully fleshed out its main characters and didn’t forget its minor characters either. Characters like Magna or Jack the Ripper get their own spotlights even though they are not central figures in the story. Both series also focus on teamwork and camaraderie, and the Black Bulls, much like the Straw Hats, are a family before being a team of fighters.
Just like how One Piece covers a journey through different islands and has a vast worldview, Black Clover does the same, although the world of Black Clover is not as detailed or vast as that of One Piece. Both protagonists began with a personal quest, which later developed into a journey to protect their worlds.
Black Clover failed to be unique due to its overwhelming cliches
At first glance, Black Clover seems to have potential, but the series does not achieve what it could have. The series has inherited everything that an old-school Shonen anime/manga features. However, the same adherence to Shonen tropes has made it feel outdated.
Black Clover has a ton of repetitive tropes that do not add anything special to the manga/anime. The underdog protagonist looks good in theory, but the series did not fully capitalize on the potential that Asta had. Additionally, Asta has nothing unique to make him stand out.
Black Clover also banks on too much fan service, which is exaggerated even more in the anime. A lot of fans do not like how the women are sometimes reduced to walking thirst traps despite their beautiful backstories and deadly powers.
Some Black Clover villains are evil just for the sake of it, which makes the audience disconnect with whatever is happening in the plot. The power-ups are also clichéd and arrive at the nick of time, right when a villain is about to overpower the protagonist. Black Clover‘s dabbling in popular tropes has gone on for a bit too long, which has ended up making it just another Shonen story.
One Piece and Black Clover anime are currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
