{"id":2611,"date":"2020-07-22T22:00:06","date_gmt":"2020-07-22T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/?p=2611"},"modified":"2020-07-22T17:05:13","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T08:05:13","slug":"the-eminence-in-shadow-is-a-perfect-fantasy-deconstruction-comedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biggestinjapan.com\/index.php\/2020\/07\/22\/the-eminence-in-shadow-is-a-perfect-fantasy-deconstruction-comedy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Eminence in Shadow<\/i> is a Perfect Fantasy Deconstruction Comedy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Eminence in Shadow<\/span><\/i> is the story of Cid. As a kid watching tv, he didn\u2019t identify with the hero or the villain but rather the \u201ceminence in shadow\u201d–the super overpowered anti-hero mastermind that stays hidden from the heroes and villains alike but appears at important moments to smack down the villain before disappearing once again. Even as he grew up, he dreamed of becoming the eminence in shadow. He would train relentlessly to be the strongest person around while still trying to fade into the background of his everyday school life (with mixed results).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But what truly tormented him is that no matter how much he trained–how strong he became–he\u2019d never have truly overwhelming power befitting the eminence in shadow. After all, our world is filled with guns, bombs, and numerous other ways to destroy even the strongest fighter. Only one thing could even the odds in this case: magic. Luckily, after meeting his death in a car accident, he awoke to find himself in a world containing just that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Image source: \u5742\u91ce\u674f\u68a8Rice ball\u5358\u884c\u672c\u767a\u58f2\u4e2d<\/a> on Twitter<\/em><\/p>\n

Reincarnated as a noble in a fantasy world, he once again began his quest to become the eminence in shadow by training relentlessly in secret with sword and magic. Along the way, he began drawing in followers. Playing the part he always dreamed of, he told them a story about a mysterious evil cult ruling the world from the shadows–and that he and his companions, \u201cShadow Garden,\u201d were tasked with defeating them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, this was just a clich\u00e9 story he made up on the spot. There\u2019s just one problem, he was completely right. Now he and Shadow Garden are battling the evil Diablos Cult in the shadows with the fate of the world in the balance–and Cid is the only one who thinks it\u2019s all pretend.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Image source: \u5742\u91ce\u674f\u68a8Rice ball\u5358\u884c\u672c\u767a\u58f2\u4e2d<\/a> on Twitter<\/em><\/p>\n

For fans of fantasy and superhero stories, <\/span>The Eminence in Shadow<\/span><\/i>, is laugh-out-loud hilarious. All of this stems from the personality of its main character. Cid is, frankly, insane. He cares about one thing in life and one thing only: acting out his fantasy as the eminence in shadow. He has no interest in anything else. He has no issue watching people die in front of him, using people as human experimentation, or killing anyone who gets in his way–as long as it furthers his game of pretend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conversely, he values anyone who is willing to play along with him–i.e., the members of Shadow Garden. However, it\u2019s important to note he does not think at any point that his friends are doing anything more than humoring him in his pretending to be the eminence in shadow. He\u2019s oblivious to his own role in the world which leads to a myriad of hilarious misunderstandings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Image source: \u5742\u91ce\u674f\u68a8Rice ball\u5358\u884c\u672c\u767a\u58f2\u4e2d<\/a> on Twitter<\/em><\/p>\n

The other core to the humor of <\/span>The Eminence in Shadow<\/span><\/i> is that being the eminence in shadow is a two-tiered identity. One is the overwhelming fighter leading a secret society. The other is the mild-mannered everyman. Cid puts his all into both of these roles. He fantasizes just as much about looking down from the rooftops like Batman as he does being the random background character who dies in the hero\u2019s arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means he tries so hard to be an average background character that he often appears as anything but. He forces himself to get average grades and have average friends but when it comes time for a clich\u00e9 background character event, he can\u2019t help but go all out to an insane degree–shocking those around him while remaining completely oblivious himself.<\/span><\/p>\n