TV-Series
Description
Ivan Karelin, known by his hero alias Origami Cyclone, is a professional hero working for the financial group Helperides Finance in Sternbild City. He is a young man of below-average height, standing at 170 centimeters, with a youthful appearance that belies his status as a senior to some of his peers, having graduated from the Hero Academy before Barnaby Brooks Jr.. Outside of his hero costume, he is generally quiet, introverted, and possesses a negative, self-deprecating outlook on his own abilities. However, when the cameras are on him as Origami Cyclone, he adopts a hyperactive and outgoing persona, feeling pressured to be energetic for the sake of his sponsors and the Hero TV show. A defining personal trait is his deep and passionate love for Japanese culture, particularly ninjas, which inspires his hero identity and costume, and he spends his free time maintaining ninja weapons like shuriken and kunai.
Ivan possesses a NEXT ability known as Shapeshifting or Mimicry. This power allows him to physically transform into any person or object he touches, perfectly copying their appearance and voice. A critical limitation is that he cannot replicate the actual superhuman powers of other NEXTs. While seemingly unremarkable for direct combat, his power is exceptionally effective for infiltration, espionage, and disguise-based tactics, as it can fool security systems like voice and fingerprint recognition. In his hero work, he supplements his ability with a ninja-themed arsenal provided by his sponsor, which includes a large decorative shuriken worn on his back, smaller throwing stars, and a pair of swords. His hero suit is designed with a kabuki and ninja aesthetic and enhances his physical abilities, including impact absorption.
Ivan's personal history is marked by a traumatic event from his days at the Hero Academy involving his best friend, Edward Keddy. When they witnessed a hostage situation, Edward wanted to intervene using his powers, but Ivan, adhering to the academy's rules and paralyzed by fear and self-doubt, refused to help. Edward acted alone, and in the ensuing struggle, a gun accidentally fired, killing a hostage. This led to Edward being imprisoned for murder. Overwhelmed by guilt and self-loathing for his inaction, Ivan became a hero but carried a deep-seated belief that his powers were useless and that he was unworthy of the title. Initially, his performance in the Hero TV rankings was consistently last place, and he was more famous for his promotional "photo bombing" than for any heroic acts.
His role in the story begins as a background presence, but he undergoes significant development. Encouraged by the veteran hero Kotetsu Kaburagi, who helped him see value in his unique skills, Ivan began to evolve into a more proactive and courageous hero. This growth is most evident when he confronts Edward, who had escaped prison to seek revenge. Ivan risked his life to save his former friend from the vigilante Lunatic, finally taking responsibility for his past failure. He later volunteered for a highly dangerous mission to infiltrate the criminal organization Ouroboros by transforming into one of its members, a task for which his ability was perfectly suited. Despite successfully obtaining critical intelligence, he was captured and severely tortured by the villain Jake Martinez, showcasing his newfound willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. While he becomes more selfless and tactically adept, he continues to struggle with self-doubt, often feeling that his reliance on stealth and deception is less honorable than the direct combat style of other heroes.
Ivan shares notable relationships with several characters. He holds deep respect for Kotetsu Kaburagi, who served as a mentor and helped him find his confidence. He is frequently paired with Antonio Lopez, the hero Rock Bison, and although they have a somewhat strained partnership due to Antonio's blunt and critical nature, especially regarding Ivan’s hero name and methods, they develop a functional teamwork dynamic over time. Within the hero community, Ivan is often seen working alongside the young hero Pao-Lin Huang, and the two are depicted as close friends of a similar age. The origin of his hero name is personally significant, stemming from a childhood incident during a typhoon where he first used his powers to calm frightened classmates after being ostracized for revealing his abilities.
Ivan possesses a NEXT ability known as Shapeshifting or Mimicry. This power allows him to physically transform into any person or object he touches, perfectly copying their appearance and voice. A critical limitation is that he cannot replicate the actual superhuman powers of other NEXTs. While seemingly unremarkable for direct combat, his power is exceptionally effective for infiltration, espionage, and disguise-based tactics, as it can fool security systems like voice and fingerprint recognition. In his hero work, he supplements his ability with a ninja-themed arsenal provided by his sponsor, which includes a large decorative shuriken worn on his back, smaller throwing stars, and a pair of swords. His hero suit is designed with a kabuki and ninja aesthetic and enhances his physical abilities, including impact absorption.
Ivan's personal history is marked by a traumatic event from his days at the Hero Academy involving his best friend, Edward Keddy. When they witnessed a hostage situation, Edward wanted to intervene using his powers, but Ivan, adhering to the academy's rules and paralyzed by fear and self-doubt, refused to help. Edward acted alone, and in the ensuing struggle, a gun accidentally fired, killing a hostage. This led to Edward being imprisoned for murder. Overwhelmed by guilt and self-loathing for his inaction, Ivan became a hero but carried a deep-seated belief that his powers were useless and that he was unworthy of the title. Initially, his performance in the Hero TV rankings was consistently last place, and he was more famous for his promotional "photo bombing" than for any heroic acts.
His role in the story begins as a background presence, but he undergoes significant development. Encouraged by the veteran hero Kotetsu Kaburagi, who helped him see value in his unique skills, Ivan began to evolve into a more proactive and courageous hero. This growth is most evident when he confronts Edward, who had escaped prison to seek revenge. Ivan risked his life to save his former friend from the vigilante Lunatic, finally taking responsibility for his past failure. He later volunteered for a highly dangerous mission to infiltrate the criminal organization Ouroboros by transforming into one of its members, a task for which his ability was perfectly suited. Despite successfully obtaining critical intelligence, he was captured and severely tortured by the villain Jake Martinez, showcasing his newfound willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. While he becomes more selfless and tactically adept, he continues to struggle with self-doubt, often feeling that his reliance on stealth and deception is less honorable than the direct combat style of other heroes.
Ivan shares notable relationships with several characters. He holds deep respect for Kotetsu Kaburagi, who served as a mentor and helped him find his confidence. He is frequently paired with Antonio Lopez, the hero Rock Bison, and although they have a somewhat strained partnership due to Antonio's blunt and critical nature, especially regarding Ivan’s hero name and methods, they develop a functional teamwork dynamic over time. Within the hero community, Ivan is often seen working alongside the young hero Pao-Lin Huang, and the two are depicted as close friends of a similar age. The origin of his hero name is personally significant, stemming from a childhood incident during a typhoon where he first used his powers to calm frightened classmates after being ostracized for revealing his abilities.