The powerful esper, Shigeo, battled numerous espers and evil spirits. However, none of these villains were equally powerful to bring down the unbeatable psychic. If you think that his greatest opponent was not among them then you’re absolutely… Right! Because Mob’s greatest opponent was always within him.
Kageyama Shigeo, also known as Mob, is the main protagonist of Mob Psycho 100. One of Tomohiro or ONE‘s creative masterpieces features not only ferocious action-packed scenes. But, the story of Kageyama Shigeo was able to shed light on one of the leading causes of anxiety, the lack of self-esteem.
Most protagonist from any anime or manga series features someone who is going through or had gone through something in their life that significantly affected the way they live their lives. These sufferings and pains are what boost the main character’s ability to beat those who bring injustice to people. Kageyama Shigeo of Mob Psycho 100, also had to carry a burden for a long time.
Mob was born with the innate ability to perform psychic powers; however, this didn’t turn out well for him when he was young.
Ritsu, Shigeo’s younger brother, is the first person who first encountered the untameable side of his brother. Although his older brother’s intention was to save Ritsu from the bad guys, this did not turn out well. Shigeo has gone berserk and ended up hurting the one he needed to protect.
This led him to Reigen Arataka who later on became his Master.
Read More: Did Tsubomi and Shigeo End up Together in Mob Psycho 100?
When Shigeo wanted to seek to know more about his powers, he visited Reigen, the Spirits and Such Consultation Office owner, who eventually hired Mob as a part-time esper.
As a part-time esper who expells evil spirits as per request from Reigen’s client. Mob may have encountered and perished hundreds of them. As many now know, most anime always have an anti-hero—the antagonist, who the hero must end its villainous plot. Usually, the story’s main protagonist fights not only one villain throughout the story. And the story of Kageyama Shigeo of Mob Psycho 100 is one of them.
Who are the Villains in Mob Psycho 100?
Like many other manga and anime series, Mob Psycho 100 also had enemies who brought destruction to others. Here is a list of the specific Arcs that cover each of Mob’s battles with them.
1. 7th Division Arc
The first season of the said anime adapted five arcs. The last one covered the 7th Division Arc. The members of the said division were practically the main villains of season one. They imprisoned Ritsu and the young espers from the Awakening Lab.
However, these villains did not remain victorious, for Mob and his friends eventually defeated them. Infused with Mob’s 1000% psychic powers, Reigen was able to beat them and convinced them to turn over a new leaf.
2. Keiji Mogami Arc
On the other hand, fans thought that Mob’s greatest opponents were the ones he fought in season two. One of them is an overpowered evil spirit. Shigeo met one of the most potent evil spirits who was once a famous esper, Keiji Mogami.
Espers, famously known around the globe, were invited to defeat the evil spirit who used a rich man’s daughter, Minori, as a vessel. Many feared the evil spirit when his identity was revealed. The esper who relentlessly killed both humans and spirits with no mercy. Many believed that Mob finally met his match for Mogami was known as the “Greatest Psychic of the 20th Century.”
However, this was not the case. As Shigeo was locked up inside a parallel world created by Mogami. He felt nothing but negativity, which he almost lost as he slowly lost his memories. Good thing his evil spirit friend, Dimple, was able to stop him from doing a terrible thing. As Mob’s emotions rose, he gained 100% of his power control that blasted the mental world of Mogami, resulting in him losing his vessel.
3. World Domination Arc
Moreover, during the World Domination Arc of season two, Mob met the leader of the 7th Division or the evil organization Claw, Toichiro Suzuki. Suzuki wanted the world for himself. He is the complete opposite of Mob who believed his psychic powers should never be used against other human beings.
In an attempt to control the world, Suzuki reserved his psychic energy to ensure the fulfillment of his long-created plan. With his terrorist organization recruiting and abducting powerful psychics, he thought no one in the world can surpass him. Not until he met Shigeo who crushed his hard work into dust.
Suzuki is an esper who can manifest various psychokinetic abilities which allowed him to rival Mob’s power.
His power output also increased as he release intense emotion. Like Shigeo, Suzuki also reached different levels of power control. But his body wasn’t able to handle the consequence as he was only able to reach 40% before he met Mob. During their battle, Suzuki entered 100% power output control which instilled fear in Mob. This could have made Toichiro Suzuki as Mob’s greatest opponent; however, his body was overwhelmed with too much power causing him to self-destruct.
With Shigeo’s determination to not save his enemy, he then sucked out some of Suzuki’s psychic energy to balance it out and prevent him from dying.
4. Divine Tree Arc
At the end of Mob and Suzuki’s battle, the Divine Tree emerged which led him to his next opponent. His evil-turned-friend-turned-evil-turned-friend spirit friend, Dimple. Dimple decided to continue his plan in becoming a God. Using the Divine Tree created from the battle in World Domination Arc. He began plotting his evil scheme.
Dimple used the religious group created by those who believe in the Divine Tree. He began his plan by pretending to be the real leader of the Psycho Helmet Cult instead of Mob. He use a large number of followers of the said cult to fulfill his plan. Everyone who was able to have contact with the Divine Tree succumbed to Dimple’s plan and was brainwashed.
With the immense energy that the Divine Tree holds, Dimple was successful in achieving God-like powers. He manipulated the tree according to his will and became strong enough to handle the attacks of Shigeo. Although he still feared Mob attaining the 100% of his power control, Dimple still fought with him. But, Dimple’s true self – being a good spirit, still prevailed as his friend, Shigeo, brought him back to his senses.
The evil spirits and villains-turned-allies that Mob faced and battled with may have overwhelmed him temporarily on the battlefield. None of them were strong enough to bring him down. Because his greatest opponent, who equally possess the same amount of powers, was not among them.
Who Is the Greatest Villain in Mob Psycho 100?
The greatest villain in Mob Psycho 100 is Kageyama Shigeo. Yes, you read it right! Mob’s greatest opponent was none other than himself.
Mob has reached 100% numerous times while fighting those who challenged him, and those who held wicked plans. Whenever Mob feels intense emotions, he reaches 100%, which allows him to boost his powers even more.
Almost all anime and manga characters have struggled with something about themselves, whether it is something they did in the past or something they were born with. For Mob Psycho 100 fans who have watched plenty of anime and have read a number of manga series, this wasn’t new. Because a number of characters in an anime or manga series also had a hard time battling their inner demons.
For instance, the legendary shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village from the Naruto series, Uzumaki Naruto, faced his inner self. As someone who was rejected by his village when he was young, the present Naruto refused to accept the idea that he once hated those in the village. Through this, his dark self was born, but Naruto, later on, accepted these inner thoughts of his, allowing him to access greater power, and be one with himself.
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The same thing happened to the strongest esper in Mob Psycho 100. An accident meant to save a kid from being hit by a car unleashed the dark side of Kageyama Shigeo. He reached ???% and lost control over himself.
He imposed havoc on the city and hurt most of his friends. Even though his friend, Teruki Hanazawa, was able to awaken his conscience, his dark side still had the upper hand in terms of controlling his mind and body.
What did Mob refuse to accept? Mob refused to accept the truth about his Master Reigen. His inner self knew that Reigen was lying all along about having psychic powers. He knew that his Master didn’t really relate to his experiences as a psychic. He knew that his Master was just a normal human being; however, he denied all of this.
After Reigen finally had the courage to confess all his lies and ask for Mob’s forgiveness. Mob accepted his Master’s apology because despite all his lies. He had the kindest heart, especially for Shigeo.
Mob came to accept his other self. He accepted all of his doubts about Reigen and his fear of being rejected by Tsubomi. Mob then became one with himself, reaching his full potential and gaining control of his power.
Kageyama Shigeo met and fought espers and evil spirits, fist-to-fist, power-to-power. The overpowered esper never met someone who can overpower his psychic ability because his greatest opponent was always himself.
Can Mob’s Story Serve as a Lesson?
Of course! Definitely, it can! We can all learn from Shigeo’s story. Though we weren’t born as espers nor with someone who has any sort of power. Though we are just like Reigen, a simple human being. We are also experiencing what Mob had gone through.
Having been born with an uncontrollable psychic ability made Shigeo feel like he was alone. He isolated himself from the world after hurting his little brother. He kept his emotions hidden and was always very reserved when it comes to things. Due to his concealed feelings, another side of him was born. The evil part of him.
We cannot deny that we also have our own inner demons. We have an inner part of ourselves we wished to deny. An inner demon we are trying to fight.
But no matter how hard you’ll try to deny it, it will always be there. Thus, it is important to know based on Mob’s story that concealing your emotions will never be okay. Sometimes the best thing to do to live a more peaceful life is to accept our worst parts.
By the time Mob have come to accept his life, he was able to live better together with his family and friends. The story of Shigeo teaches us to never isolate ourselves. It is better to acknowledge what you feel, express it, and always accept yourself no matter what.
Never forget that you have your family and friends who are there to support you. Just like how Mob had his.
Hence, if you’re just like Mob. Speak up and never be afraid to express yourself. The key to living a good life is acceptance. Overcome your dark side by hearing them out, listen to yourself. A simple talk-no-jutsu with your inner self wouldn’t hurt. Besides, we are all on a lifelong journey of finding ourselves and our own path in life.
