Episode 17 of To Be Hero X, titled “Whisper Flower,” delves deep into the tragic past of Little Johnny, one-half of the “Johnnies” duo and the 5th-ranked hero in the series’ unique, trust-based superhero system. The episode, released on July 27, 2025, marked the beginning of “The Johnnies Arc” and shed crucial light on Little Johnny’s motivations and his bond with his alien companion, Big Johnny.
The Genesis of a Hero: Sheng’s Sacrifice and Little Johnny’s Innocence
The episode opens with a poignant flashback to Little Johnny’s childhood, introducing his father, Sheng, a renowned hero and healer who once held the coveted title of “X.” Sheng retired from hero work after his wife’s health deteriorated and he was unable to save her, despite his healing abilities. This personal tragedy led Sheng and Little Johnny to leave the bustling hero society and seek a peaceful life in the mountains.
During an investigation into a UFO crash site, Sheng discovered an alien creature that would become known as Big Johnny. This cat-like alien was brought into their home, and Little Johnny quickly formed a deep bond with it, treating Big Johnny like a son.
A Conspiracy Unveiled: The Assassination of Sheng
The idyllic life of Sheng, Little Johnny, and Big Johnny is shattered by a shocking act of violence. While Sheng, as the former “X,” was privy to high-level secrets within the superhero world, this knowledge ultimately proved dangerous. He was pressured by Hero Vortex, the current “X” who inherited the title from Sheng, to return to heroics due to his unmatched healing abilities. However, Sheng refused, leading to his brutal assassination by Ghostblade, an assassin acting under mysterious orders, possibly orchestrated by a scandal within the hero association.
Little Johnny, returning home, discovers his father’s lifeless body, leading him to mistakenly blame Vortex for the tragedy. Overwhelmed by grief and a thirst for revenge, Little Johnny’s intense emotions trigger Big Johnny’s latent powers, transforming the alien into a gigantic, berserk monster. This chaotic transformation marks a dramatic shift in the episode, as Big Johnny begins to rampage through the nearby village.
The Current State: Echoes of the Past
The episode culminates with Hero X (the present one, not Vortex) arriving to confront the monstrous Big Johnny, using his vortex power to subdue the threat. Ghostblade, the true assassin, observes the chaos from a distance, his involvement still hidden from Little Johnny. The events of this episode lay the foundation for Little Johnny’s journey as a hero, driven by vengeance and unaware of the true culprit behind his father’s death.
The Significance of “Whisper Flower”
“Whisper Flower” serves as a pivotal episode, moving from the Ghostblade Arc into “The Johnnies Arc” and providing a crucial backstory for one of the Top 10 ranked heroes. It highlights the core themes of To Be Hero X, where “faith” or “trust” directly influences superhero abilities, and the loss of that belief can lead to a hero losing their powers. The episode effectively blends family drama with superhero action, emphasizing the emotional toll of heroism and the complex, often corrupt, nature of the hero system. The visual style of To Be Hero X, which can shift between 2D and 3D animation, is particularly notable during Big Johnny’s transformation, showcasing fluid and vibrant energy.
To Be Hero X premiered on April 6, 2025, and is a co-production between BeDream, Bilibili, and Aniplex, directed by Li Haolin. The series is known for its non-linear storytelling, with 11 narrative arcs told out of chronological order, and each arc chain-linked by the focus character of the next arc appearing in the preceding one. Episode 17 continues this unique narrative approach, revealing events that happened years before the current timeline, connecting to the overall lore of the series and the “Downfall” event that led to the formation of the Hero Affairs Commission.
