History YMMV / MedakaBox

* GrowingTheBeard: The Unzen fight is where the series kicked into high gear, unveiling a DBZ style SuperpoweredEvilSide for Medaka -- War God Mode, where the manga dropped the SliceOfLife element completely for {{Shonen}} style storytelling packed with CrazyAwesome powers and many SerialEscalation upon Escalation that build up on each other.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Because the pre-recorded message that Ajimu left for Kumagawa was realistic and able to be interacted with, it's easy for the reader to assume that [[BatmanGambit because she wanted to see how he'd react, she simply lied about it being a pre-recorded message]].

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Because of the pre-recorded message that Ajimu left for Kumagawa is more like reality than anything, and how Ajimu accurately predicted Kumagawa's actions, it's easy for one to assume that because she wanted to know what Kumagawa would do, [[BatmanGambit she only pretended that the message was pre-recorded]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Zenkichi. A person only motivated by a SubordinateExcuse and following Medaka's justice, or a truly heroic character who simply gets stressed with the burden of helping people? Or both? In canon, he seems to think it's the first. Though he was going through a bout of self-deprecation at the time.

* ArcFatigue:
** The fighting-manga arc has been going on pretty much nonstop since the series came close to being canceled. They stopped for a single chapter, if only for exposition to introduce the new set of villains, then jumped right back in.
** The Successor arc, while providing nice deconstructions to shounen manga, still wasn't as eventful as the other arcs despite its length, and much of its content felt random and disorganized. Medaka's [[TookALevelInJerkass characterization]] didn't help its reception.

* CluelessAesop: This trope has fans all over the internet scratching their heads behind the true meaning of Medaka Box. Is it a {{Satire}}, or a parody of shounen? What is the author's stance on shounen anime? Was it all simply a deconstruction that's been reconstructed? Or was the author even serious about the series at all and is just writing things in at random? Seriously, ''[[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs WHAT WAS THE AUTHOR THINKING?]]''

* JustHereForGodzilla: You will see many fans saying that the manga is only worth reading for seeing [[EvilIsCool Kumagawa]] in action, while they tend to say that the rest of the manga is SoOkayItsAverage.

* HilariousInHindsight: The "Parasite Seeing" abnormality is implied to allow the user to see through the eyes of the reader. However, this plan would fail if the user just happened to close their eyes at the wrong moment or skipped over a few pages.

* CluelessAesop: This trope has fans all over the internet scratching their heads behind the true meaning of Medaka Box. Is it a {{Satire}}, or a parody of shounen? What is the author's stance on shounen anime? Was it all simply a deconstruction that's been reconstructed?, or was the author even serious about the series at all and is just writing things in at random? Seriously, ''[[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs WHAT WAS THE AUTHOR THINKING?]]''

* JustHereForGodzilla: Many fans think that the manga is only worth reading for seeing [[EvilIsCool Kumagawa]] in action. They tend to think that the rest of the manga is SoOkayItsAverage as well.

%%%* MagnificentBastard:
%%%** Kumagawa
%%%** Ajimu tops him [[spoiler: since her plan ultimately led to Medaka's step down from office]].
%%%** Zenkichi is often pegged as Medaka's personal boy toy.

* CrossoverShip: Kumagawa would find a kindred spirit in Nagito Komeda from ''{{Franchise/Danganronpa Danganronpa}}'' due to their similar views on life and [[BornUnlucky self loathing]]. Thanks to Kumagawa's power, he is one of the only people Nagito needn't worry about accidentally killing with his [[BlessedWithSuck luck]].

* CrossoverShip: Kumagawa would find a kindred spirit in Nagito Komeda from ''[[Franchise/Danganronpa Danganronpa]]'' due to their similar views on life and [[BornUnlucky self loathing]]. Thanks to Kumagawa's power, he is one of the only people Nagito needn't worry about accidentally killing with his [[BlessedWithSuck luck]].

* CrossoverShip: Kumagawa would find a kindred spirit in Nagito Komeda from Franchise/Danganronpa due to their similar views on life and [[BornUnlucky self loathing]]. Thanks to Kumagawa's power, he is one of the only people Nagito needn't worry about accidentally killing with his [[BlessedWithSuck luck]].

* IdiotPlot: You would think that in episode eight, where it demonstrates Onigase's strength, the handcuffs wouldn't be too hard for her to brake. At least Medaka had the excuse of "she didn't think Onigase would want the handcuffs broken."

** Aka Aoki. She's been in three chapters, has barely moved from one spot, and didn't even fight. There is already a whole bunch of fanart of her on pixiv. Probably because she's a [[HelloNurse nurse]] though...

* AssPull: ''Lots''. Especially with combat -- [[TropesAreNotBad not that it was handled badly.]] That is, until [[spoiler: Naze Youka being Medaka's never-mentioned-before older sister Kujira.]] There are hints (her eyes being the same as [[spoiler:Medaka's and Maguro's ]] being the main one) but only subtle ones, and it still feels like a huge stretch.

* EvilIsCool: Kumagawa He starts out as the third BigBad, and Medaka's Arch Enemy and complete opposite. His dissonant serenity and overall humor arguably make his character more interesting than Medaka's. And having a [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn status change]]]] doesn't deter his status in the slightest. In the second ''Magazine/ShonenJump'' popularity poll contest, Kumagawa won with almost four thousand votes. The second place holder (Medaka) did not even reach one thousand votes. And for a while he was either played as TheDreaded or the BigBad. His popularity became much higher than even the ''main character'', he's got his own one shot story, and became somewhat of a flagship character for the series. Just compare the amount of fanarts he gets to the rest of the crew on pixiv! Maybe even some people who aren't into ''Medaka Box'' know him by now. Much of his success must be related to his CoolLoser and LovableSexManiac traits, also. Gets a [[LampshadeHanging lampshade hung on it]] in chapter 128.

* CounterpartComparison: Medaka has occasionally drawn comparison to Rias Gremory, the main heroine of ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD''. Both have similar figures, including RapunzelHair of an [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair unnatural color]] inherited paternally, capped off with an IdiotHair, as well as impressively large breasts compared to other girls of their age. Both are presidents of a school position, though Rias leads a club while her friend leads the Student Council. Both are nearly forced into an ArrangedMarriage and avoid it with the help of the main male protagonist. Both girls are the next head of their households, which are extremely wealthy, owning an absurdly large territory, and known for their extremely loving nature. Lastly, both have an [[BrotherSisterIncest overly affectionate]] older brother voiced by Creator/JunichiSuwabe.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Medaka is either a deconstruction of TheAce or played overly too straight despite the many attempts to show her faults. She became more controversial when she TookALevelInJerkass toward Zenkicki during the Successor Arc. [[spoiler:Losing her position to Zenkicki and becoming a "regular" student]] brought her down a peg and made her more likable and entertaining.

* IdiotPlot: You would think that in episode eight, where it demonstrates Onigase's strength, the handcuffs wouldn't be too hard for her to brake. At least Medaka had the excuse of 'she didn't think Onigase would want the handcuffs broken.'

* TrueArtIsAngsty: Naze Youka, who [[spoiler: gave up a life of luxury as one of the Kurokami children]] due to the theory that true genius can only come from living through hell. She decides to stop this attitude in exchange for helping her brother save Koga's life.

** Ajimu Najimi is a parody of the very concept, dialed up (as everything in this series is) to absurd levels.

** Iihiko tops them all. Managing to scare frickin [[PhysicalGod Anshin'in]] of all people and taking it a step further by [[spoiler: killing her with [[CurbstompBattle one hit]] [[ImprobableWeaponUser using glasses]]]]. His creepy demonic appearance and his ability to negate everyone else's powers are not helping.

* DracoInLeatherPants: Kumagawa

** Kumagawa himself. He starts out as the third BigBad, and pretty much Medaka's Arch Enemy and complete opposite. His dissonant serenity and overall humor arguably make his character more interesting than Medaka's. And having a [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn status change]]]] doesn't deter his status in the slightest. In the second ''Magazine/ShonenJump'' popularity poll contest, Kumagawa won with almost four thousand votes. The second place holder (Medaka) did not even reach one thousand votes. And for a while he was either played as TheDreaded or the BigBad. His popularity became much higher than even the ''main character'', he's got his own one shot story, and became somewhat of a flagship character for the series. Just compare the amount of fanarts he gets to the rest of the crew on pixiv! Maybe even some people who aren't into ''Medaka Box'' know him by now. Much of his success must be related to his CoolLoser and LovableSexManiac traits, also. Gets a [[LampshadeHanging lampshade hung on it]] in chapter 128.

** Arguably Youka Naze and Kei Munakata also count as they consistently place in the top 10 on popularity polls despite not being main characters.
** More surprising is Nienami Namanie, who has had a ridiculously little effect on the plot compared to her overwhelming popularity in the fandom.
** Nekomi is also popular for her CombatPragmatist ideology while being perky at the same time. Nekomi is this in-universe as well. As a Special she ranks relatively low on the power scale but is very popular with the student body for her David versus Goliath victories using CombatPragmatism.

* GrowingTheBeard: The Unzen fight, unveiling a DBZ style SuperpoweredEvilSide for Medaka -- War God Mode, where the manga dropped the SliceOfLife element completely for {{Shonen}} style storytelling packed with CrazyAwesome powers and many SerialEscalation upon Escalation that build up on each other.

** Hitoyoshi, arguably. He has Medaka, Shiranui, Kikaijima, Mukae, Ajimu, Naze, Akune, Kumagawa, Maguro, Munakata, and now Tsugiha.

* MagnificentBastard:
** Kumagawa
** Ajimu arguably tops him [[spoiler: since her plan ultimately led to Medaka's step down from office]].
** Zenkichi is often pegged as Medaka's personal boy toy.

** Several female characters fit, but with different archetypes.

* CounterpartComparison: Medaka has occasionally drawn comparison to Rias Gremory, the main heroine of ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD''. Both have similar figures, including RapunzelHair of an [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair unnatural color]] inherited paternally, capped off with an IdiotHair, as well as impressively large breasts compared to other girls of their age. Both are presidents of a school position, though Rias leads a club while her friend leads the Student Council. Both are nearly forced into an ArrangedMarriage and avoid it with the help of the main male protagonist. Both girls' paternal lineages are extremely wealthy, owning an absurdly large territory, and known for their extremely loving nature. Lastly, both have an [[BrotherSisterIncest overly affectionate]] older brother voiced by Creator/JunichiSuwabe.

* GrowingTheBeard:
** The Unzen fight, where it dropped the SliceOfLife element completely for {{Shonen}} style storytelling packed with CrazyAwesome powers and many SerialEscalation upon Escalation that build up on each other.
** The unveiling of a DBZ style SuperpoweredEvilSide for Medaka -- War God Mode, which happened when the manga first started dipping into fighting manga, and the semi-realistic tone was dropped.

** The Successor arc, while providing nice deconstructions to shounen manga, still wasn't as eventful as the other arcs despite its length. Medaka's [[TookALevelInJerkass characterization]] didn't help its reception.