Reader’s Question:
Why is Kid the Phantom Thief treated as a hero in the Conan series when he steals important items and hurts people? Kogoro Mouri mentioned that he doesn’t sympathize with anyone who has killed, but is theft considered a lesser crime? Is it a world where only heroes can
get away with crimes?
Kid the Phantom Thief: Anti-Hero or Just Misunderstood?
So, I was having a chat with a friend recently about the “Detective Conan” series, and we stumbled upon a pretty fascinating debate: Why is Kid the Phantom Thief treated like a hero, despite being a thief? I mean, the dude steals priceless items and occasionally hurts people in the process. It got me thinking about the nature of crime and how society, even in fiction, tends to romanticize certain characters. One of the points that came up was Kogoro Mouri’s stance on crime. He outright says he doesn’t sympathize with anyone who has killed, which makes sense—murder is a pretty big deal! But theft? That seems to be a different ball game. In the world of Conan, it feels like there’s this unspoken rule where only certain “heroes” can pull off crimes without being vilified. Kid, for instance, announces his heists in advance and makes them almost theatrical, which amps up the entertainment factor. It’s like he’s turned theft into a performance art! I remember a specific episode where he returns stolen goods to their rightful owners, which complicates the whole “is he a hero or a villain?” narrative. In the case of the “Fairy’s Lips,” he steals an item that originally belonged to someone who got duped out of it. So, in that moment, you can’t help but feel a bit of admiration for him. It’s like he’s playing a moral game with a twist. But what struck me is how, despite his actions, he’s never really portrayed as a hero in the series. He’s always just a thief in a cat-and-mouse game with Conan. The police are constantly on his tail, treating him like a serious criminal—which, to be fair, he is! It’s amusing to think about how we, as viewers, often find ourselves rooting for him, even while acknowledging that he’s breaking the law. It’s like that moment when you accidentally show up at a party an hour early, thinking you’ll be the first one there, only to find out you’re the only one standing awkwardly by the snack table. You’re there, munching on chips, trying to convince yourself that it’s all part of the plan. That’s how I feel about Kid sometimes. He’s the early bird to the crime party, but he’s still a party crasher. And it makes me wonder: Are there times in our lives when we’ve rooted for the “bad guy” because they seem to have a code or a charm about them? Maybe it’s that cheeky, rebellious spirit we all secretly admire. What about you? Have you ever found yourself cheering for a character who’s clearly in the wrong? I’d love to hear your stories or any tips on how to navigate those gray moral areas in fiction! Let’s chat in the comments!
