Prince Nezha

Prince Nezha is one of those guys with no acquaintances or casual friends — just devoted allies and spiteful enemies. Nezha’s mother gave birth to a rolling ball of flesh after three and-a-half years of pregnancy. His father split open the ball to reveal a boy who could already speak and walk, bearing a magical ring and bolt of cloth. Nezha was almost two meters tall by the time he turned seven. He antagonized the Dragon King Ao Guang, killed his third son and bodyguard, committed suicide in recompense, and became a God of healing. Ultimately his teacher Taiyi Zhenren made him a new body out of lotus roots. Now he dashes about on his Wind-Fire Wheels, flaunting his Universal Ring and his Red Armillary Sash, impaling foes with his Fire-Tipped Spear…you get the picture. Big damn hero, unless of course you ask the Dragon King.

In contrast to Erlang Shén, whose pride is a passive kind of thing that has him laying back in the cut and waiting for accolades to come (inevitably) to him, Nezha’s pride is an active force. He’s badass and he’s got lots of toys, but he’s not quite as badass as Erlang or Sun Wukong, so he has to work to make it up. Nezha’s office constantly licenses the prince’s likeness and life story for animated series, stage productions, feature films, and video games, in exchange for partial creative control and a slew of sacrifices and ceremonies.

Nezha doesn’t give a damn what his Scions do as long as he hears about it. Wanna start a wuxia battle in a nightclub? Rescue a busload of orphans from a right-wing militia? Cure cancer, but one of the cool cancers? Knock yourself out. Knock someone else out, too. Make Dad jealous. That’s how he knows you’re his kid.