Positions of power often mark a true measure of a man. Sometimes, they’ll let the power go to their head and take advantage of it for their means. Other times, some step up to the challenge of leadership and can lead their teams through the best and worst of any situation.
That doesn’t change when you’re fighting infernal beings who are hellbent on making things explode in the world of Fire Force. Are they a force of good, willing to protect the innocent as well as the company that s their lead, or are they too far gone? Let’s find out which captains are worth their salt, and which are just the worst.
8 Dr. Giovanni
Formally Of Special Fire Force Company 3
There’s nothing worse than a traitor. And not to pigeonhole a person or anything, but this doctor doesn’t exactly exude trust when you first meet him. So, is it a surprise when he trades his darker robes for white-clad ones and reveals his true alliances? As a leader, he was ruthless and often didn’t care who lived or died; enemy, subordinate, or otherwise.
As a man of science, he’s combined his pyrokinesis with the various mechanical appendages hiding under his coat, like his heat-controlled hand or his spider legs. Still, the artificial arachnid isn’t unbeatable and gets the karma of his betrayal in the end. Worst captain ever.
7 Gustav Honda
Special Fire Force Company 2
As far as captains go, he seems like a stand-up guy. His subordinates like him well enough, and he’s even saved a trainee from a collapsing building during a competition! His pyrokinesis ability takes full tactical advantage of his bald head by producing flames, which he uses both offensively and defensively. It’s smart!
So why is he so low on the list? There isn’t enough about him, at all. His appearances are only relevant in the first two arcs. After that, he’s just chilling or running in the background. Maybe he’ll become more relevant later down the line in the anime, but only time will tell.
6 Kayoko Huang
Special Fire Force Company 6
When those who are in support roles are doing their job well, the attackers and defenders are the ones to shine, but when the healers and support fail, their absence is quickly felt by all. Luckily, this captain and doctor is a master at her craft, and has, at least up until the end of season 2, yet to lose anyone from any company. Any Infernal who comes across her path isn’t so lucky.
Her pyrokinesis skills take the shape of an Asklepian, the lesser-known symbol for healing alongside the twin snake Caduceus, and it is quite formidable. It can heal obvious bruises and wounds, sure, but it can also cure diseases and treat underlying symptoms as well. A highly underrated healer among healers, and is sadly overshadowed by far more explosive captains.
5 Soichiro Hague
Special Fire Force Company 4
Having pyrokinesis powers is a plus when fighting infernals and other serious threats, but as we see with Soichiro Hague and a few others, that isn’t a requirement. All one really needs is bravery, and perhaps a little bit of grit. That, or maybe be a person who likes to dance on the reckless side, no matter how orderly you come across.
Hague is a master at hand-to-hand combat and can handle firefighting tools with the best of them, which is no wonder he was able to secure a captain spot. Unfortunately, his obsession with the Adolla Burst and trying to connect with Adolla itself has made him into a bit of an inflammatory masochist, so he’ll put himself in harm’s way at (in)opportune times, putting missions at risk.
4 Princess Hibana
Special Fire Force Company 5
On the flip side, Princess Hibana demands all the attention in the room whenever she walks in, being carried in by her company/Throne of men she uses for her entertainment. She might be a little bit of a sadist, but throughout the series, she is shown to be a loyal ally to Company 8.
While she prefers science to fighting, she will still burn enemies with her cherry blossom flames, which are not only hot enough to burn but sharp enough to slice through skin. Just don’t ask her to take any physical hits, she’s not going to do that for just anyone.
3 Leonard Burns
Formerly of Special Fire Force Company 1
Stoicism. Ambitions. Devotion. Leonard Burns is a Captain of integrity down to a fault. He believes that all Fire Soldiers must keep their emotions out of the way of duty, or it’ll cloud their judgment. In a lot of ways, he wasn’t wrong, but some would argue that this is stubbornness, not leadership. Even he admits this, but never to his subordinates.
If you see the fire burn brightly in his patched eye, you’re cooked, no pun intended. His pyrokinesis ability isn’t explosive in the way other users are, but it stokes the fire in his body, making it immensely stronger and more durable, taking the fight from fighting a strong man to an overheating tank with fists.
2 Akitaru Obi
Special Fire Force Company 8
When you can bring nothing but your muscles to a firefight and win, you know you’re messing with a badass! Even Fire Soldiers outside of Company 8 are aware of his otherworldly feats of strength and surprising durability against more fiery opponents. Among the captains, he can hold his own against the best of them.
Akitaru’s personality has a playful side, but once there’s danger, all that nonsense disappears, and all decorum is turned on. He expects all of his company to respect the chain of command and pop off at Company 8 if he finds them lacking in professionalism.
1 Benimaru Shinmon
Special Fire Force Company 7
Thrust into the captain role when Company 7 was formed, Benimaru quickly became beloved in Asakusa and known as the King of Destruction. He doesn’t concern himself with politics or much of anything outside the protection of his city, and honestly? He’s better off for it when you first meet him.
He is the strongest in both physical combat and (for a time) pyrokinesis. How strong? When some Infernals decided to attack Asakusa, he blew off the roofs of four buildings with a single blast. The man is power incarnate, quite literally, if Konro’s speculations about Benimaru are to be believed. Still, Benimaru is made up of nothing but pure Captain power and charisma.
