*during the holidays*

Me: No more junk.

Also me:

Sure! I’ll show both sides just to be fair, though.

1) Prussia and Fritz.

The two shared a very close relationship. Prussia viewed him
as a father figure and gets depressed at any mention of him in the present. He
also sleeps with a photo of Fritz on his night stand.

Source: Hetarchive, Notes & Etc + Hetarchive, April Fools Event 2009 + Hetarchive, Christmas Event 2011.

2) France and Napoleon.

France oversaw Napoleon’s rise to power, similar to a father
figure.

However, he later becomes terrified of him. The context is
that during Halloween, ghosts of past bosses are able to visit Earth. Napoleon
becomes furious because he thinks that France has become too soft.

Sources: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 358 + Hetarchive, Christmas Event 2014.

3) Spain and Queen Joanna

She angrily berates him for wasting too much resources on
Romano.

Sources: Hetarchive, Boss Spain Doesn’t Understand 1 & 2.

4) Russia and Peter the Great

The two both underwent a process of Westernization. Russia
was sent to France to study his culture. There was a lot of intermingling with
French nobility at the time.

Sources: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 298 & 299.

5) England and Queen Elizabeth II

She encourages him to give America a gift for his
bi-centennial. She also warns England not to ruin his health, as he becomes violently
ill every year on America’s Independence Day.

Source: Volume 4.

Why does Russia have a habit of eating strange things?

It’s just a comic gag (e.g., he’s eaten a naval brigade, the punchline of a joke, and England’s anger in the form of pointed arrows).

Source: Hetascanlations & 194

Q & A

Is it cannon that Russia
has a scar around his neck and he covers it up with his scarf? Or just a really
popular fan thing?

Somewhat canon. We don’t know if there’s a scar, but he covers up his neck with the scarf/ bandage. It’s
from the history Copy Book.

I’ve done a post on how he also covers up his chest if
you’re interested [x].

Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., Jan 20th, 2015).

Hello! Is America’s rapid growth the reason for
his dualism? He grown up so fast that his mentality wasn’t able to keep up. So
now it’s like clashing of grown-up and child sides. His grown up side is about
working together, child side about everything being his way; grown up
successfully invested himself in the second industrial revolution, child side
believes in ‘superhero will save the day’ plan etc

Hi! I’m not a hundred
percent sure what you’re arguing but yes for the most part. He did grow up very
fast and still possesses a childish mentality. Posts on that here [x] [x]. I attribute the childish mentality to his
isolation. He matured slower because he lacked interaction with other nations and comes off as egocentric without realizing it.

However, you should also
keep in mind that there’s a panel that states that America underwent a
personality change when he became an adult.

Source: Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans., Feb 25th, 2015).

As a Canadian yourself, how do you feel the
personification holds up to your experiences? (I think America is damn /near/
spot on for me, an American)

Stereotypes aren’t
always supposed to be spot on. The most accurate thing is how much American
content we consume. Other than that, yes, we are crazy about hockey. But no, we’re
not all nice. We’re actually quite smug and use America as the butt of all our
jokes…as if we don’t have our own racist history.

There’s also the fact
that because Canada is so big, there isn’t really a universal experience. There’s
the remote areas where there’s hardly any diversity and then there’s urban
areas like Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver that are extremely diverse.
The weather also ranges drastically across the country lol.

I don’t know if it was canon, but I saw
somewhere that Romano works as exorcist.

It’s not canon. Romano’s just used as a figure head to demonstrate jobs around the world (it’s part of the segment). In this case, it’s the Vatican.

Source: Volume 6.

I know we cannot expect Himaruya to personify
all countries (for obvious reasons) but i still think about how he at least
once thought about Latin American countries. Specifically Mexico, Argentina and
Brazil. I think it’d be fun to see these countries (if it were to ever happen),
what do you think?

Well, as I’ve mentioned before, Himaruya has a tendency to travel to countries before he embodies them in his work. On the other hand, the more I think about it, the more I understand why he hasn’t personified countries from Africa and the Middle East. The stereotype model would be difficult to incorporate without it being highly offensive (e.g., the uninformed and ignorant generalization that every inch of Africa impoverished). It would be pretty tricky to navigate. Although, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to see them personified.

Also how is what I said about the glasses threat cherry picking??The overall mood of the strip isn’t a kind one and France isn’t buying that nice guy,best buddies act from them in the end.The smiles and words are clearly lies further pointing out the tension between them.I really think you’re just failing to see the bigger picture in a lot of these strips and panels.

It is cherry
picking. Here’s why.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 53.

The mood of
the strip isn’t that France isn’t buying their pleasantries. He’s both shocked
and surprised but nonetheless expresses happiness at their reconciliatory
efforts.

The context
of the strip + the context of other strips is important here, not just the
former. You can’t understand the progression in their relationship otherwise.

The strip
shows how America and Russia have progressed from physical threats and a more
volatile relationship from the Cold War to exchanging pleasantries with jabs
here and there. In no way are they best buddies–Russia is incapable of
having a relationship like that because of how unstable and unpredictable he is– but they don’t despise each other either.

Instead,
just like any other friend-rival dynamics, they get on each other’s nerves.

Which is a
far cry from what their relationship used to be like.

Ex: Russia once threatened to make America’s gums bleed.

Source: Together with Russia, Volume 5.

The mood of the strip, or rather, the message of the
strip is that the two get along now. Relics from their Cold War past emerge in
their competitive and passive jabs at each other, which prompts France’s uneasy
reaction at the end. It’s still a new thing for them to interact like this.

You see this in the
2013-2014 Halloween Event too, where Russia agrees to help America with the costume
contest, but only if he’s compensated. Again, not buddy-buddy, but definitely
on good working terms.

Previously, he also helped America scare England, without any compensation either.

Source: Hetarchive, Merry Halloween.

If the message of the
strip was what you’re saying–that is, that they don’t get along–then the strip wouldn’t have ended the way
that it did. They’re facing unbuilt ground, i.e., a new phase in their
relationship.

If you have more to say,
please comment below rather than leaving an anonymous question. It’s easier to
keep track of.

Q & A

Another relationship I’m pretty confused on is
FrUK. Not nearly as much as RusAme tho.When Himaruya writes these two its more
like the ho yay between them is a joke and twice Himaruya has shot down the
idea of either of them liking each other like that.France got freaked out over
a fan pretending to be England in love with him. England got freaked out over
the idea of France being in love with him. Of course you can ship as you please
but I’m just so bewildered as to why you think they could happen.

The idea of it + my
understanding didn’t just emerge in a vacuum. There is evidence suggesting a
possibility of romance for them, even if the series does give off mixed
messages.

For example: the second
instance you mention (I think it’s the World Stars Chapter you’re referring to)
shows England getting defensive about reciprocating his perception that France may have feelings for him.

“It’s not…it’s not
like I like you all or anything!” (he’s referring both to the French people and France).

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 317.

There’s also the running
gag where France laments about how England would be cute if he didn’t talk so
much.

Sources: Hetarchive, England Caught a Cold! + Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, Feb 2nd, 2015).

Another example would be
the Dream United Kingdom strip, which I covered already. Please look at my post directory before sending in asks.

Even though England
vehemently opposes the idea of being married to France, he cites that he doesn’t
want to marry him because of the economic desperation generated by the Suez
Canal Crisis.

“I don’t want to get
married for this lame reason,” is a rejection, sure, but it’s odd how it’s not
an outright rejection. It leaves open the possibility that he would be open to
marrying France for a better reason…whatever that is.

Source: Hetarchive, Dream United Kingdom.

My posts on the matter:
[x] [x].

Do you really think so positively of a
relationship like…RusAme?Its been stared time and time again that they don’t
like one another,have an extremely tense relationship and the real life
relationship between these two countries is very volatile and just as full of
hate.Russia has even fantasized about destroying something as simple as
America’s glasses.Sure Hetalia has messages of getting along and stuff but
these two just barely tolerate each other at best.

I’m pretty sure this is
the same anon from above.

If anything, I’m a bit bewildered
as to why you claim that I view RusAme so positively? I haven’t said anything
of the such nor have I only illustrated this side of their relationship. It
would be unfair and inaccurate to claim that I have.

On the other hand, what
I have done is prove that their relationship isn’t only hate—that they can
and do get along. In the Shipping Series post I made of them, I claim upfront
that there are no romantic hints of them and instead explain that the parallels
I draw between them can be used as tools for those who ship them to use in
their characterizations.

Both posts can be found
in my post directory [x] [x].

Here’s a quote from
the opening paragraph if you want to verify.

“Below will be a list of parallels between America and Russia that I think would benefit any RusAme writer should they wish to incorporate them into their works. While in canon there is minimal romantic substantiation, this post merely aims to provide writers with tools that highlight the similar chemistries and complexes that America and Russia both experience. In no way is this forcing the ship onto anyone either.“

Lastly, as mentioned
above, while Russia and America get on each other’s nerves—as I have already acknowledged
in a post documenting their rivalry—

there are also many instances where they
get along.

Ex: They’re spotted happily drinking together.

Source: Hetarchive, April Fools’ 2011.

Ex: Russia has visited America
at his home.

Source: Hetascanlatons, World Stars Chapter 157.

Ex: There’s that café scene
in World Stars, which while highlighting how they still grind each other’s
gears, the underlying message is that they nonetheless get along in the end.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 53.

I’ll be transparent in
admitting that it’s a pet peeve of mine when people only focus on the glasses
remark Russia makes in that scene while ultimately ignoring how said scene is
wrapped up. It’s cherry-picking.

Not sure if you’ve been asked this before, but
in your opinion what would you say the sexualities of the Hetalia characters
are?

If you’re unsure if I’ve
covered something, you can always check my post directory. I have done a post
on ‘sexualities’, but I use that term for a lack of a better word. I also don’t
believe in assigning labels when they haven’t been given, as I believe that the
characters are open for interpretation, and instead show how some nations are canonically
LGBTQ +.

Post [x].

What’s the context
for France getting shot???

He tries to strip Switzerland.

Source: Hetarchive, Christmas 2007 Event.

How do different nations
deal with loss? (A friend dying, e.t.c..)

This post should help a
bit [x].

You also have Greece,
who copes with his mother’s loss by visiting her ruins and holding onto her relics, and Romano, who can’t
be visited by Rome without bursting out into tears of happiness.

Sources: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 99 & 100 Hetarchive (Bamboo Thicket, eng trans. April 5th 2011).

This guide will give a concise rundown of how the nations experience
and participate in wars.

Status:

They’re no different than any other citizen fighting for
their country. In other words, they aren’t given any special treatment.

Ex: There’s a comic gag regarding how terrible it was to be
a Russian soldier.

So much so, that Russia becomes ecstatic when Germany takes
him as a prisoner of war.

Sources: Volume 1.

Ex: During WW2, Germany is said to tolerate his way through
pain every day.

Source: Hetarchive, Hetare 5: Lietuvis.

When captured as a prisoner of war himself, he states that
torture is no more than a mosquito bite to him.

Source: Volume 1.

Regarding food, they’re not allocated extra supplies. If
their population is starving, so are they.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 120.

They’re given rations just like any other soldier.

Source: Volume 5, Let’s Eat Military Rations!

They fight with their people rather than being fought for.

Source: Volume 4, The Ruler of Scandinavia and the King of Eastern Europe.

Post locations:

Nations can serve on the ground, the navy, and
the air.

Sources: Volume 3, A Battlefield’s Kickoff + Hetarchive, Hetare 3: Nonagression pact + Hetarchive, Germany & Cohabitation.

Missions:

They get missions from their bosses.

Ex: Germany is tasked with annexing Austria.

Source: Hetarchive, The Austrian Anschluss.

Ex: Germany and Prussia are asked to infiltrate America’s war
camp.

There’s a tendency for people to wave off Russia as a flat
character due to the fact that his ‘craziness’ (for lack of a better word) is
poorly written. This trait dominates the fandom’s perception of him and erases
the larger picture of the reason behind why he acts the way that he does. No, it’s
not a stereotype for Russian people to be emotionally unpredictable and cruel, which
is a big reason why his characterization is often contested. However, Russia’s
mental state was never meant to represent a stereotype. It’s instead a tool
that Himaruya uses to demonstrate the impact that Russia’s volatile and chaotic
history had on him.

For example, Russia is described as a simple bumpkin type.
While this is supposed to be in reference to his impoverished lifestyle, this
is often misattributed to his personality.

Note: Russia isn’t treated as an
elite in his nation and is instead treated like an average citizen, not reaping
any of the benefits that the selfish oligarchs in power did.

Source: Volume 2.

Ex: Russia was
tasked with building a waterway with his people during the Stalinization period…without food and adequate clothing. Notice
the contrast with the person ordering him around, who has food and warm
clothing.

Cruel, isn’t it?

Source: Hetarchive, To Your Heart’s Content, Russia!

That said, I’ve covered and contextualized the reasons for Russia’s
“warped sense of reality” in another post [x]. What I specifically want to focus on
here is how World Stars goes the extra mile in developing his character. Yes,
there were a good amount of strips prior that shed considerable insight into Russia’s
mind; however, World Stars really fleshes out these earlier strips.

Let’s go over them.

Economic and Cultural
Revolutions:

We see Russia go through several personal and national developments.

With Peter the Great and his Westernizing reforms, Russia
gains cultural capital and begins mingling with French nobility. He’s tasked
with studying France’s culture. I’ll get into this in more detail soon but
notice how Russia mentions that he’s unable to go home until he gains this
information on France.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 295,298, & 299.

During the industrial revolution, he begins as a poor nation
without any attractive resources. This all changes when he discovers oil and
finally begins to catch up to other industrialized nations.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 61.

Political Turmoils
and Inconsistency:

Russia is notorious for its dark and bloody history.

Think about how disorienting and traumatizing it would have
been for Russia to experience one chaotic shift in government to another.

World Stars effectively demonstrates the rapidity of these
transitions.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 61.

Helplessness + Its
Impacts:

Since personifications are obligated to obey their Heads of
State, they’re inevitably put in a complicated position of inferiority and
subjugation.

Russia’s bosses are the most brutal example of this. The
control they have over them is extensive and abusive, both physically and verbally.

Ex: Russia’s threatened into building a steam engine. Notice
again how he dissociates the moment that he’s threatened. It’s an indication of
trauma.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 61.

Ex: He cryptically comments about vote counts in his
elections, alluding to the fact that they’re fraudulent but also how he can’t
do anything about it.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 157.

Ex: He needs to be granted permission to visit other
nations.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 143.

Isolation and loneliness:

Lastly, we learn that Russia suffers from chronic
loneliness.

In his childhood, a good New Year’s for him was not freezing
to death. Cut to the present, and, while not nearly as traumatic, he’s still
alone. Obviously, this is the result of the abuse he inflicted on the ex-Soviet
nations he invites over to his house. They’re understandably not keen to
see him.

If anything, this just further elaborates on the idea that the trauma he
experienced has prevented him from maintaining healthy relationships with
others. He’s remained forever as a child because of it and is unaware of the
harm and cruelty he inflicts onto those around him.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 235 & 236.

There’s also this chapter, which highlights how Russia would
rather be around shouting nations [during a meeting] than being alone. The unpredictability
and violence of his nation’s history are reflected in his dark comment about
silencing the shouts “as lawfully” as possible should they get too loud.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 49.

With all that in mind, this post doesn’t seek to defend Russia,
nor does it remove him from the cruelty of his actions. Instead, what I hoped to do was prove that his character extends beyond the crazy stereotype. It’s filled with a much deeper meaning than what is conventionally understood.