A good personality.
He can have anything else- talent, heart, potential, but if he's insufferable then I don't want to read it no matter what.

http://kittenpatriot.wordpress.com/

talent. a good personality doesn't help, i like a strong character.

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Potential is all well and good. However talent wins battles.

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most shounens usually have someone that has alot of potential right?? seems like thats the best for a typical shounen one..but id prefer one that has a lot of heart and pride

"when i'm sad, i stop being sad and be awesome instead."

• Barney Stinson

Hmm... I'd still say potential is better, even after reading all the posts that furiously claim otherwise. hahaa- I say it feels much more realistic when a character's potential is developed rather than say- godlike powers suddenly appearing out of nowhere with next to no foundation.

i'd say [lots of] secrets.
because i want each one to unravel one at a time in the story :]

potential ftw, since imo potential can not be measured, while talent has a peak

Needs secrets. You need to learn about protagonist piece by piece.

In answer to the topic's main title, I would say potential, since protagonists with potential tend to develop (physically, mentally, emotionally) more than characters with talent (Naruto, anyone?). But I think an interesting personality and secrets would be good to spice up the main character.

When you say Talent are you referring to natural traits that a character has that allow them to effortlessly win? Because in such cases a shounen manga will typically make set it up so the character with potential has to train to overcome them, thus proving that with hard work and GUTS anything is possible. It's, like, the modern Japanese proverb... yeah.

is there a difference between potential and talent??
potential is just talent which has been delayed (except in some manga)

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Sorry For The Lag

I would acutally say for me 'motive' is the biggest factor, without a clearly defined motive presented in the first couple of chapters the main/sub character(s) dont develop at all regardless of talent potential hidden power etc. With a clearly defined motive (usually the simpler the better, ie: Revenge, to be the top ie king hokage, to save etc) i find the mangas usally become interesting or are somewhat enjoyable to read. However there are exceptions.

Heart is most important, or else the protagonist wont have the "will" to unlock potential or use his talent in a way to defeat someone way stronger than him.

Gangryong!!

I will turn your name into a synonym for weakness

great outer beauty of course. lol. hot guys = WIN. lol

ehm... personality and talent... hmm... I think almost every main character is oh-so-great, have incredibly awesome personality... and have killer techniques... blah. even the lame ass would appear cool and great as story goes on... the one that won't change is the face so... I pick handsome face. lol.

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Many Thanks! 😀

I vote secrets since I like a mystery so it's better if the main character is unaware of the secret as well like Allen in D.Gray-man. After that I say potential since I like character development and drawing out potential is a good way for this to happen.

Heart is important for the will and reason to fight but I think it's taken too far. I hate the whole 'I'll never give up' in shounen, it makes the whole thing seem so unrealistic and childish not to mention the aversion to killing anyone off despite all the battles to the death.

Like in the recent Naruto chapters

when the village is wiped out, mass numbers of casualties. Then all brought back to life? WTF!?

The pen is mightier than the sword...and considerably easier to write with.