Identity: Kotetsu T. Kaburagi
Nicknames: Crusher of Justice, Scary Tiger
Birthday: late 30s
Gender: male
Height: 180 cm. (5'11")
Hair: cordovan
NEXT Power: Hundred Power
Sponsors: Apollon Media (Sponsor Company), S.H.Figuarts, SoftBank, Softbank FamilyMart, Top MaG (former)
Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, nicknamed Wild Tiger, is one of the series' main protagonists and a veteran hero whose lack of regard for collateral damage when fighting crime had earned him the nickname the "Crusher of Justice" for the wrong reasons by the public. He starts the series as one of the least popular heroes of Sternbild City, but he seems to care more about helping the people in the city than earning ratings, points, or fame.
At the age of 10, he was present during an attempted bank robbery which was foiled by the veteran hero Mr. Legend.
One of the criminals took Kotetsu hostage and the latter activated his NEXT powers out of stress and fear, sending his captor flying across the room. Kotetsu believed that anyone who touched him while his power was active would be hurt, but Mr. Legend convinced him otherwise and told him that his power was meant to save people. This encounter with Mr. Legend inspired Kotetsu to later become a hero himself.
Ten months after the incident with Jake, Wild Tiger and Barnaby have become both well-known and popular. Additionally, their relationship has greatly improved and Lloyds is now adamant that Kotetsu not even consider quitting being a hero. As a result of their new popularity, the duo becomes the focus of numerous photoshoots and TV appearances, which Lloyds often prioritizes over actual hero work. They even end up performing alongside Blue Rose in a live concert. During said concert, when a criminal steals Blue Rose's bag, Kotetsu's usual Hundred Power seems to gain a boost in strength as he finds himself running faster and jumping farther than he would usually. Subsequent uses of his power run out before the five-minute time limit.
The reason why Kotetsu doesn't want to quit being a hero despite being in his late 30's and having a daughter as well is because he made a promise to his wife, Tomoe, that he will never stop being a hero.
Later on, he gets mistaken for a criminal and framed due to Albert Maverick's NEXT power.
MAJOR SPOILER
The pair soon learns that the other heroes (and Kaede) were defeated and taken captive, courtesy of a call from Maverick. It takes considerable effort for Kotetsu to retain any sense of calm with his daughter in danger. He and Barnaby travel to Justice Tower to confront Maverick, but end up being forced to battle the extremely powerful android H-01 against which they have very little chance of winning. Ultimately, Kotetsu is able to get behind H-01 and immobilize it by holding it in place. He shouts at Barnaby to shoot them both, with the assumption that he will survive the blast thanks to his Hundred Power or jump out of the way at the last second. After some hesitation, Barnaby shoots using H-01's own laser gun and the android is destroyed. Kotetsu "death."
Unfortunately, Kotetsu's power had run out just before the beam hit and he suffered severe injuries. After a short scene where Kotetsu reveals his gradual power loss and Barnaby breaks down in tears, Kotetsu seemingly dies in Barnaby's arms right as the other heroes and Kaede arrive.
Some time later, after the other heroes have chased Maverick into a corner, he takes Kaede hostage with a gun to her head. Suddenly, a figure lurches at him from the shadows and Kotetsu punches him square across the jaw. The other heroes are stunned, and Kotetsu says a corny re-entrance line before stating that he had only fainted from the pain—adding it was something Barnaby would have realized by checking his pulse. He is then sandwiched in a hug between Kaede, Barnaby and Blue Rose.
