Subway Boss Ingo
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Ingo |
| Occupation: | Subway Boss (Pokémon Black and White versions, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 versions), Warden (Pokémon Legends Arceus) |
| Relationships: | Subway Boss Emmet (Twin, other subway boss) |
| Fandom: | Pokémon, Pokemon Submas Fandom |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Subway Boss Ingo is a Pokémon character that appeared in the games Pokémon Black and White versions and Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 versions as a Subway Boss. Later, In Pokémon Legends Arceus, he appeared as a warden for the pearl clan. He is one of the two characters focused on by the Pokemon Submas Fandom.
Subway Boss Ingo is canonically the older twin, as Emmet refers to him as "Big brother" in the original anime version and "Nii-san" in the Japanese version of the games.
History
Subway Boss Ingo first made an appearance in the 2010 games Pokémon Black and White and again in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 in 2012. In those games he acts as a Subway Boss alongside his twin, Subway boss Emmet. He can be battled on any of Gear Station's Single or Multi trains.
Referred to in game only as Warden Ingo, Subway Boss Ingo made an appearance in the 2022 game Pokémon Legends Arceus. This, alongside the potential a Black and White remake being made soon, sparked the revival of the Submas fandom.
Polls
In an official Black and White human character popularity poll hosted in Japan sometime in the 2010s, Ingo won second place over all[1] and first place when only counting female voters.[2]
During the @sexymanOTD unofficial Tumblr Sexyman poll in 2022, he lost second to last round against Reigen Arataka.[3]
In January of 2023, another unofficial Tumblr Sexyman poll was conducted, this time hosted Tumblr itself under the username sexymanotd. In this poll, Ingo only got to the second round, winning against Bruno Madrigal from Encanto in the first round and losing against Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas in the second round.[4]
Fanon
Relationship with Legends Arceus Protagonist
Many fan works have Warden Ingo acting as either a parental or uncle figure to the Legends Arceus protagonist. Most often, the protagonist is named Akari.
Relationship with other Gym Leaders
A relationship between Ingo, Emmet, and Elesa is common in most fan works. There is no in-game confirmation of any relationship existing between them, however.
Sneasler
Often, in fanworks, Warden Ingo will refer to Sneasler as "Lady Sneasler" or "My Lady." While this is common in game for wardens to use more proper titles for nobles, canonically Ingo only refers to Sneasler by its name without any title. This over formal way of speaking seems to be common in fan works portrayal of Ingo, although it is not entirely Fanon. In games such as Pokemon Masters EX and both Black and White games he is shown as having a more formal, polite speaking form, especially when compared to his twin.
Controversies
Art Book
Despite being referred to by the majority of fans as an "art book leak" the picture was most likely from the Official Strategy Guidebook, which was officially released in February of 2022 and featured a section showing concept art for the major characters.[5] This misnomer was probably circulated by the fact that it was first avaliable in Japan as well as the picture being circulated being of concept art, which usually is excluded from those types of books.
In April of 2022, when the concept art of Warden Ingo was being circulated around the Japanese and English fandom, many fans were taken aback by information revealed in it. Mainly, Ingo's hairline, which was previously always covered by his hat, and him being noted as being in Hisui for "XX" amount of years.
The main controversy is around Ingo's hairline, as many English fans where upset at Ingo being portrayed officially as "balding" or being older than fans though him as. While other fans joked about Ingo being "bald" at this time. Eventually both types received backlash from other fans for being ageist or disrespectful to people who are bald in real life.
Fanworks
Cosplay
- "i cosplayed ingo at youmacon!..." by Ingopotato on Tumblr, 2023.
- "haha yes it's me, subway boss Ingo and dog..." by starconductor on Tumblr, 2023.
- "The tracks ahead will be perilous, but I pride myself on safe driving!" by fraymotiif on Tumblr, 2023.
- "Still Alive (allegedly)" by carpetlurker on Tumblr, 2023.
- "All aboard!!! Destination: Anime Impulse!" by nartothelar on Tumblr, 2023.
- "Warden Ingo challenged you to a battle!" by conductinguphill on Tumblr, 2023.
Fan Craft
- Ingo figurine made out of polymer clay by symphonyofeternity on Tumblr, 2022.
Fan Art
- "Get in losers, we’re going climbing." by critterbitter on Tumblr, 2023.
- "Ingo hears the rumbles of something..." by icys-junkyard on Tumblr, 2022
- "Sneasel man ingo" by dragon-storm-of-the-west on Tumblr, 2022.
- "2 teens who want to show off..." by saphushia on Tumblr, 2022.
Fan Fiction
- Diverted Route by StellarCoachman on AO3, 2022.
Videos
- Underground (Submas PLA animatic) on YouTube, 2022.
Resources
Nobori | Ingo tag on AO3
Subway Boss Ingo tag on Tumblr
Ingo's page on Bulbapedia
References
- ^ Smogon: General Popularity Poll Results, 2018 (The poll itself was most likely created before 2018)
- ^ "here's the top of the 2011 Nintendo..." Akilvers on Twitter, 2022 Archived version
- ^ @sexymanOTD Tumblr Sexyman Poll 2022 thread
- ^ TUMBLR SEXYREMATCH POLL MASTERPOSTArchived Version
- ^ Pokemon Legends Arceus Official Strategy Guidebook (Japan) Review! by The Other Stuff Channel on YouTube