As an aro-spec(specifically one who can’t develop romantic attraction until acquainted with someone) I honestly find viewing Robert|Mecha Man’s relationship with Mandy|Blazer and Courtney|Invisigal outside of romance so compelling. And I think it’s because this trio of characters are all parallels
All three of them lack a personal Identity outside of others perception, and the story of the game is where they find this identity.
Mandy, just like Robert, struggles to separate herself as a person from Blonde Blazer, the hero. While the cause of this lack of identity is slightly different between them(Robert “child soldier” “it’s tradition to die in the suit” Robertson iii, and Blonde “People don’t appreciate me as Mandy” Blazer), they both have this lack of identity represented with something physical that they lose access to in the story.
Robert has the Mecha Man suit, which he is unable to use(read: unable to be Mecha Man) throughout a majority of the story, only having access to it after he learns what Robert wants. And it’s after this that, when the suit is no longer a duck taped patched up shell from his father, that he finally makes the choice to be Mecha Man.
Blonde Blazer has the Amulet, and while Robert’s character arc started with losing his way of being a hero, Mandy’s character hits her climax through her removing her amulet. And I think it’s because while Robert makes the choice to be Mecha Man, Blazer has to make the Choice to be Mandy. Yes the amulet is to save Chase’s life and give him a chance to be a hero again, but the fact that she’s now free from the expectation of Blonde blazer is not unimportant. And the game explicitly show that even when she doesn’t have the amulet, she is still capable of being a hero. Just because you can’t fly anymore doesn’t mean you can’t crash that car into shrouds spider ball, girl.
Courtney and Robert are viewed lesser by others because of their powers.
Courtney is invisible, she is expected to be a villain, a lurking, malicious character. She was born with a power that’s obviously evil, so now she needs to be bad and get put away in jail by the real heroes.
Robert is a normie, he doesn’t have powers. And that lack of power should mean he has to stay away from the big fights, leave the important stuff to the real heroes.
Visi and Blazer see how others perceive them, and they decide to let it define them.
Courtney is told she can’t be a hero, her power is innately villainous. People tell her that she’s unreliable, abrasive, that she doesn’t listen. And so she decides that if she can’t be loved by anyone, she’ll make sure they all hate her. At least then they’ll remember who she is.
Mandy is only seen as Blonde Blazer. The squeaky clean hero who is kind, protecting and always helpful. So she takes that upon herself, being the strength for those around her. People never need Mandy, so why should she worry about her?
Robert actually helps break them both out of this mindset.
Blazer seeing him fight as a battered and bruised man, even after losing the suit, after people decided he couldn’t be a hero anymore, that defiance of expectation causes her to realize that she has always asked what people want Blonde Blazer to do, but never what Mandy wants to do. And that kind of scares her. It’s what makes her finally break up with Phenomenaman, and make the impulsive decision to cut someone from the Z team.
Visi is taught by Robert to spit in fate’s face and say “Fuck you, I’m holding the reins now.” She experiences someone who even though she fucks up, doesn’t throw her to the wolves, who stands by her side but still holds her accountable. And she kind of hates it. Most people would have gotten rid of her by now, what’s this guys damage? But even when she tries to drive him off, he stands firm. He will make a hero out of her.
