Blasto's rise to stardom has been a part of the Mass Effect franchise since the second game. Known in his films as the Milky Way's first Hanar Spectre, his adventures have been explored in-game and through some companion comics and novels. The absurdity of a Hanar Spectre isn't lost on anyone. In fact, it is that very absurdity that seems to have made the Blasto franchise so popular within the Mass Effect galaxy.
The Hanar are an aquatic race from Kahje. They re jellyfish-like in their biology, with a significant portion of their bodies being made of water. They can't support their own bodies outside of water, which makes galactic travel a unique experience because they require anti-gravity field-based devices to help them float effortlessly in the air. Their bodies are so awkward outside water that the Hanar actually train Drell to carry out any assassinations they might require -- which makes Blasto's adventures as a badass, blaster-wielding Spectre even funnier.
Similar to Dirty Harry in his role, demeanor and dialogue, Blasto's reputation includes a "lover in every port and a gun in every tentacle." Advertisements for first film, Blasto the Jellyfish Stings, appeared on Illium in the second game, along with commentary noting that (despite the film's success) it was criticized for using the word "jellyfish" in reference to the Hanar, who tend to find that word offensive when used to describe them.
Mass Effect 3 saw interactive advertisements on the Citadel for Blasto 6: Partners in Crime, which explored the Hanar Spectre's new Elcor partner, Bubin, and their investigation of the Vorcha ambassador. After Blasto's failure to bring back Vorcha for questioning alive and blowing up parts of Zakera Ward, the Volus chief assigns him a new partner out of C-Sec, who's meant to keep the Hanar in line and influence him to carry out his investigations by the book.
Because of the dry, emotionless manner in which the Elcor communicate, often speaking the emotion they mean to convey before their words, the dialogue between Bubin and Blasto makes for some hilarious banter as their relationship builds and they become the heroes of the greatest buddy cop film ever made. Blasto also spouts a number of over-the-top lines, many of them taken straight out of popular movies with hilarious alterations.
During Mass Effect 3's Citadel DLC, if Javik was recruited, he tells Shepard he's been invited to star in a vid. When Shepard accompanies him to the studio, they discover a Salarian director filming Blasto 7: Blasto Goes to War. The plot sees Blasto, Shepard and Javik tasked by the Council with stopping the Reapers, but the absurdity of it annoys Javik so much that he uses his biotics to blast the indoctrinated Vorcha Councilor. As they are leaving the set, the director can be heard saying they need to find another Vorcha so they can get to work on the next film: Blasto Cures the Genophage.
In 2012, BioWare and Dark Horse released a comic titled Blasto: Eternity Is Forever. The plot featured the galaxy's favorite Hanar Spectre and his new partner, an Asari actress named Cerulean Star, who is also a secret Spectre. The pair set out for Virmire to find a crazy Krogan scientist named Kronus, who is bent on creating a machine that freezes time so he can take over the galaxy.
Blasto was also mentioned in Mass Effect: Andromeda Annihilation, with reference to Blasto 8: The Jellyfish Stings Twice. The Milky Way settlers from the Andromeda Initiative brought Blasto to a new galaxy as a cultural icon. Cereal boxes with the Hanar Spectre's likeness can be seen throughout settlements, labeled as "Blast-Oh's" and settlers even made time to launch their own additions to the franchise with the 3D Holo titled Blasto vs. the Scourge and an alternative eighth film titled Blasto 8: The Biotic Awakens.
Blasto's existence within the franchise serves to make BioWare's explorations of the galaxy and beyond that much more real. It pokes fun at that world's cultural norms, and blends it with over-the-top historical reference. Beloved by all, Blasto is certainly one Hanar (no matter how imaginary) everyone would love to see claim the rank of Spectre and give Shepard a run for their money.
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