My Hero Academia: Underrated shonen gem
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
In recent years, anime and manga have grown in popularity. Anime is now a mainstream form of entertainment, and fans are far more vocal about the stories they enjoy. One manga/anime I want to highlight is My Hero Academia (2014-2024), a superhero action shonen story written by Kōhei Horikoshi and published by Weekly Shōnen Jump. My Hero Academia’s (2014-2024) manga gained a large fanbase exponentially, with the anime adaptation receiving awards for its earlier seasons; I can’t help but feel it has gotten some unnecessary criticism in recent years as many fans claim that its story has gone downhill. Some common complaints are that the main protagonist is poorly written, while others argue that the fandom has ruined their enjoyment of the show. As a huge fan of the story, I want to explain why I believe My Hero Academia (2014-2024) is an underrated gem amongst shonen anime and manga.
Set in a world where 80 percent of the population have superpowers, labeled as special quirks, My Hero Academia (2014-2024) follows Izuku “Deku” Midoriya, a young boy who dreams of becoming a superhero despite having no quirk. After being scouted and given a quirk by All Might, the world’s greatest hero, Midoriya, is enrolled into UA High School—a prestigious school for superheroes in training. Midoriya is a talking point for criticism in the story, as some anime fans disliked how All Might bestowed him a quirk called One For All. Critics completely ignore the context of the situation; Midoriya was given a quirk due to his display of strong ideals of heroism, illustrated when he attempted to save his childhood friend, Katsuki Bakugou, from a villain attack despite being “quirk-less.” He wasn’t just given power out of pity; he earned the power due to his morals and the will to put others before himself.
In addition, One For All destroys the user’s body if they aren't ready to handle it— this means that Midoriya must train his body to utilize his ability to its full extent. While he was given a quirk, he needed to train to master it. Midoriya also develops excellently throughout the story; while he begins as a weak, insecure boy, he grows into a confident young man who understands what it means to be a true hero.
The theme of heroism in My Hero Academia (2014-2024) is one of the story's strongest attributes. My Hero Academia (2014-2024) does a good job of making its audience question what a hero is. Does being a hero mean always beating the bad guys and saving the day? All Might is a character who appears to be an ideal hero for these reasons, which is why he is considered the greatest hero for a large portion of the story— so great that he has the title “Symbol of Peace” bestowed on him. The moment All Might is forced to retire as a hero after a fated battle with his nemesis, All For One, the society that worships him so much quickly cracks down and begins to doubt the remaining heroes' ability to protect them. Horikoshi illustrates that a superhero-dominated society cannot function when one man represents peace and justice.
Does being a hero mean always sacrificing yourself for the sake of others? Our protagonist, Midoriya, would make you believe that, as he constantly destroys himself physically —and sometimes mentally— to save or help someone else. Although, as empathetic as that may seem, it is also painted as self-destructive and not always ideal in every situation.
Every good piece of superhero media also needs strong, well-written villains to foil the heroes’ journey. What makes the villains in My Hero Academia (2014-2024) so good is that none started as bad people. Most of the villains derived from broken homes or were neglected by the society and heroes supposed to protect them. Touya “Dabi” Todoroki exemplifies this well, as he was neglected and abused by his father, Enji Todoroki, the Flame Hero: Endeavor, who was obsessed with having children that could surpass All Might. This pressure led to a breaking point for Touya, who used his feelings of rebellion and resentment toward his father to destroy Endeavor and the society he swore to protect. This aspect also conveys how heroism and villainy are not binary concepts. Some heroes don’t represent what heroism is at all, while many villains are just hurt and traumatized people who lash out at the world because of their traumatic experiences.
Overall, I find My Hero Academia (2014-2024) to be a fantastic story to read and watch and one that stands unique among others with its characters and themes. Although it is certainly flawed, it's still a well-written piece of media with an anime adaptation that excels the story to new heights— thanks to the incredible voice talent, music, and animation. The seventh season of the anime has recently concluded, and the eighth and final season is coming next year. As someone who consumed the series through the anime, I’m excited to see how one of my favorite stories will conclude.
If you haven't watched or read My Hero Academia (2014-2024) or given it a fair shot, you should give it a second chance.