Warning: The following contains spoilers for the ending of My Hero Academia!!
AlthoughMy Hero Academiais undoubtedly one of the best modern shōnen manga, its ending was met with a wave of prejudice like the one suffered in its time by many of its Shōnen Jump peers, likeNaruto,Demon Slayer, andBleach.This has prevented many readers from watching the big picture of the series, which showcases through many symbolic scenes howMy Hero Academiahas proven to be one of the best-written shōnen with a well-crafted thematic consistency.
My Hero Academia’s creator, Kohei Horikoshi, fleshed out his writing skills using parallel paneling as a vehicle to evoke an emotional moment and deliver the inspiring message of the series to the readers, showing how the characters grow but also how they stay true to their morals and values.From the many parallel scenes inMy Hero Academiathroughout the story, some stand out more than others, connecting the story from beginning to end.
My Hero Academia Just Fixed One of Shonen’s Biggest Issues Thanks To Its Villains
Gentle Criminal and Lady Nagant’s return in the Final War proves how MHA develops a criticized trope way better than any other shonen anime.
10Izuku Entering U.A. From Beginning to End
Chapter 1: “Izuku Midoriya: Origin”; Chapter 425: “Epilogue” & Chapter 430: “My Hero Academia”
The Hero Academy is more than just the title of the series, since U.A. was the school where Deku learned how to become the greatest hero and the place that connects the events of the story. U.A. was where Deku lived with his friends, a shelter to keep the civilians safe, and the fortress in his battle with Shigaraki.
Additionally,U.A. was also used to represent Deku’s journey from beginning to end, from an insecure first-year student nervously entering school to being the savior of Japan with uncertainty about the future after the war to being a teacher who keeps moving forward with determination, forming the next generation to be better.
9All Might’s Iconic Pose
Chapter 94: “From Teacher To Disciple”; Chapter 190: “His Start”; Chapter 276: “You Cheated…!” & Chapter 401: The Lunatic; Chapter 410: “Farewell, All For One!!”
All Might’s iconic pose was a symbol of victory but was also used by several characters throughout the series, with each one expressing a different message. Endeavor struck the pose after defeating the High-End Nomu, although he wasn’t standing like All Might but sitting while barely holding because of his injuries, showing that even though he couldn’t be like the Symbol of Peace he still wanted to ease people’s worries and take on the responsibility of the title of the number one hero.
Shigaraki also did it in to mock Endeavor after pinning him on the ground and showing him his power. Also, Stain strikes the pose to say goodbye to All Might after sacrificing for him, telling him to keep living, and Bakugo does it to encourage Izuku with his last strength before passing out. These different meanings behind the same pose show how much can be transmitted visually and the impact that an inspiring figure can have on others.
8All Might Pass Down a Well-Deserved Power To Deku
Chapter 2: “Roaring Muscle” & Chapter 430: “My Hero Academia”
Deku receiving a battle suit in the final chapter aligns with his development throughout the story. All Might says to Deku in chapter 2 that he isn’t passing OFA to him as if it were a gift but rather because he proved he deserved it for his heroic nature of wanting to help others and his constant training to be a fitting vessel.
Something that you receive because you are lucky and something you are given because you are recognized is different in essence. Take that to heart. - All Might
Likewise,Deku’s selfless sacrifices earned him a different type of power than One for All, which had already achieved its purpose, but that still shares the same essence of OFA. OFA was a collection of strength passed on, and the battle suit was born out of a collective effort from his friends that spent years cultivating it (financing and developing it) for him so he could continue his original dream of being an active hero. So the suit is a message of how Deku’s friends helped him to regain the power to keep reaching those in need.
7Hero Society Changing To Avoid Another Shigaraki
Chapter 237: “Tomura Shigaraki: Origin” & Chapter 429: “I Am Here”
After massacring his family, Tenko Shimura was desperately wandering in the street looking for someone to help him and was blatantly ignored by every passerby who just shrugged their shoulders and continued their way.Even though a woman did approach Tenko, she was set aback by his appearance and didn’t want to get involved.The womanleft believing that someone else would help him, but Tenko was picked up by All for One, who turned him into a villain.
The same woman, now a granny, reappears in a similar situation with a villain-looking young boy in chapter 429.The granny regretted not helping Tenkoand was inspired by Deku’s actions, deciding to help the boy, showing how setting an example can bring change in society. Additionally, the same boy appears in chapter 430 after the time skip as a student in U.A. confirming he was saved, and he now aims to be a hero and help others, proving how even a small detail conveys the message of the series that everyone could be a hero to someone else.
6All Might and Lady Nagant Are Two Sides of the Same Coin
Chapter 2: “Roaring Muscle” & Chapter 314: “The Lovely Lady Nagant”
All Might was the symbol of peace, someone whose mere presence inspires others, being the face and light of the people and the ideal of heroism. Contrastingly, Lady Nagant lived in the shadows and used corrupt methods to maintain the ideal of peace of the heroes in the front.
All Might and Lady Nagant were designed to be opposite,and this was represented by the author Horikoshi in the manga with both characters' presentation pages mirroring each other, which is the perfect way to visually showcase how, even though they differ in a lot of ways, both have the same role. All Might’s page was bright, showcasing his popularity and role as the hope of the people, and Nagant was engulfed in darkness with the bodies piling up at the bottom, maintaining peace on the ugly side of society.
5The Words Izuku and Tenko Wanted To Hear the Most
Chapter 1: “Izuku Midoriya: Origin” & Chapter 234: “Destruction Sense”
In the first chapter of the series, Izuku struggles between his dream of becoming a hero and the fact that he was born without a quirk because everyone tells him to give up, even his mother. However, after showing his courage,All Might tells Izuku the words he wanted to hear the most: you may become a hero.
Similarly, the little Tenko Shimura wanted his dream to be acknowledged by his father. He dreamed of being a hero, so he also wanted to hear the same words as Izuku; however, what he craved the most was someone standing up for him, something that neither his mother nor grandparents ever did.All Might’s words set the path to the heroism of Izuku, and likewise, not hearing them started Tenko’s downfall to villainy. This parallel between them is what set Deku to try to understand Shigaraki and save him.
4Deku’s Development From His Origin to His Rising
Chapter 1: “Izuku Midoriya: Origin”; Chapter 422: “We Are Here” &Chapter 422: “Izuku Midoriya: Rising”
In the first chapter, Izuku Midoriya: Origin,Izuku impulsively started to run to save Bakugo from the Sludge Villainwhile everyone, even the pro heroes, were standing still, waiting for someone stronger to arrive. Izuku was labeled as reckless, but it was what inspired All Might to decide that he was worthy of passing his quirk on to.
In chapter 421 Izuku, now with the hero’s name Deku, starts to run to save Shigaraki while being supported by the rest of the heroes and civilians who are watching and shouting at him encouraging words. Both scenes convey howDeku, while he was always a hero, grew to become an inspiring figure to others thanks to his effortsand how he continues to run for others.
3The Parallels Between Toga, Twice, & Uraraka
Chapter 264: “One’s Justice”;Chapter 266: “Happy Life”; Chapter 391: “Rejecting the World”; Chapter 395: “Built Upon the Joy of Others”
When Toga used Twice’s blood to become him and use his quirk, this wasn’t represented only in appearance but also showed through her feelings.Just like Twice with Hawks when Toga was talking with Uraraka, she also felt betrayed by the death of her friend, showing in the parallel panels that both characters have the same expression. Also, Twice found the meaning of his life in his friends, as proved by his last thought before dying, and he used his last breath to save Toga.
I wandered around searching for myself, and I found myself blessed with friends who were better to me than I could ever be to them. Could a guy ask for a better life? - Jin Bubaigawara
Equally, Toga also found meaning in her life thanks to Uraraka, but contrary to Twice, she wasn’t trying to know who she was; she was searching just to be herself. In the end, she accepted who she was and that she lived the way she wanted, choosing to use her life to save Uraraka, just like Twice saved her.
I’m Himiko Toga. I live and love how I please. That’s how I made my way in life. Just a normal girl! With the cutest smile in the world. - Himiko Toga
2You Can Be a Hero
Chapter 1: “Izuku Midoriya: Origin” & Chapter 430: “My Hero Academia”
All Might first tells Izuku to forget his dream of being a hero, but he is later captivated by the display of heroism of the boy, acknowledging his mistake and believing he was more than worthy of inheriting his power. However, MHA’s story later makes clear thatIzuku didn’t become a hero because he became the wielder of OFA, he was a hero already.
Horikoshi’s definition of a herois someone who helps others, so it doesn’t matter if they are quirkless or have a weak quirk. This is represented once again in the final chapter of the series when Dai asks Izuku the same question, showing the story coming full circle and showcasing how Deku went from feeling like he couldn’t rise to the level of All Might without a quirk to rising past him, even following his steps as a teacher, continuing to be a hero while quirkless and inspiring the next generation.
1The Story of How They All Became the Greatest Heroes
Chapter 1: “Izuku Midoriya: Origin” & Chapter 324: “A Young Woman’s Declaration”
In the first chapter of the series, Izuku’s courage inspired All Might to see his value and keep fighting. Likewise, All Might’s words encouraged Izuku to not give up on his dream, with the final narration revealing that he has achieved his goal of becoming the greatest hero in the future. While this would have shown the typical shōnen protagonist’s journey to achieve the highest position, like Hokage inNarutoor Wizard King inBlack Clover,My Hero Academiawent a step beyond, showing thatDeku’s story wasn’t about being the best hero.
MHAis about how everyone can be the greatest hero for someone else and that there are many ways to be one, evolving the quote and using it even to refer to former villains in chapter 379. Uraraka’s words also prove how friendship is a way to save those around us (and sometimes oneself), proving thatMy Hero Academiais one of the best-written shōnen as it brilliantly conveys the inspiring message of the story with a simple scene.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a multimedia franchise that follows a young boy named Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without superpowers. These superpowers, known as “Quirks” are found in most people after birth, but Izuku wasn’t so lucky - until a fateful encounter with All Might, Japan’s greatest hero, Izuku inherits his Quirk and enrolls in U.A. High School to learn the true meaning of heroism. Alongside his classmates, each endowed with unique abilities, Izuku faces rigorous training and lethal threats from villainous forces.
