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Summary
Deku, like All Might before him, is a bright and shining hero, but what if circumstances forced him to take a darker approach to his heroics?My Hero Academiaexplored this question with its dark hero arc, and in so doing, exposed some of Midoriya’s character flaws and how All Might’s example might not always be the best one to emulate.
The dark hero arc ofMy Hero Academiabegins with Deku leaving UA, finally informing his classmates about One for All and his situation as an explanation for his sudden departure. While ostensibly to protect his friends from becoming collateral damage of one of All for One’s attacks, Deku’s solo era came to show not only how far he’d come in mastering his powers, but how difficult it can be to do everything by one’s self.
Deku’s insistence on refusing help, even from All Might, demonstrates how his destiny as One for All’s wielder became a liability to him, and the story takes its focus on bringing Deku back from the brink.
The dark hero arc of My Hero Academia spans chapters 307-328 of the manga and episodes 132-138 of the anime.
My Hero Academia Brilliantly Uses Its Villains to Reveal Deku’s Strengths and Weaknesses
New and Returning Villains Highlight Deku’s Attributes
One of the best aspects of this arc is its villains, and how it uses these villains to reveal aspects of Deku’s character. First, of course, is the return of Muscular, Deku’s deadly opponent fromthe Forest Training Camp arc. In contrast to how badly Deku was injured before, he’s able to use his multiple Quirks during their rematch to easily get the drop on the villain, wrapping him up and delivering him to the police while hardly even breaking a sweat. In terms of control of One for All, Deku is leagues ahead of where he was even just a few months ago, showing how he’s grown.
Then there’s Lady Nagant, who may be one of the most interesting villains in the series. A former hero who was tasked with the dirty work of assassinations by theHero Public Safety Commission, Nagant became disgusted with the status quo and murdered her boss, leading to her being put away in Tartarus. Now given Deku as a new target by All for One, Lady Nagant corners Deku using her incredible sniping Quirk. Deku proves that he’s able to see the good even in someone like her, and even comes to understand her reasons for doing what she did, to the point of convincing her to share information on All for One.
Deku’s final villain encounter goes very differently, however.Having gone on with minimal rest and barely even stopping to eat, Deku has finally pushed himself too far, and realizes too late that even One for All doesn’t give one the power to operate completely alone. Dictator could’ve easily captured Deku if Class 1-A hadn’t shown up at exactly the right moment. Deku has to be reminded that he doesn’t have to do this alone, that he has friends and allies whom he can depend upon, and who will be there for him in his weakest moments.
Deku’s Character is Changed by Circumstances, But It’s Not Too Late
Deku Has Changed, but His Heart Remains the Same
This arc shows a different side of Deku than has been seen previously, although it’s not as if this change came out of nowhere. Deku has always felt the need to emulate All Might, andAll Might was able to handle any situation singlehandedly, so Deku feels like he needs to be able to do the same. With circumstances forcing Deku to go it alone, this trait of his came out in full force, to the point of even pushing away All Might out of fear that something might happen to him if he’s too close.
All Might, of course, has the exact same character flaw, but it’s the first time he’s been on the other side of it, so he has no idea how to handle Deku.What Deku needed was a wake-up call, a reminder that many of the people around him are fully capable of protecting themselves, and their rescue of him was the perfect way to prove that.Deku had internalized the idea of the lone and suffering hero, however, so talking him into returning to UA was definitely an uphill battle.
All in all, it’s a very believable take on a “dark” version of Deku, as it’s not edginess for the sake of edginess; Deku really feels he must go it alone, and is desperate to protect everyone by keeping himself at a distance. He wants to be with his friends, but he also believes that he can’t be. In his heart, Deku’s core motivation is the same as it always was: to protect those that he cares about, and that keeps this arc grounded.
My Hero Academia Uses What It’s Built to Great Effect
The Series Leverages Deku’s Past Accomplishments Perfectly
The story arc concludes with Deku returning to UA, but even that’s not easy, as they must contend with unruly crowds who fear being near Deku for the same reason he was afraid to be near his friends. Uraraka’s speech is powerful, a reminder that heroes are ultimately human as well and not perfect, something which All Might makes it easy to forget. This was something only Uraraka, with her “Hero’s Hero” approach, could do, and it utilized her character perfectly at this key juncture.
The story uses other returning characters to help drive this point home, such as Kota, also from the Forest Training Camp arc. It’s a reminder that Deku’s heroism has had a positive impact on the world, and that there are people who are willing to stick up for him.Even the star-haired man from the first episode/chaptermakes an appearance, and helps to talk the crowd down from their frenzied opposition. Deku is only able to return thanks to the good that he’s done in the past.
The dark hero arc shows Deku at his lowest, even if he doesn’t realize it. A good old shonen reminder of the power of friendship was definitely what was in order, but more importantly, they had to squash the idea that Deku had to be alone. By separating him from his friends and support, All for One made a brilliant move, even if it all looked logical from Deku’s perspective. Ultimately, this arc proved that Deku doesn’t need to be All Might; no one can or should do everything by themselves. Deku’s real strength lies in the allies and friends he’s made along the way, and that’sMy Hero Academiaat its finest.
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.
