My Hero Academia Chapter 1 Chapter 430
Write and illustrate Horikoshi Kohei
translator Caleb Cook
letters consist of John Hunter
Posted by: Vision Media
type: boy, action
Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers for events in My Hero Academia.
my hero academia is one of the first names you learn when delving into anime or manga. For many of us, it served as a gateway into the medium due to its similarities to Marvel and DC superhero comics. Horikoshi Koheithe creator is a pious spider man fans and drew important inspiration from it and other American superhero comics, creating a cultural bridge between Japan and the West.
Just like this bridge, my hero academia It has achieved great success on a global scale, with a global circulation of 100 million copies, including 40 million copies outside Japan. The series spawned seven animated seasons, available to stream on Crunchyroll, three movies (a fourth is in production), and won numerous awards, including the 2019 Harvey Award for Best Comic.
hard to believe my hero academia It’s over. my hero academia It is one of the few works that has been circulated to this day since its debut in 2014. But when the pressure to finish school and get into college collided with a crippling sense of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, this comic fell into my hands and offered me a helping hand. As I flipped through its pages, I knew I had encountered something truly special.
my hero academia Izuku Midoriya tells the story of a boy with no “quirks” who is born into a world where 80% of the population has special abilities. Izuku, nickname Izuku After meeting the number one hero All Might, his dream of becoming a hero was rekindled. All Might gave his quirk to Deku, as he, without his powers, jumped into danger to save his bully Bakugo when no hero attempted to do so. With his newfound power, Deku enters UA High, the hero training academy, and embarks on a journey to become the next top hero.
Fast forward ten years and Deku has sacrificed his inherited powers to defeat his nemesis Shigaraki and free the world from All For One’s evil deeds. After pushing himself to his limits, Deku is back to square one: a boy without a quirk. Now a teacher at UA High School, Deku has accepted his new reality. It’s uninspiring to hear the hero of our story say, “I had a hard time achieving my dream, but it worked out for me anyway.” It’s uninspiring. After seeing Deku go through hell and back, is this where we get off? Lukewarm at best.
The last chapter felt like something was missing. Normally, you’d expect the triumphant return of the all-powerful hero Deku to be given a glorious send-off. Instead, Deku is cast aside, encouraging and planting dreams in others, away from the actions he once dreamed of. This feels contradictory. While there are some wonderful things about him nurturing the next generation, it’s hard not to think that this feels like a soft ending to an intense journey.
Deku fights against all odds, transcends his own limits, and ends up becoming a teacher when all his friends play hero, which feels like the last ten meters of a thrilling roller coaster. As the adrenaline wears off and you catch your breath, you realize the ride is over and think, “As long as it lasts, everything is fine.” It’s bittersweet. The ending feels natural but also longs for more of the raw determination and passion that defined his journey.
Horikoshi leaves us with mixed feelings with the tragic end of Tokuhisa’s heroic ambition. This doesn’t feel like a fair conclusion. Why do we feel this way? This is because we have a flawed view of what heroes are and how society views them.
my hero academia The story begins with the story of how Deku became the greatest hero. However, Deku became so powerful that he began to take all the responsibility on his own, just like All Might. But this is not what a hero should be. As a society, why should we rely on one person and ignore our own share of the burden? This is wrong, yet we are turning a blind eye to the problem. This is the problem Horikoshi wants to solve.
Before Final War, the comics changed paths. my hero academia The story of how it became all of us Became the greatest hero. Horikoshi wanted to show that heroes should not be the individualistic, fame-seeking victors we are familiar with. Instead, he promoted the collective efforts of everyone in society.
That’s why the ending feels incomplete. Horikoshi doesn’t elevate the hero’s status, nor does he give Deku the time he deserves to bask in the glory of victory like we’re used to. Horikoshi crudely exploits Tokuhisa’s tragic ending, moving away from the winner-takes-all mentality and adopting a collective mentality where responsibility and praise are shared by everyone.
The question now is: are we ready to abide by our agreement? It’s easier to let someone else do it. After all, most of us are not cut out to go around rescuing people. Horikoshi challenges this mentality by answering the question he poses in the first chapter: “Without power, can one become a hero?” My Hero Academia aims to prove that without power, one can indeed become a hero. But to do this, the concept of hero must be redefined.
A hero is not someone with power and skill. In Deku’s words, a hero is anyone who “makes an effort to lend a helping hand.” This is an encouraging and more inclusive perspective. Anyone can be a hero! Everyone who is willing to think, reach out, support and inspire others is a hero. Although Deku has been away from action, he has practiced these teachings for eight years after losing his quirk. He’s always doing the right thing, like a hero should. Regardless, our hero’s dream remains unfulfilled, and it feels wrong.
The final chapter mirrors the previous chapters in a powerful way, forging an ending where Deku seems to have accepted his new reality and missed out on the action off the field. But just when we were preparing for a soft ending, “All Might” shattered our complicated feelings with a sudden twist – and the word “end”, marking a false ending. Just like in the beginning, All Might once again ignites Deku’s chance at realizing his dream – this time by donning a super suit, a collective gift from his classmates.
This moment has direct parallels with Chapter 1, where Deku instinctively did the right thing by jumping in and saving Bakugo despite not having a quirk, thus earning the right to be a hero. In that moment, Deku became a true hero, thinking of his bully and lending a helping hand, which ultimately earned him All Might’s Quirk.
Taking initiative is the key to being a hero. It takes courage to take action first and put yourself out there. Whether it’s rescuing someone from the bad guys, asking someone if they’re okay, or speaking up when everyone else is silent –That The first step is the key difference between the heroes we read about in the comics and the new definition of hero proposed by Horikoshi.
After defeating Shigaraki and using his experience to inspire the next generation, Deku is once again granted the power to achieve his dreams, this time on the front lines alongside his peers. With that, the circle is completed, showing that Deku’s journey is not just to gain power, but to always do his best and prove himself worthy of the title of “Hero.” A happy ending, sort of.
ending my hero academia This is a tough pill to swallow because it goes against the typical hedonistic shounen formula where the hero basks in glory and gets the girl. Instead, Horikoshi gives a conclusion that leans heavily toward the tragic and reflective. Deku doesn’t walk away with the accolades we’ve all been waiting for. It’s a happy conclusion that challenges us to think about our moral responsibilities as members of society, and to reflect on what it really means to be a hero.
my hero academiayou are more than just a comic. You are a light when I need it most. Kohei Horikoshi, thank you for making my Sunday a time of inspiration and joy. To me, Midoriya is more than just a fictional character; He is a role model who redefines the meaning of “Deku” from “good for nothing” to a powerful reminder that “you can do it.” Watching Deku give it his all gave me the determination to face each day with the confidence that I could overcome any obstacle. my hero academiayou will truly be missed. Horikoshi Kohei, I hope you can have a good rest for some time. Thank you!
You can read and purchase all content my hero academia Volume passed Vision Media.
