My Hero Academia Ch. 430
Written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi
Translated by Caleb Cook
Lettered by John Hunt
Published by VIZ Media
Genre: Shonen, Action
SPOILER ALERT: This review includes spoilers about events in My Hero Academia.
My Hero Academia is one of the first names you learn when diving into anime or manga. For many of us, it served as a gateway into the medium thanks to its similarities with Marvel and DC superhero comics. Kohei Horikoshi, the creator, is a devoted Spider-Man fan and drew significant inspiration from it and other American superhero comics, creating a cultural bridge between Japan and the West.
As this bridge, My Hero Academia achieved colossal global success, reaching 100 million copies in circulation worldwide, with 40 million outside Japan. The series spawned seven anime seasons available for streaming on Crunchyroll, three movies (with a fourth in the making), and won numerous awards, including the Harvey Award for Best Manga in 2019.
It is hard to believe My Hero Academia has come to an end. My Hero Academia is one of the few works that have always been around since its debut in 2014. At first, I didn’t think much of it when I watched its anime. But when the stress of finishing school and getting into college collided with the crippling sense of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, the manga landed on my hands to extend a helping hand. As I flipped through its pages, I knew that I had come across something truly special.
My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without a “quirk” in a world where 80% of the population has special abilities. Izuku, nicknamed Deku (meaning “a good for nothing” in Japanese), has his dream of becoming a hero reignited after meeting All Might, the number one hero. All Might bestows his quirk on Deku for his determination after he, even without powers, jumped into danger to save Bakugo, his bully, when none of the pro-heroes attempted to do so. With newfound powers, Deku enrolls in the hero training academy, UA High, embarking on a journey to become the next top hero.
Fast forward ten years, Deku has sacrificed his inherited powers to defeat Shigaraki, his nemesis, and free the world from All For One’s evildoing. After pushing himself to the limit, Deku returns to square one: A quirkless boy. Now a teacher at UA High, Deku has come to terms with his new reality. It is unsettling to hear the hero of our story say: “I was hardly cut out for the dream I held, but it came true for me anyway.” It is uninspiring. After seeing Deku go through hell and back, this is where we get off? It is lukewarm at best.
The final chapter feels like something is missing. Normally, you’d expect a glorious send-off for the all-mighty hero Deku who has returned home victorious. Instead, Deku has been cast away into the sidelines, encouraging and planting dreams in others, far away from the action he once dreamed of. This feels conflicting. While there’s something beautiful about him nurturing the next generation, it is hard not to think this feels like a subdued ending to this intense journey.
Deku, who fought against all odds and pushed himself beyond his limits, ending up as a teacher when all his friends get to play hero feels like the last ten meters after a thrilling rollercoaster ride. As the adrenaline slowly fades away and you catch your breath, you realize the ride is over and think: “It was good while it lasted.” It is bittersweet. The ending feels natural, but there’s also a longing for just a little more of the raw determination and passion that defined his journey.
Horikoshi uses the tragic ending to Deku’s hero ambitions to make us uncomfortable with mixed feelings. It doesn’t feel like a fair conclusion. Why do we feel this way? It’s because of our flawed perception of what heroes are and how they are regarded by society.
My Hero Academia began as the story of how Deku became the greatest hero. However, Deku grew so strong that he began shouldering all responsibility by himself, much like All Might. But that is not what a hero should be. As a society, why should we depend on one single individual and neglect our share of the burden? That is wrong, yet we turn a blind eye to this issue. That is the issue Horikoshi addresses.
Before the Final War, the manga changed paths. My Hero Academia turned into the story of how we all became the greatest heroes. Horikoshi wanted to show that heroes should not be the individualistic, fame-chasing victors we’re familiar with. Instead, he promotes a collective effort that includes everyone in society.
That’s why the ending feels incomplete. Horikoshi didn’t elevate the hero or allow Deku his deserved time to soak in the glory of victory the way we’re used to. Horikoshi used Deku’s tragic conclusion in a crude manner to get rid of the winner-takes-all mentality and set a collective mindset as the standard, where responsibility and praise are shared among everyone.
Now, the question is: Are we ready to uphold our end of the bargain? It is easier to let someone else do it. After all, most of us are not fit to go around saving people from evildoers. Horikoshi challenges this mindset by answering the question he posed in Chapter 1: “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 so, the concept of a hero must be redefined.
A hero is not one with power and skill. A hero is, in Deku’s words, anyone who “makes an effort to reach out with a helping hand”. It’s an encouraging and more inclusive view. Anyone can be a hero! Everyone who spares a thought, lends a hand, supports and inspires someone is a hero. Even though Deku has been far from the action, he has practiced these teachings for eight years after losing his quirk. He’s been doing the right thing, just like a hero should. Regardless, it feels wrong that our hero’s dream remains unfulfilled.
The final chapter mirrors the first few in a powerful way, faking out an ending where Deku seems resigned to his new reality, missing the action from the sidelines. But just as we brace ourselves for a subdued conclusion, All Might crushes our mixed feelings—along with the words “The End”, signaling a fake ending—in a sudden twist. Just like in the beginning, All Might reignites Deku’s chance to realize his dreams once again—this time with a supersuit, a collaborative gift from his classmates.
This moment draws a direct parallel to the first chapters, where Deku earned the right to be a hero by instinctively doing the right thing, that is, leaping in to save Bakugo despite being quirkless. In that moment, Deku became a true hero after sparing a thought for his bully and offering a helping hand, which ultimately earned him All Might’s quirk.
Taking the initiative is key to being a hero. It takes courage to move first and put yourself out there. Whether it is saving someone from a villain, asking someone if they are okay, or speaking up when everyone else is silent—that first move is the key difference between the heroes we read about in the comics and the new definition of a hero that Horikoshi proposes.
After defeating Shigaraki and using his experiences to inspire the next generation, Deku has once again rightfully earned the power to live out his dreams, this time on the frontlines with his peers. And thus, the circle completes, showing that Deku’s journey is not just about gaining power but about always doing his best and proving himself worthy of the title of “hero.” A happy ending, of sorts.
The ending of My Hero Academia is a hard pill to swallow as it defies the typical hedonic shonen formula where the hero basks in glory and gets the girl. Instead, Horikoshi delivers a conclusion that leans heavily into the tragic and reflective. Deku doesn’t walk away with the accolades we’ve been conditioned to expect. It is a eudaimonic conclusion that challenges us to consider our moral responsibilities as members of society and to reflect on what it truly means to be a hero.
My Hero Academia, you’ve been more than just a manga. You’ve been a beacon of light when I needed it most. Kohei Horikoshi, thank you for turning my Sundays into moments of inspiration and joy. For me, Midoriya isn’t just a fictional character; he’s a role model who redefined the meaning of “Deku” from “a good for nothing” into a powerful reminder that “you can do it.” Watching Deku trying his best gives me the determination to face each day with the belief that I can overcome anything. My Hero Academia, you will truly be missed. Kohei Horikoshi, hope you get a long and well-deserved break. Thank you!
You can read and buy all of the My Hero Academia volumes via VIZ Media.
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