On July 7, 2014, Kōhei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump, introducing a world where many possess unique abilities called Alters. The series follows Izuku Midoriya, who, despite being powerless, strives to become a hero at Yuei school. While focusing on hero training, the narrative often overlooks typical high school experiences, raising questions about the balance of serious and light-hearted moments. As the series nears its conclusion, fans ponder the potential benefits of deeper character exploration amidst its thrilling arcs.
The Birth of My Hero Academia
On July 7, 2014, Kōhei Horikoshi’s masterpiece, My Hero Academia, made its debut in Japan with the first chapter published in Weekly Shonen Jump. This marked the beginning of an incredible journey set in a world where a significant portion of the population possesses unique abilities known as Alters. In this captivating universe, these powers are commonplace, leaving those without them, like young Izuku Midoriya, feeling marginalized. Throughout the 42 volumes of this series, we follow Izuku’s adventures as he aspires to become a hero like his idol, All Might, despite lacking any powers. His relentless determination drives him to enroll in the prestigious Yuei school, all while the battle between good and evil unfolds around him.
Life at Yuei: A Balancing Act
Is the depiction of life at Yuei in My Hero Academia comprehensive enough? Through both the manga and anime, fans have witnessed the evolution of a story filled with superheroes and supervillains, as well as the growth of aspiring heroes and heroines caught in the midst of this ongoing conflict. While striving to become professional heroes like Endeavor, Hawks, Miruko, or Best Jeanist, these students must also focus on their studies. However, the narrative primarily highlights the practical aspects of their education, such as exams and training camps. The only storyline that genuinely explores their high school experience is the festival arc, showcasing their camaraderie as they organize an event that reflects their personalities, including elements like music with a planned concert. Such slice-of-life moments could enrich the narrative by emphasizing student relationships and providing a deeper look into their everyday lives.
The question arises: would additional high school life sequences enhance My Hero Academia? While some critique this aspect, it’s undeniable that the series has significantly impacted the shonen genre. However, the pressure of weekly manga publication is immense, as evidenced by other successful series like Oshi Ni Ko, where the creator faced exhaustion due to skyrocketing expectations. It’s plausible that Kōhei Horikoshi may want to conclude his decade-long project, especially after expressing gratitude to fans for their support in bringing Deku and the world of My Hero Academia to life.
To answer the earlier question, incorporating more light-hearted moments could have prolonged the series by providing breathing room between intense arcs while allowing for deeper character development. Nonetheless, the current storyline is already compelling. Introducing too many lighter segments might disrupt the thrilling pace of action and risk being perceived as filler content, which is not the intended goal for a narrative of this caliber.
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