When Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia released its first chapter all the way back in 2014, it became a fan-favorite series. The manga received an anime adaptation in 2016, making it one of the best new-generation Shonen series in recent times. Over the years, the series has taken its fans on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Fast forward to 10 years, and the Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine has officially concluded. However, criticism has surrounded Horikoshi-San’s greatest work because, after a decade of gripping storytelling and well-written characters, the series had a sub-par ending to it.
Even though there are a plethora of factors that have affected the series’ ending, these five reasons have greatly contributed to ruining the ending of the superhero series.
5) My Hero Academia Cares Only About Deku, Bakugo, and Shoto
One of the most prominent reasons that contributed to the show’s poor conclusion is that in the decade-long run of the Shonen series, it featured a huge cast with several characters that played a massive role in the arcs. However, at the same time, those characters became too irrelevant because MHA decided to rely only on its Big Three, that is, Deku, Shoto, and Bakugo.
This constant leaning on the three characters is an insult to the pro-heroes, and to think how the series could have put other heroes from Class-1A in plots that could have made it so much better. Considering the fact that every single one of these students was superhero material, they have been given more prominence.
One major example of this notion was Lemillion, the man who was once meant to be the rightful successor of All Might. Yet, each time, it was shown that he was waiting for someone better, or more accurately, waiting for Midoriya to give him his limelight.
4) The Plot Armor Makes It Ridiculous
Another factor that adds to the annoyance towards the ending of the series is how Kohei Horikoshi used plot armor to give Deku an edge over the most notorious villains in the show. It might not be evident when reading the chapters for the first time, but when you reread the chapter, the abundance of plot armor will be apparent.
To make it simpler, in the series, Deku would jump into situations where he was practically committing suicide, but somehow he would not only come out alive but also as the victor. This was evident when Endeavor, the #1 Pro-Hero, was unable to defeat the ‘awakened’ Shigaraki, but Deku was able to beat him into a pulp, that too with both of his arms broken.
3) Kohei Horikoshi Left Many Possibilities Unexplored
What stings the most at the end of the series is how many stones were left unturned, and the mangaka did not care to explore them. As fans remember, Izuku Midoriya lost his One for All Quirk. Hence, fans came up with some of the craziest theories on how he could get his Quirk back.
These theories were downright brilliant because fans were hoping that the cycle would restart with the young hero. Yet, the depressing aspect of the series is how it got too realistic as Midoriya strayed away from his friends due to their different jobs.
Additionally, the unforeseen twist of the protagonist receiving high-tech armor and support gear from All Might and his friends, funded by the whole of Class 1-A students, was a nice touch to the ending but ruined the emotional investment of the fans because it hardly matters at this point and most of them don’t have the patience.
2) The Cyclical Resemblance of MHA
The ending of the Shonen series was not horrible but it was disappointing because it stayed too true to its theme right from the very beginning of the series to the conclusion. When the story commenced, it was quite clear that it would revolve around a young student who aspired to be like his idol, All Might, but couldn’t because he lacked a Quirk.
Though he received the same Quirk from his idol and strived hard to become the #1 Pro-hero. However, as the series came to its conclusion, we witnessed how he is quirkless again and is now a teacher at the UA to guide the next generation of superheroes.
However, by the end of Chapter 430, fans saw that he could relive that same dream again, thanks to the support gear gifted by All Might and his friends.
1) Kohei Horikoshi Ruined The Fans’ Emotional Investment
There’s no denying that My Hero Academia is one of the most consistent manga and anime series that will focus on presenting its core theme to the audience. However, the most important aspect that ruined the ending of the manga is how Horikoshi-San ignored the emotional investment of the fans.
Countless fans turn to manga and anime to give them a sense of escape from reality, but the mangaka decided to give his readers a life lesson. What better way to do it than to feature the protagonist of the series getting stuck in a mediocre adult life with a nine-to-five job?
Kohei Horikoshi wanted to emphasize innate kindness and empathy, which were showcased when Deku went all out to defeat Shigaraki and save Tenko. This lesson should have stopped there because it made Midoriya’s sacrifice insignificant. After all, the guy who saved the world from doom was left in the dust.
Hence, this ruined the emotional investment and failed to resonate with the positive lesson that the manga artist was trying to show.
My Hero Academia can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
