Izuku Midoriya was the main protagonist of the My Hero Academia universe and the successor of One For All. The current story follows his evolution from a fledgling student to becoming a professional hero, benefitting and suffering from the decisions he makes.
However, there are a number of characters with more interesting foundations and narrative potential than Deku. Through identifying them and the ways they might make for a more promising central hero, we can better appreciate the possibilities for their success through the groundwork that has already been established.
10 Todoroki’s Story Could Explore The Burden Of High Expectations
Shoto Todoroki’s quirk renders him arguably the strongest student in Class 1-A. However, it also places tremendous expectations on him, especially through his lineage as the son of Endeavor.
His relationship with his father would provide a massive plot thread to be explored and ultimately a story of triumph over abuse. Moreover, Endeavor’s attempts to make amends would also be a fitting gauge of Todoroki’s character and priorities, keeping the audience in suspense as their troubled past continues to impact the present.
9 Bakugo’s Character Development Is Evident Throughout The Story
The beginning of a story with Bakugo as a lead may be somewhat difficult to process on account of his brash and tyrannical nature, though it would build contrast for his character development in the future.
Touched by the words of All Might and having learned from his remedial training after the failure of the Hero Licensing Exam, Kacchan’s progression as an individual is already evident. Additionally, his clear motive to become the strongest provides a cohesive, simple, and likable ambition to give direction for his journey.
8 Kirishima’s Struggle With Courage & Straightforward Quirk Make Him A Lovable Everyman
Kirishima’s “Hardening” quirk is primarily powered by the strength of will and the resilience of his body. This makes him an excellent candidate to be a main character, especially since he can withstand deadly attacks from villains that most regular heroes could not (Midoriya included).
Additionally, he is one of the few members of the cast to treat the fear of death and pain with a degree of realism, as proven through his hesitation against Gigantomachia. Subsequently, it’s easy to place oneself in his position for the organic emotions he feels in the midst of battle.
7 All Might’s Physical Condition Would Keep Him Interesting
Under ordinary circumstances, All Might may not seem like an appropriate main character since much of his journey is already “complete.” However, there are a number of ways to keep Toshinori’s story dynamic.
Aside from simply setting the plot earlier and having the narrative follow his exploits under Nana Shimura, his injury serves to balance his incredible power with critical limitations. Since he is forced to hide his desiccated body from the public, his alter ego also works much more like a conventional superhero than any other member of the cast.
6 Mirio’s Story Reverses Deku’s Own
Mirio’s story is the polar opposite of Midoriya’s. Instead of going from a powerless child to one of the most formidable heroes of his school, Lemillion lost everything during his battle against Overhaul.
Following his story would allow for the audience to understand the consequences of heroics and the sacrifice it often entails. This is especially true considering how hard Mirio worked to master his “Permeation” quirk and turn it into a valuable weapon. He would be an especially worthy main character since he could use Nejire and Tamaki as a solid supporting cast.
5 Tokoyami’s Attempts To Control Dark Shadow Would Make Him A Compelling Antihero
Tokoyami was an intriguing member of Class 1-A since his astounding power came with a serious limitation. Should his “Dark Shadow” quirk not be checked by daylight or fire, it has the potential to overwhelm him and become a threat to everyone in his vicinity.
The struggle to master this potent albeit deadly quirk would be a compelling plot point, especially since the bird-like hero be forced to earn the trust of his allies (and with good reason).
4 Eraserhead’s Fighting Style & Personality Both Resemble Batman
Eraserhead’s quirk allowed him to negate enemy powers so long as he was physically staring at them. Since it doesn’t inherently enhance his own abilities, this would make him an underdog in most situations.
Between his innate gifts and laconic personality, he strongly resembles Batman. Should he became the main character of the anime, however, it would likely require that he leaves U.A High and rejoins hero society. Given his performance at the Overhaul raid, such a change in career is not unconscionable for him.
3 Nighteye’s Visions Would Provide Excellent Dilemmas & Foreshadowing
Nighteye’s quirk allowed him to see into the future. However, after garnering Toshinori’s fate, he swore off this power since he felt incapable of stopping what he saw. His premonitions filled him with dread and haunted the man wherever he went.
Should the story follow his adventures, it would provide a window into the life of a professional hero. Moreover, since Nighteye’s prediction can be proven wrong (as it was by Midoriya), he would be forced to muster his courage and envision futures that may or may not come to pass. This would be a stunning utility to build foreshadowing and keep audiences in suspense.
2 Eri Would Begin Her Hero’s Journey From The Beginning
Eri has many of the hallmarks in a traditional hero. Her traumatic past provides a solid foundation for future ambitions, and she is surrounded by positive influences that would guide her in the right direction.
Although she has a more robust reason to become a hero than Midoriya, making her the protagonist would necessitate a time skip so that her exploits could begin at a reasonable time. Because Eri has yet to master her quirk, she has boundless potential to progress.
1 Endeavor Would Make A Beautiful Redemption Story
Initially, Endeavor was a vociferous braggart who desperately attempted to surpass All Might and abused his own family to proliferate his legacy. After becoming the Symbol of Peace, the flame user was forced to realize that being a hero was about more than defeating villains.
His quest for redemption both in the eyes of his family and that of the public would provide a touching story. While he may not have much to progress in the way of martial prowess, his latent character development has massive potential for exploration.
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