Conflict breeds catastrophe and in a world that rotates around a fight between heroes & villains, this constant struggle creates a vicious circle of hatred. The popular shonen anime My Hero Academia depicts a reality where many characters – both good and evil – are motivated by loss, prejudice, and very often revenge.
Both heroes and villains display signs of wanting revenge on people who have wronged them, if not always in the same way or to the same extent. At the end of season five, the two sides prepare to fight a war against each other, but their motivations are not as different as they may think.
This article contains spoilers for the manga.
10 Nezu’s Sadistic Behavior Originates From His Hatred Toward Humanity
The only known animal with a Quirk, Nezu pays a terrible price for his gift. His ability, High Spec, draws all the wrong attention and he is captured and experimented on by humans. The experience leaves him both physically and emotionally scarred, twisting his personality and making him very sadistic. While he doesn’t lash out at human society per se, Nezu maneuvers himself into a position that makes him essential for hero society.
As the headmaster of U.A. High, Nezu has control over all the new generations of heroes. While he doesn’t use his power for evil, his more sadistic moments, such as his confrontation with Mina Ashido and Denki Kaminari during the Final Exam Arc, may make fans wonder what other methods Nezu has been using to enact revenge.
9 Eraserhead And Present Mic Seek Revenge For Their Lost Friend
Class 1-A’s homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa is known for being extremely level-headed and keeping his calm even in the direst situation. Hizashi Yamada – known under the hero name Present Mic – is the complete opposite, his exuberant personality making him a successful radio star. Both men become vengeful when they learn the fate of their good friend, Oboro Shirakumo.
After his death during his Hero-Work Studies, he is used in Doctor Kyudai Garaki’s experiments and turned into the nomu Kurogiri. During the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, Eraserhead and Present Mic participate in the raid on the doctor’s base, enacting revenge for their friend. While the mission quickly goes south, Present Mic does get his moment to shine, physically assaulting the doctor in retaliation for his actions.
8 Tenya Iida Hunts Down The Hero Killer Stain
As Class 1-A’s president, Tenya Iida appreciates and encourages following rules. But after his brother Tensei is attacked and crippled by the Hero Killer, his grief sends him into a vengeful rampage. Iida hunts down Stain in Hosu, wishing to take him down in Tensei’s name. His recklessness almost costs him his life, but fortunately, his friends Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki arrive in time to save him.
7 All Might’s Desire To Avenge Nana Is Almost As Strong As His Heroism
All Might is seen by society as the epitome of heroism, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune to feelings of revenge. Toshinori Yagi is still very much human, and his anger burns as fiercely as the flame of One for All. Viewers first get a glimpse at this side of the hero during the U.S.J. incident, when All Might unleashes his fury on the Nomu who dared to attack his students. But his true long-standing dispute is with All for One. Nana Shimura’s death has left a huge scar behind, so it stands to reason that Toshinori wishes to avenge her.
6 Himiko Toga Goes On A Murderous Rampage To Avenge Twice
Heroes aren’t the only ones who experience friendship and loss. One of the most endearing and surprising bonds in MHA is the tight connection between League of Villains members Himiko Toga and Jin Bubaigawara, also known as Twice.
While both have severe mental health issues, their bond is real, to the point that Jin forces himself to fight past his trauma during the League of Villains’ battle with the Meta Liberation Army to save Himiko. Himiko cares about Jin just as deeply, and she doesn’t react well when Pro Hero Hawks kills Twice during the Paranormal Liberation War. Hawks manages to escape her rampage, but he’ll have to watch his back.
5 Katsuki Bakugo’s Explosive Nature Makes Him Lash Out At Any Perceived Offense
Katsuki Bakugo’s explosive personality hides a strange mix of insecurity, perfectionism, and superiority complex. Even the slightest challenge triggers bad results. As a child, Izuku displays concern toward Katsuki, and being perceived as weak that day may have been part of the reason for Katsuki’s relentless bullying of his former friend.
Bakugo’s no less vicious with villains, and he heavily resents them for forcing him to play a part – even an indirect one – in All Might’s fall. During the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, he’ll finally be able to confront Shigaraki. This is one occasion during which Katsuki’s vengeful nature may come in handy.
4 The Hero Killer Stain Takes Revenge On A Flawed Society
Avenging a loved one is a very understandable, human reaction. Becoming a mass murderer as a response to society’s failings is quite different. Originally a hero student, Chizome Akaguro becomes disenchanted with the mentality of his classmates and leaves his schooling after his first year. He then becomes the vigilante Stendhal, hunting down villains and believing himself to be a bridge between good and evil.
A confrontation with the vigilante Knuckleduster leads him onto a different path. As Stain, he hunts down heroes he perceives as fake. He embodies vengeance on a greater level, on a flawed society that often fails the innocent and honors the unjust. The Hero Killer Stain’s actions are without a doubt monstrous, but his reasons echo those of many other people who’ve been rejected by hero society.
3 Shigaraki Destroys A World That Has Destroyed Him
Shigaraki’s Quirk, Decay, is a perfect match for his role in My Hero Academia. His sole purpose is to destroy. His original motivation as Tenko Shimura stems from an abusive upbringing. His father, Kotaro Shimura, hates heroes due to his mother Nana’s decision to give up on him. As a result, he punishes Tenko for his interest in becoming a hero.
Tenko’s quirk manifests violently, killing his family and crystallizing into his desire to destroy everything. Recruited by All for One, he leaves behind the name of Tenko Shimura and becomes Tomura Shigaraki. At this point, Shigaraki no longer seems that motivated by revenge, his original goals withering into dust much like everything else. The sheer intensity of his anger still makes him stand out among all the vengeful characters in My Hero Academia.
2 All For One Relentlessly Hunts Down All The Inheritors Of One For All
When the criminal mastermind All for One gives his brother Yoichi a Quirk, he doesn’t expect his decision to lead to a feud that will continue for centuries. But that is exactly what happens, as each inheritor of One for All continues the fight against the exact same person the Quirk originally came from.
All for One is nothing if not spiteful, though, and he hunts down each successor, taking great pleasure in destroying them. He doesn’t even stop at killing them and targets their families too. Nana Shimura’s husband is only one of the casualties. So is Tenko Shimura, whose abusive upbringing makes him the ideal tool to use in All for One’s fight against All Might.
1 Dabi’s Whole Reason For Existence Is Revenge
While Dabi isn’t the strongest villain in My Hero Academia, he is without a doubt the most vengeful one. Unlike other characters, he isn’t motivated by anything else except revenge. He is actually the son of Pro Hero Endeavor, Touya Todoroki.
The product of an abusive Quirk marriage, Debi – like all of his siblings – is meant to fulfill Endeavor’s ambitions to surpass All Might. Touya’s Quirk Cremation proves to be incompatible with his ice-resistant body and a Quirk accident leads him to badly burn himself. His hatred for Endeavor expands to encompass the rest of his family, particularly his brother Shoto, who has become exactly what Dabi was supposed to be.
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