It’s not unusual for anime protagonists to be the subject of scrutiny and debate. My Hero Academia‘s Izuku Midoriya is no different, although in his case, not all feedback has been positive. Many fans have taken issue with his tendency to cry, occasionally stutter, break his bones, and make reckless decisions.
Another potential successor has appeared in the picture. All Might’s former sidekick, Sir Nighteye, insists Mirio Togata is the perfect choice to inherit All Might’s famous Quirk, and many fans agree as Lemillion has already shown great mastery over his Quirk, Permeation. He’s also performed genuine feats of heroism and has more experience than Izuku. And yet, for more than one reason, All Might made the right choice in picking Izuku.
10 Izuku’s Quirklessness Makes Him The Perfect Successor
Izuku’s Quirklessness has made many fans argue that he is unprepared and undeserving of One for All. They’re not entirely wrong, as, at the beginning of the anime, Izuku is definitely not ready for the burden One For All places on him. And yet, ironically, it is what makes him the most qualified to hold One For All.
All Might’s Quirk, while powerful, has detrimental side effects on its users. It clashes with preexisting Quirks, putting a lot of strain on the bodies of One For All inheritors. Every One For All user has unavoidably died, and not just because of All For One. The only one to have evaded this side-effect is All Might, and that is because Toshinori used to be Quirkless too. If All Might had followed Nighteye’s advice, the cheerful Lemillion would have died young. The other One For All users know that, and they support Izuku.
9 He’s A Fast Learner Even If The Lessons He’s Taught Are Painful
Despite the advantages Izuku’s Quirklessness gives him, the fact remains that there’s a distinctive gap in skill between him and his classmates. Having received their Quirk at around age four, they have a far better understanding of how their abilities work. For the most part, they’ve adjusted to it, although exceptions do exist–such as Kaminari and Aoyama.
To make matters worse, despite All Might’s many qualities, he’s not the greatest teacher, having been a natural at using One For All. But with Gran Torino’s advice, more experience under his belt, and further study with All Might, Izuku is able to create a style that works for him. He hasn’t yet made the Quirk his own, but he’s well on his way.
8 He Has Also Proven He Has The Heart Of A Hero
After hearing Izuku is Quirkless, All Might originally tells him to pick a different career, that heroics is much too dangerous for him. All Might’s assessment is understandable. Even the strongest Quirk in the world couldn’t protect Toshinori from losing his organs. But in the end, some things matter more than others. Izuku proves he truly has the heart of a hero when he rushes in to save Katsuki Bakugou from the Sludge Villain. It’s not the last time he makes this kind of choice.
7 He’s Willing To Do Whatever It Takes To Save Others
One of the first things All Might tells Izuku is that heroes always get involved. “Meddling when you don’t need to is the essence of being a hero.” And Izuku certainly does a lot of that. Even when he’s not fighting villains, he’s always willing to help, even at great cost to himself.
When he realizes Shoto Todoroki is trapped in a vicious cycle of trauma and resentment, Izuku forces him to the limit, reaching out to him and getting him to acknowledge that his flames are his own, not his father’s. The battle between the two students of 1-A leaves Izuku’s hands permanently damaged, but it goes a long way in healing Shoto’s wounded spirit.
6 He’s Willing To Push Himself To 1,000,000%
Despite the power and potential of One For All, Izuku is still just a student. He doesn’t magically start out with a mastery over his Quirk, which means he’s not always on the same level as the villains he has to face. During the Forest Training Camp Arc, he finds himself fighting Muscular, and the villain’s Quirk is the worst possible fit for him. Muscle Augmentation allows him to shield his body in layers of muscle resistant to blunt trauma and vibrations.
Between that and Muscular’s immense strength and stamina, Izuku seems outmatched. But his determination to save Kota is stronger. Using his super move, 1,000,000% Delaware Detroit Smash, he is able to defeat Muscular, even if he is badly hurt himself.
5 He’s Intelligent And Has The Potential To Become A Great Strategist
From the very first episodes of the anime, it’s made clear that Izuku is a very intelligent, observant boy. He’s able to correctly identify the weakness of the Sludge Villain and constantly makes notes on heroes in his “Hero Analysis For The Future” notebooks. He tends to be a little too reckless for his own good, but he notices Toga during the Provisional Hero License Exam, when she is pretending to be Camie Utsushimi.
Izuku is also perceptive and empathetic, and is able to determine Todoroki’s true feelings about his father. With support from his teachers, he has the potential to become a great strategist–greater than he already is.
4 He’s Almost Too Forgiving With Those Who Have Wronged Him
Having grown up Quirkless, Izuku has been the recipient of a lot of abuse. Prejudice has surrounded him from every direction, and he’s been bullied by his old childhood friend Katsuki Bakugou to the point of suicide baiting. Even so, Izuku has a forgiving heart. He continues to see Katsuki as a friend and a great hero, so much so that he shares One for All with him during My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising.
It’s not necessarily a good thing, as it damages his feelings of self-worth. But his trust in Katsuki’s potential pays off, as Katsuki ultimately manages to apologize for his past actions. Izuku’s kindness is doubtlessly very important for Katsuki’s character arc. One could say that Izuku is a true friend to Katsuki even when Katsuki isn’t a friend to him. Time will tell if Izuku’s sacrifice was worth it.
3 He Has The Potential Of Becoming A Villain But Also A Willpower Of Steel
One could argue that Izuku’s kindness may be just a mask he’s hiding behind. That’s entirely possible. But the fact remains that, as rejected as he’s been, it would have been very easy for him to reject society too. Still, he has a willpower of steel and he never let anyone dissuade him from his dream of becoming a hero. He is determined to save people with a smile, just like All Might. Deku was always meant to be a hero; All Might just gave him the chance.
2 He Can Learn To Wield The Quirks Of Past Users Of One for All
Izuku may have anticipated the challenge of wielding the strength aspect of One For All, but he isn’t prepared for six other Quirks on top of that. Nobody is, and the appearance of Blackwhip takes everyone by surprise.
Originally, Izuku loses control of the Quirk and comes very close to hurting his friends. After that, he barely manages to create a wisp of dark smoke. But after his internship with Endeavor, he becomes adept in using the skill, rescuing civilians in distress with Blackwhip. It’s a huge improvement over a short period of time.
1 He Embraces And Overcomes The Insult That Branded Him As Inferior
Deku is a hero who always looks toward the future with hope. Even beaten down and branded as ‘useless’, he doesn’t cling to past grudges. Instead, he embraces his insulting nickname. With Ochaco Uraraka’s help, he sees that Deku will one day mean Dekiru – that he can do it. To prove that, to himself and to others, he picks Deku as his hero name. It’s not an easy path for him, and there are still many unresolved feelings clouding his heart, but he won’t let that stand in his way.
About The Author
