Horikoshi's final message in My Hero Academia was loud and clear, but it was drowned in a power dynamic narrative

With My Hero Academia finally ending on August 5, 2024, with chapter 430, many fans were left with a satisfactory note as to how the series ended and what came of the heroes and villains. With the extensive plethora of unique characters throughout the series, fans enjoyed what each character brought to the story, particularly towards the end of the series.

However, the message left by Kohei Horikoshi, the mangaka, might not have been clear due to the power dynamic factor in the series' narrative. Particularly at the end of Deku's character arc, the fandom seems to be confused about what his new suit signified regarding the characters in the series.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinions and contains spoilers from the My Hero Academia series.

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Deku's new suit in My Hero Academia's ending signified something that isn't what the fans think

In the final chapter of the series, chapter 430, titled My Hero Academia, the last panel featured all the Class 1-A students and Deku. What was so different was that Deku was gifted a suit from his friends from Class 1-A, All Might, and mainly contributed by Bakugo.

After Deku lost his powers at the end of the manga, the "Costume OMEGA" was a gesture from all the people who cared for him so that he wouldn't stop being a hero despite his disadvantage. The suit incorporated modern cutting-edge technology that even surpasses All Might's Hercules combat suit and was designed to mimic all of Class 1-A's quirks.

Apart from mimicking the quirks of Deku's friends from Class 1-A, the suit was more intended to work towards his existing skills and abilities. The suit was a symbol of the support and belief of his friends and mentors, showing that even without a Quirk, Deku can still be a hero.

While this gesture carried on Horikoshi's intended message that anyone can be a hero if they put their heart into it, even Deku, who lost his powers after the fight with Shigaraki and All for One, it was significantly overrun by the fans' concept of power dynamics shown in the My Hero Academia series.

Many started seeing the suit as a necessity for Deku to become a hero again, as, without its assistance, Deku wouldn't stand a chance, especially since Bakugo and the others possessed more power than him now. The fans heavily misinterpreted the use and significance of Deku's new suit in My Hero Academia, especially regarding its introduction in the manga.

All Might adapting his Hercules combat suit earlier in the series, during his fight against All for One, was a similarity that occurred with Deku at the end of the series. During that time, All Might didn't wear a suit because he needed it to be a hero; he used it to specifically fight against All for One and enhance his existing powers and abilities.

It is necessary to understand that the suit was part of Deku's extension and was made so that Deku could still continue to do hero work. But it doesn't mean Deku would not be a hero without it. The message "Anyone can be a hero" is the main theme of the series and is carried throughout, even in the final chapters.

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Final thoughts

While the concept of power dynamics slightly overruns the hero concept in My Hero Academia's ending, Horikoshi has made it clear that he stands by his core moral concept for the series - anyone can be a hero from the start to finish of the manga.

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