Horikoshi's final pro-hero rankings show that My Hero Academia fans never understood Deku's journey at all

My Hero Academia, long after its conclusion, continues to give fans something to talk about. Through sporadic updates and titbits of intriguing information, creator Kohei Horikoshi successfully keeps fans engaged. Most recently, a few plot points such as Eri's progression as a character, All For One's real name, the new No. 1 Pro Hero in America, and more were revealed.

The aspect that received a lot of attention was the updated Hero Rankings. It wasn't what many expected it to be, which is what made it unique. Moreover, through fans' reactions, it seems like many may have possibly misunderstood Izuku Midoriya's journey. In essence, while a majority expected Deku to top the standings, he ranked #4.

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My Hero Academia: Deku's journey was likely misread by fans

To elaborate, the latest Hero Rankings in My Hero Academia were surprising to many. As mentioned, the common expectation was Deku making it to the No. 1 spot, since that was what was supposed to happen. Instead, it was Mirio Togata clinching the No. 1 spot, followed by Shoto, Mt. Lady, and then Deku, just ahead of Bakugo.

But this is exactly what his journey has been about. My Hero Academia was a tale of him becoming "the greatest Hero", not the No. 1 Pro Hero. One doesn't necessarily need to be in the top spot to prove their greatness. Deku's contribution was, towards the end, defined by his intense battle against Tomura Shigaraki and the sacrifice he chose to make, i.e., give up One For All.

Coming in at the fourth spot gives him something to aim for, i.e., Horikoshi's way of saying that the green-haired boy wasn't just done yet. Moreover, thanks to the suit his friends gave him, he could continue living his dream of being a Pro Hero. In other words, Deku's ranking is reflective of an ongoing narrative, a sign his growth hasn’t plateaued yet.

Not a finale, but a quiet oath - that his story offered more and extended beyond the battlefield.

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Fans react to the latest My Hero Academia Pro Hero Rankings

Deku (Image via Studio Bones)

My Hero Academia fans were quick to take to social media to share their thoughts. Many felt that Deku was the one who should have topped the rankings. They wondered why it wasn't him but Lemillion at the top. Some even were wondering how Mt. Lady made it into the Top 5 amidst the new generation of Heroes.

"So I stopped reading manga right after Bakugo got saved from death the second time. Can someone tell me how on earth Deku isn’t #1, idc about spoilers he is obviously the most important hero in that war" - a user questioned.

"I don't get it.... At the start it was told that Deku will finish as Nr. 1 Hero. Why... isn't that the case Horikoshi?!?" - a fan wrote.

"Wasn’t dekus story about how he became the greatest hero ? Doesn’t make sense. Just terrible" - a netizen opined.

"Is this popularity hero ranking or a actual strength hero ranking" - an X user commented.

Deku (Image via Studio Bones)

Fans and lovers of Horikoshi's series were confused when the rankings dropped. Many referred to the beginning of the series, when Deku himself called My Hero Academia "the tale of how I became the greatest hero". This was backed by them putting forth that Deku had contributed greatly in the final war. One fan was even confused as to what rankings these were.

But when looking at the series as a whole, Deku did establish himself as the greatest, being labeled the same by the people as well. His defeating Shigaraki rightfully placed him at the top. But many forget that he became Quirkless after that and the rankings continued to be issued, regardless.

So while he did drop, the gravity of his actions and thus his greatness were never undermined. To reiterate, it is the tale of him becoming "the greatest", not No. 1.

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