The My Hero Academia manga series by Kohei Horikoshi has taken the world by storm. It has reached far beyond Japan, where it's published in Weekly Shōnen Jump as Boku no Hīrō Akademia. The series has been a huge commercial success, spawning an entire multimedia franchise, including anime, music, graphic novels, and video games, to name just a few.
Here we'll dive into the extensive list of My Hero Academia books and briefly discuss what each title covers so you can determine whether you want to add it to your reading or wish list.
My Hero Academia chronological reading list
There are currently 36 My Hero Academia books in the My Hero Academia series published by Viz Media in the U.S., with the 37th volume expected to come out soon. Let's go over each book chronologically.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 1: Izuku Midoriya
Imagine being born without superpowers in a world where these powers are a rule and not an exception. Unfortunately, Izuku Midoriya doesn't have to use his imagination.
However, Japan's greatest hero, All Might, recognizes Midoriya's potential and bestows his power, or Quirk, on him. As a result, Midoriya can enroll in U.A. High School, a prestigious school for superheroes in training, and become the all-powerful hero he's always dreamed of becoming.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 2: Rage, You Damned Nerd
The combat training in U.A. High School is finally beginning, and Midoriya is nervous but excited. He has chosen Deku as his hero name.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 3: All Might
An enemy fraction sets off to kill All Might, but Midoriya doesn't plan to let that happen any time soon.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 4: The Boy Born With Everything
Midoriya finishes first in an obstacle course but isn't as confident about his upcoming cavalry battle.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 5: Shoto Todoroki
Midoriya faces off against his friends at a sports festival.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 6: Struggling
The Class 1-A students, including Midoriya, begin their internships under professional heroes.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 7: Katsuki Bakugo
Midoriya learns about the mysterious villain, All For One, who can steal and bestow the Quirks.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 8: Yaoyorozu Rising
Midoriya worries about his opponent for the practice exam. He has to try and take out none other than All Might.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 9: My Hero
First-year students get attacked by a group of enemies during a training camp.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 10: All For One
Katsuki Bakugo gets kidnapped by the enemy. Everyone in the class has been injured in the attack, and the school gets slammed for letting this happen.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 11: End of the Beginning, Beginning of the End
A hero is killed by a mysterious masked man. All Might arrives. But that's exactly what the villains wanted.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 12: The Test
The Provisional Hero License Exam will commence soon. Midoriya is excited about showing off his special moves.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 13: A Talk About Your Quirk
The Provisional Hero License Exam begins. Midoriya and his classmates are going through the second phase of the test when villains arrive to cause trouble.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 14: Overhaul
So long, summer, the second semester is here. Students are gearing up to do an extracurricular activity they know nothing about.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 15: Fighting Fate
Midoriya and his mentor come face-to-face with a new, sinister enemy, Chisaki Kai, known as Overhaul.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 16: Red Riot
Chisaki intends to distribute a Quirk-destroying drug. Heroes assemble a team to foil his plan.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 17: Lemillion
The raid on Chisaki's gang is in full swing, and the battle reaches new intensity levels.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 18: Bright Future
Deku faces off against Overhaul, who has unleashed his terrifying power. Deku pushes his power to 100% to take him down.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 19: School Festival
Hoping to take their minds off the recent tragedy, Midoriya and his classmates prepare for the upcoming School Festival.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 20: School Festival Start!!
Not everyone attending the School Festival came there to have fun.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 21: Why He Gets Back Up
Villains are starting to rampage the city again. Still, Midoriya has faith in the Pro Hero Endeavor to keep the situation under control.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 22: That Which Is Inherited
Class 1-A and 1-B square off in four-on-four battles.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 23: Our Brawl
A new enemy, the Meta Liberation Army, emerges. Midoriya meets one of the former users of his Quirk.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 24: All It Takes Is One Bad Day
The Meta Liberation Army plans an all-out attack on the League of Villains.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 25: Tomura Shigaraki
As the battle between the two villain factions rages on, you learn why Tomura Shigaraki, the leader of the League of Villains, is the way he is.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 26: The High, Deep Blue Sky
A massive villain attack is on the horizon, and heroes must do everything in their power to prepare well.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 27: One's Justice
An all-out war between the heroes and villains of the Paranormal Liberation Front breaks out.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 28: The Thrill of Destruction
The war against the Paranormal Liberation Front continues. As he's helping to evacuate the city, Midoriya realizes the time has come for him to join the battle.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 29: Katsuki Bakugo Rising
Tomura Shigaraki has awakened and begins to unleash his horrifying powers. The surviving heroes take him on as the U.A. students rush to fight off another terrifying villain.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 30: Dabi's Dance
Midoriya faces off against Tomura, who wants to steal the ultimate Quirk from him. The previous Quirk users join the fight.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 31: Izuku Midoriya and Toshinori Yag
The heroes are trying to recover from the devastating battle in Jaku City. What's left of them, at least. Midoriya begins to understand the true nature of All For One.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 32: Your Turn
With society on the brink of collapse, Midoriya leaves his school and friends behind to try and save whoever he can. Villains for hire come after him, including one familiar face.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 33: Class A to One For All
As the crisis in Japan starts having global ramifications, foreign heroes consider joining the fight. Midoriya's friends are determined not to let him face the villains alone.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 34: United States of America
The United Nations are hesitant to send heroes to Japan. However, Star and Stripe, the greatest U.S. hero, arrives to tackle the threat head-on.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 35: Battle Flame
The final war between the heroes and the villains continues as two ultrapowers prepare for their ultimate collision.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 36: Two Flashfires
Heroes are taking hits left and right during the final war, some losing body parts, and others their lives.
The characters that make up the My Hero Academia universe
The My Hero Academia universe is full of unique and memorable characters. The main protagonist of the series is Izuku Midoriya, a young boy with no superpowers known as quirks in the series. Midoriya dreams of becoming a hero and fights against all odds to enroll in the prestigious U.A. High School for heroes. Other notable characters include All Might, the world's greatest hero, Katsuki Bakugo, Midoriya's rival, and Shoto Todoroki, a student with powerful ice and fire quirks.
Aside from the main characters, there are also a plethora of interesting supporting characters in the My Hero Academia universe. One other interesting character is Ochaco Uraraka, a bubbly and determined student who has the ability to make objects weightless. Another supporting character is Tenya Iida, a serious and disciplined student who has the power of super speed.
The My Hero Academia universe is not limited to just the students and heroes. There are also a variety of villains who pose a threat to society. One of the most notable villains is Tomura Shigaraki, the leader of the League of Villains. Shigaraki has the power to disintegrate anything he touches with all five fingers of his hand, making him a formidable opponent for any hero.
The impact of My Hero Academia on popular culture
My Hero Academia has made a significant impact on popular culture since its debut. The series has inspired countless cosplays at events like Anime Expo and has led to a booming merchandising industry with products ranging from clothing to action figures. The series' popularity has even led to collaborations with major brands like Adidas and McDonald's. My Hero Academia has also had a massive impact on the anime industry, with its influence being felt in numerous recent anime series.
One of the reasons for My Hero Academia's success is its diverse and relatable cast of characters. The series features characters from different backgrounds with unique abilities, making it easy for viewers to find a character they can identify with. This has led to a strong fanbase that is passionate about the series and its characters.
Additionally, My Hero Academia has tackled important themes such as discrimination, bullying, and the responsibility that comes with having power. The series has been praised for its ability to address these issues in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. This has helped to make My Hero Academia more than just a popular anime series, but also a cultural phenomenon that has had a positive impact on its viewers.
More about Kohei Horikoshi’s background and manga writing start
Kohei Horikoshi was born on November 20, 1986, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He began his journey as a manga artist at an early age and started publishing short stories in Akamaru Jump magazine. Horikoshi's breakthrough came with his one-shot "Oumagadoki Zoo" in Jump NEXT! magazine. The success of the one-shot led to the serialization of his next work, My Hero Academia in Weekly Shonen Jump. Horikoshi is known for his unique art style, attention to character development, and storytelling.
Horikoshi's love for superheroes and American comics heavily influenced his work in My Hero Academia. He has cited Spider-Man and X-Men as some of his favorite comics growing up. In an interview, he mentioned that he wanted to create a story that combined the excitement of American comics with the emotional depth of Japanese manga.
Aside from his work as a manga artist, Horikoshi is also an avid gamer. He has mentioned in interviews that he enjoys playing games such as Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. He has even incorporated some of his favorite games into his work, with references to Dragon Quest appearing in My Hero Academia.
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FAQ
Are My Hero Academia books appropriate for 11-year-olds?
My Hero Academia books are aimed at young adults. Eleven-year-olds, for example, might be disturbed by some of the violent scenes present in the series.
What is the next My Hero Academia book?
My Hero Academia Vol. 37: Those Who Defend, Those Who Violate is the next book in the series. It comes out in February 2023 and is currently available for pre-order.
What is the sequel to My Hero Academia?
My Hero Academia: No. 0 All Might: Rising serves as a prequel to the series. There are also notable spin-off series, including My Hero Academia: Vigilantes and My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions.
Is My Hero Academia an anime?
There is a My Hero Academia anime inspired by the manga series.
Where can I buy My Hero Academia books?
You can buy the My Hero Academia box set on Amazon.
