Want to get into the My Hero Academia manga? Check out our review of this popular shonen manga series and see if it lives up to all the hype.

My Hero Academia manga reviewed

My Hero Academia (Boku No Hero Academia as it’s known in Japan), is a popular Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi. Over 30 volumes in the series tell the story of a group of young heroes in a world where everyone has superpowers—everyone but our protagonist, Izuku Midoriya.

It was first published in 2014 in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine and has since become one of the most popular manga (Japanese comic books/graphic novels). Viz Media is behind the English localization. The series has been very successful, both in Japan and internationally. There is an anime TV series adaption which has been airing since 2016, the video game My Hero One’s Justice, and the film World Heroes Mission. My Hero Academia has also spawned numerous spin-off manga and light novels.

If you want to get into the MHA fandom, check out our manga review of the series below. This is your warning that there will be spoilers for the storyline and characters.

A My Hero Academia synopsis

The author of My Hero Academia has said that some of his favorite manga include Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece, which have surely inspired the larger-than-life world of MHA. However, despite the similarities to other shonen manga (such as Naruto, Bleach, or Dragon Ball), Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia stands strong on its own merits.

It follows the peculiar story of the main character Izuku Midoriya, a young high school student born without any superpowers in a world where most people are born with special abilities known as Quirks. These “quirks” aren’t always the epic superhero powers. Many of them are silly. However, as a child, he experienced intense bullying from his classmates for his “strangeness.” Despite the odds, Izuku’s dream is to one day become a hero.

His ambition leads him to meet All Might, one of the strongest heroes in the world. All Might is a celebrity in the MHA Universe and Izumu Midoriya’s role model. Thanks to All Might and secretly gaining the All for One quirk, the protagonist joins the prestigious U.A. High (a school for the most talented up-and-coming superheroes) in pursuit of becoming the number one hero. From there, Izuku embarks on an endeavor to become the greatest hero, overcoming any odds that stand in his way. His new friends, Shoto Todoroki, Ochaco Uraraka, Katsuki Bakugo, and Tenya Iida join him on his adventures as a member of Class 1-A at U.A. High.

Izuku Midoriya and his peers soon find themselves in an ongoing fight against the League of Villains (with antagonists like Tomura Shigaraki, Dabi, and Himiko Toga), and the action never stops from there.

Awards for My Hero Academia

The series has won numerous awards, including the 2019 Harvey Award for Best Manga, Nico Nico and Da Vinci’s Tsugi ni Kuru Manga and the Sugoi Japan Award. Meanwhile, the anime series received multiple nominations for Crunchyroll’s Anime of the Year Awards. 

The MHA manga is one of the best-selling manga series of all time. It’s earned its critical acclaim and fan love for its art style, character designs, humor, and story.

My Hero Academia—Our review

My Hero Academia Volume 1 is the right place to start for readers who want to dive into the series. Naturally, it’s the origin story that sets the stage for future events. It is accessible to readers new to the series and those who decided to check out the manga after enjoying the anime adaptation.

The first volume follows the quirkless boy Izuku Midoriya’s introduction to the world of professional heroes and his journey to join their ranks. Izuku is a nerdy, joyful boy that many wouldn’t necessarily take for the fighting type, at least at first glance. But he likes to keep track of all the best heroes and dreams of one day following in the footsteps of his idol, All Might.

Everything changes once he gets his transferable quirk—One for All, the quirk once belonging to Yoichi Shigaraki. One For All allows the user to store a massive quantity of raw power, which lets them boost all of their physical talents dramatically. This way, the user can gain incredible strength, speed, agility, and durability. It is also the only quirk capable of combating the All for One. Throughout the series, readers are taken on a wild ride filled with intense action and some of the best fight scenes in the manga.

Horikoshi does a fantastic job of showing readers the consequences of Izuku’s choices and the struggles he faces along the way. One of MHA’s greatest strengths is the character development the heroes and villains go through. The story is surprisingly nuanced and does not rely on overly black-and-white tropes. The protagonist’s struggles also teach a valuable lesson about overcoming obstacles, standing up for yourself, and persevering against all odds.

Overall, My Hero Academia is an exciting manga series that will delight readers. It is full of intense action, compelling characters, and a story that keeps readers hooked until the very last page. With an ever-expanding cast and an intense plot, this series will surely please readers of (almost) all ages. Pop culture references to Western superheroes are a cherry on top of this delightful spectacle.

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FAQ

Is My Hero Academia manga appropriate for kids?

My Hero Academia is more appropriate for teenagers than children due to the violent nature of some of its content.

Does MHA manga get dark?

The manga gets dark when it comes to explaining villain backstories.

Is the My Hero Academia manga finished?

The My Hero Academia manga is currently in its final story arc.

Is Deku a villain in the My Hero Academia manga?

So far, Deku hasn’t become the villain of the manga. However, some fans see this route as a potential character development plot for him.

Who is the protagonist in MHA manga?

Izuku Midoriya is the protagonist.

What is the genre of MHA manga?

MHA manga falls into the superhero/sci-fi action genre of shonen manga.