Deku Is An AWFUL Main Character | My Hero Academia Analysis

I love My Hero Academia, but Izuku Midoriya, the main character, kind of falls flat for me. I don't think he's pushed enough in any human way (in ways other than fighting and physical strength) and I think he's kind of bland compared to other, more complex main characters. Here I break down his character and why I think it falls kind of flat, and how he might be fixed.

[coreyeck]

My biggest issue with deku is that despite wanting so desperately to be a hero, he did NOTHING to make that happen before the story. No training, no conditioning, no martial arts training, nothing. It makes it seem like, despite showing that he was willing to put his life on the line for it, he just didn't give a shit.

[virustheglitch]

When you brought up Midoriya's quirklessness, it reminded me of this fanfic called 'Deku? I think he's some pro'. It's part of the For Want of a Nail series. In it he doesn't receive One For All and actually goes on to become a hero without a quirk. I loved it because it seemed like the anime kinda brushes off his being quirkless after he received a quirk and the fanfic goes into detail about how hard it is to be quirkless in a society that practically revolves around quirks. The same series also has an entry where Izuku says fuck it and becomes a quirkless villain called 'Mastermind'. I actually find myself reading and enjoying these stories more than the anime in fact. And now I guess I understand why. Everyone was written well enough except for poor Izuku

[Hitoshishinsoscvmsock]

Tbh Hitoshi Shinso would make a good MC for Mha, having him would really take a deep dive into the discrimination of quirks and the wrongs of society, deku proves nothing about that because he has a “heroic” quirk (stated by Hitoshi himself)

[Atticus-Catnipp]

Deku is someone I really used to like but my main problem is that he confirms to a society that would normally expell him. Horikoshi is someone who can build up a massively flawed hero world but he didn't flesh out these plot points. Even though Deku has stated that all men aren't born equal he follows regulation that don't help everyone. His desire to become the Nr 1 hero is a responsibility that Deku would still need to comprehend. Ever since Deku received a quirk that made him lose his uniqueness. Deku also doesn't seems to be open to reforming his villains. The spinoff manga vigilantes is actually what Deku's story should have been.

[aAaa-gjlh]

Deku's biggest flaw isnt even his personality, is how the universe bends around him and ruins what he should have been, instead of the underdog hes first introduced as, he gets god like powers from the best of the best, in the first season, then he only gets more overpowered as the show goes.

also, the side characters have more depth than deku, so thats a problem.

[ooOoO]

9:13 Exactly, quirkless people are completely ignored. If they struggle with discrimination, why don't they fight against it? Is whole 1/5 of society!

[somukapare]

I think they should have given bakugou an older sibling who has close to both deku and bakugou but died protecting deku after he was 'diagnosed' as quirkless. This could help stem deku and bakugou's motivations and explain their bad friendship fallout better. Deku and baugou both trying to be heroes because of this one incident would have been intresting and a connecting factor. Plus it would also explain the defenless izuku or useless title better.

[Dr.Jekyll_]

Deku has a major savior complex and it’s pretty obvious. He needs to be the savior even when is obvious others can take care of themselves. The only explanation for such an annoying main character is that the people that wrote it don’t understand the difference between a real hero and someone with a savior complex. Also no one is 100 all good a lot of anime seem to forget that.

[VanLightning]

I just hate him for letting Bakugo walk all over him while worshiping him.

[rileythesmiliest]

i would like him so much more if he took the lessons he learned from being quirkless and applied them to real life. like trying to make a difference and change the prejudice against quirkless people, yknow?

[francjameso]

I think Deku is a great character, but his beliefs are never challenged giving him a chance to display character or growth. Then Horikoshi is inconsistent when it comes to the consequences with his actions.
Him being good is not an issue. He’s very similar to Spider-Man and Captain America

I think Deku is interesting because his heroic attributes are a result of trauma and being bullied. He has NO self worth so in his eyes the most valuable thing about him is the quirk he was given, hence why he will always destroy himself to save others.

[StonerAnggOtaku]

Deku was liked for being the "underdog, " and we all love to root for the underdogs, but now he's not the underdog anymore. Hes just a "dog" to the system. Even having gained Allmight's quirk I would have loved to see him use his "privilege" to improve the lives of other quirkless and inspire them. Its almost like he is becoming Allmight, the same Allmight who was once quirkless himself and told a previously quirkless Deku he could never be a hero without a quirk. Like the message from Deku's characterization is "you cant be a hero without power and if one power isnt enough then you can just use another." They make it seem like theyre promoting togetherness and teamwork, "no hero can do it alone, " then constantly showcase Deku surpassing/bodying everyone and how he can "do ot all on his own, " people who have years of experience learning their quirks. We only really notice the other characters now because theyre more interesting, not because they're getting any spotlight, nothing focused on them anyways. And sure some of class 1A has had their own arcs and family drama, but Deku was at the center of each one, yes he's the main character but if we're focusing on the Todoroki family struggles we dont really need Deku, if youre there to support your friend then support your friend not "steal the show." The manga does a better job at not completely focusing on him during some of them but its not much better than the anime. I was literally cheering for Deku during the sports festival and now... I'm not even interested, we all know "this is the story of how i become the #1 hero" so the ending is set. Its not even Satisfying when he masters a new Quirk... Cause its not a matter of "how" its a matter of "when." We watch the show and read the manga for the other characters, and we only care about Deku to see how close he is to his dream

[hellboundchaoscommand]

When fanfiction writers do better with your story than the original author you might have a problem

[aceclover]

When he was given multiple powers instead of improving OFA ane getting over its weaknesses, Deku became a Mary Sue

[Lord_Helix]

In my experience, Deku's main problem is his likability. It wasn't as easy to like Deku as it was to like other characters like Naruto, Asta, Natsu, or even Tanjiro. Deku isn't really that charismatic compared to other shonen protagonists. Those characters personalities and backstories made them more magnetic. Deku's personality in season 1 is understandably weak and meek, it's somewhat annoying, but after that, he's kinda uninteresting as a person. Iruma-kun from Mairimashita Iruma-kun is a lot more likable despite having similar personality traits like being a pushover. however when Iruma acts weak are less out of fear but more out of kindness. Deku just doesn't feel as human as other characters from anime.

[lonemotheo]

Yeah Deku is a pretty vanilla... He is even blander than boiled chicken with no seasoning

I feel like the problem with Deku is that he is the main character... Let me explain alot of main characters in anime or cartoons usually have they're flaws removed as time goes to make them more Jesussy, so anything controversial or anything that would make the fan base be disappointed him is removed.... It's why alot of MC's get so boring as time goes on they're not allowed to have flaws or go through interesting character arcs all in an attempt to make them the moral center of the story

It's why the rivals and supporting characters have the better characters arcs

[DaniG._.German]

I remember seeing a drawing of Goku passing the torch to Deku. That drawing aged like milk left outside during a hot Florida summer.

[larreCH]

I’ve never thought about If Deku went the Support Hero and honestly it’s an amazing idea. He could’ve been on the same level of Saitama in the MHA verse. Like during the forest when he took on muscular it could’ve had even more weight as we see this support hero take on a villain as strong as that. He could’ve gotten control over his quirk much sooner and we could see him control how much power he has, or see him get rid of the restraints. Maybe limited people know how strong he is so everyone seeing Shigi try to take this support hero would be cool and Bakugou taking on AFO would’ve had more weight. Maybe he becomes a support hero because he felt like he didn’t deserve OFA, but eventually has to go to the front lines you know?

[Aniga]

Ironically, the "Anime Batman" was the original goal. Shonen Jump, the compony, basically said no. Which is how we get the "Chosen one" aspect as a second hand option.

Oddly, the lack of "human element" isn't really an issue to be honest. Some irl individuals are mentally lacking with particular drives which could very well have helped them, but doesn't cross their minds. I just find it nice to see a good one track mind character in a similar vein to Goku. Though as someone has pointed out, it could very well be the fact of idealism or childhood fantasy.

But again, all the issues that you can point to where it all started was with Shonen Jump. We could have had the Anime Batman, but didn't because they said that it wouldn't be as cool.

We could have had a decent story line where we learn about the world and see where things could have gone, have him use his mental ability to win fights instead of punch/kick to win.

But with how Shonen Jump forces the artist to basically suffer under the wight of deadlines, it's hard for Horikoshi to actually put enough effort without making things feel like there hand-me-down's. And that's where I think we will need to focus more on.

[plvto]

I still think the series would've been a lot better if he stayed quirkless. It would've further pushed the idea that "with enough hard work, you can be a hero too" and it can make him relatable and fights involving him would be more fun. but.. alas..