My Hero Academia explores complex ideas such as the relationship between power and justice, while keeping up with the trends of popular shonen anime. There’re over 15 arcs to choose from in terms of ranking them but they all bring new themes or story elements to light. One theme that brings them all together is the hero’s journey that Izuku Midoriya takes the readers on, week after week.
Holding immense power while balancing what that power means for society and oneself is the story fans follow with Midoriya as My Hero progresses. He started off as the weakest he could possibly be, only to grow into a vessel of unlimited potential. The best stories of My Hero Academia reflect his growth while also showing the darker side of that same power struggle.
10 Hero Killer Arc
Few arcs embody what it means to battle villains more than the Hero Killer Arc. Stain poses a threat to all heroes in the world and also has a personal connection to main characters in the story. It’s one of the first arcs that makes the viewers really feel a sense of danger since the stakes are so high.
The fear this arc can make fans feel is what makes it stand out from others since it’s framed like a slasher story more than a typical shonen anime. This choice really sets it apart and leaves an impression in one’s mind that My Hero Academia isn’t all fun and games, and definitely isn’t as lighthearted as it might seem.
9 Entrance Exam Arc
The entrance exam arc is the first official story arc of the series that exists to show the viewer what Midoriya is all about, as well as help them understand the world he lives in. This arc deserves praise because it does all of that extremely well. Because of it, it’s easy to understand what drives Midoriya, what limits his powers have, as well as the rules of the UA and its members.
Every major character introduced has a clear motivation and even though they may be simple, it sets a great foundation for what’s to come later in the series. The villain presence isn’t too strong at this point in the story so the main force Midoriya has to overcome is his own weakness, which is a theme that continues in later arcs since his quirk literally over powers him.
8 Sports Festival Arc
Tournament arcs are a staple in shonen anime and My Hero Academia is no exception to this rule. These kinds of arcs are great because they allow the author to show off powers and have flashy fights without much need for adding context other than, “they have to fight”. This is a powerful tool because it immerses the reader and helps them understand any powers they might see later on in the story.
The sports festival arc is one of the more exceptional tournament arcs because of how creative a lot of the powers are, and the fights that happen because of them. Seeing Midoriya lose is also a very humbling experience that doesn’t have a lot of negative impact on the overall story, while making way for great character moments inspiring his growth as a hero.
7 Forest Training Arc
This arc starts off like a summer vacation type story with really simple and mundane tasks set for the cast like cooking and setting up a camp site. It subverts expectations quickly by turning into one of the highest stake situations in the series up to that point when the camp is invaded by villains. The villains pose more of a threat here than ever, since few heroes are there and it means the students have to step up.
In the forest training arc, the students really do rise to the occasion and show that they’re there for a reason. They hold their own against the villains with minor losses, while also protecting innocent people around them. The arc also gives fans one of Midoriya’s coolest moments in the series, that shows off how far he’s come in understanding his limits and his powers.
6 Pro Hero Arc
The existence of an organization that monitors and advises heroes is an interesting concept explored in other series like One Punch Man, but few put it front and center like My Hero Academia. After All Might retires, the structure of the organization changes, placing Endeavor at the head of the rankings, making him the strongest hero.
Endeavor is nowhere near as 1 dimensional as All Might, and this makes for some unexpected and exciting conflicts. Fans also get to see the other heroes atop the rankings helping them understand where everyone stands against each other, and against the villains.
5 Overhaul Arc
Overhaul marks a new beginning for My Hero Academia, showing the series isn’t afraid to take the tone to a dark level. The introduction of Stain seemed to be the limit of where the show would take things, but Overhaul really turned that on its head. After this arc, it truly feels like nobody is safe, and any character can meet a dark fate. The dark tones, crazy fights, and important story elements make this the most memorable arc in the anime to date.
4 Meta Liberation Army Arc
This arc is a culmination of so many plot points the series has pointed to since it began. The relationship between those with quirks, and those without becomes stressed when authorities restrict what people with quirks can do. This leads to the formation of the Meta Liberation Army who opposes the Hero’s Association and the League of Villains.
The threat this group poses to the world is clear, and it leads to interesting team ups and fights involving characters who hadn’t seen any action before. This arc is one of the best because of its use of the world as a character with agency in its own story.
3 Joint Training Arc
The Joint Training Arc is another tournament style arc that exists to show off the abilities of characters not shown before. Fans get to see both main classes duke it out in this arc, also showing off which class is stronger. The arc also provides interesting exposition about Midoriya’s relationship with those who have inherited his power before him. Through his dreams, he’s able to communicate with those who had One For All in the past. On top of this, he learns limits of his powers that nobody before him ever experienced.
2 Hideout Raid Arc
In every hero’s journey, there’s the moment when the main character has to reassess their progress and what’s truly important to them. The hideout raid arc is like that, but for every character involved. The main goal is to infiltrate the hideout of the league of villains and retrieve the student who was kidnapped in the arc prior.
What’s interesting about this arc is the dual problems viewers get to see from the perspective of the teachers, as well as the students. Relying on All Might is great, but it obviously can’t last forever. The students and other teachers all take a stand to represent themselves and fight, with or without All Might.
1 Hero License Exam Arc
Obtaining a Hero License is a big step forward in the world of My Hero Academia, so it’s also appropriate that this arc serves as a transition into a new saga. To obtain the license, students must complete a rigorous training routine, that they were set to complete during the training camp in the forest. This arc is a reminder of how far each student has come in mastering their quirks, and in developing as a hero. Getting the license also means they can legally battle villains and pay them back for all the pain they caused in previous arcs.
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