The popular anime and manga series My Hero Academia portrays a world where superpowered villains often battle superpowered hero protagonists.
With such high-stakes battles occurring regularly, death and loss are an ever-present possibility. The author, Kohei Horikoshi, incorporates this grim realism by allowing some well-known characters to die.
Given the storyline involving dangerous confrontations, the risk of death hovers over many key figures.
Though some fans may hope for the survival of all the prominent heroes, it seems likely that casualties will continue as the overarching conflict progresses.
Five characters stand out as potentially meeting their demise sooner or later. Their death could fuel tension or spark turning points in the narrative.
On the flip side, some characters seem effectively safeguarded and poised to survive through the final act. Their sustained presence provides ongoing drama or symbols of hope for the story’s wider themes.
These fan favorites may face injuries or reversals but remain likely to overcome whatever dire straits they enter just as death lurks as a possibility for some, relative protection hovers over others.
Endeavor Was Supposed To Be Killed Off
According to insider information, the My Hero Academia author originally planned for the hero Endeavor to die fighting his villainous son Dabi during the Paranormal Liberation War arc. However, the author apparently changed course and decided to keep Endeavor alive.
Had Endeavor been killed off at that stage, several major plot lines would have shifted.
With Endeavor gone, only the heroes Jeanist and Hawks would have remained to handle the public fallout from Dabi exposing Endeavor’s past wrongdoing. Additionally, without Endeavor tracking Deku via GPS, the student heroes of Class 1-A would have struggled more to locate and assist Deku during his solo vigilantism.
Furthermore, the question arises — if not Endeavor facing his son — then which hero would have first battled the supreme villain All For One in the climactic war?
Endeavor’s survival creates ongoing drama and uncertainty. But originally, killing him off would have dropped a main character while raising new challenges for key protagonists.
Either way, the series hinges on death always looming as a turn of the tide. The author deftly plays with its possibility to keep readers guessing.
What Fans Think About This?
A My Hero Academia fan expresses relief and approval that the author ultimately chose not to kill off the complex character Endeavor.
In his view, allowing Endeavor an early heroic death while battling his villainous son, Dabi, would have been too simplistic and merciful.
It would have allowed Endeavor to take “the easy way out” rather than facing the aftermath of his misdeeds and endeavoring on a path to redemption.
Moreover, he also argues that if the author felt a significant heroic mentor had to perish at this stage of the saga, a better choice may have been the elderly hero Gran Torino.
From a storytelling standpoint, Endeavor serves an ongoing vital role. Having survived against Dabi, Endeavor now must continue his difficult personal atonement.
Meanwhile, mentor Gran Torino has already played his part in guiding Deku toward unlocking his power. Killing the aged Gran Torino could have better fueled Deku’s character development and motivation at this crossroads.
More About My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia centers on Izuku Midoriya, a bullied boy born without special powers in a world where superpowers are common.
Izuku dreams of becoming a mighty hero who saves others. His only supporter is his mother, as even his childhood friend Katsuki Bakugo bullies him for having no abilities.
Izuku’s life transforms when the world’s greatest hero, All Might, chooses to pass on his spectacular strength-enhancing power, “One For All,” to Izuku, seeing the boy’s courage and noble spirit.
All Might believes Izuku can succeed him by mastering One For All over time.
Newly gifted, Izuku enrolls along with the bullish Bakugo in U.A. High School, an elite academy training teenagers to use their special talents to become certified heroes.
Izuku and his diverse new classmates face escalating threats from sinister villains opposed to heroes during their critical training year.
The dangerous League of Villains aims to destroy hero society, led by All Might’s arch-nemesis All For One and his protege Tomura Shigaraki.
The league utilizes artificial monster-like weapons called “Nomu” and infiltrates the U.A. with an apparent spy. Yet Izuku and his friends rise to every challenge, compelled to master their powers to someday achieve their destiny battling for justice.
