Izuku Midoriya is one of anime’s great underdogs. When he was first introduced, the My Hero Academia protagonist stood as an outcast in a quirk-filled, naturally talented society. Part of what has made Deku so easy to root for is the journey he’s taken, going from an ordinary person to a promising young hero.
Deku’s fortunes changed when All Might singled him out to be his successor, a move that was as unexpected to Deku as it was to those who knew the secret of One For All. Since gaining the rare ability, Deku has gone above and beyond to live up to the expectations set for him, often at the cost of his own well-being. While his virtuous nature and strong work ethic make Deku an ideal hero, whether or not he was the right person to receive One For All has come into question throughout the series.
His Own Worst Enemy
Deku sets some high expectations for himself and goes to great lengths to meet them. Seeing as he grew up quirkless, Deku had developed a complex over not having the means to achieve his boyhood dream. After inheriting One For All, Deku was cathartic regarding the unstable power dwelling inside at times when he should have been cautious of his newfound strength. Deku gradually learns to control the power but was constantly negligent of the physical toll it took on his body due to his strong resolve.
Though admirable, this recklessness coupled with the slow progression of his control over his abilities has caused some characters with knowledge of his situation to question All Might’s decision, either out of skepticism or concern. Nighteye was right in believing that Mirio was the more qualified candidate, as Deku’s inexperience not only cost him but the world around him due to the looming threat of All For One and the League of Villains.
Even All Might has questioned his choice to make Deku his successor at points in the story. This isn’t due to any lack of ability on Deku’s end, but more so due to his tendency to disregard his health and safety in the name of living up to his ideals. Though Deku has come to grow and shown improvement over the mastery of his quirk, his tendency to shoulder the burden and efforts to live up to the God-like image he’s created for All Might are what makes him his own worst enemy at times.
The Ideal Hero
What he lacks in raw ability and talent, Deku makes up for in hard work, intuitiveness, and a passion for doing the right thing and aiding others. Deku’s willingness to put himself in danger for the betterment of his quirk and the sake of others is one of his greatest flaws but also serves as an indicator of his resolve and strong ideals.
Despite the twisted ways in which he acted on his ideologies, The Hero Killer: Stain managed to see through the flaws the modern hero-society had developed over the years. Though he is an extremist, Stain recognizing Deku as someone who lives up to the example set by All Might illustrates how strongly he embodies his predecessor. In a world where heroics have become commoditized, Deku stands as an embodiment of a pure, benevolent ideal.
His progression throughout the series has also been impressive to watch. Deku has had to work harder in a shorter amount of time than most of his 1-A classmates to catch up to them while adjusting to an incredibly demanding quirk. Time and time again, Deku has risen to the occasion in the face of uncertainty, and gradually proved himself to be a capable and worthy successor to All Might. Though it’s been a rough journey, things are looking good for the young hero in the making.