Once again, I am noticing a sense of parallelism between Deku and Tomura Shigaraki. Earlier in the series, Shigaraki fought Gigantomachia for months without rest. Then he had to fight Re-Destro and his Meta Liberation Army shortly afterwards. After experiencing so much exhaustion and mental strain, Shigaraki’s Decay quirk experienced an awakening where its full power was unleashed. At the same time, Shigaraki regained his lost memories and remembered why he became a supervillain in the first place. This resulted in him being liberated in every conceivable way and took the first step to reach his full potential as a supervillain. I think we are about to see something similar happen to Deku in future chapters. Like Shigaraki, Deku has pushed himself to the brink of physical and mental exhaustion after fighting nonstop for over a month. Now, he is about to fight his own classmates in Class 1A while running on fumes. At the beginning of the fight, I think Deku will get the upper hand, but his friends will overwhelm him when his stamina is spent. That is likely when One For All undergoes its own awakening just as Shigaraki’s Decay underwent an awakening. When that happens, Deku might finally complete One For All in its entirety. It may also be when Deku is reminded of why he wanted to be a superhero in the first place. While Shigaraki’s quirk awakening instilled fear, I think Deku’s will inspire hope. This will likely be when Deku reaches his breaking point and comes to his senses.
The following contains spoilers from chapter 319 of My Hero Academia. You have been warned.
As Deku remains focused on his one-man war against All For One/Tomura Shigaraki’s minions, his mind drifts to the hope that he would smile with his classmates again after defeating the supervillains. However, Deku has overestimated his friends’ enthusiasm with his crusade and underestimated how worried they are about him. After finding out the truth about Deku’s burden as a One For All wielder and getting answers from Endeavor and Principal Nezu, Class 1A have agreed to hunt Deku down and bring him back to UA. They refuse to let him fulfill his destiny alone. Throughout their time together, Deku and his classmates have formed a strong bond as both friends and comrades-in-arms. Deku thought isolating himself from them would keep them out of danger, but he underestimated how strong their bond was. If Deku will not stop his warpath and accept their help willingly, his classmates are hellbent to pound some sense into him. What Deku is about to receive from his classmates is a serious case of tough love. It is obvious that Deku has become so much stronger since the last time he fought Bakugo, but he is running on fumes and is on the brink of exhaustion. To make matters worse, Deku is outnumbered nineteen to one. Initially, I think this fight will be like when Mirio Togata mopped the floor with Class 1A, but the fight will turn against Deku due to his stamina mental fortitude being all but spent. His friends do not want to fight him, but they will fight him for his own damn good. I have a feeling that Deku’s classmates will use the memories they had with Deku as weapons in an attempt to get through to him.
It is common knowledge that Deku is selfless in the extreme. It is one of the reasons All Might chose him as the next wielder of One For All. Even the vestiges of One For All have acknowledged this fact. It is good that a true hero puts others before himself, but there is a limit to this concept. It turns out that Deku’s selflessness is a double-edged sword. While his selflessness allows him to excel as a superhero, it makes him completely disregard his own well-being. This has been on full display in recent chapters with Deku’s one-man war against supervillains. After fighting supervillains and rescuing civilians nonstop for over a month, Deku’s physical and spiritual health has been deteriorating with each battle. Even though he is exhausted, starving, and mentally drained, Deku disregards all of it and pushes forward. Now, his selflessness is working against him. If he does not stop and rest, his mind and body are going to reach their breaking point.
“When your power eclipses mine I will become expendable. This is the Rule of Two: one Master and one apprentice. When you are ready to claim the mantle of Dark Lord as your own, you must do so by eliminating me.“
Darth Bane to Darth Zannah, Star Wars
So far in the story of My Hero Academia, the vestige of All For One has taken over the body of Tomura Shigaraki. It turns out that All For One’s idea of a successor is not someone who would replace him but someone who would become a new body for his essence to inhabit. According to Hawks, despite being the most sinister supervillain in Japan, All For One is not truly capable of feeling true hate. This could be why he was unable to steal the One For All quirk because he lacked a suitable amount of hate to fuel his willpower. Therefore, All For One took Shigaraki under his wing so he could nurture and encourage his hatred. When Shigaraki’s hatred was strong enough, he would be given the All For One quirk. With Shigaraki’s hatred combined with the vestige of All For One, All For One himself would have a strong enough willpower to override the vestiges of One For All, which will allow him to steal it. Based on the vestiges of One For All, that has been All For One’s plan from the very beginning.
However, I do not think everything will go as All For One has planned. All For One’s foresight is frightening and impressive, but it clearly has limits such as when he admitted that the Paranormal Liberation War did not go exactly as he planned. In the vestige world, All For One himself hinted that there is a possibility that Shigaraki may be able to usurp him as the true wielder of the All For One quirk. I think there is a real possibility of this happening. As mentioned before, All For One is evil, but he has no true hatred in him while Shigaraki is overflowing with it. That means that Shigaraki has a way to fuel his own willpower that All For One lacks.
I think Shigaraki’s hatred is going to get a serious boost that will not only allow him to usurp the All For One vestige, but also complete his transformation as a supervillain. It has long been theorized that Shigaraki received his Decay quirk from All For One when he was a child. This was hinted in a flashback when a mysterious man that resembled All For One returned Shigaraki to his family after finding him in the streets. That would mean that Shigaraki was originally quirkless like Deku was before receiving One For All, which would be yet another parallel these two characters would share. This would also mean that All For One was indirectly responsible for the tragedy that Shigaraki suffered when he killed his family with the Decay quirk. In other words, All For One orchestrated Shigaraki’s trauma in order gain custody of him. I would not be surprised if All For One used some kind of telepathic quirk to influence the minds of Shigaraki’s family in order to further increase the trauma Shigaraki would endure. If this is true and Shigaraki finds out, that would definitely give him an even bigger motivator to turn on All For One. It would also make Shigaraki an even darker supervillain than before because his family abused him, hero society abandoned him, and his own master used him and destroyed his life. All of this would make Shigaraki even more hate-filled and may make the sliver of good Deku glimpsed in Shigaraki evaporate.
While the One For All quirk has a symbiotic relationship between its wielder and the vestiges of its previous users, the All For One quirk acts more like a parasite where the wielder and the vestige fight over control of one body. Here is the reality of Shigaraki’s situation. Either he overthrows All For One and gains control of his power or All For One overthrows him and gains control of his body. There is no middle ground.
“Death would only end your agony and silence your shame. Instead, I will simply BREAK YOU!!!”
Bane, Batman: Knightfall
The following contains spoilers from My Hero Academia. You have been warned.
During Deku’s most recent battle, the supervillain he was fighting revealed something about All For One’s plan for Deku. Apparently, All For One predicted that Deku would isolate himself from his allies and perform his hero duties to the point in which his mind and body were on the verge of breaking. This is exactly what All For One wants! He wants Deku to be weakened and alone because that would make him a more vulnerable target. The reason All For One could not steal the One For All quirk was because of the collective willpower of both the wielder of One For All and the vestiges of the previous users. Now, Deku’s willpower hangs by a thread after fighting so many battles in a short span of time. He even isolated himself from the vestiges of One For All. Deku is in a perfect position for All For One to steal One For All from him. I have a feeling All For One will strike soon while Deku is still vulnerable. This could also be one of the reasons why All For One released all of those supervillains. It was not just to cover his tracks. It was also to give Deku so many emergencies for him to handle that he would be overwhelmed.
I have seen this strategy before in the Batman: Knightfall graphic novel. Bane broke into Arkham Asylum and released all the supervillains inside. Then Batman spent several grueling weeks fighting and recapturing all the supervillains that escaped. By the time he was done, Batman was exhausted and nearing his breaking point. That was when Bane confronted Batman and gave him the beating of his life, resulting in him breaking Batman’s back. All For One is utilizing the exact same tactic on Deku as we speak.
It has come to my attention that My Hero Academia has a number of references to Greek mythology. In fact, a number of the characters and locations are based on characters in Greek mythology. If you know where to look, you can find those references.
Let us start with the most obvious reference in Greek mythology in My Hero Academia. Both All Might and Deku bear some similarities to Zeus, god of the heavens and King of Olympus. While in his prime, All Might defeated and imprisoned countless supervillains, which is similar to how Zeus defeated and imprisoned the Titans. When he gave One For All to Deku, it symbolically represented Deku receiving Zeus’s thunderbolt. Deku represents Zeus because he acts as a leadership figure amongst his classmates just as Zeus was the leader of the Olympians. Just as Zeus was the strongest of the Greek gods, Deku is going to be the strongest of his classmates. After the Paranormal Liberation War, Deku follows in All Might’s footsteps by defeating and imprisoning every supervillain he encounters, which again mirrors Zeus versus the Titans.
Due to his aggressive personality and his love of combat, Bakugo is obviously based on Ares the god of war. The fact that he has gauntlets shaped like grenades is not just because he has the power to generate explosions. It is also because grenades are a common weapon in modern warfare. Just as Ares was the most reviled god on Olympus, Bakugo is not liked by his classmates.
It is no secret that Uraraka loves Deku. Throughout the series, it seems that Uraraka will eventually end up with Deku. If Deku represents Zeus, then Uraraka represents Zeus’s wife Hera goddess of marriage.
Tenya Iida best represents Hermes because the way he has engines on his legs is similar to how Hermes had wings on his sandals. During the USJ Incident, Iida was the one who went to inform the teachers that the school was under attack. This is reminiscent to how Hermes is the messenger of the gods.
Mina Ashido likely represents Aphrodite goddess of love. Her skin and hair are pink and pink is the universal color of love. Also, Mina is a romantic, which is evidenced by her being the most vocal and staunchest supporter of Deku and Uraraka getting together.
Momo Yaoyorozu easily represents Athena goddess of wisdom. The reason for this is because Momo is the smartest student in Class 1A and a gifted strategist.
Red Riot seems to symbolize Hercules for two reasons. First, his quirk gives him superhuman strength and durability. Second, his headgear resembles the visage of a snarling lion, which could be a reference to the Nemean Lion.
Due to his shining and sparkling quirk, outfit, and personality, it would make sense that Aoyama represents Apollo god of the sun.
Due to the fact that Tokoyami’s quirk, aesthetic, and personality revolves around darkness, it would seem that he symbolizes Hades god of the Underworld.
Tartarus Prison was named after the most hellish section of the Underworld. It was where Zeus imprisoned the Titans. Therefore, all of the inmates of Tartarus Prison represent the Titans themselves. Now, in recent chapters, Tartarus is breached and the Titans are free again. The Second Titanomachy has begun!
All For One’s strongest minion, Gigantomachia’s name is a reference to a war called the Gigantomachy. The Gigantomachy was a war that was fought between the Gods of Olympus and giants. Gigantomachia is certainly a giant and he fought against superheroes, which are essentially the gods of hero society.
As the strongest and most sinister supervillain in the series, All For One may present the leader of the Titans Kronos. When he was imprisoned in Tartarus Prison, All For One joined the rest of the Titans. As the founder and leader of the League of Villains, All For One further symbolizes Kronos’s role as leader of the Titans.
Finally, Tomura Shigaraki seems to represent Typhon, who was one of the deadliest creatures in Greek mythology and the father of many infamous monsters. Due to this sinister nature and upgraded body, Shigaraki has definitely become a god among monsters. Typhon fought Zeus multiple times just as Shigaraki will fight Deku multiple times.
Overall, I am glad that My Hero Academia has so many references to Greek mythology because Greek gods and demigods were the original superheroes.
“And then, there was Achilles. Now there was a guy who had it all: the build, the foot-speed. He could jab! He could take a hit! He could keep on comin’! BUT THAT FORSLUGGINER HEEL OF HIS! He barely gets nicked there once, and kaboom! He’s history.”
Philoctetes, Hercules
One of the most famous heroes of ancient Greece would be Achilles, who is best known for his participation in the Trojan War. Achilles had a complex heritage. His father Peleus was the king of the Myrmidons while his mother was a nymph and sea goddess named Thetis. His grandfather on his mother’s side was a minor sea god named Nereus. So, Achilles was a demigod in the sense that his mother and grandfather were gods while everyone on his father’s side were mortals. When he was an infant, his mother tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the River Styx. However, Peleus thought Thetis was harming their son and interrupted the ritual before it could be completed. Even so, being immersed in the River Styx made Achilles virtually invulnerable and invincible in combat. His power became legendary during the Trojan War, where he slew countless foes including Prince Hector of Troy. Despite his invulnerability, Achilles’s heel was his only vulnerable spot because it was the only part of him his mother did not dip in the River Styx. As a result, Achilles was slain by Prince Paris near the end of the Trojan War. It was his death that gave us the phrase “Achilles heel”, which alludes to something’s weakness. Achilles has always been one of my favorite characters in Greek mythology. In my story on Greek mythology, my main character’s name will rhyme with Achilles. I will also draw inspiration from Achilles’s complex blood ties with the gods when creating my demigod characters. The River Styx will also be mentioned in the story along with its invulnerability properties.
“I was wondering what would break first; your spirit or your body.”
Bane, The Dark Knight Rises
The following contains spoilers from recent chapters in My Hero Academia. You have been warned.
The Deku we once knew is slowly ceasing to exist. Since his battle with the deadly supervillain Lady Nagant, Deku has been relentlessly hunting for All For One and Tomura Shigaraki. He has been battling every supervillain he encounters and answers every cry for help he hears. However, all of Deku’s efforts are starting to turn on him.
As a result of non-stop fighting and rescuing, Deku is running himself ragged. His control over the One For All quirk may be improving, but he is becoming more exhausted with each fight. The fact that he has multiple quirks has caused the public to wonder if he is working for All For One. His costume and equipment are also experiencing a lot more wear and tear than normal, giving him a haggard and intimidating appearance. All of these factors have made Deku feared by both supervillains and the very people he rescues.
To make matters worse, Deku is pushing away everyone around, including All Might and the vestiges of One For All. Due to having the Search quirk, All For One and Shigaraki can hunt Deku down no matter where he is. This puts everyone around him in danger. Deku also remembers Sir Nighteye’s prediction about All Might’s death. These factors makes Deku determined to keep everyone he cares about out of harm’s way. He believes he can only do that by hunting All For One and Shigaraki alone.
While All Might and most of the vestiges of One For All fear for Deku’s well being, the second user’s vestige believes that Deku is on the right track. The only way he can master One For All in its entirety would be to keep fighting. The current Deku may represent what the original superheroes were like before they were branded vigilantes by hero society.
Sadly, all of this is making Deku an even easier target for All For One. Deku’s uniform is in shambles, his power is draining, his mind is strained, and his willpower is on the verge of breaking. The worst part of all is that Deku is all alone and isolated all of his allies. Fortunately, Bakugo has found Deku and is in the process of saving him from being overwhelmed by brainwashed civilians. It is hinted that Deku’s other classmates are not far away. If anyone can get through to Deku, it is his classmates, particularly Bakugo and Uraraka. I have a feeling that Bakugo will try to pound some sense into Deku for going alone while Uraraka might confess her love to Deku to try and bring him back. I guess we’ll find out in future chapters.
“I am the King of Olympus and it is my way that is the way of the Gods.”
Zeus, God of War II
The main antagonist of my story on Greek mythology will be Zeus, god of the heavens and King of Olympus. However, I will not depict him as a pure villain. Instead, my version of Zeus will be a complex, deeply conflicted, and morally ambiguous character. As the King of Olympus, Zeus carries the heavy burden of all of creation on his shoulders. Because of this, he is often forced to make difficult and sometimes dubious choices for the greater good. Due to this, some of his choices draws the ire of the demigods.
Despite being the strongest of the Gods of Olympus, Zeus was the youngest of the first generation Olympians, which made him the runt of the litter. He was the younger brother of Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and Demeter. His wife was his sister Hera, goddess of marriage. Zeus was the father of many gods of demigods. Sadly, due to his constant womanizing, Hera would often seek vengeance on Zeus by taking it out on his illegitimate children. Zeus’s relationship with his brothers was one based on balance. While Zeus ruled the heavens, Poseidon ruled the sea and Hades ruled the Underworld. Shared between the three of them was the earth. Zeus was most famous for being able to cast bolts of lightning and create thunderstorms whenever he was in a bad mood.
I have started my book on Greek mythology, having completed the first chapter and started the second chapter. The first chapter will involve introducing the Gods of Olympus and the plans they have for the demigod population. The second chapter will introduce the main character and the demigod community. Something big is about to happen that will shake ancient Greece to the core. The wrath of the gods is about to be unleashed!
