My Hero Academia Fans Are Furious With Adult Deku’s Portrayal 

This article contains spoilers from My Hero Academia’s Shinjuku Showdown Arc.

Key Takeaways

• Deku now wants to be a teacher, not the number one hero.
• Fans are upset with Deku’s changing personality in the epilogue.
• Deku’s decision to teach shows character growth and maturity.

My Hero Academia’s last volume, volume 42, dropped recently and with it came a 38-page epilogue drawn by the author to bring things to a close. My Hero Academia chapter 431 sees all the pressure lifted from Horikoshi’s character’s shoulders while being away from the cameras, so that they can be more themselves. This chapter gave fans a look at their favorite characters after the 8-year time skip took place and that’s certainly added a lot of depth to them, and gave fans a glimpse of their now daily and busy lives, and at the same time, the growing personalities.

Naturally, Deku, the protagonist of the series, was at the center of this epilogue chapter as well, and much to the surprise of the fans, he acted way differently from what they are used to seeing, which has made some fans furious.

Adult Deku’s Change Of Dreams In MHA

• Deku No Longer Wants To Be The Number One Hero
• Deku Prefers Teaching Over Being A Hero

As fans know, Deku’s biggest dream in My Hero Academia was to become a hero like All Might and save people with a smile on his face. Deku idolized All Might, and just like him, he wanted to be a great hero as well. At the beginning of My Hero Academia, fans got a prologue, where Deku clearly stated that this was his story of how he became the greatest hero and that certainly gave fans high expectations for what they could expect next from the series. Undoubtedly, Deku’s progression through the years was certainly exciting for the fans to see, especially as he continued to grow when it came to using the power of the One For All. Deku’s progression through the years was certainly fantastic for the fans to witness, and at one point, he even reached levels similar to those of All Might. Deku was the one primarily responsible for defeating Shigaraki and, within him, All For One as well. When Deku ended up defeating all evil, it was made clear to the fans that now, his power, One For All, was lost forever. This decision by the author angered the fans quite a bit. Deku was born Quirkless, and through the early years of his life, he suffered quite a bit.

Deku was granted the power of One For All because he was brave enough to save people without even having a Quirk. In other words, no other person deserved the power of One For All more than Deku, and in the subsequent years, he ended up turning this power into his own with relentless hard work and a heart burning with desire. Deku wanted to become the greatest hero, and he stuck to his dream right until the very end. That is precisely why it hurt fans quite a bit when Deku could not be a hero anymore due to losing the One For All.

This is the story of how we became the greatest Heroes. – Deku

However, My Hero Academia chapter 430 fixed that right up, when a hero suit for Deku was made. This suit was paid by Bakugo, and other Heroes contributed as well. With its powers, Deku was once again a Hero of the current era. Now, however, in My Hero Academia chapter 431, fans find out another side of Deku that they are not familiar with, and naturally, this has led to some fans asking big questions from the author.

The biggest change of all came when Deku clearly stated that he still thinks that becoming a full-time hero isn’t for him. Deku believes that even if he had the One For All, he would still have wanted to become a teacher, which is certainly a surprising life path that fans never expected him to take. Deku was given the hero suit by All Might, but regardless of having this power, he chooses to teach at UA. This is one of the many reasons why fans are outraged at Deku’s character progression. According to them, Deku should be fighting on the front lines against the villains, and not spend his time in School. That is not to say teaching is not a respectable job for Deku to do. It is just that Deku’s desire to become the greatest hero was so massive that for him to reject the opportunity now, despite being given all the tools required, seems rather bizarre.

How Deku Treats His Friends Differently

Deku Isn’t The Same As Before

Deku’s personality is also quite different in My Hero Academia as chapter 431. This was clearly seen when his conversation with Bakugo who was ongoing. Deku might be as dense as ever, but at the same time, fans can easily tell the treatment of Bakugo is somewhat different from before. Even though they’re friends, Deku’s nature felt quite different, giving fans quite a good look at what Deku had become over the years. Many fans claim that this isn’t the Deku that they wanted as their protagonist and that he’s a different character entirely. While there is some truth to that, it is not surprising to see Deku having had a change of heart at all.

Is Deku Being Different A Controversial Writing Choice?

Deku Has Matured Greatly And Changed His Vision

Deku being different from before isn’t necessarily a bad writing decision. After all, characters do grow and potentially leave behind their dreams as well. Deku is no longer the boy that he once was. His dream of wanting to become the hero was at the beginning of the series was admirable, and was still the journey that the fans followed right up until the very end. In many ways, Deku did go on to save the world and, in doing so, become a hero like no other. He fulfilled his destiny, in a way, and then, ended up doing whatever he could with what little he had.

Even if I had One For All, I think my feelings would be the same. – Deku

Deku’s decision of wanting to teach children of the future generations is simply down to the fact that he believed he could still do some good with what knowledge she was left with. On the other hand, Deku wanting to still be a teacher regardless of having the one for all is rather strange. While it is understandable that Deku would still want to aid the young generation, the person carrying the burden of control should be, at all times, striving to maintain peace and order. Deku does seem to have changed and lost sight of the dream that he once held so dearly. In fact, in doing so, even his rivalry with Bakugo seems to have crumbled. But, once again, it is very much possible for this to happen to anyone.

While growing up, dreams change sometimes as do people’s goals. Deku is not the same person that he once was, and that is something that the fans need to make their peace with. That doesn’t mean Deku is not going to be a hero anymore. As fans know, he still has the armor and he sets out on various missions when he can. His primary goal, however, is not to become the greatest hero anymore. He has done more than enough already, and he can contribute to society in other ways.

My Hero Academia Volume 42 is out in Japan now! The English version of the volume will be released in 2025.