Best Pro-Hero Characters In My Hero Academia

Summary

• Gran Torino, a powerful mentor to All Might, stands out for his quirky personality and intriguing past.
• Star and Stripe’s vibrant design and courageous actions in the final battle make her a memorable character.
• Eraser Head’s mysterious backstory and emotional moments add depth to his initially sleepy character.

Pro-Heroes in My Hero Academia are the best of the best when it comes to protecting society from villains. As a result, it’s always a big occasion whenever one of these powerful individuals shows up in the story, but while some can be easy to forget about due to their lack of screen time and relevance to the wider plot, this couldn’t be any further from the truth for others. Author Kohei Horikoshi made sure that a good portion of these heroes got some time to shine throughout the story, allowing fans to get to know them a little better while also exploring their motivations and personal beliefs.

In fact, Horikoshi has even dedicated entire story arcs to focusing on fleshing out some of the Pro-Heroes. So, needless to say, there have been plenty who have made their mark on the series and the fans. When matching them all up, though, here is how the Pro-Heroes of My Hero Academia rank in terms of how memorable, relevant, and interesting they are as characters.

This article contains heavy spoilers for the story of My Hero Academia.

8

Gran Torino

All Might’s Very Own Mentor Becomes A Useful Ally To Midoriya During The Early Parts Of The Story

• First Appearance: Episode 14

Anyone who has seen My Hero Academia will know all too well that looks can be very deceiving. While Gran Torino may appear to be a fragile old man when Midoriya first meets him near the beginning of the series, it’s not long before he showcases just how powerful he still is, thanks to his lighting-fast Jet Quirk. However, what’s most intriguing about Gran Torino is his backstory, since once upon a time, he was the one who acted as a mentor to All Might.

He would also be closely affiliated with Nana, who would become a very important character much later down the road. It’s fair to say that fans were clamoring to learn more about this retired Pro-Hero after he was first introduced, and while he does become less of a focus as the series goes on, he still stands out for his quirky personality and intriguing past life.

7

Star And Stripe

America’s Number One Pro Hero Certainly Made A Lasting Impression Upon Entering The Final Battle

• First Appearance: Episode 139

Star and Stripe is a Pro-Hero who arrives very late in the series during the final war between the heroes and villains. As the top hero hailing from the United States of America, Star and Stripe has an incredibly vibrant and eye-catching design that is simply a marvel to behold any time she pops up on screen. Additionally, Star and Stripe is as courageous as heroes come and proved that she was more than willing to put her own reputation on the line for the sake of protecting others. This is something that can’t be said for quite a few of the other heroes in this series.

Then there’s her Quirk, New Order, which might just be one of -if not the most- creative in the entire series. Being able to entirely change the rules and properties of something is such a weird and unusual Quirk to have, but it’s also one with limitless possibilities. Many fans agree that Star and Stripe would have benefited from sticking around in the story for just a little while longer, but she is still nonetheless a great character who made the most of her brief screen time.

6

Eraser Head

The Lazy Teacher With A Mysterious And Tragic Backstory

• First Appearance: Episode 5

At first, Eraser Head seems like little more than a sleepy teacher who simply wants to get the school day over with so he can snuggle up in his sleeping bag for the night, and while this is partly true, there’s a lot more to him that meets the eye. Because of his laid-back personality, whenever Eraser Head does decide to get serious and unleash his Quirk, such as against the Nemus during the U.S.J. arc, it results in some downright badass fight sequences featuring the lazy Pro-Hero.

Later in the story, fans are given a glimpse into Eraser Head’s backstory, and more specifically, the loss of his dear friend Oburo. Seeing Eraser Head break down emotionally as he tries to get through to Oburo, who is revealed to have been corrupted by the villains, is a nice bit of development for his character after seeing him act so nonchalantly for much of the story up to that point.

5

Nighteye

A Huge All Might Fan Who Possesses An Absurdly Powerful Quirk

• First Appearance: Episode 63

One of the main reasons why so many fans became infatuated with Nighteye’s character after he debuted was due to his Quirk, Foresight. As the name implies, this allows Nighteye to glimpse into the future, which made him an incredibly useful asset during the raid on Overhaul’s base. It’s soon established that Nighteye is a lot more than just a tool for the heroes to make use of; behind the cold and stoic exterior, he is actually a massive All Might fanboy who has shared plenty of emotional moments with his idol.

Nighteye would even try to talk All Might out of being the number one hero to protect him from being killed, which showed fans that there’s a sympathetic side to his character that is only rarely ever exposed. Though his time in the series was cut short, with some fans seeing him as missed potential, Nighteye is a very memorable character who is still the topic of online discussions to this day.

4

Nana Shimura

Nana Showcased The Grueling Sacrifices That Need To Be Made In Order To Become A True Hero

• First Appearance: Episode 20

Nana Shimura was once part of a happy family, but after the sudden death of her husband, she decided to place her only child in foster care so that she could continue being a hero without the threat of villains coming after him. Little did she know that this would have a disastrous ripple effect, eventually leading to her grandson, Shigaraki, becoming a full-blown villain whose only concern is destroying the world and everyone in it.

Though Nana primarily shows up through flashbacks and dream-like sequences, she provides a unique insight into the sacrifices that come with being a hero. Leaving her family behind to protect the world from All For One makes Nana a pretty complex character who represents the tragic downsides of being a hero, particularly one who possesses the devastating power of One for All.

3

Hawks

Hawks Is An Effortlessly Cool But Also Complex Pro-Hero Who Shows Up At Around The Halfway Point Of The Story

• First Appearance: Episode 87

Simply put, whenever the stylish, calm, and collected Hawks shows up on screen in My Hero Academia, it’s hard to look away. This is not only due to his flashy design, but it’s also down to his mischievous role within the story. Despite being a Pro-Hero, Hawks is more than willing to create fake alliances, as he does with the villains, in order to do his part for society. This inevitably means that he’s always betraying and double-crossing people, making him a fascinating character to watch.

It’s also interesting to see him grow from beloved hero to someone who struggles to hold onto his reputation after Dabi’s dance revealed his true nature to the world. Of course, there’s also Hawks’ tragic backstory, which sheds some light on how dark and unfair a society of heroes can truly be, making his character extremely important to the series and its world building.

2

All Might

The Man Who Kicked Off Midoriya’s Journey Is A Beacon Of Hope And A Symbol Of Strength

• First Appearance: Episode 1

At the beginning of My Hero Academia‘s story, All Might is seen by the people as the shining symbol of hope in a world crawling with villains. His unrivaled strength made him more than capable of taking down even the toughest of foes, resulting in some of the series’ most intense and memorable fight scenes, including his bouts with Nemu and All For One. Once All Might loses his powers, though, he embarks on his own journey of self-discovery as he comes to re-discover his role within the academy.

While it was All Might who kicked off Midoriya’s journey to becoming the number one hero, this relationship is tested numerous times over the course of the story, especially when Deku realizes that he is the only one left who can utilize One For All’s powers. The iconic design, jaw-dropping fights, and captivating character development all contribute to making All Might one of the most popular and interesting Pro Heroes in the story, and he would have reached the top spot if it wasn’t for his arch rival.

1

Endeavor

Endeavor Is A Fascinating Character Who Embarks On Quite The Emotional Journey Throughout The Series

• First Appearance: Episode 17

With the amount of focus Endeavor receives over the course of My Hero Academia‘s story, he wouldn’t feel out of place assuming the role of protagonist. Due to being stuck behind All Might in the Pro Hero rankings, Endeavor decided to marry and have kids, all for the sake of producing a child who could use both his and his wife’s Quirks to one day overtake All Might. However, this involved Endeavor acting abusively towards his own family, which is something he desperately tries to atone for in the second half of the series. This is a character who never tries to justify his past sins. Instead, he is trying to find a way to be more than his faults.

Seeing a man as absurdly strong as Endeavor breaking down as he attempts to rekindle his relationship with Todoroki and the rest of his family makes for plenty of emotional and memorable scenes, and, of course, nobody can ever forget the look on his face after Dabi revealed his true identity. All in all, Endeavor has a ton of incredible fight scenes, alongside a truly badass design, but he’s also a morally gray character who is utterly captivating to follow from the beginning to the end of the story, thanks to his incredibly written development.