Warning: Contains spoilers for chapter #422 of My Hero Academia.

Summary

• Deku's strength lies in his heroic heart, kindness, and ability to inspire others.
• Deku's journey has come full circle, demonstrating that anyone can be a great hero, even without a quirk.
• My Hero Academia is returning to its original premise, emphasizing the importance of unity in hero society.

My Hero Academia has finally revealed the meaning of its premise, circling back to the beginning of the series and Deku's origins in the best possible way. Ever since the first chapter, My Hero Academia's central premise has been about Deku becoming a great hero, and over the course of the series, this seemingly simple concept has been re-interpreted in multiple ways. That said, the latest chapter finally makes it clear what exactly makes Deku the greatest hero, and it's a quality he's had from the very start.

In chapter #422 of My Hero Academia, All for One observes Class 1-A's conviction and refusal to give up despite being clearly outmatched and realizes that it is Deku who motivates the young heroes to do their best. All For One notes that Deku's weakness that inspires others, which was a quality that even All Might lacked due to the perfect facade he put up as the Symbol of Peace.

Fittingly, at that very moment, All Might recalls his first meeting with Deku and his lack of hesitation against the sludge villain, which inspired All Might to move as well, thus becoming the greatest hero to All Might ever since that day. As such, though Deku describes his journey as the story of how he became a great hero, chapter #422 makes it clear that Deku's strong resolve despite his weakness and his ability to inspire others has made him the greatest hero from the very start.

My Hero Academia Circles Back to its Central Premise

Deku Has Always Been the Greatest Hero

When Midoriya began his journey, he was a weak, quirkless pariah ridiculed by even his peers. Deku had no place in quirk society, and all he had was a dream he refused to give up on. Despite his helplessness, Deku stood up to bullies and even dove right into danger to save Bakugo. Deku's journey seemed to begin when he received One For All, which finally gave him the chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a hero. However, Deku now has the chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a great hero without a quirk, just as My Hero Academia's premise originally promised.

For the longest time, fans believed that Deku would acquire fame and prestige by defeating All For One, possibly taking All Might's place as the symbol of peace. However, as the series gradually went on to prove, the Symbol of Peace caused more harm than good to hero society which was already ridden with problems. Instead, what the world needed was an inspiration like Deku, who isn't afraid to rely on others and always strives to do his best, regardless of how strong his opponent is or how his powers measure up in comparison. As All For One points out in chapter #422, as long as Deku keeps moving forward, the other heroes' resolve to keep trying will also stay firm.

Deku promotes the simple idea that anyone can be a hero.

Deku promotes the simple idea that anyone can be a hero, even in a world where people are not created equally. As stated in the opening pages of My Hero Academia, Deku was forced to accept this bitter truth at a very young age. However, Deku's entire journey, from the moment he rushed to fight the sludge villain, proves that all it takes to be a hero is a willingness to step forward and help. Deku has possessed this very quality from the very start and thus never needed One For All to become the greatest hero.

The latest chapters have also proved that Deku cannot defeat All For One by himself and that hero society needs to work together rather than hide behind one hero. Had Class 1-A not arrived at the scene, Deku, who at that point was on death's doorstep after losing his arms, would have had no way of defeating All For One, even with the remaining embers of One For All. Each of Class 1-A's abilities contribute to the effort against All for One in different ways, regardless of the clear difference in strength between their quirks.

Deku's Character Arc Has Come Full Circle

Although Midoriya was ridiculed for being quirkless and useless, the latest chapter sees Midoriya's character and even his signature nickname coming full circle. Though Deku was initially a derogatory nickname, it was Ochaco who rebranded it to mean "do your best" and the latest chapter also calls back to this moment in the best way possible. Chapter #422 is full of people cheering not only for Deku but also for the other heroes on the battlefield with the very same phrase, almost as though they are indirectly chanting Deku's name.

While Deku may be just as powerless as he was at the beginning of the series, he is no longer useless as his nickname previously implied. Deku has lived up to Ochaco's interpretation of his hero name, which in of itself has become something that inspires heroes all around to band together and risk their lives alongside him.

As such, even though Deku is once again quirkless, this time he has the of everyone around him, including the many civilians whose lives he has touched. No matter who it is that lands the final blow on All For One, Deku will be forever known for his bravery, for risking his life to save Shigaraki despite how he had wronged him, much like Bakugo had.

Overall, the latest chapter proves that My Hero Academia's story is indeed finally winding up to an end. Though it may be a while until All For One is finally defeated, the chapters are sure to be a roller coaster of emotions. If anything, the beautifully executed callback to Deku's roots and the series' return to its original premise demonstrates the beauty of Kohei Horikoshi's storytelling, which never fails to be evocative and will surely deliver a fitting end to My Hero Academia's story.

My Hero Academia is available from Manga Plus and Viz Media.