Anime has been around long enough for fans to share divided opinions over character debates, animation styles, and controversial plot developments. A prime example that reflects this narrative is the conflicting takes on My Hero Academia's hero protagonist, Izuku Midoriya. After nearly a decade of watching All Might’s protégé evolve and grow on his journey to suring his mentor's legacy, it is still quite shocking how much backlash Izuku Midoriya receives solely based on his role as the anime’s protagonist.

Rooted primarily in his maligned ‘crybaby’ persona, Midoriya’s place as the story’s central character has been questioned for several reasons. Reasons that are largely borne from prejudicial opinions surrounding his power and frail emotionality. However, heroism in anime is a spectrum that has seen many variants, and Deku is one of anime's best new-generation heroes, regardless of his fractured reputation.

The Negativity Surrounding Deku Is No More Than A Stereotype Born Out of A Misconception

Not All Shōnen Protagonists Are Cut From The Same Cloth

Much of Deku’s maligned reputation is owed to the overreaching successes of anime’s Big Three in Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece. The protagonists from these anime played key roles in shaping the general conception of the ideal shōnen protagonist over the last two decades. Mainstream protagonists had tragic backstories, less-than-ideal starting points, and a lot fewer tears. My Hero Academia’s introduction of Midoriya veered away from the norm, enough to cause significant and continuous backlash regarding his characterization over the years.

On the surface, My Hero Academia seems like a story of how Deku becomes the greatest hero. However, it goes beyond that. It presents a symbolic representation of the essence of heroism, which is selflessness.

Many fans argue his relevance flows from being handed crucial plot boosts, such as his unexpected encounter with the Symbol of Peace, All Might. However, while Deku might be the best and worst example of why first impressions do matter, this could not be further from the truth of his character. Furthermore, while his circumstances differ from those of typical shōnen protagonists like Naruto and Luffy, Deku's One for All inheritance was rightly earned. He earned this right by being the embodiment of the core question the series subtly alluded to answering — the question of what it means to be a hero.

On the surface, My Hero Academia seems like Deku rightfully earned the power of One for All.

Deku’s Mastery Of One For All Has Exceeded All Might’s

The Apprentice Has Become The Master

As the ninth of One For All, the story pointed towards Deku eventually suring his mentor, All Might. Yet, his path to doing so remained unclear until the anime's seventh season. In this season, viewers witnessed Deku wield One for All at 45% while going toe-to-toe with Tomura Shigaraki, whose physical composition was comparable to All Might in his prime. This feat, alongside Deku's combination of One for All's seven quirks, was a primary indicator of the successor's evolution.

Purely from a functional perspective, One for All served All Might primarily as a form of physical enhancement, a factor that fueled his superhuman feats. On the other hand, Deku’s understanding and mastery of the quirk sured physical reinforcement by reaching the “Point of Singularity." This apex form not only allowed Deku to gain access to the vestige realm housing the consciousness of previous s of One for All, but the ability to communicate with them.

Reaching the Point of Singularity marked a defining career moment for Deku as a hero, as it unlocked immense powers previously buried within One for All. Sporting powerful abilities, ranging from Gearshift to Fa Jin, Float, Blackwhip, and Smokescreen, Deku's hero portfolio has clearly sured All Might's significantly. The budding hero also exhibited a unique perception ability, "Danger Sense," which closely mirrors Marvel's Spider-Man's "Spidey Sense." All of these, in addition to the immense raw power inherent in One For All, elevate Deku to heights of versatility and unpredictability untouched by his mentor.

However, the most crucial metric through which Deku sures All Might is his unbreakable will to save lives, lives of not just innocent civilians but also his enemies. An ideal portrayal of this narrative is Deku's constant refusal to kill Shigaraki, despite the absence of tenable alternatives. This singular trait exemplifies the message of heroism conveyed through the story. No one would blame Deku for killing Shigaraki. It's even arguable that it's the best course of action to take — the easiest route to stop the villains' malevolent schemes. Unsurprisingly, Deku still chooses to believe in Tomura, searching for an iota of humanity in the cold-hearted villain. These irable traits make Izuku Midoriya more deserving of the "selfless hero" title.

Deku Already Sits Among Anime’s Best-Ever Heroes

His Emotionality Affirms What It Means To Be A Hero

A final recurring point for discourse surrounding Deku is his supposed over-emotional nature. While Deku’s constant need to bawl out his eyes may have been exaggerated, it is the series’ most effective tool for distinguishing All Might and Deku. The former, a hero who stood alone in the face of evil until he crumbled under its immense weight, and the latter, a fledgling hero, whose unyielding ideals unite the world behind him.

For all of All Might’s accomplishments as a hero, he was more of a solitary figure throughout the series. In other words, he carried the burden of being the Symbol of Peace alone, the price of the weight of his success as humanity's greatest hero. Deku, on the other hand, had no place to hide his flaws or weaknesses. Regardless of the story's intent, his flaws made him a more grounded figure compared to the Symbol of Peace, All Might, who was constantly surrounded by his successful feats, disallowing him from showing his fragile side. Deku’s open weaknesses evolved to become his most crucial stepping stone to being the greatest hero, further driving home My Hero Academia's core message — the title of hero is carried not by one but by many.

Unlike his mentor, Deku’s biggest strength lies in not being alone. Not in the context of the other s of One for All, but rather in his relationships with heroes and civilians alike and the impact he has on those connected to him.