Summary
Deku has becomeone of the best heroes of modern anime, and although there is no doubt that he is the central character inMy Hero Academia, the epilogue of the series admits there was always another protagonist:Katsuki Bakugo. Deku and Bakugo’s relationship has evolved throughout the series, and now they share a deep connection and rivalry that drives them to surpass each other, encouraged by All Might, whom they both see as their role model.
Despite this, fans always thought that, compared to other shōnen deuteragonists, Bakugo doesn’t have as much focus in the story and that he inherently can’t be a protagonist, since the heart ofMHA’s story is the conflict between OFA and AFO, and therefore, Midoriya and Shigaraki, which would make Tomura both the deuteragonist and antagonist.
However, the first chapter of the epilogue ofMHAhas finally admitted that Bakugo isn’t only the rival but also theprotagonist inMy Hero Academiaalongside Deku.
My Hero Academia’s Bakugo isn’t Just Important, He’s Key to Understanding the Series' Themes
Bakugo’s redemption arc in My Hero Academia is pleasantly surprising, inspirational, and highlights an incredibly important theme in the series.
Deku and Bakugo Are Both All Might Successors
Deku and Bakugo Became All Might’s Greatest Heroes
MHA’s chapter #424 showed Deku, Bakugo, and All Might as they recovered from the injuries they received during the war. All Might praised them and said that Deku became his greatest hero from the moment he ran to save Bakugo, but now he’sthe greatest hero to everyoneelse. However, Bakugo is also his greatest hero, as he is the one who saved him from being killed by All for One. All Might words point out how important Bakugo’s role is in the story and also prove thatDeku is not the only All Might successor; Bakugo is too.
All Might’s decision to be a symbol of peace on his own was shown to be wrong, as society’s stability depended solely on him, and villains rose up after his retirement. However,Deku and Bakugo have proved to be the ones who can carry All Might’s torch, as they can’t do it alone and both complement each other. All Might even admitted that one had what the other lacked: Deku’s only strive was to save others, while Bakugo’s only strive was to win, so he told them that they should aim to be heroes who could both save and win.
Deku was always defending others, while Bakugo only attacked.But their roles switched during the Final War,with Deku always on the offensive since arriving at UA and until the final fight with AFO, and Bakugo having a defensive, supporting role, defending UA from Shigaraki and saving All Might. They both saved to win and win to save; Bakugo lit the path to victory by saving the former Symbol of Peace, and Deku restored hope for the future by defeating AFO in the end, which made them both the ones to carry All Might’s legacy.
Bakugo’s Protagonist Role Is Shown by Being a Narrator of the Series
Both Deku and Bakugo are the Possible Narrators of the Series.
The story ofMy Hero Academiais told in retrospect since it is a narration of events that have already happened. Fans always thought that it was solely narrated by an older Deku, remembering his origins. However,chapter #348 of the manga shows that there’s another narrator in the story, who was theorized to be Bakugo, because it talks about Deku in the third person and also refers to him as a “damned nerd.”
As Bakugo is now established as a protagonist, the shift in the narrator at that moment could be to show his increasing role in the war. The revelation of the narrator is one of thebiggest mysteriesMHAneeds to solve before it ends, but regardless if it is Deku or Bakugo, this shows how both are the protagonists, and fans crave to see them show how they both grew to become the best heroes inMy Hero Academia.
My Hero Academia
Cast
Anime series My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where most have them. Despite his lack of abilities, he enrolls in a prestigious hero academy, striving to learn the true essence of heroism and fulfill his dream of becoming a hero.
