At the start My Hero Academia, it was unclear whether Deku actually had the potential to be the greatest hero. Since he wasn’t born with a Quirk, he initially had considerable difficulty learning how to use One for All after inheriting it from All Might. He has always had the passion to save others that is vital to a hero, but for a time, his physical abilities and durability didn’t seem to be up to par.
However, the moment that really solidified my faith in Deku and made him a hero in my eyes, took place at Hero Summer Camp in Season 3. This extra week of training was designed to help the aspiring heroes make better use of their quirks.
By this time, the heroes’ bodies had become more powerful, but their skill in using their Quirks remained consistently the same due to a lack of practice. During this camp, tragedy struck when the League of Villains launched an attack with the intention of kidnapping Bakugo, one of the students present.
A Season Three My Hero Academia The scene rekindled my love for the series
This moment in the training camp proved that Deku has what it takes to be a true hero like All Might
I admittedly had problems in My Hero Academia initially. Although I liked the show, it wasn’t my favorite. I stopped and started watching it a few times because something didn’t appeal to me, be it the characters or the story. However, that scene changed my view of the entire show.
During the fight, a villain named Muscular turned on a defenseless boy named Kota, who was related to one of the Pro Heroes who ran the camp. Deku was the only one there when Kota was attacked, and instead of running, he defended himself without hesitation against a villain who was much more experienced as he.
When Muscular attacked him, Deku was quite inexperienced, but he still didn’t let it get him down. Izuku embodied the morals of a true hero and knew that he couldn’t allow an innocent child under his care to come to harm. He continued, use his ultimate move, 1,000,000% Delaware Detroit Smashsomething he had never attempted before, shattering both of his arms in the process. Even after sustaining these injuries, he continued to fight unabashedly, showing a willingness to risk his life for a child he barely knew and who had been nothing but rude and distant to him in every interaction they had had.
Deku’s brave rescue completely changed Kota’s view of heroes
Kota later visited the UA
This moment summarizes the core message of My Hero Academia in my eyes: A true hero is willing to put his life on the line and risk everything to save someone, regardless of the risks. Deku proved with his actions in this Season 3 scene that he has the potential to be on the same level as All Might, not only because of his physical development and the true power of his Quirk, but also because of his selflessness. He was scared, but still chose to fight even though he could have run away, which made me admire him in a new way.
Deku’s brave behavior in this scene was the first in the series that physically made my jaw drop, no exaggeration. Watching him keep charging forward even as he was almost crushed under Muscular’s muscles was exciting and terrifying because I didn’t know what the outcome would be. Deku’s actions even Kota’s negative view of heroes changes after the death of his parents. At the end of the series, it is revealed that Kota is one of Deku’s students at UA. Kota’s decision to go to UA was likely a direct result of Deku being saved, making this moment even more pivotal.
Deku’s rescue of Kota was only the first in a long line of admirable deeds
His behavior from that point on proved that he is worthy of being All Might’s successor
This groundbreaking scene marks the beginning of when Deku began to realize his true potential as All Might’s successor.
The episodes following this Deku scene only further proved his heroic nature. Even though his arms were broken and he was almost at his limit, he kept fighting and ran down the mountain to protect his friends and warn them to make an extra effort to protect Bakugo from the League of Villains as he was the main target. The League was eventually able to successfully capture Bakugo, much to Deku’s despair. However, in my opinion Deku did everything he could to prevent the kidnapping and without his efforts there would have been far more victims, including Kota.
This seminal scene is not usually counted among Deku’s greatest moments, as his later achievements of mastering One for All, ending the threat of All for One, and becoming the greatest hero of all time understandably overshadow it. However, in my opinion, this moment marks the beginning of Deku began to realize his true potential as All Might’s successor.
Following this episode, he developed a plan to save Bakugo from the League of Villains and All For One. It was revealed that his rescue of Kota was not just a one-time effort, but the development of a new, admirable pattern of action as a hero. Going through this entire experience seems to have been the catalyst that led Deku to reach the next level of power and become worthy of taking All Might’s place.
This Kota rescue changed my opinion of Deku for the better
Izuku turned out to be All Might’s most suitable replacement by acting like a true hero
I will always consider the Training Camp arc a massive change in Deku’s role in the series, He went from being an aspiring hero to a hero in the making. At the same time, he proved that he could use One For All more skillfully than before and that he would never back down from a fight if someone else was in danger of getting hurt. Both of these traits make him a hero of All Might’s caliber and showed me that there is no greater character in the world. My Hero Academia series which can replace the symbol of peace rather than Deku.
