Horikoshi's Blunder: How Shigaraki's Role Ruins My Hero Academia's Final Arc

The series My Hero Academia has faced some controversy throughout its run, particularly regarding the final arc in the manga. One aspect that has received significant criticism is the portrayal of Tomura Shigaraki. Although the author, Kohei Horikoshi, effectively built up Shigaraki as the ultimate villain, there are some concerns.

For those unfamiliar with recent events in the My Hero Academia manga, Shigaraki's character has remained stagnant for the past year. He has had minimal involvement in the story and has not made any significant impact, which is particularly problematic considering the series is approaching its conclusion. This lack of action undermines the menacing persona and level of threat associated with Shigaraki.

My Hero Academia hasn't handled Tomura Shigaraki properly at all

Kohei Horikoshi did an impressive job developing Tomura Shigaraki from the very beginning in the My Hero Academia manga. Similar to the protagonist, Deku, Shigaraki also underwent a transformation from helplessness and limited experience to becoming a capable leader and a symbol of destruction, which resonated with many. However, as the series approaches its conclusion, there is a valid argument to be made regarding the lack of casualties caused by Shigaraki.

Shigaraki's entire motif revolved around ruthlessly destroying everything, yet he has failed to achieve any of that, evident by his lack of kills on major characters. Notably, he had perfect opportunities to eliminate Gran Torino and Katsuki Bakugo, yet they both managed to survive. As a result, the impact of Shigaraki's actions and his influence on the story diminish significantly.

Despite his formidable presence, it is disconcerting that Shigaraki, as the ultimate antagonist, has not inflicted significant harm upon the main cast. Additionally, he lacks the ability to manipulate events from behind the scenes, further reducing his impact on the overall narrative. In a series that desperately needed impactful casualties during this climactic war, Shigaraki's performance as the main villain is undeniably underwhelming.

Analyzing Shigaraki's future in the story

Many My Hero Academia fans are eager to know what lies ahead for Tomura Shigaraki's character as the series reaches its final stages. With Kohei Horikoshi intending to conclude the manga soon, speculation has been rife about the fate of the main antagonist. Some fans have gone so far as to suggest the possibility of his redemption.

However, it appears highly unlikely that redemption is the most suitable direction for Shigaraki, given the way his character has been portrayed thus far. While he has yet to directly take the lives of any major characters, he has caused immense destruction to entire cities and displayed a complete lack of remorse in his attempts to kill countless individuals. Indeed, there have been moments in the manga where he has openly acknowledged and embraced this behavior, exhibiting nothing but hatred and violence towards the society that rejected him.

Final thoughts

Given Shigaraki's irreversible descent, a redemption arc appears unlikely. Therefore, the preferable options would either be to end his life or portray him as a captive. It is evident from Shigaraki's actions that he has crossed a point of no return, making redemption an unsuitable choice for his character's trajectory.

It is imperative for My Hero Academia to conclude its series on a high note in light of the overwhelmingly negative reception towards the final arc. One potential avenue for the story's redemption lies in providing a compelling resolution for Shigaraki's character. Nonetheless, the success of this endeavor hinges on the extent of influence and impact he can exert in the concluding chapters.

Editor's P/S

As a long-time fan of My Hero Academia, I am deeply invested in the story and its characters. However, I share the concerns expressed by many fans regarding the handling of Tomura Shigaraki in the final arc.

Shigaraki was built up to be the ultimate villain, but his lack of significant impact and character development in recent chapters has been disappointing. Despite having perfect opportunities to eliminate major characters, he has failed to do so, which undermines his perceived threat level.

Additionally, his lack of casualties and inability to manipulate events behind the scenes further diminishes his impact on the overall narrative. I believe that in order for the series to conclude satisfactorily, Horikoshi needs to address these issues and provide a compelling resolution for Shigaraki's character, whether it be through redemption, defeat, or some other means.