The Epic Comic Book Reference My Hero Academia Completely Overlooked!

My Hero Academia draws significant inspiration from Western superhero comics, but it unfortunately fails to pay homage to one particular franchise that could have greatly enriched its storyline. This missed opportunity could have provided depth to a plot thread that the series did not focus on as much as it should have.

Although My Hero Academia incorporates various aspects of characters from comic books into its manga world, one standout example is All Might, who serves as the equivalent of Superman in the series, and his former partner Nighteye, who bears similarities to Batman. While these characters are not exact replicas, fans familiar with DC Comics can easily identify the similarities. Additionally, there are more direct references such as Class 1-A's Sero, who can be seen as My Hero Academia's version of Spider-Man. Although these references may not significantly impact the overall story, there is a superhero franchise that My Hero Academia could have drawn upon to a much greater effect.

My Hero Academia Should Have Included a Reference to X-Men

It is surprising that My Hero Academia has not included a hero school exclusively for individuals with Mutant Quirks, similar to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in the X-Men comics. Despite showcasing other superhero schools, this would have been a perfect opportunity to introduce such a place. Furthermore, given the discrimination faced by those with Mutant Quirks in the series, it would have made sense to have a dedicated school to educate and support them, much like Professor X's school for mutants in Marvel Comics. Additionally, this would have allowed for further exploration of this intriguing aspect of the world in the series.

The conflict between mutants and regular individuals has only been briefly addressed in My Hero Academia, despite being a significant societal issue. The most notable focus on it occurred in the Final War arc, where Shoji and Koda, the monstrous heroes, managed to pacify a mob of marginalized mutants led by Spinner. However, this part of the story occurred too late to have a profound impact on the plot or engage the readers effectively. Introducing a school resembling the X-Men's institute would have greatly contributed to addressing this issue.

Considering the significance of the X-Men in Marvel Comics, it is highly unlikely that Horikoshi is unfamiliar with them. In fact, the discrimination experienced by Mutant Quirk users in My Hero Academia may even have drawn direct inspiration from the X-Men. However, it is unfortunate that the series did not take the opportunity to include a school similar to Xavier's Academy, as doing so would have allowed for a deeper exploration of the challenges faced by mutant heroes in this fictional world.