Viz's Disastrous Translation Robs My Hero Academia Chapter 405 of Bakugo's Crucial Moment
Bakugo's epic comeback and intense battle against All For One in My Hero Academia chapter 405 is marred by Viz's disappointing translation
My Hero Academia chapter 405 was officially released on Monday, October 30th. The manga featured a significant highlight for Bakugo as he made his comeback from injury and prepared to face off against All For One. Unfortunately, Viz Media's lackluster translation work failed to capture the intensity of this pivotal moment.
In the previous chapter, Bakugo joined forces with Deku to launch themselves towards All Might and All For One. As tension grew worldwide with the fear that All Might might not survive, Bakugo refused to surrender. In fact, he ultimately managed to overpower All For One, severing his arms and rescuing All Might.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the My Hero Academia manga.
Viz ruins My Hero Academia chapter 405 with poor translations
This image depicts Katsuki Bakugo as observed in chapter 405 of the manga series My Hero Academia (Image via Shueisha).
In the concluding moments of chapter 405 in My Hero Academia, Bakugo launches an aggressive attack on All for One, proclaiming himself as the ultimate adversary in their battle. This particular scene stands out as one of Bakugo's most pivotal moments. Unfortunately, the interpretation of this scene by Viz Media's translations received criticism from fans due to its subpar execution.
The unofficial sources of the manga, which are the fan-translated versions, saw Katsuki Bakugo say:
"I'm the guy who steps in...when that nerd can't handle it all on his own."
This excerpt clearly illustrates Bakugo's intention. Since Deku was occupied dealing with Tomura Shigaraki, he couldn't engage in a battle against All For One. Consequently, Bakugo made the decision to intervene, firmly convinced of his own ability to overcome All For One.
Katsuki Bakugo as seen in My Hero Academia chapter 405 (Image via Shueisha)
However, the English translation by Viz managed to butcher his dialogue for some unknown reason. According to the manga, the translation was done by Caleb Cook and it resulted in Bakugo saying:
"One For All couldn't even keep you buried... but we're going to make sure you're finished – and then some!"
Bakugo's dialogue in the manga does not mention the One For All quirk, making the official translation confusing. It can be inferred that the translation labels Deku as One For All, considering that he possesses the same quirk. However, this interpretation contradicts the following line, where Bakugo states, "we'll finish the job." It implies that Bakugo might have been referring to himself and Deku when he mentions "we."
In My Hero Academia chapter 405 (Image via Shueisha), Deku and Bakugo are depicted. Fans have found the dialogue to be perplexing in any context, as it suggests that the phrase "One For All" could only be referring to either the quirk or All Might. However, as previously mentioned, neither of these were mentioned by Bakugo in the original version of the manga, which left fans in a state of confusion.
The only logical explanation for this scenario is that the dialogue was mistranslated by the translator. However, considering the translator's extensive nine-year experience working for renowned companies such as Viz Media, Yen Press, Seven Seas, Udon Entertainment, and Square Enix Books, this error could have easily been avoided.
All For One as seen in My Hero Academia chapter 405 (Image via Shueisha)
Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that John Hunt was responsible for lettering the manga. This indicates that even though multiple individuals reviewed the manga chapter, Viz Media still published it online without any alterations.
This situation can be interpreted as either a significant oversight on the part of the company or a misguided decision made by a higher-up. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether Viz Media will modify the translation in the near future, leaving fans awaiting a potential update.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan, I feel disappointed and frustrated with Viz's disastrous translation of My Hero Academia chapter 405. The pivotal moment of Bakugo's comeback and intense battle against All For One was marred by Viz's lackluster translation work, which failed to capture the intensity and essence of the scene. The mistranslation of Bakugo's dialogue not only undermines the character's growth and development but also creates confusion among fans. It is disheartening to see such a crucial chapter in the series be let down by poor translation quality.
Moreover, the fact that the translation error was not caught during the review process raises concerns about the quality control at Viz Media. Despite having experienced translators and letterers working on the project, the chapter was still published with incorrect dialogue. This lack of attention to detail and respect for the fans' experience is unacceptable. As a Gen Z fan who is passionate about manga and anime, I expect more from Viz Media and hope that they will take steps to ensure accurate and high-quality translations in the future.
