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Delve into the complexities of Bakugo from My Hero Academia. Discover why he is one of the most misunderstood characters.
Katsuki Bakugo is a complex character in the series My Hero Academia. He is often seen as a hothead, a bully, and a loudmouth who does whatever he wants. But is that all there is to him? He is more complex than he seems to be.
Let us discuss how Katsuki Bakugo is one of the most misunderstood characters in My Hero Academia.
More Than Just an Angry Hothead
As a kid, Katsuki Bakugo was always given attention and told he was special due to his Quirk, Explosion. His quirk made him stand out, and people around him constantly enabled him to believe that he was destined for greatness. These statements got to his head, and he developed a sense of superiority. It gave him confidence, but it also built a dangerous expectation that he had to be the best, always.
Endeavor and Bakugo share striking similarities; both are hotheaded, driven by an intense desire to be the strongest, and initially fueled by selfish ambitions. However, while Endeavor’s obsession with power led him to psychologically scar his family, Bakugo, despite his unchecked anger, never inflicted lasting emotional wounds in the same way. His rage was loud, explosive, and often hurtful, but it wasn’t rooted in cruelty—it was a defense mechanism, a way to shield himself from confronting his insecurities. Unlike Endeavor, who only realized the weight of his actions after years of damage, Bakugo is still young and has the chance to redirect his anger before it defines him. Over time, both grow into better heroes, learning the importance of responsibility and compassion, but at his core. Bakugo has always had the potential to be better because his journey is one of self-awareness, not atonement.
Then there was Midoriya—the quirkless kid who never gave up, no matter how much stronger Bakugo was. This was something Bakugo never understood. To him, strength determined everything. It scared him to think about the values he had adopted and forced him to question his choices. It was easier for him to just have angry outbursts than to sit with himself and face him.
His Rivalry With Midoriya Is Deeper Than It Seems
One of the biggest misinterpretations of Bakugo’s actions is that he constantly bullies Midoriya. But their relationship is way more layered than that. As kids, Bakugo was always the one on top. He was strong, he was admired, and Midoriya was quirkless and seemingly powerless. But Midoriya never acted like he was weak. He didn’t back down, no matter what. That always sparked a conflicted view in his head, as he was not able to understand that one could be strong with virtue and courage without having a quirk.
And then, things got worse. Midoriya suddenly had a quirk (One For All), one of the strongest out there. Not only that, but Midoriya started catching up. The kid that Bakugo once thought was beneath him was now standing at his level, which again did not sit right with him.
Katsuki Bakugo’s frustration with Midoriya was never about simple hatred. It was fear. Fear that he was losing his edge. Fear that Midoriya, the one person he never thought could surpass him, was doing it. And instead of processing those feelings, he lashed out.
But what makes their dynamic so compelling is that it doesn’t stay that way. Over time, Bakugo comes to understand that Midoriya isn’t his enemy. He is the first one to figure out Midoriya inherited One For All and is mature enough to face his insecurities and become a good teammate and support for Midoriya.
The Burden of His Expectations
Unlike his classmates, especially Midoriya. Bakugo was trapped in a web of problems of his own making. The level of expectations he had on himself and the pressure he put was so high that no one else was his enemy about his weakness but himself. An interesting part about this is he comes to be self-aware of it. Well, he is a child; we could, regardless of his powers, say he was not mature enough to come to terms with it and work on it.
When he was kidnapped during the Kamino Incident, he blamed himself for All Might losing his powers because of him, that he was not strong enough to save himself, and now the world has lost the symbol of hope. To cope with it, he never shows it on his face or accepts the fact that he needs someone to save him.
Bakugo keeps this feeling of guilt to himself till he reaches the breaking point and confesses to Midoriya in a raw and honest conversation that he feels is the reason for All Might’s career to end. The difficulty he had and the time he took to get these words out showed us the heavy weight of expectation he puts on himself. Furthermore, making sure he would never need to rely on anyone when it comes to being emotionally vulnerable makes him do things that he regrets later on.
His Growth From Self-Centered to Self-Aware
Bakugo was a character who seemed to stand on a thin line between good and evil. Or so it seemed. He showed us that anyone can change and choose to be good once they realize their mistakes. He understands the true meaning of being a hero and rises above the unrealistic expectations he once placed on himself.
As an audience, from season 1, we feel that Katsuki Bakugo is hopeless and is always seen to be bullying Midoriya to inflate his ego. His growth trajectory starts after half of the series is over. The moment he shows his vulnerable side. Bakugo owns up to his mistakes and apologizes to Midoriya. And this apology is not meaningless, as he takes accountability and shows in action that he means it.
Bakugo truly became a hero when he pushed past his struggles and finally embraced what it meant to fight for something bigger than himself. He took All Might’s lessons to heart, setting aside his pride to help Midoriya train and master One For All. But his biggest moment came during the final war. Without hesitation, he put his life on the line, not for glory, not to prove a point, but to buy Midoriya the time he needed. It was a selfless act, driven purely by his growth and understanding of what it means to be a hero.
The boy who once relied on his voice to assert dominance had finally let his actions speak for him, proving that he wasn’t just stronger; he was better, both as a hero and as a person.
Conclusion
Much of what Bakugo kept to himself stems from the struggles of being a troubled teenager. In a world without quirks, he would just be another boy with misplaced morals and a twisted understanding of strength, something we see in many real-world individuals. However, in a world of heroes and villains, he proved that despite having the potential to walk a darker path, he chose to be good. His story is a reminder that people can change, and redemption is always possible.
Characters like Lemillion and Midoriya represent the ideal of pure-hearted heroism, working hard to become better versions of themselves. While their journeys are inspiring, Bakugo’s struggles feel more human. Many of us relate to his flaws, his anger, and his insecurities. His story shows us that change is possible and that no matter how late it may seem, growth and redemption are always within reach. One of the most incredible aspects of My Hero Academia is its diverse cast of characters, each teaching us different life lessons. If the story had only focused on Midoriya, it wouldn’t have conveyed the same depth of struggle and transformation that Bakugo’s journey brings to the series.
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