Who is My Hero Academia’s Main Villain?

Who is the main villain in My Hero Academia? Taking a look at the identity and the origins of the villain in question.

Who is My Hero Academia’s main villain? (Image via Studio BONES)

The My Hero Academia manga has finally come to an end. The story had plenty of twists and turns, and fans were put through an emotional rollercoaster. However, the ending seemed to have satisfied most fans. They thanked the author for his efforts. Due to the popularity of the series, it has reeled in newer fans. 

Therefore, a surprising number of fans aren’t up to date with the anime adaptation. Since this is the case, it’s hard for them to understand who the main villain of the story is. A reason for this confusion is due to the sheer number of antagonists that were introduced during the course of the series. However, there is one person in particular who can be considered the prime antagonist.

Who is the main villain in My Hero Academia? The main villain in the anime and manga series is none other than Tomura Shigaraki. This character and All For One are the prime antagonists of the series. Both Shigaraki Tomura and All For One were responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. That being said, Shigaraki Tomura is the main villain when we take a closer look at his relationship with Izuku Midoriya. 

Tomura Shigaraki’s Origin in My Hero Academia

Tenko Shimura as as seen in the anime series (Image via Studio BONES)

Shigaraki Tomura, who was known as Tenko Shimura, was Kotaro Shimura and Nao’s youngest son. He had a strong bond with his mother, but his father would become abusive anytime Shigaraki did anything remotely hero-like. This was due to the fact that Kotaro was abandoned as a child by his mother, Nana Shimura, who was a hero. She abandoned him to protect him from All For One. 

All For One came into Kotaro’s life and convinced him to have another child. When Shigaraki was born, All For One stole his Quirk. One fine day, All For One disguised himself as an old man and implanted the Decay Quirk in the child. Tenko developed allergies, and he continued to scratch his face. His Decay Quirk caused the “allergies,” which his mother couldn’t figure out. 

In an attempt to cheer him up, Hana took Tenko to their father’s office. She showed him a picture of his grandmother, who was a hero. Hana was supportive of Tenko’s dream of becoming a hero. Following that, he played with his pet dog only to see the ball he held crumble before his eyes. Kotaro knew about Tenko’s interest in heroes and demanded to know who initiated it. Hana, in fear, blamed her brother. 

The Manifestation of Shigaraki’s Quirk

Shigaraki Tomura is Midoriya’s rival in the Animanga series (Image via Studio BONES)

Kotaro beat his own son in a fit of rage, and this increased the itchy feeling he had. He was left outside the house, crying profusely while scratching his face. The hatred activated his Quirk, and he clutched onto his dog, seeking comfort in his furry friend. However, the Decay Quirk was activated, and the dog crumbled into pieces. At that moment, Hana tried to console him and wanted to apologize for blaming him.

Before Tenko could even speak, his hands touched Hana, killing her instantly as she too crumbled to dust. His mother rushed outside, and she too was met with the same fate as her hands made contact with her son. Tenko’s maternal grandparents died too. After processing these events, he rushed at his father and used the Quirk on him. He killed his father instantly. 

Shigaraki’s Conflict with Deku in My Hero Academia

Izuku Midoriya as seen in My Hero Academia anime
Izuku Midoriya as seen in My Hero Academia anime (Image via BONES)

Shigaraki detested Midoriya, and the latter felt the same about him as well. Initially, there was an intense hatred between the two, and it further intensified with every subsequent interaction. During the course of the series, Shigaraki was mentored by All For One, while Deku was mentored by One For All. Shigaraki was obsessed with stealing the One For All Quirk, especially after his body was taken over by All For One. 

Despite their hatred for each other, Deku wanted to save Shigaraki after learning about his past. Towards the end of the manga series, Deku puts his life on the line. He not only wanted to defeat Shigaraki but also spare his life and save him at the same time. 

He was constantly mocked by the villain for wanting to save him. The reason for his mockery was due to the circumstances, as Midoriya was attempting to reason with Shigaraki even when the fate of the world hung in the balance. It ultimately ended with Midoriya getting through to Shigaraki by the time the manga ended. 

Shigaraki’s Final Fate in My Hero Academia

Shigaraki Tomura as seen in the anime series (Image via Studio BONES)

Towards the end of the series, Midoriya transferred all of his Quirk vestiges into Shigaraki. Midoriya accesses his mental core, and he witnesses a young Tenko about to accidentally kill his older sister. Instead, Midoriya jumped in between them and held Tenko’s hand. This selfless act brought about a change in Shigaraki’s heart. Unfortunately, things weren’t over since All For One resurfaced. Shigaraki decided to join all the One For All vestiges to defeat All For One. Midoriya succeeded in defeating All For One, as his vestige was defeated once and for all. This ultimately resulted in Shigaraki’s death. 

Can All For One be Considered the Main Villain in My Hero Academia

All For One as seen in the anime series (Image via Studio BONES)

Yes, All For One can be considered the main villain in this case. Shigaraki developed a strong rivalry with Midoriya. There were a few parallels in the anime that showed a few similarities between the two characters as well. However, it is important to note that Shigaraki’s very existence was orchestrated by All For One. Every move from there on was done with specific intentions, showcasing his manipulative tendencies. All For One’s avarice knew no bounds as he continued to take people’s lives until the very end. Therefore, he could be considered the main villain in the anime series. 

Conclusion

There is no doubt that Shigaraki was the main villain here. However, All For One deserves to share that title with Shigaraki. The difference between these two characters is that one of them was a victim of circumstance, while the other was the epitome of greed. That doesn’t change the fact that both were responsible for heinous acts, thereby playing the role of the main villains in the Animanga series. 


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