Izuku Midoriya,better known asDeku, isone of the most inspiring anime protagonists ever.InMy Hero Academia,he morphed from an average human to a world-renowned superhero in only a few short years, saving humanity from some of society’s most threatening villains. Some fans believe Deku’s best quality ishis One For All Quirk, but this could not be further from the truth.
Deku’s ability is certainly impressive, and his experience learning to wield it properly does make for some compelling story arcs. However,Deku never actually needed a Quirk to be a hero,and, contrarily, he might have been an even more motivational character had he never inherited his power from All Might.
Deku Was Heroic and Brave Without a Quirk
The Honorable Traits Ingrained in Deku Are What Make Him a Hero, Not His Power
Even when he was a very young child, Deku always had a strong sense of justice. He developed this mindset because of his admiration for Pro Heroes, specifically All Might. His deepest desire was to follow in these heroes' footsteps, butin a tragic twist of circumstances, he was born Quirkless.Discovering his lack of power broke his heart, but determined not to give up, Deku desperately searched for a solution. Eventually, he stumbled upon his idol, All Might, by complete coincidence, and All Might appreciated Deku’s bravery and heroic traits enough to choose him as asuccessor to inherit One For All.
My Hero Academia’s Deku Officially Unlocks One for All’s True Power
An impassioned speech from the first user of One for All makes a persuasive case to allow Deku full use of every Quirk stored within One for All.
Although One For All did make Deku’s dream of becoming a hero easier to attain,he could have achieved his goal without a Quirk.His unwavering persistence and drive to help others at any cost are what All Might noticed when Deku risked his life to rescue Bakugo from the Sludge Villain. Whether Deku had eventually developed a Quirk or not, these noble traits would have always been a part of him either way. It seems unlikely Deku would have ever given up on his hero dream. Even if he had gone on forever with no Quirk, the determined hero would have made a way forward.
Deku Could Have Used Support Items Instead
Deku Used Gauntlets, Arm Braces, and Iron Soles To Amplify His Quirk and Protect His Body During Battles
Deku said it himself time and time again: he refuses to give up. Evident in his passionate quote, “I’m Deku who never stops trying!” becoming a hero means everything to Deku, and he will not leave this goal behind, no matter what obstacles stand before him. Finding out he had no Quirk was a devastating blow, but it is difficult to imagine the headstrong Deku depicted in the series choosing to just give up on becoming a hero without a fight. Furthermore,there are ways to be heroic inMy Hero Academiawith no Quirk at all,and Deku could have explored some of these solutions.
Even Quirkless, All Might Sets the Standard For Superheroes in My Hero Academia
All Might’s courage, selflessness, and ability to inspire prove that heroism doesn’t solely rely on power but on the positive legacy left behind.
Support items are crucial inMy Hero Academia’sbest fights,and Deku himself uses them often. Deku used different gauntlets and arm braces whenhis One For All Quirk was too powerfulto use without damaging his arms, and Iron Soles to protect his feet and legs. Deku is not the only one to make use of these helpful items. Bakugo and Ochaco used similar gauntlets too. Even All Might relied on support items, fighting against All For One in an Armored All Might suit once he had lost his One For All Quirk for good and had no other way to fight back.
Deku Could Have Been the First Quirkless Pro Hero
If He Stayed Quirkless, Deku Could Have Challenged the Idea That a Quirk Is Essential To Be a Hero
Deku’s ingenuity and cleverness are constants throughoutMy Hero Academia,and he even carries around a notebook filled with innovative support item ideas and details of Pro Heroes' Quirks. Someone as creative and inventive as Deku could have no doubt created an entire array of support items to aid him in his fights against villains. Even without a Quirk,the genius weapons Deku might have dreamed up may have been even more effective than One For All.Allowing him to fight primarily with support items rather than a Quirk would have opened up endless possibilities for a variety of new weapons to be included in the story.
If Deku had remained a Quirkless hero, his character arc would also have been arguably more impactful,because it would have been so unprecedented in Hero Society. Without a Quirk, becoming a hero inMy Hero Academiais nearly impossible, which is why Deku was so devastated when he did not have one. Getting into a hero program and becoming licensed as a Pro Hero are not achievable goals without a Quirk, but Deku could have completely changed this requirement and altered public perception of what it means to be a hero and whether a Quirk is truly necessary.
Quirkless Deku Is the Change Hero Society Needed
Hero Society Needed To Improve, and Introducing Quirkless Heroes Would Have Been a Positive Development
Hero Society is fundamentally flawed in many ways, which becomes abundantly clear asMy Hero Academia’sstory progresses. One of the core themes of the series is that Hero Society, although necessary and helpful, needs to change to operate more efficiently and save more lives. Deku becoming the first Quirkless hero would have been a majorshift in Hero Society that was so desperately needed.His Quirklessness could have proved beyond doubt that absolutely anyone can be a heroas long as they are committed to working hard, seeking creative solutions, and rescuing as many people as possible.
My Hero Academia’s Most Important Heroes Are the Least Famous
Even a hero can’t do it all alone. My Hero Academia’s hero support course trains the essential personnel who work behind the scenes, aiding the pros.
Deku is still one of anime’s most motivational characters, characterized by determination, selflessness, and kindness towards everyone he meets. Without his courageous acts, All For One and Shigaraki would likely have continued ending innocent lives and terrorizing society.Deku was the heroMy Hero Academianeeded, but had he defeated the world’s most harmful villains without a Quirk at all, his character would have been even more inspiring.Deku always had what it takes to be a life-changing hero, Quirk or not,and ifMy Hero Academiahad left him Quirkless, he would still have accomplished his goal one way or the other.
