My Hero Academia Characters Who Suffered The Most

Summary

Todoroki faced abuse from his father and overcame hatred to become a Pro Hero despite past trauma.
Aizawa witnessed his friend turn into a Nomu, causing deep trauma and impacting his character.
Dabi’s lethal need for his father’s approval led him to villainy, fueled by intense abuse and self-destruction.

In a lighter vein compared to other shonen anime, “My Hero Academia” doesn’t shy away from portraying emotional depth. Characters, both heroes and villains, have faced their share of sorrow within this series, stirring the emotions of countless viewers as they navigate through tough life challenges.

On occasion, such challenging situations serve to strengthen a hero’s commitment to preserving global harmony. Simultaneously, their antagonists might find their misguided ideologies validated by the hardships they faced earlier, which can somewhat explain their animosity towards heroes.

Shoto Todoroki

The Abuse He Faced At The Hands Of His Father Was Horrible

Debut: “What I Can Do for Now” (Episode 5)

Since Todoroki first appeared, it became apparent that he concealed one part of his powers and solely emphasized his frost skills. It wasn’t until Midoriya delivered an inspiring speech that Todoroki recognized his anger towards his father didn’t justify holding back in the pursuit of becoming a future Pro Hero.

In due course, it becomes clear to followers the life-altering circumstances that molded Todoroki’s character, marked by his father’s unyielding pressure and cruel treatment affecting both him and his mother. The heart-wrenching incident where she accidentally burnt his face with hot water out of distress due to his flames reflects how deeply Endeavor’s actions affected the entire family, causing widespread trauma.

Shota Aizawa

Seeing His Friend Turned Into A Nomu Was Hard To Digest

Debut: “What I Can Do for Now” (Episode 5)

Initially, from a casual observation, Aizawa appears to be an ordinary, impeccably cool sensei, seemingly flawless in his actions. Yet, as the story unfolds, viewers are privy to a different facet of his personality.

They were both tight with Oboro Shirakumo, a cherished comrade who met an unfortunate end at the hands of a wicked adversary. To add to their sorrow, they later discover that his body had been transformed into a Nomu, causing even more distress when this horrific truth is revealed.

Dabi

His Need To Earn His Father’s Approval Ended Up Being Deadly For Him

Debut: “The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain” (Episode 31)

Prior to transforming into Dabi, Endeavor’s son was identified as Toya Todoroki. This individual constantly aimed for excellence and immersed himself in the pursuit of gaining his father’s approval, despite his physical form struggling to manage the fiery intensity.

This ultimately led to a terrifying instance where he seemed to lose command over his powers, leaving everyone puzzled about how he had been reduced to ashes. Subsequently, he aligned himself with the League of Villains and skillfully wielded his distinctive blue flame against the heroes he began to loathe, a result of his father’s mistreatment.

Himiko Toga

Could’ve Gone Down A Different Path In Life Had Her Parents Not Demonized Her

Debut: “The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain” (Episode 31)

A peculiar trait, such as drinking blood, might evoke complex emotions within a child. However, Himiko deserved understanding and affection from her parents, who would embrace and nurture her uniqueness. Regrettably, she was persistently criticized and compelled to conform to normality by her parents, who had already labeled her as the antagonist in their minds.

Supported by her family and friends, Himiko might have coped with her emotions and figured out how to use her power for good. However, when the strain of living up to normal expectations became too much, she carried out an attack on a classmate, which resulted in her becoming a fugitive. In response, her parents swiftly disowned her publicly in front of the media, labeling her as a demon.

Tomura Shigaraki

A Harrowing Backstory Makes It Easy To Sympathize With This Horrible Villain

Debut: “Bakugo’s Start Line” (Episode 8)

In the annals of My Hero Academia, Shigaraki’s past stands out as one of the saddest tales. Fate dealt him an unfair hand by giving birth to a son under a man who despised heroes and physically punished his offspring whenever they admired their deeds.

By the time he realized the consequences of his abilities, it was already too late. Shigaraki, unaware of how his powers functioned, inadvertently caused his own family to decay, an event that left a deep emotional scar on him and led him to accept his role as a villain. In the end, he ended up killing his father before falling under All for One’s influence.

Twice

The Split Personality Disorder He Suffered Because Of His Quirk Made Life Very Challenging For Him

Debut: “Drive It Home, Iron Fist!!!” (Episode 43)

It’s intriguing to consider a character possessing cloning abilities grappling with psychological issues due to feelings of dissociative identity. In this story, ‘Twice’ refrained from creating multiple clones because he wished to preserve his individuality and avoid fragmenting himself further, fearing the loss of his personal identity.

Going through this trial brought him countless difficulties, leaving him perpetually at war within himself. Fortunately, witnessing Himiko near death gave him the strength to conquer his fears, causing his power to grow stronger and more remarkable than it had ever been.

Yuga Aoyama

The Pressure Of Having To Deal With All Might Threatening His Family Must’ve Been A Huge Burden

Debut: “Start Line” (Episode 4)

Initially, Yuga might appear as a funny student with abilities that cause nausea, which seem more problematic than beneficial. Yet, as time passes, viewers often understand the hardships he endures.

Due to All for One blackmailing Yuga’s family, Yuga found himself compelled to work as the U.A. Traitor, bringing him immense sorrow. After his friends stood by him and refused to abandon hope, Yuga utilized his informant role in an attempt to outsmart All for One.

Izuku Midoriya

Lived A Quirkless Life Despite His Dreams And Exploded His Body With One For All Many Times

Debut: “Izuku Midoriya: Origin” (Episode 1)

In the course of his journey to become a Pro Hero, Midoriya encountered numerous hardships. Originally aspiring to be a hero with strength comparable to All Might, his dreams seemed shattered upon discovering that he had no Quirk.

Despite the fortunate event of inheriting All Might’s powers, he continued to encounter numerous challenges as he strove to honor his idol’s legacy. His Quirk frequently shattered his body and inflicted intense pain, a problem he didn’t effectively manage until deep into the storyline.

2025-08-04 08:34