One Of My Hero Academia’s Most Beloved Pro Heroes Almost Never Existed

This article contains spoilers for My Hero Academia

It’s generally not true that manga authors have all their characters planned out before they begin writing their story. While key characters are essential to keep the plot moving, it’s common for important characters to appear unexpectedly later in the storyline, tailored to fit a certain role. Sometimes, it can be challenging to identify which characters were created for specific purposes, but Kohei Horikoshi, the author of My Hero Academia, has revealed that one particularly beloved Pro Hero from his series was specifically designed for a unique reason.

It’s tough to envision “My Hero Academia” without this fluffy Pro Hero making an appearance at some point. The thought-provoking fact that he almost didn’t exist adds a layer of intrigue. Let’s set aside the speculation and delve into why the creator, Horikoshi, felt compelled to eventually introduce him. Was it a wise decision? Did this risky move ultimately pay off? Let’s find out.

Hawks’ Bizarre Origin Story

The Cool, Calm, And Collected Hawks Served To Push The Plot Forward

Although Hawks rapidly gained popularity among fans shortly after his introduction in My Hero Academia, it often felt unexpected that he entered the story relatively late. It wasn’t until the Pro Hero arc, the fifteenth narrative segment, that Hawks officially emerged, unlike other professional heroes who were introduced early on. Instead, his presence was kept confidential and revealed only later in the series.

During an open dialogue with Tite Kubo, the creator of Bleach, as documented in the MHA Ultra Analysis booklet, Horikoshi openly disclosed the motivation behind introducing Hawks. It wasn’t solely for the purpose of showcasing a fresh and quirky character design. Rather, he felt it necessary to introduce a character who could fulfill a specific role to keep the story progressing effectively.

As a passionate storyteller like Kohei Horikoshi, I’ve been hard at work crafting new characters. Lately, I’ve introduced the intriguing Hawks into my world. You see, I needed a unique character to fill a particular narrative role, one that would propel the plot forward in an exciting way. And voila! Here comes Hawks, ready to shake things up!

Upon learning more about the series, it becomes clear why Hawks seemingly appeared out of thin air and subsequently received significant attention in subsequent storylines following his introduction. For fans of My Hero Academia, it’s no secret that this particular role Horikoshi referred to carried immense significance, as its absence could have easily led to a less engaging or predictable narrative.

How Hawks Injected New Life Into The Story

Hawks Kept Tabs On The League Of Villains And PLF, Keeping The Heroes Aware Of Their Next Move

Hawks relayed information about the League of Villains back to the heroes
He uncovered the Paranormal Liberation Front and their affiliation with the League

In essence, while Pro Heroes are typically seen as beacons of hope and defenders of the nation against villainous threats, Hawks operates in a more ambiguous zone. Essentially, he functions as a covert agent for the Public Safety Commission, gathering intelligence on the League of Villains by monitoring their activities on behalf of the heroes. At this juncture in the narrative, although the heroes were familiar with the League’s membership, they were uncertain about the group’s plans following Overhaul’s defeat. In a sense, Hawks was introduced as a means to fill that informational void.

The awareness of the Paranormal Liberation Front’s activities and their encounters with the League was solely due to Hawks’ spy mission. This information enabled the heroes to get ready for the upcoming conflict, thus making them active participants in the storyline instead of mere spectators on the sidelines.

Following the thrilling climax of “My Villain Academia,” I found myself delving into a new chapter that unfolded immediately afterward. As the title suggests, this segment was predominantly focused on Shigaraki and his unconventional band of misfits. It would have been a daring move to prolong the absence of our heroic characters any further, given the potential implications of overemphasizing the villains’ narratives. However, with Hawks in the picture, Horikoshi skillfully avoided making the heroes seem less dependable or distant.

From Plot Device To Beloved Pro Hero

Hawks’ Infectious Charisma Ended Up Making Him A Fan-Favorite

It’s hard not to get swept up by Hawks’ style and charisma
The Pro Hero possesses a flashy fighting style which is difficult to look away from

Horikoshi doesn’t discriminate between characters he’s developed over years or those created spontaneously for the story; he consistently puts extra effort into making them visually and personally captivating. Hawks, with his charismatic demeanor and irresistible appeal, is a testament to this, as fans immediately fell in love with him when he debuted on-screen.

Hawks hasn’t gathered such a vast fan base solely because of this reason. Instead, what drives him isn’t striving to be the ultimate hero or the strongest man, but rather envisioning a world where heroes can take a break and unwind. This dedication to minimizing villainy as much as possible is not just a goal for him, but something he’s well-equipped to achieve given his extraordinarily powerful Quirk.

” A society where heroes can enjoy a little boredom…I’ll make it happen, I promise” – Hawks

Hawks, with his swift and impressive wings, can fly at breakneck speeds, making him an awe-inspiring sight. Watching him in action is like a captivating performance, given his flamboyant nature as a fighter. It’s unclear if Horikoshi initially anticipated such widespread popularity for Hawks, but what started as a minor plot device didn’t take long to transform into one of the most beloved characters in My Hero Academia.

2025-08-13 14:10