My Hero Academia: The Friendship Between Spinner and Shigaraki, Explained

My Hero Academia: The Friendship Between Spinner and Shigaraki, Explained

Key Takeaways

  • Spinner and Shigaraki were failed by society and bonded over shared experiences and video games
  • Spinner idolized Stain’s ideology but became closer to Shigaraki, seeing him as a true leader
  • Spinner’s devotion to Shigaraki led to regrets over not helping sooner, with their friendship inspiring him.

As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours immersed in the world of My Hero Academia, I can confidently say that the friendship between Spinner and Shigaraki is one for the books. It’s not often you see two characters from opposite sides of the spectrum bond over shared experiences and video games.


In the fictional world of “My Hero Academia,” the Hero society often comes to the rescue of common people, shielding them from the malicious acts of villains. Yet, it’s crucial to remember that these Heroes aren’t invincible; their pursuit for fortune, recognition, and adoration can sometimes intertwine with their role as Pro Heroes.

As a gamer, it’s unfortunate to witness how those who aren’t ‘ordinary’ often get overlooked, mistreated, and discarded by the system. This societal bias, born out of its own failures, fostered the emergence of Spinner and Shigaraki – two individuals driven by a desire to bring down the false idols they saw as part of a flawed society that let them down. Dive into their unique bond and uncover their stories.

How Did Spinner and Shigaraki Meet?

The League of Villains is where this friendship and admiration come to fruition

My Hero Academia: The Friendship Between Spinner and Shigaraki, Explained

Shuichi Iguchi, also known by the alias Spinner, is a character with a unique ability (heteromorph) who rose to prominence during the Final War as a key figure in the Paranormal Liberation Front. Being a heteromorph has subjected him to discrimination due to his mutant power, leading him to believe that the Hero Community has let him down.

Previously confined to his home, Spinner admired a notorious villain called Stain, the Hero Killer, and yearned to emulate him after Stain’s incarceration. He joined the League of Villains, hoping they would maintain Stain’s legacy by eliminating corrupt heroes. It was through this association that he encountered Tomura Shigaraki, the leader of the League of Villains.

Initially, Shigaraki was unclear about his ultimate purpose beyond defeating All Might, which frustrated Spinner because he felt their leader wasn’t upholding Stain’s principles. Spinner admired Stain so much that he modeled his clothing and combat equipment after him. Yet, as Spinner became more deeply involved with the Villains League, his devotion to Stain’s philosophy began to wane.

Currently, Spinner is still part of the League of Villains, but he’s been increasingly influenced by Shigaraki’s ideologies. Despite this alliance, Spinner maintains a critical stance towards Shigaraki’s leadership abilities. It wasn’t until the fall of Gigantomachia that Spinner truly accepted Shigaraki as his leader, leading him to become a committed follower since then.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel an odd mix of respect and disdain towards All Might – the hero that Stain worships as a beacon of hope untainted by society’s flaws. Unlike Spinner, who shares Stain’s ideology, I don’t share his adoration for All Might. I see him as a symbol of the Hero Society that failed me, a system I long to see crumble.

Through shared grievances against society, both Spinner and Shigaraki have found a mutual aim: the destruction of what wronged them. While Spinner aimed to purge the Society of False Heroes, his respect for Shigaraki’s bold ambition inspired him to pursue the same objective.

How did Spinner and Shigaraki become true friends?

A failed society and a shared interest in video games were the cause

My Hero Academia: The Friendship Between Spinner and Shigaraki, Explained

At some point, Spinner and Shigaraki found themselves discussing their mutual passion for video games. This discovery unveiled that they had more shared interests beyond their disapproval of the present society. Essentially, this is what sparked their friendship. It’s worth noting that Spinner had started viewing Shigaraki as a genuine leader and was deeply impressed by his aspirations and achievements.

While it’s true that Spinner recognized Shigaraki as a formidable leader and an agent of societal collapse, he also felt deeply worried about him. Unlike other villains such as Mr. Compress who could observe changes in Shigaraki’s character when All For One took over his body, Spinner showed exceptional concern. Spinner believed that the treatment All For One performed on Shigaraki was causing more harm than good. However, despite his concerns, Spinner knew he had no power to intervene, so he chose to stop fretting in Chapter 427.

He was the first friend I ever had!!

Later on, Spinner would come to wish he had assisted Shigaraki earlier, as his decision not to do so led to All For One consuming him. His loyalty towards both leader and friend compelled him to accept All For One’s offer for additional Quirks. However, the acquisition of multiple Quirks necessitates a prepared body. As a result, Spinner lost his capacity for rational thought but remained determined to aid Shigaraki in every way possible.

Following the liberation of Kurogiri from his confinement post-Final War, Spinner was apprehended. Despite being consumed by All For One, deep within himself, Shigaraki yearned to express his last thoughts to Spinner. Post the Final War, Izuku Midoriya shared Shigaraki’s final message.

Even to the bitter end, Shigaraki Tomura kept fighting to destroy.

Via Shigaraki’s achievements, Spinner started viewing him as his idol and beacon of hope. As their shared disdain for society brought them together, their friendship deepened. Despite Spinner being a dedicated admirer of Shigaraki, their bond evolved into friendship, prompting Spinner to write a book about Shigaraki, in an attempt to preserve the Symbol of Fear’s memory and legacy, so that no one would ever forget who and what Shigaraki Tomura stood for.

My Hero Academia is now available to stream on Crunchyroll.

Read More

2024-09-17 18:05