Deku vs. Koichi: Who’s the REAL Hero? (MHA Showdown!)

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Summary

  • Deku and Koichi both aspire to be Pro Heroes but have different paths and approaches due to their backgrounds.
  • Deku was born Quirkless and gained One For All, while Koichi struggled with confidence in his weak Quirk.
  • Both share admiration for All Might, mentors, and a desire to save others, but have unique talents and views on heroism.

Two notable characters, one hailing from the series ‘My Hero Academia’ and another from its offshoot ‘Vigilantes’, both share a passion for heroism, admiration for All Might, and an eagerness to help others. However, their distinct personalities set them apart significantly, with one lacking a supernatural ability (Quirk).

Through various key aspects, the two main characters, Koichi as the Vigilante and Deku following a conventional path, exhibit distinct yet complementary ways of embodying heroism. Could it be that these two protagonists represent opposite yet equally valuable faces of heroism? Or are they unique individuals with their own unique approaches to being a hero? This question invites us to explore the similarities and differences between Koichi and Deku.

What are the Differences Between Koichi and Deku

While They Have Some Similarities, They Are Unique and Complex Characters

Midoriya Izuku Deku Quirk: One For All
Haimawari Koichi The Crawler Quirk: Slide and Glide

In the anime worlds of “My Hero Academia” and its spin-off “Vigilantes,” we find two main characters: Midoriya Izuku and Haimawari Koichi. Despite hailing from different series, they share a common goal – to become Pro Heroes, defending citizens and battling wrongdoing. While Midoriya was born without any superhuman abilities, or Quirks, Koichi possesses one that is considered weak. However, an intriguing twist arises in Koichi’s case. Due to his mother’s interference and his own lack of self-assurance, his Quirk didn’t develop fully for a prolonged period.

  • Deku was given the Quirk: One For All ten months after undergoing rigorous training. Even after that, he continued to train to gain control over the Quirk.
  • Koichi was born with a Quirk; however, due to circumstances, he did not train or attempt to evolve it.

The main difference between Deku and Koichi lies in their approach towards traditional heroes like All Might. While both admire them, Deku never envisioned himself as a vigilante. Instead, he spent his youth diligently studying heroes for future reference and didn’t engage in any vigilante activities before gaining his Quirk. Even during the Dark Hero arc when All For One escaped, Deku took on a “dark hero” persona, but he still worked alongside Pro Heroes such as Endeavor and Hawks.

On the other hand, Koichi grappled with self-doubt concerning his Quirk. To make up for unrealized dreams, he found solace in performing good deeds, which provided him a sense of heroism through those actions.

In essence, the key difference between Deku and others with Quirks lies in their innate abilities. Most people born with a Quirk can learn about its capabilities and limitations through everyday experiences. However, Deku, who lived without a Quirk for most of his life, had to work tirelessly to understand One For All after receiving it. This newfound power proved difficult to control, prompting him to design simulations and study the Quirk intensely so he could adapt efficiently. As My Hero Academia unfolded, Deku dedicated a significant amount of time to perfecting this Quirk, particularly as fresh abilities surfaced, necessitating further training. Moreover, his extensive knowledge about Quirks allows him to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, demonstrating his deep comprehension of them.

Instead of Koichi, let’s talk about the natural talent he possessed for his Quirk, Slide and Glide. At times, he might have struggled due to a lack of understanding, leading to some confusion when employing it. However, he had an innate ability to exploit this power and constantly refine it. As he found himself in numerous fights and encountered various types of Quirks, Koichi’s abilities seemed to grow without him even realizing it. Throughout the Vigilantes series, his Quirk underwent several transformations during battles, fueled by his instincts and physical reactions. Ultimately, these two main characters demonstrate unique ways of handling their powers, shaped by their individual backgrounds. Deku, on the other hand, showed an intellectual and analytical side, using his profound understanding of Quirks to maximize their potential, while Koichi started off a bit sluggish; however, after engaging in numerous battles, his Quirk continued to develop alongside him, enabling it to flourish.

To achieve success, I need to exert more effort than others, as I won’t keep pace any other way… I aspire to emulate you, to become a powerful and resilient champion just like you!

An intriguing angle on their character types revolves around their motivations for striving to be Professional Heroes. Deku, born without a Quirk, still yearned to be the best, a testament to his unwavering determination. Despite others doubting his potential, Deku held onto his dreams and aspirations, which eventually led him to compile hero analysis notebooks. On the other hand, Koichi saw heroes as achieving their status primarily due to their Quirks, considering them the key factors that make one a Pro Hero. This belief, coupled with his mother’s limitations on his Quirk usage during his childhood, played a significant role in shaping his aspirations to become a hero.

To be completely honest, I’ve always been determined to become a Pro Hero, enduring the torment of bullying, the sting of rejection, and even my mother’s doubts. On the flip side, Koichi chose to abandon this dream, instead dedicating himself to vigilantism, focused on doing good. Unfortunately, circumstances derailed him from taking the hero exam during his middle school years, thus missing out on that opportunity.

However, it wasn’t until I crossed paths with All Might – who initially seemed to undermine my aspirations – that everything changed for me. In stark contrast, Koichi remained oblivious to his own potential, despite having an extraordinary mentor guiding him toward the path of heroism.

What Similarities Do They Share?

Though they have distinct characteristics that make them compelling individual characters, Deku and Koichi possess several common traits. Most noticeably, they both idolize All Might and aspire to become heroes like him, being ardent fans of the Pro Hero. Additionally, both own merchandise from their hero idol; however, Deku’s collection is more extensive than Koichi’s, who focuses on collecting All Might hoodies for comfort and as potential vigilante attire.

Moreover, in their respective stories, both Koichi and Deku are guided by mentors. In the world of My Hero Academia, Deki (an informal nickname for Deku) looks up to All Might, who is now a teacher at U.A. High School and has been instrumental in his training, serving as something of a father figure. Conversely, Koichi follows Knuckleduster, a former Pro Hero turned Vigilante, whose efforts are focused on ridding the streets of the Trigger drug. Their mentors adopt distinct methods in their teachings; while All Might has consistently provided Deki with guidance, Knuckleduster occasionally allows Koichi and Pop Step to handle situations independently when he’s away, but always checks up on him.

Nothing like doing good to make you feel good!!

In the world of MHA, both Koichi and Deku engaged in battles against a disciple of All For One. This shared enemy is none other than All For One himself. Despite being defeated, Number 6, an experimental failure, still managed to supply All For One with crucial details for creating the Nomu. Both Shigaraki Tomura and Number 6 were influenced by All For One, but it was Shigaraki who proved to be his ideal candidate.

It was noted earlier that both Koichi and Deku had a strong passion for heroes, which drove their ambition to become one themselves. Remarkably, they were able to realize this dream. Eight years following Deku’s graduation from U.A. High School, he found himself working as a part-time Pro Hero while simultaneously continuing his teaching role at U.A. In contrast, Koichi secured a position as Captain Celebrity’s sidekick in the United States.

How Do They Value Justice?

Though They Love Heroism, They Also Care For Saving Others

In their own distinctive ways, both individuals hold this concept in high regard. Deku, conscious of his quirklessness, often felt that he wouldn’t make a significant impact in critical situations. Instead, he channeled his efforts into studying heroes and quirk dynamics, which proved advantageous for him in the long run. A pivotal moment came when he saw Bakugo being kidnapped by villains, triggering an inherent urge to protect within him. Although his actions were limited at the time, they underscored Deku’s potential to rise as the greatest hero – even without a quirk.

As for Koichi, despite initially resisting the idea of becoming a hero, he showed signs of an innate desire to save, evident when he saved Pop Step during his middle school years. However, it took him longer than most to embrace this calling.

Two people admired power and aspired to embody heroism in their unique ways. While Koichi grappled with doubts about his quirk, he worked towards his dream of heroism by performing acts of generosity within his community, earning him the moniker “Nice Guy.” Given his age, the weight of his circumstances may have been significant. To counteract his insecurities, he likely undertook these good deeds as a means to overcome his inability to become a fully-fledged hero. A flashback shows that Koichi had been doing this for some time now. Notably, he hadn’t encountered any run-ins with villains or troublemakers when the police and heroes were absent.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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2025-04-24 17:41