All Might’s Hero Journey: From Burdened Symbol to Mentor and Friend

Summary

All Might is a mentor figure who also learns from his mentees like Deku, showing the need for continuous growth.
Starting as quirkless, All Might becomes a symbol of peace, but faces challenges in maintaining this role.
All Might’s journey involves letting go of his past burdens, finding new purpose through teaching, and embracing help from others.

In the captivating world of anime and manga, I’ve come across characters who embody greatness, and All Might from “My Hero Academia” stands tall among them, echoing traits reminiscent of Goku and Superman. Yet, he’s not just a mentor; the series cleverly places him in the role of a student too, demonstrating that even the legendary can continue learning.

In the narrative, All Might grapples with his influential past, highlighting the shortcomings in his beliefs and guiding future generations towards a more enlightened path. Initially, All Might is portrayed as a beacon of peace and valor to most characters, but it’s through his commitment to self-improvement that he ultimately transcends into an even more inspiring hero by the story’s conclusion.

Toshinori Yagi: Origin

All Might’s Starting Line is Very Similar to His Protégé’s

In Chapter 1, we meet All Might who has already traveled a considerable distance from his initial state. Unlike the superhero we know now, All Might (whose real name is Toshinori Yagi) was once powerless. However, witnessing the destruction and decay in his surroundings, he aspired to be a beacon of optimism for society. In many ways, Toshinori Yagi mirrored Deku, as both lacked inherent power but were rich in determination and courage. For Toshinori Yagi, his ultimate goal was to alter the hearts of those around him positively.

By a fortuitous encounter with Nana Shimura, the seventh bearer of One for All, Toshinori realizes his aspiration to embody tranquility. Moved by his tale and inspired by his determination, Nana passes One for All to him, making him its eighth wielder. In this role, he confronts and vanquishes All for One, thereby initiating a time of unparalleled peace. Criminal activity drastically decreases, and the presence of heroes becomes an integral part of society.

Despite the immense power granted to him, it brought along an enormous responsibility. For All Might, the duty of symbolizing peace seemed like his sole burden, shouldering the safety of Japan and even the world. Yet, this noble goal eventually turned toxic, as shown in a flashback where he discusses with Nighteye. Nighteye forewarns him about a dreadful villain who may take his life if he persists on his current path. His solution was to find a worthy successor and transfer the power and duty. However, believing this burden solely his, All Might decides to keep up his image, even as his abilities weakened. This is the All Might we encounter in Chapter 1. It isn’t until he encounters Izuku Midoriya, a quirkless boy much like his past self, that he starts contemplating another way of life.

“I want to become a pillar of justice that people can believe in.” – Toshinori Yagi to Nana Shimura

Now It’s Deku’s Turn

All Might Finally Finds a Worthy Successor

In Izuku Midoriya, All Might recognizes traits reminiscent of himself and the hero he aspires to be. It was when Izuku acted instinctively without hesitation during All Might’s moment of despair over his powerlessness that All Might noticed a wane in his own motivation. A situation reminiscent of his encounter with Nana, All Might tells Izuku that he has the potential to become a hero and designates him as the successor to One for All.

Despite being an older man now, his encounter with Izuku significantly shapes him, as it challenges many of his long-held views on heroism. This transformation happens when he’s compelled to reflect upon himself by witnessing Deku’s perspective on him. However, he hasn’t entirely shaken off his past ways yet, and this relationship with Deku often reinforces harmful thoughts and beliefs that All Might internalized. The initial signs of this can be observed during the U.A. exams.

All Might says, “There’s nothing more honorable than self-sacrifice,” which can be motivating, but for heroes like Deku or All Might who define themselves by their powers and duty towards others, this phrase can become harmful. This becomes evident when looking at Deku, as the physical toll of his actions shows the damaging effects of this ideology. During Deku’s struggle to save Todoroki at the Sports Festival, he repeatedly breaks bones in his body, showing a selfless sacrifice that leaves everyone astonished at the lengths he’s willing to go. It might be during this moment, when remembering that he told Deku he wanted this to be his ‘I Am Here’ moment, that All Might realizes he needs to rethink his approach to heroism.

In a simpler, more conversational tone, this could be rephrased as: “There’s nothing more admirable than giving up oneself for others,” which reflects All Might’s sentiment about Deku’s actions during the entrance exams.

Extinguishing the Flames

All Might Must Find A New Spark For Life

A significant obstacle for All Might’s philosophy arises when he discovers that All for One is not dead, implying that Deku may have to confront him. This revelation stirs feelings of duty and burden within All Might, as the Symbol of Peace, but it also compels him to relinquish some power and duties to Deku. This situation forces All Might to ponder his purpose in life. If he can no longer fight All for One with his quirk, then what use is he as All Might? He begins to feel that he has fallen short of being the symbol that society required from him.

Instead of waiting for the inevitable, All for One acts prematurely, giving our hero one more opportunity to shine brightly. Although All Might has transferred One for All, there are still residual fragments left within him. In a climactic, last battle, we witness All Might exceed his limits, defeat All for One, and stand tall for the last time as the Symbol of Peace. This momentous event is later commemorated with a statue in the series finale. With his role as the Symbol of Peace now in the past, he must contemplate who he can transform into next.

Society Needs More Than Symbols

Through Teaching, All Might Finds a New Purpose

In a heart-to-heart conversation with Deku and his mother Inko, All Might finds renewed motivation. Once again, it’s Deku who inspires him, prompting All Might to visit Deku’s home to discuss his future at U.A., despite the ongoing threat of the League of Villains. Initially, Inko is hesitant about Deku returning, fearful of the danger he might face. However, Deku remains resolute, vowing to persist in his dream of becoming a hero, even if it means attending other schools. When All Might witnesses Deku’s unwavering determination, he understands that he must do more. He promises Inko that he will guide Deku towards becoming the hero he aspires to be, dedicating his life to this noble cause.

In the Shie Hassaikai arc, Deku encounters danger yet again, prompting All Might to confront old emotions and acquaintances. It’s revealed that Mirio was initially chosen as a successor for One For All. Deku discovers what Nighteye had foreseen about All Might’s future. This situation underscores the significance of Deku in challenging All Might’s perspective on life and heroism. Despite knowing that Nighteye’s power of Foresight has never been incorrect, Deku resolves to change his destiny, urging All Might to do the same with him. Remarkably, Deku manages to evade the death predicted by Nighteye, breaking through a seemingly unalterable future. This act convinces All Might to keep fighting for life as well.

Toshinori Yagi: Rising

All Might Faces an Old Villain as a New Hero

In a determined stance, All Might chooses to continue his battle as long as breath remains in him, fueled by the courage of his pupils. His epic confrontation with All for One highlights the profound impact his years at UA have had on him. Instead of relying on moves reminiscent of American states, All Might now draws strength from the abilities of his students. He’s not only a teacher but also a student, learning to lean on others in this journey. In Deku’s Dark Hero storyline, we witness All Might urging Deku against going solo, assuring him that allies and fellow heroes will be there to back him up. As the battle unfolds, All Might too realizes the truth of these words, stepping into the fray not expecting to vanquish All for One, but to create an opportunity for other heroes. In a poignant twist, it’s Bakugo who ultimately delivers the final blow to All for One.

Through All Might’s character, we gain a perspective to scrutinize Deku’s idealistic viewpoint, given his personal experiences. Initially, the narrative paints both characters as courageous and honorable heroes due to their self-sacrificing nature and pushing past their limits. However, as the story unfolds, it reveals the burdens that All Might has endured because of this ideology, and how it impacts Deku’s journey. This forces us to confront the potential pitfalls of such a belief system. Thankfully, All Might comes to recognize his mistakes too, leading him to propose fresh approaches for heroism by the series’ conclusion, benefiting himself, Deku, and society as a whole.

You can watch ‘My Hero Academia’ online on platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime (where it’s offered). Additionally, you can read the comic version of it on the VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump application.

2025-03-14 22:24