My Hero Academia: Shigaraki Tomura, And 6 Other Villains From Kohei Horikoshi With Great Character Arcs

This list contains spoilers up to the end of MHA

In “My Hero Academia,” it’s not just the pulsating action sequences and stunning manga illustrations that captivate audiences; rather, it’s the richly developed characters that truly draw people in. The narrative, although centering around Deku and his heroic companions, also delves into the villains, giving them complex character arcs that transform them from stereotypical one-dimensional antagonists into intriguing figures.

In the world of “My Hero Academia,” Shigaraki is not alone among complex, emotional villains. While he experiences a captivating personal evolution, it’s important to remember that numerous other formidable antagonists in the series share this trait as well. With the manga concluded and the anime entering its final season, we can appreciate these memorable characters and their significant character development within the narrative.

Gentle

Gentle Finally Earned A Chance To Live Out His Dream Of Becoming A Hero During The Final War

Quirk: Elasticity
First Appearance: Episode 84

In the realm of My Hero Academia, it’s uncommon for individuals to choose villainy solely for the purpose of creating chaos. More often than not, there’s a significant underlying motivation driving their descent into villainy. For instance, Gentle turned to the dark side due to an attempt to save a civilian from harm, despite lacking a Hero License. His actions even interfered with a Pro Hero who was already dealing with the situation, thereby turning him into an outcast and effectively barring him from ever officially joining the hero ranks.

In the School Festival storyline, he initially appears as a troublemaking antagonist, leveraging his Elasticity ability to create chaos in the city. However, unlike typical one-off villains, Gentle resurfaces during the Final War, using his powers heroically to save numerous students and teachers from a deadly fall. Although he’s a relatively minor character overall, Gentle undergoes a deeply moving transformation throughout the story. His journey ultimately enables him to fulfill his aspiration of embodying a hero, despite being portrayed as a villain for most of the narrative.

Dabi

Dabi’s Burning Hatred For His Father Begins To Consume Him

Quirk: Blueflame
First Appearance: Episode 3

In a significant part of the narrative of “My Hero Academia”, the character Dabi is initially depicted as a solitary and brooding member of the League of Villains, who appears detached from his own feelings. However, his demeanor undergoes a transformation upon encountering Endeavor, who is later disclosed to be his biological father. Owing to the severe abuse and neglect he suffered at his father’s hands during childhood, Dabi becomes increasingly volatile and hostile as he focuses on defeating Endeavor, especially after revealing his father’s misdeeds to the world towards the end of the storyline.

Though Dabi’s progress doesn’t end there, he eventually reaches an emotional tipping point and considers annihilating everything around him using his Blueflame Quirk. However, fortunately for all involved, his family manages to intervene in time. By the story’s conclusion, it seems that Dabi has begun thawing not only towards Endeavor but also his brother Shoto, yet this reconciliation comes after a prolonged period of tension.

Stain

Stain’s Views On Heroism Have Changed Drastically Over Time

Quirk: Bloodcurdle
First Appearance: Episode 29

In the popular anime series My Hero Academia, Stain is a significant character, but his backstory and rise to notoriety are delved into more deeply in the spin-off series called Vigilantes. Originally known as Stendhal, Stain had aspirations of becoming a hero. However, he grew disillusioned with the academy when he felt everyone was only vying for positions to boost their fame and reputation. This led him to become an unofficial vigilante, targeting villains that he believed the heroes were neglecting. A turning point in his story came when he was severely beaten by fellow vigilante Knuckleduster, who held differing views on Stain’s ideology. As a result, Stain began to question and reevaluate his own beliefs.

Instead of concealing his actions while working alongside heroes, Stain’s evolving philosophy led him to target and eliminate those whom he considered unfit to hold the hero title. Over the course of the series, this renegade swordsman’s perspective on heroism underwent significant transformations, culminating in his cheers for All Might during the Final War, signaling a character who continued to develop and evolve throughout the storyline.

Lady Nagant

From All For One’s Loyal Accomplice To Deku’s Savior

Quirk: Rifle / Air Walk
First Appearance: Episode 134

Though initially presented as a villain in the narrative, Lady Nagant was originally a renowned hero who served within the Public Safety Commission. Unlike many, she found this job to be a dream, but her superiors compelled her to cold-bloodedly eliminate numerous villains, a task that eventually eroded her mental wellbeing. Tired of the senseless violence, she left her position and fell under All For One’s control, who bestowed upon her a new Quirk as compensation for her allegiance.

Initially, Horikoshi crafted Nagant into a formidable antagonist. However, he took her character development a step further by reintroducing her in the Final War. During this chaos, she intervened remarkably, preventing Shigaraki from causing widespread destruction by shooting his hand before he could touch the ground. Thus, Nagant’s transformation was profound; transitioning from a ruthless villain, she emerged as the hero’s unexpected savior. Since her departure from the Public Safety Commission, Nagant has undergone a significant journey.

Twice

A Tragic Villain Who Managed To Find True Friends And Overcome His Trauma

Quirk: Double
First Appearance: Episode 3

The unique talent of generating duplicates of whatever a person handles is a peculiar trait that many characters yearn for, but for Twice, it has proven more of a burden than an advantage. Prior to the main events, Twice manufactured multiple versions of himself to aid in his daily routines. However, these copies eventually began to clash among themselves, leading to a violent confrontation. As Twice pondered over whether he was the authentic Twice or just another replica destined to fade away, his mind became increasingly troubled.

In the narrative, despite Twice often coming across as jovial and amusing, he has been harboring deep-seated trauma throughout much of his life. However, in a poignant moment during the Paranormal Liberation War, Twice confides that he’s found individuals he can genuinely consider friends, and has learned to accept and embrace both his Quirk and his true self. It’s an emotional scene that takes an unexpected turn, given Twice’s jovial demeanor. This heart-rending character development is a testament to Horikoshi’s skill in creating complex characters, even when they may initially seem superficial.

Re-Destro

Re-Destro Finally Realized The True Meaning Of Quirk Liberation

Quirk: Stress
First Appearance: Episode 108

In Re-Destro’s debut moment, it’s evident that he wholeheartedly endorses the notion of Quirk emancipation – a belief advocating for unrestricted Quirk usage by every citizen, free from heroic constraints. Though deeply committed to materializing this vision, he encounters initial difficulties translating theory into practice. However, it wasn’t until facing Shigaraki in battle that a solution to his dilemma would manifest.

Upon witnessing the formidable villain casually unleashing his Decay quirk, Re-Destro instantly recognized him as the one he had been seeking. In fact, he was so moved by this display of power that he appointed Shigaraki as the leader of the Paranormal Liberation Front. Although Re-Destro’s transformation into a more multidimensional villain happened fairly swiftly compared to others, it effectively portrays him as a more nuanced antagonist, offering fans a glimpse of his complexity.

Tomura Shigaraki

Shigaraki Is An Immensely Powerful Villain Who Still Holds Onto The Memories Of His Childhood

Quirk: Decay / All For One
First Appearance: Episode 3

In simpler terms, Shigaraki’s childhood was far from pleasant. His father, who was abandoned as a child because he was the son of a legendary hero named Nana, developed a deep-seated hatred for heroes. This hatred intensified and eventually led him to physically harm young Shigaraki, who once aspired to be a hero himself. A tragic accident involving his Decay quark resulted in Shigaraki killing his entire family. He was then discovered, nurtured, and turned into an extremely powerful villain by All For One. Consequently, it’s not surprising that he aims to destroy everything and everyone around him.

Over the course of the story, I’ve noticed that Tomura Shigaraki has undergone significant growth, not just physically in terms of his powers, but also mentally. In his battle with Star and Stripe, there were signs that All For One was attempting to seize control of his body, suggesting that he might eventually gain independence. When he confronts Midoriya in the Final War, we see that Shigaraki’s past trauma still weighs heavily on him, hinting that he may not be as entrenched in villainy as initially perceived, and that there’s hope for redemption with the right support from others. As a character who has been present since the beginning of the series, it’s unsurprising that Shigaraki feels like a completely transformed individual by the end, making him an engaging and intriguing villain to follow throughout the storyline.

2025-08-16 21:19