My Hero Academia: The Heteromorph Discrimination, Explained

Key Takeaways

  • Heteromorphs face discrimination due to their unique appearances, often pushing them toward becoming villains.
  • Heteromorph heroes like Mezo Shoji defy stereotypes and choose to use their abilities for good, challenging misconceptions.
  • Negative treatment of Heteromorphs can lead to individuals like Spinner becoming villains, highlighting the impact of societal prejudice.

As a dedicated fan of My Hero Academia, I find myself deeply moved by the storylines surrounding the Heteromorph characters. The way they are portrayed and their experiences resonate with me on a personal level, having grown up as an outsider myself.


In the realm of “My Hero Academia”, it’s unfortunate that Heteromorphs often face discrimination due to their unique physical characteristics. These individuals possess traits reminiscent of animals, additional limbs, or features unlike human norms, all stemming from their special abilities, or quirks.

Instead of being able to change their form like some others, Heteromorphs (or mutants) typically have fixed appearances, making them vulnerable to prejudice. However, this physical trait is not within their control. Sadly, due to the discrimination they encounter throughout their lives, many Heteromorphs find themselves drawn towards a life of villainy. Their power may be great, but it’s often overshadowed by the hardships they face.

The Common Misconceptions About Heteromorphs

Mezo Shoji Is A Prime Example Of How Heteromorphs Persevered

While most Heteromorphs turn into villains, there are also heroes who choose to ignore the hatred towards their kind and focus on using their Heteromorphisis to help humans. One of the perfect examples of this personality trait in the My Hero Academia series is Mezo Shoji. Even though Shoji has a frightening appearance, he is known to be one of the most friendly and gentle characters in ther series. Unfortunately, Shoji had the misfortune of growing up in a town where his kind was shunned and discriminated against. Shoji is also someone who is willing to risk his life to save someone, this is seen during one of his flashbacks where he saves a little girl from drowning, the feeling he felt after saving her is what made him choose to become a hero.

That’s why, I want to do my part, just as my predecessors have done! – Mezo Shoji

The common misconception that humans have about Heteromorphs who choose to become heroes is that they became heroes so that they could enact revenge on those who wronged them. Shoji also wears a mask to hide the scars on his face because he feels that people would think he became a hero to take revenge on those who hurt him, but Shoji states that this is far from the truth, as he believes in tearing down those misconceptions, but is aware that it would take a long time to fix those broken walls and that a single generation would be unable to change these perceptions humans have towards Heteromorphs. He is also against the use of force and violence to push the change, as many Heteromorphs only believed in violence as a means of revenge and the solution to finding their place in the world.

The Reason Heteromorphs Become Villains

Spinner Chose To Go Down A Winding Path, Because Of His Past

From the point of view of the antagonist, Spinner stood out as the character who faced discrimination since childhood due to his lizard-like traits, making him feel like an outsider in society. It wasn’t until much later that he felt he had found his purpose when he joined the League of Villains. Stain significantly impacted Spinner’s transformation into a villain. Though Stain aimed to unmask the corruption within the hero system, Spinner took this message personally and used it as fuel to fight against a society that rejected him.

Over time, Spinner assumes a pivotal role within the series, standing up for the rights of Heteromorphs and rallying them to join forces with the Paranormal Liberation Front in battle. This underscores the idea that not all antagonists in this series are inherently evil, but rather they have been pushed towards chaos by the discrimination they’ve faced from society. Spinner serves as a poignant illustration of the destructive impact of prejudice against Heteromorphs, inspiring him to take significant steps to ensure his voice was not only heard within his own community, but across the world. In a universe where Heteromorphs were treated with respect and equality, harmony would have prevailed over hostility, resulting in a better life for both Heteromorphs and humans alike. (in the context of My Hero Academia)

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2024-10-09 23:34