Considering what the past two chapters of mangaka Kōhei Horikoshi’s “My Hero Academia” have covered, it would seem as if the series has reached another turning point, last seen with the retirement of All Might almost 100 chapters prior. While several important events have occurred since this time, which have greatly spurred on character growth and interactions, the unveiling of the in-universe year’s second Hero Billboard Chart JP marks a significant moment of worldbuilding for the series. After all, as mentioned by the students of Class 1-A, a billboard without All Might is a truly new and exciting spectacle. Given his longevity in the hero community prior to his retirement, after the incident with All For One in Kamino, seeing how the remaining heroes attempt to fill the void is a narrative concept full of intrigue. And sure enough from what we’ve seen so far, Horikoshi appears to have big plans for the upcoming story arc.

Before these two chapters though, we’re also given the conclusion of the School Festival, which was full of fun and worthwhile emotional climaxes. While harkening back to themes that were first raised many chapters beforehand, this particular ‘school-ish’ arc (as outlined by Horikoshi some weeks ago in his author comments) also directly tied off a number of plot threads, which arose during Deku’s work study with Nighteye and the subsequent conflict with Overhaul. As such, when reflecting on the past 60 chapters as a whole, I really do gain further appreciation for Horikoshi’s narrative execution, especially when exploring core tenets of heroism and the emotional highs that come packaged with that.

Prior to recapping these chapters in depth, I do just want to acknowledge the inclusion of sketches in Chapter 182, as opposed to the usually finished art. In case you are not aware, the release of this chapter coincided with the Golden Week holiday in Japan, which because of the inherent restrictions that accompany it, led to the magazine’s mangaka having to complete two chapters in the time they would normally spend completing one. As such, given how much time Horikoshi normally spends storyboarding compared to his contemporaries, it is perfectly understandable that the chapter’s artwork was not as refined as usual. While this was somewhat of a shame, given the potential for the performance to be visually stunning (and what finished art we did get was certainly that), I do not think this can be held against Horikoshi and his fellow creators. Their schedules are already ridiculously hectic, so giving them our support and understanding during such weeks, I believe, is of the utmost importance.

So beyond this, Chapter 182 itself (titled ‘Let It Flow! School Festival!’) opens with Deku returning to UA, accompanied by Ectoplasm. Aoyama is then seen waiting for him, which makes sense given their joint role in the upcoming performance. After being asked why he’s so dirty, Deku lies to Aoyama, as a way of not worrying him. A nice touch that follows is that Ectoplasm encourages Deku to take the time to clean himself up before returning to his class, so they too will not be worried. This is a minor moment, but one I very much appreciate, as it shows the staff of UA are still very mindful of their students’ mentality and wellbeing. Following this we cut to the performance, where Aizawa reiterates the obstacle that 1-A is looking to overcome, regarding the sceptical nature of much of their audience. What follows then is a truly magnificent spectacle of payoff from previous set-up chapters, as well as incredibly creative quirk combinations designed to wow the onlookers and the readership. The latter is a concept notably mentioned in the test of courage during the Summer Training Camp with the Pussycats, but it was cut short because of the appearance of the Vanguard Action Squad, so seeing this now is a real treat.

Despite the sketchy nature of the art, Horikoshi is still able to depict a scene that is full of life and dynamic movement. Crowd reaction shots are excellently interwoven here, to demonstrate the exact effect of 1-A’s performance. As previously mentioned, throughout the chapter, there are little nods to ideas set-up in chapters before the Gentle confrontation. We see: Tokoyami taking Jiro’s advice and playing grittier, Aoyama using his new quirk technique to operate as a disco ball, and Kirishima shaving a block of Todoroki’s ice over the crowd (with Diamond Dust also being a Final Fantasy reference). In addition to these, cool quirk usage can be seen through: Uraraka floating members of the crowd for audience participation and enabling Kaminari to actually play air guitar, Sero and Todoroki combining their quirks to create ice streamers, and Koda commanding birds to help with the lights in the rafters. Horikoshi even goes as far as to include the detail of Shoji wearing the gloves from Mineta’s hero costume so he can handle his hair, which is simple but fantastic attention to detail.

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Alongside these fun moments, two emotional cores drive the performance. The first is witnessed through Jiro, who is both singing and playing bass, and her love of music has been a feature of much of the arc. So to see her playing, and enjoying herself so vehemently, is really rather touching. Horikoshi’s art really enhances this angle, as does the succinct inclusion of a flashback. Within, we see a wonderfully understanding set of parents, who support their daughter in following her dream, even though it is somewhat of a departure from their own. Yet in addition, they go as far as to point out a connection between the two professions of music and heroism, in that doing either allows for an individual to give back to others. The chapter ends though with arguably an even more poignant moment, as the sheer joy exuded from Class 1-A’s performance has enabled Eri to momentarily escape from the looming presence of Overhaul, whereafter she throws her arms up and lets loose a beaming smile. This spectacle brings Mirio to tears, which given what he sacrificed to protect the young girl, makes perfect sense.

The following chapter (titled ‘Festival All Day Long!!) then serves as a vehicle to wrap up the rest of the storylines that have been tied into the School Festival. This is not to say that the chapter isn’t enjoyable though, as it certainly is that. The first page, after all, is full of hilarity and ridiculousness, which in truth is often what the Japanese School Festival is all about. Although 1-A is still tidying up after their band performance, we are treated to a snippet of 1-B’s ultimate crossover parody play. It is exaggerated, silly, and everything I wanted it to be. Following that we see a number of students apologising to 1-A for their previously cynical mind-set, as well as Hound Dog chastising Deku in his very unique way, once again demonstrating that the UA staff really does care. We are then presented with a wonderful interaction between Deku and Eri, where she expresses her enjoyment having seen 1-A’s performance, and Deku shows his relief, given the fight he undertook to allow for this outcome in the first place. Another amazing addition from Horikoshi was Mirio’s apparent trait wherein he copies the movements of another. In this case it is Eri, and in the following chapter it is Aizawa.

Afterwards, following Mineta’s cry for the class to hurry up, we transition to the Beauty Pageant. There we see: Kendo’s martial arts demonstration, Kenranzaki’s flashy (and certainly self-indulgent) invention, and Nejire’s elegant dance. Horikoshi’s art here, and use of overlapping images on panels, works to beautifully enhance Nejire’s look. From this point, we are then given a montage of other festival moments, with: Uraraka finally getting her crepes, Bakugo demonstrating his athletic prowess, the reappearance of Shinso at the haunted house (subtly showing off his more defined body, which is assumedly a result of outside training in preparation for his eventual admittance into the hero course), Mei’s technology exhibition, and the confirmation that Nejire won the Beauty Pageant in her last year at UA. This then leads into the closing moments of the festival, with Eri saying her goodbyes at the school gate, and Deku presenting her with a surprise gift. We are finally shown the other reason besides a rope as to why he left earlier that morning, which led to his encounter with Gentle, being him needing the correct ingredients to make the young girl the candy apple she so desired. Her reaction to this sweet treat is utterly adorable, and reminds us of the lengths Deku will go to make others feel safe and happy. Before the chapters end though, we are also shown a snippet of Gentle and La Brava. While La Brava’s hacking skills are highlighted, the pair’s redemption is also foreshadowed. The police officer declares that them being stopped that day is a good thing, as it isn’t too late for them to turn their lives around, and so Gentle really does appear to owe Deku a lot. As such, it’ll be interesting to see when Horikoshi decides to have the pair re-enter the narrative, further down the line.

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While Chapter 184 (titled ‘Hero Billboard Chart JP’) may be a departure from the previous material, and operate as an apparent turning point for the series as I stated in the introduction of this analysis, it does begin with a pivotal link to the immediate narrative that preceded it. Following a timeskip to the end of November, we see Eri return to UA, along with an announcement from Aizawa that she’ll be staying there in the faculty dorm. It is also said that he and Mirio will be responsible for her, which makes sense given Mirio’s close bond with Eri and the free-time he now has after taking leave from his studies, along with Aizawa whose own quirk will be pivotal in potentially safeguarding others from the threat that Eri may well possess. It is also reiterated that Eri’s horn is the source of her quirk, and it is indeed growing over time, which also raises the possibility of a further incident. As such, Aizawa’s presence in her life is a must for the time being. Tamaki brings up the upside of future quirk training for the young girl too, as Mirio may yet regain his quirk later down the line, which is a promising thought for the third year student. Subsequently, the members of Class 1-A present are ushered back to their dorm, as they are apparently expecting guests. This too ties into a past arc, as the guests are the Wild Wild Pussycats, who coincidentally enough made their debut recently in the current season of the series’ anime adaptation. While it’s nice seeing the bubbly hero team return, and getting clarification over Ragdoll’s role moving forward (following her encounter with All For One), the more interesting return for me is that of Kota. After all, as shown off by the fact that he’s since purchased the same red shoes as Deku, he is a big fan of our central protagonist, much like Eri (both of whom interestingly have a horn feature to their design). This truly demonstrates the growth that Deku had undergone since the first few chapters of the series.

Beyond informing us of their own status, the Pussycats serve two other purposes. The first is reminding us of the continued existence of All For One, who sits in Tartarus goading the authorities, as they attempt to determine just how many quirks he is holding, and what quirks exactly. The second is to officially introduce the hero rankings, which have been alluded to throughout the series so far. The importance of the year’s second ranking, in which the Pussycats came 411th after a long absence from active duty, is enough to not only have the rest of Chapter 184 dedicated to it, but also the entirety of Chapter 185 (titled ‘Wing Hero: Hawks). In this same chapter though, we cut to a live presentation of the current top 10, where we are treated to both familiar faces, and fascinating new character designs where Horikoshi once again proves his creative ability.

Firstly the familiar faces are as follows: Ryukyu – who dropped one place into No. 10, Kamui Woods – who equipped with a new costume has risen significantly into the No. 7 spot (along with a mention of Mt. Lady, who sits at No. 23, and appears to be engaging in a romantic relationship with the aforementioned Kamui), Edge-Shot – who climbed to No. 4 after forming the Lurkers hero team with Kamui and Mt. Lady, Best Jeanist – who while he places at No. 3 is still inactive after the serious injury he sustained at the hands of All For One, and finally Endeavor – who officially claims the No. 1 spot, also doing so with a new costume which appears to pay homage to All Might.

The new pro heroes though, are: the Equipped Hero: Yoroi Musha – who at No. 9 appears to be the oldest member of the top ranking heroes, the Laundry Hero: Wash – who is seemingly popular due to a well-known commercial and is certainly the most peculiar hero on the list, the Shield Hero: Crust – who is seen visibly lamenting All Might’s absence, the Rabbit Hero: Mirko – who’s comment to Edge-Shot denigrating the existence of hero teams makes her incredibly intriguing to me, and finally the Wing Hero: Hawks, who it was actually revealed earlier in the chapter that Tokoyami spent time under for his recent work study. Compared to someone like Yoroi Musha, Hawks looks incredibly young on first glance, and this is soon proven to be true as of Chapter 185.

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While an exciting feature of the final chapter of this past month’s selection is the reappearance of Rock Lock and Fat Gum, I was honestly more impressed with the amount of personality that Horikoshi was able to give Hawks in a single chapter. From the off, after his whispered question is met with a glare by Endeavor, he sarcastically pretends to zip his mouth shut, before opening it later to speak as his impatience boils over. Before this though, we get some telling lines from the rest of the pros. Ryukyu wishes to refuse her rank, after failing to save Nighteye, which says a lot about her priorities. Conversely, Yoroi Musha appears to be rather stoic, as he says that his mission is the same as ever: a line of thinking which is later challenged by Hawks, given All Might’s retirement. Wash inexplicably says nothing but his name, so I really am interested to see just what he’s all about moving forward. Kamui makes reference to the opportunity afforded to him by Edge-Shot, in inviting him to team up. Crust again laments All Might’s absence, by criticising himself for not being present at Kamino. Mirko makes a bold declaration that she has the power to stop any evildoers out there that happen to be watching the broadcast. Last to speak here is Edge-Shot, who is promptly cut-off by Hawks as he states what he believes to be the true measure of a hero.

Consequently, Hawks launches into his own speech, which is significantly longer than the other heroes’ statements. When doing so, he uses his wings to lift himself above his contemporaries, thereby placing himself above the rest. Given the lack of a symbol, he asserts that public approval is more important now than ever. He also takes issue with the stances held by the other top ranking pros, calling for them to look forward and act more heroically, in his eyes at least. As he descends in the direction of Endeavor, we are then given some background information on the Wing Hero. As expected he is much younger than the others, being only 22 as of this moment. It is also confirmed that he started his own hero agency at 18, and made it into the top 10 the same year. This is incredibly important, as him being the first sets a precedent for our own heroes at UA to do something similar, after they too turn pro. The description of him being one that does things too fast is a little worrying though, given his appearance, as he is eerily similar to the Greek figure of Icarus. Given the recent use of Greek terminology in the series, with both Tartarus and Gigantomachia, I do not think this is a coincidence. The fact that he is also the closest hero in rank to Endeavor, who given his own quirk may represent the sun to Hawks’ Icarus, is something that should perhaps be noted moving forward. Following this moment from Hawks, attention is switched to Endeavor, who now has a hard act to follow. As such, in conjuncture with his recent conversation with All Might, he simply asks the world to watch him. This statement, and the art that accompanies it, is truly stunning. While Endeavor is far from redeemed, given what he put his family through in his despair at always trailing behind All Might, the growth he is showing is truly remarkable, and Horikoshi should be applauded for writing his character in this way.

The final few pages of this chapter though, are truly exciting. They serve to set up what is to come, assumedly, with the reveal of a pro hero team up and a monstrous villain lurking in the wings. Surprisingly though, the proposed team up is actually between Hawks and Endeavor, with Hawks seemingly admiring Endeavor for the way in which he handled himself at the ranking presentation. He raises the threat of the Nomu in his home area, which from the skyline appears to be based on Fukuoka. Notably, Fukuoka Prefecture is where Shoji is from, and it lies far to the west of where UA is situated. Assumedly, it is an area closer to Shiketsu, than UA. Regardless, the chapter ends with the reveal of an advanced Nomu called High-End, which looks to have eyes similar to Kurogiri and exposed muscles similar to Muscular. With everything that Horikoshi has decided to include in these past two chapters, I’m incredibly excited to see just exactly where he wants to take it. While the immediate antagonist appears to be clear, just which heroes we’ll be following does not seem so certain. After all, Tokoyami’s relationship with Hawks could provide him with some focus in the upcoming arc, as could the location’s apparent tie to Shoji, and yet it is just as possible that we’ll instead focus solely on the two pros. Either way, I’m totally invested, and look forward to discussing what exactly happens next month with you all.

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