3 Ways My Hero Academia’s Koichi Is a Better Main Character Than Deku (& The 1 Way He’s Not)

by

Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku, has been the main character of My Hero Academia, but the anime is ending in 2025. While Deku will always be central to the series, Koichi from My Hero Academia: Vigilantes will become the new focus. This spinoff will continue to explore Kohei Horikoshi’s universe after the final My Hero Academia episode airs in May, and despite being a smaller story, it’s a great continuation of the original.

Koichi has the potential to be an excellent successor as the central character of the series, and in some ways, he might even be more compelling than Deku. This might be a surprising opinion after watching Deku’s journey for eight seasons of My Hero Academia. However, Koichi offers a unique perspective. His path to becoming a hero is different, which makes his story fresh and engaging. While he may not excel in the same areas as Deku, Koichi possesses qualities that make him a stronger protagonist in other ways.

4) Koichi Is Better: He’s More Relatable Than Deku

Many people will connect with Deku’s ambition, but he quickly becomes an idealized character. From the start, he’s almost too good – always choosing kindness, being remarkably smart, and consistently trying to do what’s right. While these are admirable traits that make him likable, they don’t feel very realistic, since most people are imperfect. As Deku grows stronger and becomes a true hero, it becomes even harder to relate to him. It’s rewarding to watch his progress, but his journey is one few of us will ever experience.

Unlike the main My Hero Academia series, the lead character in My Hero Academia: Vigilantes feels very relatable. Many young adults will see themselves in Koichi’s experiences – whether it’s pursuing ambitious goals or dealing with everyday life like relationships, living with roommates, and going to college. Koichi is an ordinary person who’s aware of his limitations and works with them, making him much more like the average viewer. This relatability is a key part of his appeal and makes the spinoff feel grounded and realistic in a way the main series doesn’t.

3) Koichi Is Better: He Fits the Superhero Genre’s Underdog Stereotype More

Throughout Vigilantes, Koichi consistently feels like an ordinary person thrown into extraordinary circumstances, while Deku gradually becomes a more traditional hero. This makes Koichi a more natural fit to lead a superhero story – one focused on street-level heroes, much like both My Hero Academia and Vigilantes aim for. Both series frequently draw comparisons to Spider-Man, and clearly take inspiration from Marvel and DC. While Deku’s journey also features an underdog hero, Koichi’s role as a local hero dealing with smaller-scale problems makes him embody the spirit of characters like Spider-Man or Nightwing even more effectively.

2) Koichi Is Better: He’s More Resourceful

Koichi, unlike Deku, operates outside the legal system, forcing him to be incredibly clever and making his missions and battles more engaging. While Deku initially relies on strategy and analyzing his opponents to overcome his limitations, he increasingly solves problems with direct force. Although Koichi’s abilities may grow throughout Vigilantes, they aren’t as powerful as All For One’s, and he constantly faces the risk of being caught operating as a hero without proper authorization. This constant challenge pushes Koichi to be more innovative, making his successes feel particularly rewarding.

1) Deku Is Better: He’s an Inspiration, On-Screen and Off

While Koichi might be a stronger character in some ways, he doesn’t quite reach Deku’s level when it comes to inspiring people. Deku, the main character of My Hero Academia, accomplishes something incredible – he saves the world! – and that’s truly inspiring, even if it feels a little far-fetched. The other students in Class 1-A look up to him, and he motivates them to improve simply by being himself, which is what a hero should do. This makes Deku a very compelling character that viewers naturally want to support. It even outweighs the fact that he’s not always the most relatable or that he doesn’t always rely on his own skills later in the series.

Which main character do you prefer, Koichi or Deku? Share your thoughts in a comment below and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/list/4-my-hero-academia-episodes-to-rewatch-before-starting-vigilantes/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-22 06:40