My Hero Academia Officially Confirms the Series’ Worst Villain — & It’s Exactly Who You Expected

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I’ve noticed this series really draws inspiration from both classic Japanese action stories and American comics. It often feels like it’s ready to tell a story reminiscent of something you’d see in Superman or The Avengers, but always with a uniquely Japanese flavor. Because of this, fans are expecting villains that feel like they stepped out of a comic book – not just in how they look with cool costumes and powers, but also in their personalities. When you think of a typical comic book villain, someone like Cobra Commander from G.I. Joe or Sabertooth from X-Men comes to mind – a larger-than-life, dramatically evil character whose main purpose is to challenge the heroes.

The series My Hero Academia tried to create truly frightening villains, but characters like Muscular and Rappa felt too weak to be truly intimidating. Even Overhaul didn’t quite reach that level, but All For One did. Despite a recent flashback showing a more vulnerable side in Season 8, All For One remains the closest My Hero Academia has to a classic, over-the-top comic book villain – which was the goal. That flashback was likely the last chance to make him somewhat relatable, and it’s actually a relief to see him return to being a purely frightening figure.

All For One’s Backstory is MHA’s Darkest Villain Origin Story

The concept of All For One always being evil isn’t new – that’s how he first appeared in Season 3’s fight in Kamino Ward. Fans of My Hero Academia have always seen him as a purely terrifying villain, but some have wondered if he used to be different. It might seem ridiculous to imagine him being born with evil intentions, but recent flashbacks have confirmed that’s exactly how it was. From childhood onward, he consistently viewed the world through a lens of violence, control, selfishness, and exploitation – he was simply born to be a villain.

For a long time, the earliest established part of All For One’s history showed him as an adult forcing a power-boosting Quirk onto his brother, Yoichi, which unintentionally created One For All. This meant his childhood was the only time left where he might have shown any goodness. However, recent flashbacks in Season 8, specifically the episode “Quirk: Explosion!!”, revealed that even as a child, All For One was already evil, eliminating any possibility of a kind past.

All For One has always been consumed by darkness, a trait evident throughout his entire life, even impacting his mother. She was among the first people born with a Quirk and faced hardship on the streets before giving birth to twin sons and tragically passing away soon after. From the very beginning, All For One was selfish and exploitative, believing he was entitled to take whatever he wanted from others. He was essentially born a villain, never experiencing a moment of innocence. The anime adaptation of My Hero Academia amplifies this darkness, with subtitles emphasizing that All For One was arrogant even as a toddler. While unusual even for a superhero anime, My Hero Academia‘s version portrays him as an inherently evil child.

Even villains who are incredibly cruel sometimes have moments hinting at a difficult past or innocence, not to excuse their actions, but to add complexity. The My Hero Academia manga explored this with the character All For One, portraying his childhood as incredibly harsh. He received no kindness or support, leading him to believe force was the only way to get what he needed, even from his own family. This doesn’t make All For One sympathetic or redeem him, but it does offer a contrasting glimpse of vulnerability. However, the anime version presents All For One as purely evil, removing any suggestion of a troubled background.

All For One’s Origin Story Sets Him Apart From His More Sympathetic Minions

A good superhero story can’t rely solely on villains who are simply born evil and exist only to create conflict. While some purely destructive villains like Muscular and the Eight Bullets are acceptable, My Hero Academia benefits from a mix of characters. Having both sympathetic and unsympathetic villains creates a compelling dynamic, making the more relatable villains seem potentially redeemable, especially when contrasted with the overarching threat of All For One. A villain who is purely evil can feel unbelievable, while a sympathetic one might not feel powerful enough. My Hero Academia is successfully balancing these two types of villains, creating a richer and more engaging story.

Previous seasons of My Hero Academia distinguished sympathetic villains from All For One by contrasting his grandiose, villainous persona. However, learning about All For One’s own difficult past truly highlights the difference. It’s one thing to see how childhood trauma shaped villains like Dabi and Himiko Toga, but if fans can compare their beginnings to All For One’s, it makes those sympathetic villains even more compelling. While all these characters are antagonists now because of their choices, their childhoods reveal where they fundamentally diverged. Characters like Himiko faced hardship because society couldn’t accept her unique abilities, but All For One always seemed inherently monstrous.

Previously, viewers of My Hero Academia might have quickly dismissed the villains as simply criminals, even after learning about their difficult pasts. However, understanding All For One’s own tragic history makes it easier to empathize with characters like Himiko Toga and see their vulnerability. This applies to other antagonists like Dabi, Twice, and Spinner, who have all been shown to suffer from family problems or societal issues. Essentially, My Hero Academia needed to establish All For One as truly evil in order for its other villains to become more relatable or seem deserving of a chance at redemption.

All For One is a Refreshing Villain Fans Love to Hate

I’ve been thinking about the villains in My Hero Academia, and it’s really interesting how they’ve handled them. It’s not just that sympathetic villains like Himiko Toga are engaging—though they totally are!—but the really evil guy, All For One, actually benefits from their existence too. It’s almost a surprise to see a villain who’s just purely bad, and fans really respond to that! Honestly, I think good storytelling needs that mix of good and evil. It makes heroes feel more real when they have flaws, and it makes villains more compelling when you see their humanity. My Hero Academia does a great job with that balance, but you know what? Sometimes, a part of me just wants a classic heroes-versus-villains showdown—a clear line between good and evil. Most anime avoid that simplicity, and usually for good reason, but a little bit of that straightforward conflict can be super satisfying!

While anime like My Hero Academia often moves away from simple good versus evil storylines, embracing complexity and challenging tropes, it’s also incredibly satisfying to see a classic hero-villain showdown. The complete story of All For One, from his origins to his ultimate defeat by Katsuki Bakugo, delivers exactly that – a clear case of pure evil finally getting what it deserves after relentlessly tormenting the heroes. This kind of straightforward conflict is rare in the series, and that’s what makes Season 8 of My Hero Academia so unique and enjoyable. For once, the main villain is truly a monstrous, irredeemable force, making the battles feel epic and allowing fans to wholeheartedly root for his destruction. The usual shades of gray took a backseat, letting viewers simply celebrate the downfall of someone beyond saving.

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2025-10-27 03:44