Since its first episode aired in May 2018, My Hero Academia has earned a huge number of fans. Its popularity has only grown with each subsequent season, and sales of the manga regularly surpass Western comics or other popular Japanese releases. With the imminent upcoming adaptation of the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, fans are always eager for more.
But nothing is perfect and Kohei Horikoshi’s manga is no different. The approach taken by the author hasn't always been well-received. Its popularity has often been a mixed blessing, as many details have caused extreme backlash. Watching My Hero Academia can be a rewarding experience but it also comes with some unfortunate effects.
10 Fans May Like Secondary Characters More Than The Protagonist
It’s not unusual for shonen protagonists to be the target of criticism. The main character of My Hero Academia, Izuku Midoriya, has won over numerous fans with his brave smile and unique temperament. But almost as many people consider him weak for his tendency to cry quickly and his inability to master his powerful Quirk, One For All.
There is a strong part of the fandom that believes All Might should have made Mirio Togata, not Izuku, his successor. The diversity of My Hero Academia's cast has offered viewers other characters to root for. Many prefer Izuku's friend Shoto Todoroki or his rival Katsuki Bakugo over Izuku himself.
9 The Female Characters Aren't Always As Well-Developed As They Should Be
While the cast may include a wide variety of characters, the balance is visibly skewed in favor of males. In both heroic classes at U.A., there are far more boys than there are girls. What's worse is that the development of female characters isn't always well-done.
Fans have been unhappy with Ochako Uraraka's romantic attachment to Izuku, for example, preferring her to pursue heroics independently. An even more concerning detail is the fate of many female characters. The first character to actually die on screen in My Hero Academia is transgender female villain Magne and several other female characters meet similar fates.
8 Minoru Mineta's Presence Still Causes A Lot Of Controversy
My Hero Academia's treatment of women isn't poor just because of their injuries. Class 1-A's Minoru Mineta has always been the most hated character in the series. More of a caricature than anything else, he has very few heroic traits, and his only interest seems to be attracting women.
His incorrigible perverted nature has made many female characters uncomfortable. While he's always punished for it, many fans would happily see him expelled. Better yet, he could be replaced with the far more likable Hitoshi Shinsou.
7 Many Fans Don't Appreciate Katsuki Bakugou's Character
Katsuki Bakugo is another problematic character who comes with a fair amount of controversy. During the first arc of the series, he's practically the antagonist. He viciously bullies Izuku, physically assaults him, and even suggests Izuku should end his life.
His character undergoes a gradual change throughout the series, and he grows a lot. All Might’s fall is a particularly hard blow for him. He eventually even apologizes to Izuku in a soul-crushing moment of confrontation. But many fans still don’t appreciate his character and think there should have been more serious consequences for his actions, beyond a simple apology.
6 Endeavor's Redemption Arc Is Another Huge Point Of Contention
Another hero with a less-than-ideal background, Endeavor comes into the story of My Hero Academia as Shoto Todoroki's abusive father. His actions following All Might's retirement hasn't always been well-received: The incident causes him to have an epiphany and he tries to make amends with his family.
But his decision doesn't change his actions or their aftermath. His single-minded determination to surpass All Might indirectly led to his oldest son Toya becoming the villain Dabi. His wife has a psychotic breakdown and assaults their son, Shoto.
5 Kyudai Garaki's Name Has Caused A Big Scandal
All For One's right-hand man and the mad inventor of the nomu, Kyudai Garaki was originally named Maruta Shiga. After his true name reveal, there was a great deal of backlash. The name Maruta, which means "log" in Japanese, was the term used by the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731 for its test subjects in World War II.
The name Kyudai Garaki also seems to have potential problematic connotations. The word Kyudai is pronounced just like the abbreviation for Kyushu Daigaku, known in English as Kyushu University, and the site of Kyushu University Live Dissection Incidents, which took place in 1945.
4 The Fandom Can Be Very Aggressive, Even With The Creator
My Hero Academia's fandom is known for being very aggressive and there have been many online attacks against the creator. Unsurprisingly, fans commonly engage in flame wars online and fan debates can get incredibly contentious.
Many are incredibly passionate about the ships they favor for each character, while others see shipping most My Hero Academia characters as problematic due to their young age. All things considered, the My Hero Academia fandom has earned the unfortunate title of being one of the most toxic anime fandoms ever.
3 The Most Interesting Details From The Manga Are Often Spoiled
With so many people being so involved in the flow of events, there are always plenty of fans who read the manga and also watch the anime. No matter how much one may try to not run into spoilers, developments in My Hero Academia always make the news.
People who are passionate about the anime but haven't read the manga are liable to find out what happens. Sometimes, it's a good thing, but a lot of anime viewers don't appreciate spoilers and would rather wait. Recent examples include the identity of the U.A. traitor and the developments in the Paranormal Liberation War.
2 Fans Haven't Always Been Thrilled With The Anime Adaptation
The My Hero Academia anime might be why its fandom is so large, but paradoxically, viewers haven't always been thrilled with the way it compares to the manga. The My Villain Academia arc in Season Five is a notable example. There were massive changes to the content, most notably the absence of conflict with the Creature Rejection Clan and the absence of Spinner's backstory.
The order of events was also shuffled around. Some fans speculate that this may be due to the release of My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission. Either way, not everyone has been on board with the creative choices, and many feel some important details have been lost in translation.
1 Some Dubbed Voices Leave A Lot To Be Desired
Arguing whether the subtitled or dubbed version of an anime is superior is an age-old conflict in anime fandoms. While some dubs are excellent, others don't do the show justice. In many ways, My Hero Academia falls in the latter category. Some of the dubbed voices aren't well-suited to the characters, with Dabi being an excellent example.
The Japanese voice actor brings the aloof but psychotic villain to life much better. Another more unusual case is All Might. The character's American education is often a source of humor in the anime, and this subtle detail is lost in the dub.
