WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission, now in theaters.
The smash-hit new My Hero Academia movie, World Heroes' Mission, is another exciting addition to the MHA universe, and this time, Class 1-A is going global in its effort to save the world from evil. Most Class 1-A students are in the middle of work studies, meaning they're on the front lines when the sinister Humarise threatens all Quirk-bearing people around the world.
Izuku Midoriya and his rivals, Shoto Todoroki and Katsuki Bakugo, confront the threat directly in the small nation of Otheon, risking their lives to take down Humarise's three best fighters -- including the boss, Flect Turn. All three characters fought incredible battles, but some were slightly better than others. Let's rank and discuss each one.
Shoto Todoroki's Incredible Talent & Grit Shone Vs Leviathan
Shoto Todoroki was born gifted thanks to his parents' Quirk marriage, but he still had room to grow and develop as a hero -- especially in terms of his relationship to the fire half of his Quirk. Shoto isn't invincible or overpowered after all, and his struggle against Humarise in World Heroes' Mission reaffirmed that. He and Bakugo easily backed up Izuku against Beros and Shidero, but then Shoto had to fight the huge, water-loving villain Leviathan alone.
Fire and ice could only do so much against Leviathan's merciless rotating water currents, and Shoto had to dig deep to find the strength and resolve to go Plus Ultra, going beyond his raw talent to find a route to victory. This scene was more of the same where Shoto is concerned but exciting nonetheless. Even Todoroki can still surprise MHA audiences at times by relying on his grit and willpower -- not just genetic gifts -- to win.
Izuku Vs Flect Turn Decides The Entire World Heroes' Mission War
The My Hero Academia star himself, Izuku Midoriya fought more than a few battles during World Heroes' Mission, and his final challenge pitted him against Humarise's sinister boss, Flect Turn. As his name suggests, Flect Turn can reflect and redirect enemy Quirks and energy with his defensive Quirk, and his villain costume includes an array of mirrors to that effect. Izuku struggled repeatedly to take down Flect Turn with the full power of One For All, and it seemed hopeless for a while.
After enduring a horrific beating from his own power, Izuku went Plus Ultra and soared beyond the limits of Flect's Quirk, demolishing the villain with an all-new move: United States of World Smash. This is really just a scaled-up version of what Izuku has done many times before, but given the stakes, Flect's incredible power and the symbolic importance of this new move's name, Izuku's sensational fight with Flect Turn was World Heroes' Mission's second-best.
Katsuki Bakugo Vs Serpenters Was Full Of Surprises & Thrills
Izuku's #1 rival, Katsuki Bakugo, is in a similar position as Shoto in My Hero Academia -- he may have serious raw talent with his Quirk, but he won't coast on it. Bakugo has a surprisingly resourceful and clever mind to back up his power, which took his enemies by surprise in Season 5's Joint Training arc. In World Heroes' Mission, Bakugo went up against the twin villains Serpenters, two men who can create long, bladed cords from their bodies to slash and grab their enemies. Their mobility and blades made them a tough challenge for Bakugo, and then they boosted themselves with a drug to overwhelm him with unnatural Quirk strength.
Bakugo fought back with careful planning, patience and sheer explosive power, shocking the Serpenters and viewers alike when he brought a stone pillar down on his enemy with strategically-placed grenades. He then set off a massively powerful Howitzer Impact to finish the fight with his largest explosion ever. Bakugo has it all: intense drive, smarts, talent and firepower. Not even a drug-enhanced villain could stand up to his own brand of Plus Ultra, and MHA: World Heroes' Mission proved what an incredible rival he is for Izuku and Shoto alike.
