WARNING: The following contains spoilers for My Hero Academia Chapter #317, “Scars, Blood, Filth” by Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb Cook and John Hunt, available now in English from Viz Media.
Deku’s new costume in the My Hero Academia manga has continuously been looking worse for wear ever since he left U.A. Initially, the suit’s darker look was more reminiscent of a vigilante, carefully straddling the line between hero and villain. It may have been a bit unnerving but it clearly favored the hero side he belonged to. In Chapter #317, however, his outward appearance has deteriorated so much that he no longer bears any resemblance to a hero.
The reason Deku looks this way is no mystery. He’s remained on the move constantly to remain hidden from All For One and his many hired guns. He barely stops to rest and, as All Might noted, he hasn’t been eating. These precautions may seem a bit excessive, but they actually aren’t as All For One is currently in possession of Ragdoll’s Search Quirk. It was used on Deku before it was stolen, making All For One capable of locating Deku and One For All wherever they are. He hasn’t started pursuing Deku himself but since he could at any moment, the young hero feels he has no choice but to keep moving.
Staying on the run has taken its toll on Deku’s costume’s appearance. Apart from regular wear and tear, there’s also the damage caused by the odd villain he encounters. Although he’s beaten all of them so far, the effects of each battle remain. All the damage the suit has suffered is piling up, resulting in its current ragged, ominous-looking state.
Deku’s outward look also reflects his troubled inner state. Since the events of the Paranormal Liberation War, he hasn’t been able to catch a break. So many of his friends and loved ones were hurt during the villains’ attack and, since he left as soon as he was discharged, he still doesn’t know how they’re faring. He couldn’t even risk a proper goodbye for fear of endangering them.
It doesn’t help that All For One seems to be playing some kind of sick game with him -- one that forces Deku to distance himself from everyone close to him, even All Might, in an effort to protect them. He has made it clear he’s completely focused on bringing Deku down, sending challenge after challenge after the hero with the intent to break him. All For One even managed to sully the one moment with Lady Nagant where Deku was in his “saving people” element. These relentless attacks continue to weigh on his mind.
Trying to restore a semblance of peace in My Hero Academia's shattered hero society while dealing with so much emotional burden is running Deku ragged. Admirably, his spirit isn’t broken yet. He may not be the same bright-eyed kid he used to be but as evidenced by his efforts with Nagant, his core beliefs remain unshaken. Also, despite his fearsome appearance, word continues to spread that he’s actually on the side of good. He may have a tough journey ahead of him but he’s resigned to go it alone if need be, and he just may come out on top.
