5 Manga Endings That Surpass the Finale of My Hero Academia (& 5 That Fall Short)

Despite being the final chapter of a long-running series, the ending of My Hero Academia has sparked debate among fans about its impact on the overall legacy of the story. Whether it enhances the characters’ development or casts a shadow on the series, manga endings have the power to leave a lasting impression on readers.

Overall, opinions on the ending of the manga are divided. While some fans believe it ended strongly, others think it fell short, and some remain undecided. However, where does it rank compared to other manga conclusions?

No matter if they exceeded expectations or fell short, these manga endings left a lasting impact on the manga community. Here are five manga endings that surpass the My Hero Academia finale—and five that pale in comparison.

Top 5 Manga Endings Better Than My Hero Academia

Fullmetal Alchemist

Elric Edward as seen in anime (Image via Studio Bones)

Similarly to My Hero Academia, the protagonist loses his primary powers at the end, making it the most obvious comparison to draw.

The conclusion of Arakawa’s Fullmetal Alchemist effectively ties up all loose ends, providing a complex and meaningful narrative for each character. The resolution of the Elric brothers’ journey is emotionally resonant, expertly balancing elements of action, drama, and sentiment.

On the contrary, the conclusion of My Hero Academia has received criticism for hastily portraying crucial events and leaving some character arcs underdeveloped.

Anime

2) Naruto
Anime

The ending of Naruto effectively conveyed a sense of completeness and resolution that resonated with its fans. It was emotionally fulfilling and thematically cohesive, as Naruto’s journey from an isolated outsider to becoming the Hokage fulfilled his lifelong aspirations.

The ultimate confrontation with Sasuke concluded their tumultuous and complex relationship while also highlighting the central themes of the series: loyalty, determination, and second chances.

Although My Hero Academia effectively conveyed themes of heroism, it did not offer the same level of closure as the finale of Naruto. This puts Naruto ahead as one of the manga endings that surpassed My Hero Academia.

Attack On Titan

Mikasa Ackerman as seen in anime (Image via MAPPA)

Despite its initial controversy, the ending of Attack on Titan has gained a newfound appreciation among fans as they have recognized the depth and symbolism behind Isayama’s decisions.

The ending of Attack on Titan surpasses that of My Hero Academia because it provides a profound sense of closure to its characters and the many themes and transformations they undergo. Through its expertly crafted storyline, Attack on Titan challenges the audience’s understanding of freedom and sacrifice at its very essence.

Despite the haunting yet fitting final transformation of Eren into the last antagonist and the depiction of humanity’s futile attempts to overcome its nature in the ending, My Hero Academia falls short in properly addressing its central themes. As a result, Attack on Titan stands out with its superior manga ending compared to the disappointment of My Hero Academia’s.

Mob Psycho 100

Shigeo Kageyama as seen in anime (Image via Studio Bones)

The conclusion of Mob Psycho 100 was particularly impactful in its emotional and thematic execution. While the ending of My Hero Academia focused on grand action, the finale of Mob Psycho 100 chose to delve deeper into introspection and the importance of personal development and meaningful connections rather than relying solely on spectacle.

Despite Shigeo Kageyama’s incredible psychic abilities, the story ultimately focused on his journey towards self-awareness, resulting in a more nuanced and authentic ending that left a lasting impact.

Despite its unconventional ending, My Hero Academia falls short in comparison to Mob Psycho 100, which successfully wraps up its storyline with significant character development. This makes it one of the few manga endings that surpasses that of My Hero Academia.

Death Note

Light Yagami as seen in anime (Image via Madhouse)

The conclusion of Death Note has a greater impact compared to My Hero Academia due to its intense and psychologically-driven ending. The poetic downfall of Light Yagami, which was foreshadowed throughout the series, leads to a thrilling chase between him and Near, highlighting the themes of justice and morality present in the show.

Despite My Hero Academia’s lack of effort in making its final episodes stand out, Death Note’s conclusion was thought-provoking and left a lasting impression, solidifying it as one of the better manga endings.

Comparing the Endings of Tokyo Revengers and 4 Other Manga to My Hero Academia

Bleach

Ichigo Kurosaki as seen in anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Despite any dislike for the My Hero Academia finale, the ending of the Bleach manga is considerably worse as it ends abruptly and without proper closure. It abruptly concludes without adequately explaining the final battle against Yhwach and leaves many character arcs unresolved, while also disregarding important plot points.

Mangaka Tite Kubo’s lack of time to properly conclude his series is widely acknowledged. This resulted in great disappointment among fans, as both the intricate plot and well-developed characters deserved a more satisfactory ending. As a result, Bleach’s ending has been criticized as inferior to that of My Hero Academia.

fat

Kei Kurono as seen in manga (Image via Young Jump)

Despite years of plot development and intense action, Gantz’s finale has been met with heavy criticism, mainly for being unsatisfying and deemed worse than the finale of My Hero Academia. Many viewers were left with numerous unanswered questions and incomplete character arcs due to the rushed and confusing conclusion.

Despite the strong buildup and potential for redemption, the rushed resolution ultimately leaves fans feeling unsatisfied and cheated. This ultimately places Gantz’s ending below that of My Hero Academia in terms of quality.

The Promised Neverland

Emma as seen in anime (Image via CloverWorks)

Despite its powerful opening, full of tense psychological battles and high-stakes survival, The Promised Neverland ultimately came to an abrupt end, leaving many unresolved plot points.

The change from suspenseful plot lines to a fantastical and overly convenient ending was a disappointment for fans, who were hoping for a more confusingly complex and emotionally rich closure.

Despite its imperfect ending, My Hero Academia still managed to provide a cohesive wrap-up to the character arcs and overall story. As a result, The Promised Neverland’s manga ending is perceived as inferior to that of My Hero Academia’s.

Fairy Tail

Dragneel Natsu as seen in anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Despite both being disappointing, the conclusion of My Hero Academia is still marginally better than that of Fairy Tail. While both series suffer from overused resolutions and relying on the overused trope of friendship, Fairy Tail’s final battle is particularly repetitive and lacks authentic tension as the characters once again resort to the power of friendship in a predictable and unearned manner.

Furthermore, a multitude of plot points and character arcs are left unresolved or quickly concluded, resulting in a lack of satisfaction for readers. This makes Fairy Tail’s conclusions more underwhelming compared to those of My Hero Academia.

TV Show Recommendation: Tokyo Revengers

Hanagaki Takemichi as seen in anime (Image via LIDENFILMS)

Despite the well-executed time travel and character-driven drama that had potential from the very beginning, the conclusion of the Tokyo Revengers manga faced significant backlash for its convoluted and overly complicated ending. As the story progressed towards its final chapters, the momentum that had been present throughout the series seemed to falter.

The text’s abrupt plot twists and hurried resolution of various timelines resulted in a dull reading experience. On the other hand, My Hero Academia’s conclusion, though not flawless, brought a sense of closure for most of the characters.

Despite the rushed execution of some beats, at least this led to a more cohesive resolution in contrast to Tokyo Revengers, whose final arc was a chaotic mess, placing it among the list of worst manga endings.

Final thoughts

Manga endings carry great significance, as they have the power to either enhance or diminish a series’s overall impact. While My Hero Academia’s ending was not flawless, it did provide some form of resolution, something that numerous other series have failed to achieve.

Despite the ongoing debate among fans regarding Horikoshi’s pacing and Deku’s character development, it is important to acknowledge and value the series as a whole. While some may argue that the ending did not satisfy as much as other popular series such as Edward and Shigeo, Deku’s journey will always hold a special place in our memories.