All For One: Not My Hero Academia’s Most Notorious Villain

Since the conclusion of the My Hero Academia manga, fans have had time to digest the series wrap-up. In the online discourse surrounding its ending, opinions vary on whether it was satisfactory or fell short. Regardless of individual perspectives, there is a substantial argument to be made that the finale compromised the integrity of All For One’s character throughout the narrative.

Once hailed as the epitome of villainy within the series, All For One’s portrayal in the concluding chapters shifted our understanding of him. Surprisingly, many now contend that there are three other villains whose malevolence surpasses his own within this expansive universe.

Note: This article contains My Hero Academia manga spoilers and represents the author’s viewpoint.

Why All For One Isn’t the Most Malevolent Villain in My Hero Academia

All For One depicted in the My Hero Academia anime (Image via BONES)

To fans of My Hero Academia, All For One stands as the primary antagonist of the saga. His actions have led to countless deaths and inflicted widespread pain over many years. His malevolence dates back even to his mother’s pregnancy, during which he siphoned nutrients from his sibling, Yoichi.

Further exacerbating his villainy, All For One murdered his brother and systematically targeted almost every user of the One For All quirk. Moreover, he traumatized the young Tenko Shimura by orchestrating his life to ensure it ended in tragedy. This culminated in Tenko being forced to kill his own family, rendering him homeless, all while All For One manipulated him to fulfill his own ambitions, adopting him as his surrogate son, Shigaraki Tomura, in an attempt to emerge as an eternal Demon Lord.

Yoichi from My Hero Academia anime (Image via BONES)

These deeds could certainly qualify All For One as the series’ most sinister villain, were it not for the revelations in the manga’s conclusion. It was revealed that beneath his vile exterior lay a man who yearned for love and connection with his brother. His relentless pursuit of the One For All quirk was, in essence, a misguided hope to reconnect with Yoichi through the remnants of their shared legacy.

Dark Might from My Hero Academia: You're Next (Image via BONES) — Dark Might from My Hero Academia: You’re Next (Image via BONES)

Contrastingly, there exist villainous characters who embody greater evil than All For One: Dark Might, Kuin Hachisuka, and Flect Turn.

Dark Might serves as a dark mirror to All Might, displaying a stark opposite nature. He callously murdered his father after receiving criticism about his potential, leading to a massacre at the Scervino mansion. His disregard for human life extended to his subordinates, who faced lethal consequences for the slightest infractions.

Like Hachisuka from My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (Image via Shueisha)

His ambitions included crumbling U.A. High School merely to avenge himself against All Might, as he aimed to impersonate him and dominate society like a crime lord, affirming his position as one of the most ruthless characters in the franchise.

Kuin Hachisuka, a villain from My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, although not as prominent as All For One or Dark Might, exhibited an even darker nature. She deliberately infected civilians, inciting chaos among them, while also attempting to manipulate Stain into committing murder against teenagers, which posed an existential threat to Koichi’s life. Remarkably, her actions stemmed not from a tragic history but rather from a pure, unadulterated enjoyment of malice.

Flect Turn from the anime (Image via BONES)

As for Flect Turn, a notable figure from My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission, he pursued a genocidal ideology rooted in the Quirk Singularity Doomsday Theory, advocating for the complete eradication of Quirks. His merciless approach meant that he was willing to eliminate not only Quirk users but also quirkless individuals, aiming to slaughter a staggering 80% of the global populace. Despite possessing a heartbreaking backstory, the extremity of his goals positions him among the ranks of villains surpassing All For One in evil.

This perspective solidifies the notion that, despite All For One’s role as a primary villain, his actions and motives don’t necessarily align with the pure malevolence exhibited by other characters in the My Hero Academia universe.

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