Horikoshi might give My Hero Academia ending the Attack on Titan twist

Following chapter 424, it was confirmed that My Hero Academia would be coming to an end. However, the author has not disclosed the exact number of chapters remaining until the series reaches its destined conclusion.

The fandom’s reactions to the ending are varied, as expected. Some fans are hoping for an extensive exploration of the aftermath of the final war, while others simply desire a brief wrap-up of events and a glimpse into the future through a time skip spanning a couple of centuries.

Despite the author’s suggestion that the upcoming chapters may prolong the series, there is a possibility that My Hero Academia could take a cue from Attack on Titan and shock fans with an unexpected ending. While Kohei Horikoshi’s work may not be as dark and violent as Hajime Isayama’s masterpiece, it could still conclude with a similar message that humanity is incapable of changing.

This article includes spoilers from the My Hero Academia manga series.

Possible revised heading: Comparing the Possible Similar Themes in the Endings of My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan

Deku, as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

After the final war concluded, My Hero Academia chapter 424 showed a time skip of a few days. During this time, the heroes were focused on aiding civilians in rebuilding their homes and rescuing injured individuals. The chapter then focused on Bakugo, who decided to undergo therapy instead of using prosthetics to heal his severely injured hands.

Despite this, Midoriya disclosed that he still possessed remnants of One for All, indicating that they would all continue to evolve as heroes in the future. In the final panel of the chapter, Deku, now sporting his ultimate hairstyle, walked towards U.A. High with his fellow students. This culmination coincides with Kohei Horikoshi’s remarks about the upcoming chapters.

“Writing conventions say that the conclusion of a story should be short, but this is not the type of manga that can immediately end after the fighting is done, so I’ll keep going for a little while. We’re going back to the title.”

Deku with his endgame hairstyle (Image via Shueisha)

The author mentioned that the upcoming chapters would center around the ‘title.’ The series is titled My Hero Academia, suggesting that it will culminate in Deku and his classmates’ graduation from U.A. and their transformation into full-fledged heroes.

The concluding phase of My Hero Academia saw the emergence of fresh graduates entering the professional hero world, which was a flaw that the final war disregarded. The society of My Hero Academia was tainted by the corrupt professional hero ranking system, as evidenced by the actions of individuals like Stain and Endeavor.

Stain as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Stain infiltrated society as a villain with the intention of exposing the emptiness behind the title of ‘hero’. He held the belief that individuals are solely seeking fame and that this title serves as a means to increase their influence; the higher the title, the greater the influence, and vice versa.

He viewed All Might as the ‘chosen one,’ as he was the sole hero who prioritized the safety of citizens and was willing to sacrifice himself to defend them. Fortunately, he met a heroic end by aiding All Might in his battle against All for One.

Endeavor as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Despite pursuing the title of the number 1 hero, Enji Todoroki (hero name: Endeavor) was never able to surpass All Might, who held the top position. Eventually, he married Rei and their first son, Toya, was born. Tragically, Enji was involved in an accident and his overwhelming emotions led to him being presumed dead.

This had a profound impact on Endeavor’s mental state, leading him to become determined to mold his next child, Shoto Todoroki, into a worthy successor for the number one position. However, his harsh and abusive training caused Shoto to resent him and resulted in Rei experiencing a mental breakdown. As if things couldn’t get any worse, Toya resurfaced as the villain Dabi, with a strong determination to make his father pay for his past actions.

Despite the series’ consistent emphasis on the hero ranking system as a flawed and competitive approach, many viewers expected the ending of My Hero Academia to focus on its eradication. The climax of chapter 424, however, suggests that the system may continue, as it is ingrained in human nature to strive for competition and improvement.

Interestingly, a similar conclusion was already depicted in one of the most renowned anime series, Attack on Titan. Following the conclusion of the conflict between the Eldians and the Marleys which resulted in the death of Eren Yeager, the Eldians made efforts to establish peace with the Marleys. Luckily, their efforts were successful and peace was achieved.

The world of Attack on Titan falling apart after centuries of peace (Image via MAPPA)

Despite humans’ inability to let go of hatred, centuries later, a nuclear war occurred and wiped out all life. Nonetheless, a boy emerged from the aftermath and stood before the very tree where the first Titan, Ymir, had once appeared.

Despite the potential for a less grim and dark ending in My Hero Academia compared to Horikoshi’s writing style, the series may still share the common theme of portraying humans as fiercely competitive and always striving for excellence. Similar to blood, hatred will continue to exist within humanity.

Final Thoughts

Deku (left) and Eren (right) as seen in the anime (Image via Bones and MAPPA)

Both My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan have common elements that support this theory. In both series, one side (heroes and Eldians) battles against the other (villains and Marleys) in pursuit of their own interests (peace and freedom).

Both feature a protagonist who, at a crucial moment, transformed into a villain in order to defend their loved ones. Eren possessed all the powers of the Titans and employed them in battle against his enemies. Similarly, Deku unlocked the abilities of the past owners and engaged in combat against the opposing forces.

Despite being a mere speculation and not a definite prediction, there is a strong possibility that this theory holds truth, especially considering the striking similarities between the endings of My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan.