Horikoshi’s Struggle with Froppy in My Hero Academia and its Impact

The release date for chapter 422 of My Hero Academia has been confirmed for May 13, 2024. According to leaked spoilers, Froppy will make her long-awaited debut in the series. However, fans were left disappointed as her brief appearance did not fulfill their expectations of seeing Tsuyu on screen for a longer period of time.

The main focus of the chapter was Deku’s determined charge towards All for One, with the backing of all his fellow U.A. High School students. All Might was also present, declaring Izuku as the greatest hero in history and reminiscing about when he had no quirk.

Despite the final arc focusing on some previously overlooked students, Froppy stands out as the most underdeveloped character in the series. The author missed opportunities to fully utilize her potential, but given her increased involvement in a crucial point, it is likely that she will end the series as a supporting character.

Disclaimer: The contents of this article reflect the author’s personal opinions and may contain spoilers from chapter 422 of My Hero Academia.

Why My Hero Academia could end with Froppy as an underdeveloped character

Izuku Midoriya as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Based on the spoilers for chapter 422, the chapter began with Midoriya quickly approaching TomurAFO. Aizawa intended to request Shirakumo to open a portal for him, but he appeared to be exhausted. As a result, the teacher instructed all students to clear a path for Midoriya.

As Midoriya charged towards TomurAFO, the villain continued to launch attacks at him, but his classmates were able to deflect them. This made the villain realize how Midoriya’s weakness had transformed into his greatest strength, inspiring his peers to become stronger in the face of adversity.

Meanwhile, All Might was observed with injuries, recalling the moment when Midoriya compelled him to take action and save the day (the day Bakugo was attacked by the Sludge villain). As he witnessed all of his students banding together to support Midoriya, the Symbol of Peace couldn’t deny that Deku had become the greatest hero of all time in his eyes.

Tsuyu as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Fans of My Hero Academia were thrilled to see Tsuyu Asui (Froppy) make an appearance in the episode, as she is a beloved supporting character. However, her role in this chapter was limited to just 2-3 panels where she used her tongue to push Midoriya.

Fans were led to consider how the author, Kohei Horikoshi, did not fully utilize a fantastic character. In earlier parts of the series, Tsuyu had been given significant development in her personal episodes, which focused on her training with Pro hero Oki Mariner.

Despite being only 1-2 episodes in length, these episodes did not provide much opportunity for character development for the minor protagonist. This is understandable, but it has left fans disappointed with the lack of progression for one of their beloved characters throughout the series. As the series nears its conclusion, fans do not have high hopes for Tusyu to receive any significant amount of screen time.

Concluding remarks

U.A. High School faculty as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

It is not only Tsuyu who is underdeveloped in My Hero Academia, as the majority of class 1-A could be considered underdeveloped compared to the main trio (Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugo, and Shoto Todoroki).

Despite fans accusing Kohei Horikoshi of neglecting certain characters in the series, it was not surprising that all the supporting characters finally had their moment in chapter 419. Unfortunately, Midoriya’s continued fighting without his powers or any vestige meant that the side characters were unable to receive the recognition they deserved.