In the latest installment of My Hero Academia, chapter 421, the remaining heroes face off against All For One in what appears to be the series’ ultimate showdown. Despite having nothing left to do but put all their efforts into defeating this powerful villain, Sero, a relatively minor character in the series, manages to have a comical interaction with All For One.
As All For One came to the realization in My Hero Academia chapter 421 that his brother Yoichi had passed away in the vestige world, he was faced with the difficult reality of losing his sibling after tirelessly searching for him. As the villain speaks about the impact of tragedy in shaping and fortifying individuals, Sero expresses his inability to understand, ultimately bringing an end to All For One’s contemplation.
This article includes spoilers for the series.
Sero’s mockery of the tragic backstory trope in My Hero Academia chapter 421
In My Hero Academia chapter 421, All For One engaged in a battle against the few remaining heroes. It was during this fight that he discovered his brother Yoichi had perished in the vestige world while Deku transferred One For All to Tomura Shigaraki. As he grappled with the death of his brother, someone he had been pursuing for years, Sero remarked that he could not fully understand All For One’s idea of tragedy and how it could make people stronger.
Despite being added by author Kohei Horikoshi as a way to contrast and compare the main villain’s life with a character who has had a minor role, the moment has mostly been perceived as comedic. The irony lies in the fact that, out of all the characters remaining on the battlefield, it was Sero who had the audacity to talk down to All For One in such a dire situation.
This moment could also serve as a reminder that tragic backstories are not always a defining factor, and that not everyone has experienced a major negative event that has greatly influenced their life. Sero, for the most part, represents the average person who may not be able to single-handedly save the day, but still strives to do their best.
What is going to happen in the coming chapters?
The events from the previous chapter of My Hero Academia are continued in chapter 421, where Sero and other secondary characters are still fighting against All For One as Shota Aizawa searches for additional heroes to aid Deku. Despite the significant difference in power, the recent chapter also portrays these characters successfully holding their own against All For One.
It has been confirmed by Deku that he no longer possesses One For All and only retains the last remnants of its power, similar to All Might’s situation at the start of the story. This implies that Deku will utilize the remaining power to defeat All For One and ultimately become quirkless, providing a circular conclusion for the protagonist in the series.
Reflections
Despite Sero’s mocking tone, he was actually addressing the concept of tragic backstories while speaking to All For One in My Hero Academia chapter 421. Horikoshi likely intended to portray the idea that not everyone has a tragic past, but the context made it come across as comedic.
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