My Hero Academia’s extended epilogue disappointed fans – again!

My Hero Academia wasn’t just a popular shonen – it was a global phenomenon. With over 85 million manga copies sold worldwide (as of 2023), a globally popular anime adaptation, and a dedicated fan base, it established itself as one of the defining franchises of its era. As the final storylines unfolded, expectations rose as fans waited for a conclusion that would deliver on the promises made. Unfortunately, the first epilogue fell flat and left many unanswered questions.

As a result, Kohei Horikoshi, My Hero Academias mangaka, surprised fans with the news that the release of the manga’s final volume would include an extended epilogue. That gave fans hope. It felt like a second chance to fix what went wrong the first time. Unfortunately, the expanded epilogue did not resolve the original’s core deficiencies, but instead made them worse by duplicating superficial premise and missed opportunities. From mishandled character arcs to ignored thematic promises, MHAs The deal failed spectacularly – not once, but twice.

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Shigaraki’s death is still disappointing

A tragic villain reduced to a flat finale

Tomura Shigaraki was a complex antagonist whose character arc was built on a foundation of tragedy and inner conflict. From his abusive childhood to his complicated relationship with All for One, Shigaraki’s journey had the potential to culminate in either redemption or a tragic downfall that really got to the heart of his complexity. Instead, his death was expanded upon by a single page in the afterword, adding nothing new to his story.

Instead of giving Shigaraki a moment of clarity, confrontation, or even a frightening final act of defiance, the epilogue settled on the same monotonous portrayal of him as a murderous villain. This robbed his character of depth and turned what might have been a forgettable denouement into a disappointing effervescence. The lack of exploration of his internal struggle left readers wondering why his arc was introduced with so much emotional weight in the first place.

Izuku Midoriya became a hero in name only

Deku remained a passive hero

Izuku’s journey should be a shining example of what it truly means to be a hero. However, he remained frustratingly passive throughout MHA – and particularly in the epilogue. The extended epilogue did nothing to solve this recurring problem. His progress as a hero was often marked by events beyond his control: he received One for All from All Might, was constantly saved by his classmates, and even the final upgrade to his hero suit was driven by Bakugo and others.

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While Izuku’s acceptance of his new suit in the epilogue and his tears of joy showed that he had returned to the desire to be a hero, there was no real growth or self-reflection in that moment. The defining trait of his character – waiting for others to act before him – remained intact. The potential to show him taking on a more proactive and independent role as a hero was completely wasted, leaving his arc feeling hollow.

Ochako’s regression to the romantic stereotype

Uraraka became another female supporting character

Ochako Uraraka was intended to be one of MHA’s standout female characters, balancing her romantic feelings for Izuku with her desire to develop into a more than capable heroine. Unfortunately, the epilogue once again reduced her to a love interest and ignored her heroic ambitions and individual achievements. The extended epilogue disappointingly made this regression even worse. Her final interaction with Toga, which could have provided some emotional closure or thematic depth, ended with Toga pushing Ochako toward Izuku in a blush-inducing moment of romantic tension.

Even Ochako’s previous “bond” with Toga revolved around their shared romantic struggles, turning what could have been a profound connection into a superficial discussion about boys. Ochako’s “screentime” in the epilogue failed to give her significant recognition for her achievements as a heroine and even deprived her of a pro-hero spot. Her potential to shine independently was overshadowed by a narrative that prioritized romance over her individual development.

Major MHA plot threads remain unresolved

MHA fans had more questions than answers

The epilogue provided the perfect opportunity to address some of MHA’s remaining storylines, but instead Kohei Horikoshi chose to ignore them completely. The Quirk Singularity Doomsday – a concept that has been touted throughout the manga as a possible apocalyptic event threatening hero society – has been completely abandoned. Its absence left a gaping hole in the overall story, as it was portrayed as a critical issue that the heroes and society at large would have to deal with at some point.

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Likewise, the flawed hero ranking system – a symbol of the corruption and performative nature of heroism – remained unchallenged. This system, which has been criticized many times throughout history, is still celebrated without any reflection or reform. The extended epilogue could have explored how society could rebuild and redefine heroism after everything that happened, but instead chose to wrap things up with superficial emotional beats that ultimately add nothing to the story.

MHA’s extended epilogue was another disappointment

A lack of emotional or thematic resolution

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the epilogue is that it failed to live up to the emotional and thematic promises of the manga. MHA positioned itself as a story that questions and deconstructs the idea of ​​what it means to be a hero. In the end, however, the status quo was reaffirmed without any criticism. It’s like the manga forgot about that My Hero Academia was an exploration of the moral gray area between heroism and villainy. This is what made fans fall in love with shonen from the start, and the fact that the epilogue barely touches on this will forever be a disappointment.

What the extended epilogue does instead is double down on the safe, conventional solution and ignore all the deep questions raised in many chapters. Moments like Izuku and Ochako’s handshake, which was meant to symbolize unity and hope, felt hollow, lacking any meaningful character development or thematic depth. The extended epilogue did little to show how the characters or society evolved after such a catastrophic conflict. Instead, it relied on superficial gestures and fan service, which left many readers dissatisfied.

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My Hero AcademiaThe Epilogue didn’t just fumble once – it fumbled twice. By ignoring unresolved plot threads, reinforcing the passivity of its protagonist, and reducing the female protagonist to a romantic motif, the extended epilogue fails to make up for the manga’s rushed conclusion. What could have been a moment to cement shonen’s legacy instead serves as a reminder of its unfulfilled potential. That cannot be denied MHA Although this film made an impact during its runtime, its ending will forever be remembered as one of the greatest missed opportunities in shonen manga.

Now, MHAThe legacy lies in the hands of its anime adaptation. With the anime’s final season looming, fans are wondering if the adaptation can address the manga’s shortcomings and provide the resolution it failed to provide. Will Season 8 be about “third time’s the charm” and weave the manga’s many loose threads into a cohesive and satisfying conclusion? Or will it simply double down on the same missteps and cement the Epilogue as an irredeemable failure? Either way, the pressure is on MHA to prove that the story can really deliver what it promises.

My Hero Academia

First film

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes

Latest film

My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission

First TV show

My Hero Academia

First episode air date

April 3, 2016

Pour

Daiki Yamashita, Justin Briner, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Clifford Chapin, Ayane Sakura, Yuki Kaji

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