On August 4, 2024, the final chapter of My Hero Academia was published, putting an end to Deku’s amazing journey. This monumental event was celebrated by the author, Kohei Horikoshi, on the cover of volume #42 of the manga series. This illustration is an homage to the first-ever cover of the franchise, in which All Might stood proudly above Deku, signifying the beginning of his story.

The cover for volume 42 placed Izuku in the place of his idol, recognizing him as the number one hero, his lifelong dream. Yet, the cover also hides another detail that could hint at a sequel being in the works, with a completely new protagonist. Dai, the student encouraged by Deku during chapter 430, was depicted in Midoriya’s previous position, suggesting that he could be the hero of a new manga.

Dai’s Could Become Deku’s Successor

Their Story Arcs Seem To Mirror Each Other

During the events of My Hero Academia chapter 430, Dai, a fervent hero fan who was first introduced in chapter 258, was shown struggling with his dreams of becoming a hero. Despite wanting to follow in the footsteps of his idols more than anything, he doubted his capacity to achieve such a feat, as his Quirk was not deemed powerful enough by his classmates. Unlike Deku or Endeavor, heroes with some of the strongest special powers in My Hero Academia, Dai could only throw disk-like objects from his hair.

His quest for answers led him to the All Might Memorial statue, where he had a fortuitous encounter with Deku. The two had a brief but significant conversation, one that directly referenced Midoriya’s talk with Toshinori in chapter #1. Nonetheless, instead of telling the hero that his mission was impossible, Deku encouraged Dai to chase his dream. During this moment, Izuku was able to tell his fans the words that he longed to hear for most of his life. The series then went on to hint at Dai ing U.A., maybe even becoming one of Deku’s students.

This small but powerful moment was a loving homage to the beginning of the series, with Dai taking Deku’s place. Still, unlike the protagonist of My Hero Academia, the black-haired teen was pushed to follow his dreams by one of his biggest idols. This detail, as well as his placement on the cover of volume #42, suggests that Dai could one day become the main character in a sequel series. His origin is remarkably similar to Deku’s, and the final chapter focuses greatly on him. This might be a hint left by Horikoshi, pointing at a new manga being created.

A New Hero For A New Era

Dai’s Story Could Highlight Other Aspects Of Hero Society

After All For One and the League of Villains were defeated in the brutal and deadly Final War arc of My Hero Academia, the world created by Horikoshi changed completely. The final chapter of the manga depicted the various ways in which society had changed for the better. The world enjoyed a time of peace unlike any ever seen before, heroes had more free time as villainy had decreased drastically. Important topics like Quirk discrimination were being addressed by both the government and the public in general. Overall, the chaotic world in which Deku lived was no more.

Having Dai as a protagonist for a sequel manga would be an amazing way to give fans an in-depth view of these significant differences. The new main character could demonstrate how the lives of heroes all around the world have changed, as well as depict how U.A.’s curriculum changed after the Symbol of Evil was defeated. Dai could become a beloved character, likely ing the ever-expanding list of amazing anime and manga sequel protagonists. Most excitedly of all, fans would have a chance to see Deku as a teacher, something that was not portrayed in chapter #430.

The Series Still Has Many Issues To Solve

The Epilogue Did Not Clear All The Missing Threads

Although the ending of the My Hero Academia manga was outstanding, it did leave many issues unresolved. Chapter #430 did reveal that some of the problems plaguing society had been resolved but left many other topics untouched. Serious themes like the immoral and problematic practice of Quirk Marriages did not have a place during the finale. This was most likely due to a lack of the time and space necessary to include them. Nonetheless, a sequel with Dai as the protagonist could give these ideas a satisfying conclusion.

Dai’s world is one in which people are aware of the needs and problems of others, prompting them to help whenever possible. This was heavily hinted at during chapter #429, in which the elderly woman who once ignored Tenko’s pleas redeemed herself by helping the new unnamed character. The heavy subjects that were once considered taboo could likely be expanded upon, this time with Dai experiencing these changes in real time.

The Quirk Doomsday Theory Still Threatens Humanity

Dai’s Generation Could Be A Danger For The World

During episode #60 of the My Hero Academia anime adaptation, an intriguing theory about the future of the world was introduced. This hypothesis, called the Quirk Singularity Theory, explained that newer generations would be born with special abilities that far sured their predecessors in power. At some point in the near future, Quirk will become so strong that the children manifesting them will be in danger to themselves and others.

This enigmatic and ominous theory was one of the topics My Hero Academia chapter 430 forgot to address. Seeing as Dai’s generation was presumably among the ones in danger, a sequel manga could discuss this topic as its main concern. The new series could focus on hero society trying to find a way to avoid a catastrophe by helping children with their overpowered abilities. By doing so, the sequel would have an identity of its own, instead of rehashing the same ideas as the original.

My Hero Academia’s ending will forever remain as one of the most iconic and beloved finales in history. Nevertheless, the epilogue of Deku’s story does not have to be the end of this amazing franchise. The series has already established Dai as Izuku’s spiritual successor, so making the protagonist of a sequel could create something spectacular.