My Hero Academia's main character is Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku, and the story follows his journey to become a hero. The series would certainly not be the same without Deku: his brave sacrifices, the inspiration he offers everyone else in Class 1-A, and his selflessness when it comes to saving others. However, there is one My Hero Academia character with an even greater influence over the story than Deku, and fans too often overlook him.

When I first began watching My Hero Academia, I assumed Deku would be the most crucial character in the story. He is indeed an inspiring hero and throughout the series, he overcomes so many obstacles, including bullying, villains who attempt to end his life, and trouble using his Quirk. While Deku is motivational and a pivotal character, as I watched later seasons, a different hero stood out to me as the most important to not only Deku's journey, but the story as a whole. In my opinion, All Might is the true star of My Hero Academia, and for many convincing reasons.

The Story’s Most Important Events Centered Around All Might

All Might Has a Positive Impact on Individual Characters as Well as a Larger Impact on the Entire World

Although Deku is the main character, All Might has more influence on the story and significance on major plot points. My Hero Academia asserted All Might's importance in the very first scenes, since he has been Deku's lifelong idol. One of the first noteworthy All Might moments is when he allowed Deku to inherit his Quirk, directly enabling him to be a hero. All Might did not just guide Deku towards heroism, he is responsible for influencing so many heroes to follow in his footsteps, including all of Class 1-A’s students. Though he is Deku's mentor, he taught everyone else in the class too.

One of All Might's most remarkable accomplishments was saving Bakugo from being kidnapped by the League of Villains. This scene was outstanding to me because it represents more than just a hero saving someone from harm. All Might did not just sacrifice his powers to save Bakugo, he gave them up to protect everyone and to send a message to villains to back off. At the same time, this moment, and the conversation he had with Bakugo shortly after, helped Bakugo come to his senses and turn his back on the more mean-spirited and cruel aspects of his personality, becoming more of a hero.

Without All Might, Deku Could Not Have Become a Hero

All Might Changed Deku’s Life Significantly, Giving Him the Quirk He Needed To Save the World

Deku was Quirkless at the beginning of the story, convinced he would never achieve his dream of attending U.A., and heartbroken because all he wanted in life was to be like All Might. Among all of the Pro Heroes, All Might held a special place in Deku's heart and in society as a whole, since he was known as the Symbol of Peace who comforted citizens and assured them they would always be safe from harm, "because I am here." Without All Might's example and direct assistance, Deku's life could have turned out very differently and he never would have had a Quirk.

All Might ed down his own One For All Quirk to Deku, enabling him to go to U.A. and become a hero. Without this integral moment, Deku would have lived his life as a normal person, never accomplishing the incredible feats that he did, and the world would have been in horrible danger due to villains like Shigaraki and All For One running rampant. This is just one example of All Might shaping My Hero Academia and helping another character reach their full potential though, because All Might offered similar and encouragement to other students, civilians, and fellow heroes.

He’s More Than a Character, All Might is a Cultural Symbol

Whether They Love Him or Hate Him, All Might Has Influenced Every Single My Hero Academia Character

It is easy to see signs of how All Might changed Deku's circumstances, but I also noticed the positive effect he has had on other students like Bakugo. Bakugo wanted to emulate All Might, telling Shigaraki and the League of Villains who kidnapped him that he wanted to "win like All Might." Shoto Todoroki is another student who has professed outspoken iration for All Might and a desire to embody the principles he lives by. The deeper into the story I got, the more clear it became to me that All Might was the catalyst to push so many of these characters to become heroes.

All Might is more than just another character, he is the Symbol of Peace, a title that he takes seriously. As a cultural symbol, All Might exemplifies the peace and heroism everyone in the story is fighting for. Without All Might, there would be no story. Deku would have no Quirk, the world would have no symbol to look to, and villains would do as they please, knowing no hero would intervene to stop them. All Might is a major influence and most of the characters want to be like him in a positive way, like Deku, or in a negative way, like Dark Might.

Even Once All Might’s Time as Hero Was Done, He Continued Helping Others

He Made Sure to Properly Train a Successor, Ensuring the World Would Stay Safe Even Without Him

Overall, I would argue that All Might is more of a main character than Deku, because he was the one who gave Deku the tools to become a strong, confident hero. All Might is honorable to me because My Hero Academia's true hero.