InMy Hero Academia,superheroes are vitalto society, protecting citizens from harm and maintaining peace. However, it soon becomes increasingly clear that the life of a hero is not only positive. Instead, it involves complex societal expectations which can make even the strongest heroes waver when joined by the pressure to be selfless, brave, and willing to lay down their lives in the face of danger.
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The burden of being a hero extends beyond physical activities, entailing an emotional load that can be incredibly exhausting and leaves them constantly feeling inadequate. Even when heroes manage to save lives and prevent calamities, they must deal with relentless criticism for not doing enough or not being enough. Characters like Deku and All Might constantly strive to surpass their limits, outdo themselves, and live up to the lofty expectations of others. But it is important to remember that evenwith all their strength, heroes also need rest and care to continue doing good in the world.
So it should not be shocking that some heroes retire from their jobs when the psychological stress and the daunting demands become too overwhelming for them. Here are former heroes inMy Hero Academiawho quit for various reasons.
5Tomoko Shiretoko
Tomoko Shiretoko, who also goes by Ragdoll, once belonged to the Wild, Wild Pussycats, a group of cat-themed heroes who worked on search and rescue missions. She used to be the number thirty-two pro hero and worked with her quirk called ‘Search.’ Her powers allowed her to watch and track a large number of people at the same time, using some fibers she produced from the tips of her fingers.
But during the Hideout Raid Arc, she became the first hero shown to have theirquirk stolen by All for Oneafter she was captured. Prior to the incident, Ragdoll was bright and bubbly, but afterward, she became less so. She resigned from her work and expressed sadness over having her powers strippedand becoming ‘quirkless.‘She struggled to rediscover who she was without her powers and role as a hero, but eventually did, becoming similar to her original bubbly nature.
4Tensei Ida
Tensei Ida, also called ‘Turbo Hero: Ingenium,’ was a pro hero before the critical injury he suffered at the hands of the villain Stain, becoming his twenty-fourth victim. He possessed the quirk called ‘Engine,’ which worked on the fuel of grapefruit juice and gave him the power to move at incredible speeds by making his arms into a propelling tool. Tensei used hisquirk with wisdomand a sense of responsibility, understanding its advantages and limitations.
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During the battle that cost him his career as a hero, Tensei faced Stain, the hero killer, with bravery even though he knew what was at stake. He displayed the true mark of a hero, holding on as long as he could until he was ultimately defeated and made paraplegic. He resigned after there was no positive progress despite several treatments and procedures. He then passed the mantle of the ‘Ingenium’ to his brother.
3Yoroi Musha
Yoroi Musha was the number nine pro hero and user of a quirk that the story didn’t specifically identify. He stopped being a hero during theParanormal Liberation War Arc, where he retired due to the constant destruction and loss of respect from the people.
His retirement also made many other heroes quit because they thought the situation in their society had changed and the circumstances no longer guaranteed peace. The term ‘hero’ no longer put people at ease, and they began questioning which heroes were fully dedicated to their roles as protectors. This reaction was only natural, as their world was becoming more chaotic, and villains were getting away with evil. However, all that criticism was too much for Yoroi, and he quit his job as a hero. But his retirement rewarded him with great disapproval from the people.
2Death Arms
Death Arms’ large arms are reminiscent ofhis unnamed quirk, which allows him to carry out an incredible level of heavy lifting, unchallenged even by large machines. But his great strength wasn’t enough to withstand the backlash during the Paranormal Liberation War Arc. After the pressure and constant criticism, he threw in the towel, claiming that, after all, he was “only a man” and not suited for work as a hero.
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All for One successfully reduced the public’s faith in their heroes, and no matter how much heroes like Death Arms worked, it was never enough, and there was always something to pick at. Although as a pro hero, Death Arms understood the responsibility it required because he worked with seriousness and caution, he was not great at dealing with the negative side of work as a hero. His retirement, along with that of other heroes, left the remaining heroes with more pressure to protect and deliver.
1Toshinori Yagi
Toshinori Yagi, better known as All Might and the Symbol of Peace, is the mentor to the story’s protagonist Deku, and the source of his powers.All Might was the number onepro hero, but he eventually had to quit because of an injury he suffered fighting All For One, his arch-nemesis. This injury led to the eventual weakening of his body, so much so that he could no longer physically handle being a hero.
He ended his career as a hero by finding a fitting successor for his quirk, One for All, and he finally chose Izuku Midoriya. Transferring his quirk was truly the end of an era, as he left a significant hole for Izuku and other heroes to fill.
