The My Hero Academia series has some of anime's most interesting and terrifying villains. From the Symbol of Evil himself, All for One, to the radicalized Spinner, the franchise has no shortage of antagonists for the protagonists to fight against. Some of these villains even became arch enemies of a particular hero, like Shigaraki was for Deku or Dabi to his brother Shoto.
Still, there is an incredibly complex antagonist in the series who was never given a proper opponent of his own, Muscular. This imposing and bloodthirsty character could have been Bakugo’s perfect antagonist, as their beliefs and attitudes do not differ too much from each other. Goto could have been Katsuki’s final challenge, helping him prove how far he had come by the end of the manga.
Bakugo and Muscular Are Mirrors Of Each Other
Their Beliefs and Personalities Were Almost Identical in The Beginning
When My Hero Academia began, Bakugo was known for being a brash, rude, and often cruel individual who valued power above all else. He saw everyone weaker than him as worthless, going as far as to bully his childhood friend just because he lacked a Quirk. He never shied away from utilizing violence to obtain his goals, whether it was to keep Deku “in his place” or maintain control over his lackeys. At this point in the story, Bakugo was almost the same as Muscular, one of the most ruthless and bloodthirsty members of the League of Villains.
Goto was feared by most of Japan’s heroes due to his obsession with power and violence. He was a firm believer in the idea that only the strong were meant to live and the weak should serve as entertainment. Before his amazing fight against Izuku during episodes 74 to 76, he was best known for the brutal murder of Kota’s parents, the pro hero team Water Hose. Muscular’s behavior was extremely similar to Bakugo’s, only lacking the desire to become a hero. Yet, thanks to the amazing teachings of U.A.’s staff, Bakugo began walking a completely different path.
His time as a hero student prevented Bakugo from becoming a violent and arrogant being like Goto, turning into a calmer and kinder individual. While his desire to be the best and become stronger never disappeared, he understood how wrong his past actions were and began working to better himself. Muscular is what Katsuki could have become without proper guidance, an individual with an amazing Quirk whose desire to prove himself as the best led him to become a killer. Goto would have been the perfect antagonist for Bakugo, forcing him to confront his past behaviors.
Muscular Could Have Been Bakugo's Final Challenge
Bakugo Could Have Had A Climactic Fight Against His Nemesis
The deadly and sobering Final War arc of My Hero Academia includes some of the franchise’s most beloved battles, as it was during this period that most characters fought their nemesis. Deku had a fierce encounter against Shigaraki and All For One, Ochako fought valiantly to save Toga from himself, and Todoroki defeated his long-lost brother Dabi. Bakugo also contributed greatly to the heroes’ efforts, by risking his life against Shigaraki and then finishing off All for One, the biggest villain of all time. While that was an impressive feat, AFO fought against scores of heroes during the war, and he can't really be called Bakugo's "nemesis" (that honor goes for sure to All Might).
What could have made Bakugo’s character arc feel more fulfilling could have been a final encounter against Muscular. Katsuki would have seen what he was destined to become before enrolling in U.A., a selfish and cruel villain who preys on the weak and never shows kindness. It would have been an amazing way to prove how much he grew as a hero, rejecting the beliefs he once held so close to his chest and accepting that he needed a wake-up call.
Katsuki could have remained true to his desire to achieve victory by overwhelming an opponent as mighty and determined as Muscular, proving that he had not completely lost his essence. By the end of the fight, Bakugo would have been able to not only complete his transformation into a true hero but also defeat a villain purely of his own. It is a shame that Bakugo and Muscular never interacted throughout the series, as their dynamic could have greatly helped the former’s self-discovery journey.
Despite not fighting a villain of his own during My Hero Academia’s finale, Bakugo’s contributions were vital to the story. His character arc and growth are undoubtedly some of the best the franchise has to offer. It is almost guaranteed that Katuski will remain one of the series’ most beloved characters for years to come.
In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the "One-For-All" quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.
Release Date April 3, 2016
Seasons 7
English (US) ·