Villains Can Be Victims: Why Twice Stands as My Hero Academia's Most Complex Character

My Hero Academia makes it clear on many occasions that not all villains are born evil; rather, some are simply victims of circumstance. One perfect and tragic example is Jin Bubaigawara, better known as the villain Twice. Through his story, My Hero Academia challenges the idea that villains are solely malicious and instead portrays them as products of a world that failed them.

Twice is more than just a criminal in the series. He serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when someone desperate for belonging and security is pushed too far. His struggles stem from his fractured identity, both literal and psychological after a quirk-related trauma left him unable to trust his own existence. Twice’s story is tragic, but it does its part in portraying the dark consequences of neglecting those who slip through the cracks in a world full of superpowers.

Twice’s Descent Into Madness Reflects His Mental Health Struggles

Twice Is a Perfect Example of What Happens to Struggling People Abandoned by Society

Twice’s descent into madness is tied to his fractured sense of self. His quirk, Double, allows him to create clones of himself or others, but a past incident left him unsure whether or not he was the original. This existential crisis eroded his grip on reality and led him to severe dissociation and self-doubt. His exaggerated humor and erratic behavior mask his paranoia and act as a coping mechanism for his fragile identity. Twice displays the devastating effects of untreated mental illness and how an unstable sense of self can lead to destructive and self-sabotaging behaviors if left unchecked.

Society’s failure to support Twice only worsened his struggles, pushing him further into instability. Bubaigawara was labeled a criminal, cast aside, and without the resources or community needed to aid him. He found himself isolated, and this isolation intensified his psychosis. When the League of Villains embraced him, he clung to them as his only source of validation, which in turn solidified his loyalty to them, even as they led him down a dangerous path. His tragic storyline displays how societal neglect can exacerbate mental illness, showing that villainy can be the consequence of a world that refuses to help.

My Hero Academia Used Twice To Explore the Danger of Isolation With Powerful Quirks

Twice Didn’t Join the League of Villains Purely Out of Malice

Twice’s story demonstrates how isolation can turn a powerful quirk into a curse rather than a gift. He had immense potential, yet instead of using it to build a life, he was left alone to spiral into self-doubt and paranoia. Without guidance or support, he viewed his ability as a source of fear rather than strength and convinced himself that he had lost control over his own existence. Unlike heroes who learn to control and refine their quirks, Twice’s lack of direction led to his breakdown.

His struggle demonstrated how even the most powerful abilities could become dangerous if wielded by someone struggling alone. With no support system, he was made an easy target for the League of Villains, who offered him the belonging he desperately craved. Unlike other villains who are motivated by ideology or revenge, Twice joined the League simply because he had nowhere else to turn. His loyalty stemmed from his gratitude for having real companionship from people who accepted his misshapen personality.

Twice’s Death Served as a Tragic Exploration of "Good vs. Evil"

Twice Died as a Hero to His Allies Yet as a Villain in the Eyes of Society

Bubaigawara’s death was one of My Hero Academia’s most devastating moments, not because of its brutality but because it solidified the tragedy of his character. Despite being labeled as a villain, Twice was never driven by cruelty or ambition, and even in the end, all he wanted was to protect those he considered his family. As he fought to defend his allies, his desperation came from a desire to repay the only people who had ever accepted him. His death highlighted the painful reality that good intentions mean little when loyalty is placed in the wrong hands.

What makes Twice even more tragic is the fact that he is so close to a different path. Had he been offered the same support that pro heroes receive, his story may have ended very differently. His quirk had the potential to be a game-changer in hero society, yet he was never given a fair chance to develop his ability in a safe and structured environment. The lack of intervention from a system that claims to uphold justice and help those in need doesn’t do enough to assist those who struggle directly due to their quirks.

Twice Is Further Proof That Villains Can Be Victims Too

Twice Stands Out as One of My Hero Academia's Most Complex and Important Characters

Bubaigawara’s story is one of victimhood as much as it is of villainy. He didn’t set out to hurt people, instead, he was a man broken by a world that failed to catch him when he fell. His quirk induced an identity crisis that left him mentally unstable, and he was never given the help he needed to improve. Twice’s actions were driven by a need to belong, proving that villainy in My Hero Academia isn’t always a conscious choice and that sometimes it’s the only option left.

Twice’s fate is much more than just a tragedy and serves to reflect how not all villains are driven by evil intent. Bubaigawara’s story forces fans to question what separates heroes from villains and whether society has a hand in creating the very enemies it fears. By showing that villains can be victims, too, the series challenges the simplicity of good versus evil, urging viewers to look beyond labels and see the person underneath. While Twice may have died as a villain in My Hero Academia, those who truly understood him knew he died as someone completely different.