Kohei Horikoshi, the creator ofMy Hero Academia,was heavily inspired by both Marvel and DC superheroes when creating many of the Pro Heroesin his series.Horikoshi’s love of superheroes has come upin multiple interviews, with the mangaka telling one interviewer, “I literally have a Japanese translated version of a U.S. superhero title in my left hand, and I’m drawing with my right.”
My Hero Academia’sstory revolves around superheroes, with almost everyone in the story’s universe possessing a Quirk power of some kind, so these many superhero references and inspirations are to be expected. Some of these connections are more obvious, with uncanny physical resemblances, while a few are a lot more subtle, with aMy Hero Academiahero sharing the same powers with a superhero from a different series. Either way,it is easy to see clever references to some of the greatest superheroes of all time mixed into every episode ofMy Hero Academia.
Star and Stripe/Cathleen Bate
Based on the Marvel Superhero, Captain Marvel
Star and Stripe’s time inMy Hero Academiawas tragically short-lived, with many fans frustrated by her untimely demise. Even though Star and Stripe’s on-screen appearances were all too brief, it is still undeniable thatshe is the spitting image of one famous Marvel heroine: Captain Marvel.
Her New Order Quirk, which allows her to both supercharge her own strength and control others through “rules” she can create, is exceptionally powerful, and although her skills are a bit different, Marvel’s Captain Marvel is also one of the mightiest heroes in her universe.The most obvious similarity between the two is their patriotic attire, of course, but both of them also have past ties to the U.S. military, making them even more alike.
Knuckleduster/Iwao Oguro
Based on the DC Superhero, Batman
Since Knuckleduster’s debut recently inMy Hero Academia: Vigilantes,fans instantly noticed his likeness to one vigilante DC superhero: Batman.Both heroes are vigilantes, work independently without the supervision of a hero organization, and have a strong preference for quietly carrying out their work in the shadows away from the public eye. Both Knuckleduster and Batman are motivated by a genuine desire for justice, not external praise from society, so they are content to be vigilantes rather than recognized heroes.
Both Bruce Wayne and Iwao Oguro use gadgets, weapons, and their own two fists to fight,rather than any superpowers. Knuckleduster once had a Quirk, but it was stolen by All For One, leaving him reliant on these other skills in his repertoire instead. Similarly, their darker, more reserved personalities also makeKnuckleduster and Batman seem even more alike.
Twice/Jin Bubaigawara
Based on the Marvel Superhero, Deadpool
AlthoughTwice is classified as a villainsince he is in the League of Villains,many people view him as more of an antihero because of the struggles that led him to the Leagueand the hints that he was once a more likable person before challenges with his Quirk arose. Perhaps Marvel’s most popular antihero is Deadpool, and him and Twice are nearly indistinguishable in attitude, personality, and their character arcs.
Both antiheroes rely on dry wit and humorous remarks to mask their deeper emotions.Another similarity is that they both have devastating backstories that led them into these antihero roles as a means of survival. Finally, their costumes may be different colors, but match in every other way, obscuring their faces from view with masks, which adds to their secrecy and complexity.
The Shining Hero: Can’t Stop Twinkling/Yuga Aoyama
Based on the Marvel Superhero, Cyclops
Yuga Aoyama is one ofMy Hero AcademiaClass 1-A’s lesser-known classmates, but he also has a Marvel superhero counterpart.Marvel’s Cyclops and Yuga Aoyama share a superpowerthat is almost the same, connecting them in an unexpected way.
Although they do not look identical and their personalities are dissimilar, bothAoyama and Cyclops employ lasers as a fighting technique.Cyclops blasts these lasers through his eyes, while Aoyama shoots lasers from his navel, with a Quirk that is fittingly titled Navel Laser. Although this similarity is a bit more subtle than some otherMy Hero Academiasuperhero inspirations, their usage of lasers is an interesting connection between the two heroes.
The Crawler/Koichi Haimawari and Deku/Izuku Midoriya
Based on the Marvel Superhero, Spider-Man
One of Kohei Horikoshi’s favorite superheroes of all time is Spider-Man, and not one but twoMy Hero Academiacharacters were created based on the web-slinging Marvel character.My Hero Academia’smain character, Deku, as well asMy Hero Academia:Vigilantes’protagonist, Koichi Haimawari, are both closely related to Spider-Man.
Both students share a similar story with the Marvel superhero, asthe two of them were once both ordinary humans but suddenly found themselves tasked with saving humanity,which aligns with Spider-Man’s sudden transformation into a hero after a radioactive spider bite. Koichi’s link to Spider-Man is even more pronounced, as his Quirk, Slide and Glide, lets him climb around on all fours on seemingly any surface, just like the Marvel Comics character.
Jet-Black Hero: Tsukuyomi/Fumikage Tokoyami
Based on the Marvel Superhero, Venom
Symbiotes appear frequently in Marvel Comics, andMy Hero Academiaalso referenced this concept with its character, Fumikage Tokoyami. Dark Shadow, Tokoyami’s Quirk, is not exactly a symbiote in the way Marvel’s Venom is, butDark Shadow is still strikingly similar to the symbiotic being.
Whereas Venom takes over Eddie Brock’s body temporarily to give him superhuman strength,Dark Shadow can also control Tokoyamiin a similar manner,but often just acts as an extension of the U-A student so he can use his powers. Although there are some notable differences between how Venom and Dark Shadow operate, they are still fairly easy to compare.
Phantom Thief/Neito Monoma
Based on the Marvel Superhero, Rogue
Rogue from the X-Men in Marvel Comics andNeito Monoma fromMy Hero Academia’sClass 1-B have an ability that is almost identical.Both heroes can copy things with their powers.Rogue and Monoma can copy others' powers to use for themselves.
Both Rogue and Monoma are underrated, which is surprising, considering the extent of their powers. Their talents allow them boundless possibilities in battle, sincethey can both essentially temporarily borrow superpowers that are much more advanced than their own.
Ingenium/Tensei Ida and Tenya Ida
Based on the DC Superhero, The Flash
The DC superhero, The Flash, is recognized for his superhuman speed and potential to run faster than the human eye could possibly detect.Tensei Ida and Tenya Ida, who both go by the Pro Hero name, Ingenium, can also run quickly, using their Quirks.
Engine, Tensei and Tenya’s Quirk, is whatenables them to move rapidly, since it equips them with engines that propel them around swiftly.After Tensei was seriously injured and unable to work as a hero anymore, he passed down the torch to his younger brother, Tenya Ida, who used the same Engine Quirk. When watching Tenya or Tensei zoom around at top speed, it is not difficult to relate theMy Hero Academiaheroes to Marvel’s speediest character, the Flash, who also has super speed.
All Might/Toshinori Yagi
Based on the DC Superhero, Superman
My Hero Academia’smost significant Pro Hero is the Symbol of Peace, Toshinori Yagi, better known as All Might. Not only is All Might extremely motivational on his own as a character,he was heavily inspired by a DC superhero with a reputation just as momentous: Superman.Both Superman andAll Might are more than just another superheroamong a sea of other powerful individuals. They offer comfort to society with the reminder that anytime villains strike, they will always rush over to defeat them with ease.
All Might and Superman’s hero uniforms are also somewhat similar, both using shades of blue and red. These two powerhouses are absolutely ripped, boasting hulking muscles that are sure to send any villains running in the other direction. Finally, both theDC hero and hisMy Hero Academiacounterpart play major roles in their respective stories,representing more than just an individual character by embodying virtues like honor and courage that define who they are as characters.
Toga Himiko
Based on the Marvel Superhero, Mystique
Toga Himiko and Mystique from Marvel’s X-Men are capable of transforming into any other person,although they both accomplish this feat through different means. The heroines use shapeshifting as a form of deception, changing their appearances to trick those around them and often to gain their trust by appearing to be someone they know.
Mystique’s shapeshifting powers are inherent and fairly easy for her to use, since the skill is stored in the cells of her body, whileToga Himiko’s Transform Quirkrequires a bit more effort on her part.Toga must drink blood from the person she would like to transform into, and only once this blood consumption is complete can she begin altering her outward appearance to look more like them. This is the major difference between Toga and Mystique, but at a base level, the two heroes are very much alike.
