Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 19

My Hero Academia, Vol. 19 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published June 4, 2019*

This volume is more about snippets of school life and we seem to be going back to normal for a bit. There is a villain in the making, but we’re focusing more on the Cultural Festival at the school right now, rather than the villain.

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

In the wake of tragedy, Class 1-A prepares for the upcoming culture festival. While the students are busy planning for success, other forces are at work with their own agendas, and Midoriya, amid the preparations, continues to train with All Might. But when he runs into the failed hero Gentle Criminal, what lesson will he learn?

I like manga volumes when the main character can connect more with a character that you don’t normally think of. This one is Deku connecting more with Aoyama, the potential hero who shoots a laser from his stomach. Aoyama, we learn in this volume, has always had trouble with his Quirk; in his own words, his body wasn’t built to deal with his particular Quirk, so Aoyama has to work harder than anyone else in his family in order to control his Quirk. He recognizes that Deku has this same issue, which is true. Deku’s body wasn’t built for his Quirk, All for One. In recognizing this though, Aoyama does what he can to try to help Deku, in his very weird ways.

We also see the start of the planning of the Culture Festival for school, another S.L.E. (school like event). And this may be just me, but I’ve always wanted to do to a Japanese school festival, if just to see what they are actually like as I’ve only seen them portrayed in manga. Either way, it looks like it would be awesome, if only the Gentle Criminal doesn’t show up like he plans to. And he’s a very strange villain, if you can call him that.

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 18

My Hero Academia, Vol. 18 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published April 2, 2019*

Here we have a combination of both intense and light, hard and soft. And we finally get the ending to the Chisaki arc!

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Midoriya is in the fight of his life—an all-out battle with Overhaul, who has unleashed his terrifying power. Midoriya is matching it with his own power, pushing One For All to 100 percent. Only by relying on Eri’s restoration Quirk can he hope to take down Overhaul. If Midoriya manages to walk away from this fight, his life will never be the same again…

This is a good ending to the Chisaki volume, as we see the final fight between Chisaki and Deku with Eri’s help. It’s only by relying on this little girl’s unconscious control of her power to rewind someone that Deku is able to go full out, One for All at 100%, and use that power to take Chisaki down.

After Chisaki is taken down, we turn to somewhat lighter events with the make-up test for those students who failed the initial provisional licensing, with these students having to “cooperate to open up the kids’ heart.” I won’t say more other than this, as I truly love it all turns out, but I will say that our students do happen to pass this provisional licensing, even if this make-up test isn’t what any of them truly expected.

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 13

My Hero Academia, Vol. 13 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published June 5, 2018*

This is the volume where we see into Bakugo’s thought process and what it means not only to him, but to the world at large as well.

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

The students of Class 1-A have reached another milestone—the Provisional Licensing Exam. After making it through the first part of the test, they ready themselves for the next phase, which takes place in a simulated disaster area. Midoriya and his friends have to rescue as many victims as they can, and although the students of rival Shiketsu High are technically supposed to be helping, competition between them is fierce and even dangerous! As the scenario unfolds and actual villains arrive to shake things up, the UA students will have to find new ways to work with each other and make use of their Quirks.

We finally FINALLY! get a hard look into Bakugo’s head and thoughts. This is what we’ve been needing to see and hear, and it is cathartic to finally get what’s going swirling around in his head out into the open. Granted, it’s the same way he gets a lot of things out of his head, with a giant fight, but this time it’s against a Deku that can hold his own. It’s not against a Deku that will fold over or break in one hit, but a Deku that will hit back. Granted, Bakugo still gets the best of him, but the instant he does Bakugo is able to talk about what’s been weighing on his mind since All Might’s last fight.

All Might shows up and as he is a bit of a father figure to both of these boys, he is able to give some absolution to Bakugo, that it wasn’t Bakugo’s fault that All Might had to be forcefully retired from the hero game. Yes, it feels to Bakugo that it’s his fault like because he was taken that All Might had to fight his last fight, but we know that because One for All is the one behind Bakugo’s kidnapping, and that One for All needs to be taken down, we know that All Might was most likely going to use up the last of his Quirk in order to assure that this madman wouldn’t escape again. We as the readers know that it wasn’t Bakugo’s fault, and even without this huge fight, All Might would be forced to retire sooner rather than later because of injuries he sustained while working as a hero.

This revelation to Bakugo gives us, and Deku, some breathing room as to why All Might is focusing on Deku and what exactly is going on with these two that now share a Quirk and a dream. Bakugo acknowledges that while he also loves and looks up to All Might, he can still follow in his hero’s footsteps, even if it means that he has to let go of his ideals of All Might for just a little bit. We finally see some growth out of Bakugo that other students had already accomplished in some form or another. And that growth allows Bakugo and Deku to slowly start repairing what friendship they had when they were smaller.

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 11

My Hero Academia, Vol. 11 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published February 6, 2018*

One of the biggest action scenes of the series and it turns out to be the last fight of All Might’s hero career.

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Bakugo’s abduction by the League of Villains was a carefully calculated move designed to draw out the Heroes—All Might in particular—and destroy them. Midoriya and his friends set out on a rescue mission that eventually pulls in not only All Might but also several other heroes! The casualties mount, until at last the mastermind of the plot appears—the only villain powerful enough to go head-to-head with All Might and possibly win…All For One!

This is one of the biggest actions scenes this manga has to offer and it shows just how much carnage and destruction two superhumans can cause when they don’t hold back. and it’s terrifying. You want to know why it’s terrifying? It’s because All Might is a hero and he is not holding back in this fight. If he had chosen to be a villain, there is no way this world would exist at all. Let’s just be thankful that All Might decided to be the light society needed, rather than turning to the dark side.

We also start to see some actual family interactions after this giant fight when the teachers of U.A. seek parents’ permission to start housing students in dorms on campus, not only to try to keep a better eye on students, but to also seek out the possibility of a mole. Someone who is working for the other side…someone who wants to just see the world burn!

I liked seeing how different and yet how similar at the same time. You can see where Bakugo got some of his explosive personality, Jiro’s love of music from her parents, and Deku’s compassion from his mother, even if he doesn’t always show compassion to his mother.

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia,Vol. 10

My Hero Academia, Vol. 10 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published November 7, 2017*

This is where we see the end of the training camp and the kidnapping of Bakugo. The rest of the class is in shambles as everyone tries to figure out what to do about the League of Villains and how to rescue Bakugo.

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

The League of Villains has grabbed Bakugo, and the resulting negative publicity has thrown U.A. into a huge uproar. With the public’s trust in heroes threatened, the faculty convene to figure out what to do. But Midoriya and the students of Class 1-A have plans of their own, even if their operation to rescue Bakugo could get them thrown out of school!

Deku always seem to end up in the hospital after giant fights like this, because he can’t quite control his Quirk from All Might, even though he has learned different ways to implement it. Deku isn’t worried about anything other than trying to figure out how to get Bakugo back; even if it means being kicked out of U.A.

While the students are trying to figure out how to get Bakugo back, the teachers and professional heroes are trying to reassure the public that they are doing all that they can to not only protect these students but to get the League of Villains and the mastermind behind it, a man All Might thought previously vanquished.

It’s a race to see who will find Bakugo first, and what version of Bakugo they’ll find as well. Will it be their brusk and fierce friend who strives to become the number one hero? Or will be someone who has been turned to the philosophy of the League of Villains?

 

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 9

My Hero Academia, Vol. 9 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published August 1, 2017*

Class 1-A has made it to base camp with the Pussycats, a superhero team of four superheroes, where they are to stretch the limits of their Quirks to keep up with the skills and training they have already received.

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

It’s off to summer camp for Midoriya and the U.A. students! But this is no ordinary vacation—it’s high-impact training where the students are expected to develop their Quirks even further! The teachers have set up some tough challenges, but none will be as difficult and as life changing as the threat a new group of enemies poses. What’s even worse is who the villains’ target is and why…

This was a fun volume if just to see the ridiculous things that is required to get these kids to stretch the abilities of their Quirks to match the skills and abilities that they have already acquired. Not a whole lot happens in this volume, other than the ridiculousness of what’s going on. We see Deku try to make friends with the nephew of one of the Pussycat heroes, a boy who lost his hero parents; lots of hilarious faces that the heroes-to-be make while trying to stretch out their Quirks; differences in Quirk types between class 1-A and 1-B.

This was a good volume, not a lot going on, but still a good volume. I like it when there’s a small amount of calmness in a volume, let’s you breathe a bit before another huge action sequence happens.

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 8

My Hero Academia, Vol. 8 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published May 2, 2017*

There’s a lot happening in this volume, so there is a lot of different scenes and situations going on, so I may not focus on everything going on, just what I most enjoyed.

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

The U.A. students have reached the practical portion of their final exam, but they didn’t expect to have to beat their own teachers in order to pass! Paired with his archrival Bakugo, Midoriya has to try to take on none other than All Might himself. Working with Bakugo is one thing, but is giving everything he’s got to beat All Might more than Midoriya can handle? And in a nearby arena, Yaoyorozu and Todoroki endure a similar struggle. All the while, a sinister new adversary prepares to make a move…

Three different events happen in this volume, we see the end of Bakugo and Deku’s final exam against All Might, Shigaraki and Deku have a “talk” about the philosophy differences between Shigaraki and Stain, and we see the students’ start to their Summer Training Camp.

It’s always going to be Deku’s ability to think calmly that will stand out to me, I think, no matter the volume that I read, that I will focus on what Deku will do next so that he can stay one step ahead, and strive to catch up with those who are ahead of him, as well as striving to finally meet up with All Might, that all important hero, and Deku’s mentor.

It’s this volume where we see that ability to think, as well as Bakugo’s ability to walk in with no questions asked, that we see just how much idolizing All Might has shaped the way these two kids think. It makes Deku freeze at unleashing all that he’s learned upon his mentor, who can take it; it causes Bakugo to unleash all of his power no matter what, all in the hopes of becoming the number 1 hero.

Differences in philosophy and thinking lends itself to differences in how one executes their plans and ambitions, and whether or not one will be paid attention to. This is what leads to Shigaraki ambushing Deku in the middle of the mall in order to “talk” to him about why people are paying attention to the news of Hero Killer Stain and himself, Shigaraki. It would honestly be terrifying to know that there is someone with the power to cause you to decay, just…holding onto your throat as he asks you seemingly random questions.

And honestly, I don’t have questions today. I’m cold and I’m going to go and sit out in the sun now. Enjoy your upcoming weekend and I hope that you are all safe and sound!

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 7

My Hero Academia, Vol. 7 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published February 7, 2017*

We saw the beginning of the battle with the villain Stain in volume 6, and here we see the end of this battle, the philosophy of what it means to be a hero and to be a villain in a world where being a hero and being a Hero are two very different ideals.

Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Midoriya has learned a few tricks from Gran Torino, but some things just have to be experienced to be understood. Even though he’s not ready, when the League of Villains attacks in the town of Hosu, Midoriya rushes to help Ida, who is engaged in a life-or-death struggle with Hero Killer Stain. Stain has some very particular ideas about heroes and their place in society—and he means to purge every hero he can find!

As with all action manga, there are major action sequences. This volume contains on the best ones where Deku starts working with his new move, All for One: Full Cowling, and he teams up with Todoroki and Iida to take on the Hero Killer Stain. But even with his new trick, it still takes on all three to take Stain down.

This is one of my favourite actions scenes, I loved seeing how the action played out on the pages and how not only the actions but the words of Deku and Todoroki worked on Iida to get him to see that what he was doing was not only dangerous, but stupid as well. It’s part of the reason why Stain was taking out heroes, seeking to either kill them or maim them so completely they can no longer be professional heroes. He feels that the majority of heroes are false heroes, the only true hero being All Might.

This is a bit of an advantage to Deku, with his inheriting All Might’s power as well as his philosophy that a true hero meddles where he is not wanted for the better. Stain sees how much All Might has influenced Deku and he acknowledges that Deku is a “true hero,” even going to the point of saving Deku from the flying Nomu. It’s truly a trippy side effect of hero society.

After the fight with Stain, it’s then time for final exams for Deku and his classmates. They are paired up, and the most unfortunate paring to happen, in their eyes anyway, is for Deku and Bakugo to pair up against their idol, All Might.

Continuing on with the hero questions from yesterday, what do you think it means to be a true hero? And how does one become a true hero? Comment below and let me know!

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 6

My Hero Academia, Vol. 6 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published November 1, 2016*

Just speeding right along with My Hero Academia, and we are at the start of Class 1-A’s internships.

Izuku Midoriya is the inheritor of the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but the mantle of greatness won’t come easy, and even superheroes have to go to school!

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

In the aftermath of the sports festival, the class 1-A students begin their internships. Midoriya goes to study under Gran Torino, who was once All Might’s mentor. Gran Torino appears to be a washed-up nutjob, but the old hero still has more moves than a football team, and Midoriya has a lot to learn! Elsewhere, the League of Villains enacts another sinister plot and unleashes a terrifying new enemy!

In this volume, we see who it was that trained All Might when he first inherited All for One: Gran Torino. A hero that even Deku hasn’t heard much of, a hero who looks a bit like a wash-up, but when he focuses, he is the hero who trained All Might. And now taking Deku under his wings, Gran Torino shows that he knows exactly how to train those who are new to their Quirks. He also shows that he knows how to train someone who has inherited a Quirk and is stuck thinking of it as someone else’s Quirk.

We also see the intro to a new villain, a villain who has a something to say about heroes and hero society. A world where you can achieve fame and notoriety by exploiting your good deeds. But here’s a question, what do you think your Quirk would be? What would your superhero name be? Comment below and let me know!

Tiny Navajo Reads: My Hero Academia, Vol. 5

My Hero Academia, Vol. 5 by Kohei Horikoshi

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*Published August 2, 2016*

I’m enjoying My Hero Academia so much, and I’m loving seeing the different quirk sets and how much someone can want to prove something, even when they themselves aren’t complete sure what it is they want to prove.

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

The final stages of the U.A. High sports festival promise to be explosive as Uraraka takes on Bakugo in a head to head match! Bakugo never gives anyone a break, and the crowd holds its breath as the battle begins. The finals will push the students of Class 1-A to their limits and beyond!

One of the best fights that happened in the sports event happened in this volume. And a lot of people may think that it’s the end of Deku vs. Todoroki, or Bakugo vs. Todoroki, but my absolute favourite fight of all the sports event is Uraraka vs. Bakugo, probably what could have been one of the worst possibilities for a fight. Even Deku and Iida are concerned for Uraraka, and Deku came up with a really quick plan for Uraraka to use against Bakugo, but she said no, she’s got to start relying on herself, and not on Deku as much.

This is what I love about this series, is that there are legitimate concerns and thoughts and feelings that these characters go through. We have see many classmates of Deku proclaim that they’ll take him on throughout the sports event, as they have started to realize that he is the real deal, he is here to become the #1 hero. Even Uraraka has started to realize that she starting to rely on Deku and his plans a little bit too much; should she continue to do so, she won’t be able to become the best hero she can because she won’t be able to think for herself. So she taking on Bakugo without any help is the best thing she could have done. And she held herself fairly well, even though she didn’t beat Bakugo.

Bakugo even took her seriously by not taking it easy on her, even though his power could very easily blow her away. By taking her seriously, Uraraka was able to prove that she could think for herself when it come to battling someone as flashy and fierce as Bakugo, and he acknowledged that she did have the ability to send him flying.

I like seeing teens figure out who they want to be, and how they can get there. I enjoy those few years in a person’s life where they are trying to figure out the rules of the world and where exactly their place may be in the world. A person can change so much in those few years that if you met someone at the beginning of their adolescence, you could find a completely different person by the end of it. And I think that’s what My Hero is trying to do, to help these teens create the best version of themselves to be the heroes they want to be. What time of life do you most enjoy? Why do you enjoy that time? Comment below and let me know!