The sixth season of Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia) brought something unexpected and thrilling for the characterization of its main protagonist, Izuku Midoriya a.k.a Deku. Some of the fans and viewers might not want or expected his sudden vigilante transformation.
Deku has always been depicted as your typical hero of the story. He is kind-hearted, willing to help people, and unyielding, but at the same time, the image of a regular student and “All Might’s replacement” kind of haunts him in nearly every arc of the story.
With his transformation as Dark Deku, this young man somehow manages to maintain his usual imagery and personality, while also turning his characterization in such fashion, and most importantly, growing up and developing a professional hero and as a person. Why and how’d that happen you might wonder, here are the reasons:
Taking The Story’s Lead & Direction
For the last six and half seasons, Deku was kind of following the flow of the story. Probably it’s because he is just a regular student in the UA Academy, and he has curriculum and tasks from his teachers to do.
Now, with his change to be the Dark Deku, his character is able to choose his path by himself. What city he must go to, whom he must prioritize to defeat, when he must act, all of the decisions are in his palms. He becomes the person that can carry the story himself, and he is fully responsible for all of his actions and reactions, especially since his choice to leave UA and become a vigilante is based on his anger toward All for One.
Making Things Personal
Previously, his fight with Tomura felt like being “destined” with no direct personal issue between the good and the bad. It’s just because Deku is a hero and the prodigy of All Might, while Tomura is a villain and the prodigy of All for One, they both are meant to destroy each.
But all of those set-ups changed when his character became dark. The story is no longer about the battle of polar opposite quirk users, but meant so much more because Tomura and All for One truly hurt and rip Deku apart. Deku understands that his presence becomes a danger to people around him, and he already witnesses how many heroes and civilians became victims of their evil ambitions.
It gives motives for Deku to leave his school life and hunts the villains on his own. It brings reasons for him to get stronger and make sure the villains are defeated for good, because not only the world is in chaos, but his family and friends are truly affected by Tomura’s villainous beliefs and actions.
No Longer a Substitute
His characterization in the last six and half seasons for another reason seemed to only be “All Might’s replacement”. It is true that he is chosen directly by Toshinori Yagi, and he inherits the One for All quirk. But as a character, he did not seem to stand on his own. He was shadowed by the glory, title, and faith of All Might.
With his transformation, his character is depicted to be a One for All wielder that has his own story and personal journey. He takes control not only of the power and full possession of the quirk but also as the first reason above, he is the leader of his own saga. All Might has been out of action ever since the end of season 3, but just this once during season 6, he truly seems like a mentor who can only assist Deku who embarks on his own path.
Becoming the Icon
Believe it or not, Deku’s dark transformation is arguably the most iconic character development among other shonen main protagonists in his era. Most main characters from various shonen series only develop his/her powers and abilities, without undergoing an extreme change in characterization in the story.
With that template, Deku is able to stand out the most compared to the other main characters. For a brief moment, people can see how the clumsy teenager in the first season has gone mature, berserk, and dependent to be a dark hero for his loved ones and the world.
His transformation may be short-lived and kind of disappointing in the end. It kind of feels like he is going back to his previous self in the UA. But have faith, his character is no longer the same anymore. He may not be dark again, but deep inside, his values and mindset have grown into a more-matured character along with his powers that are given by his predecessors. Dark Deku is a necessary development, for the image of Deku and for the rest of the series.
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