InMy Hero Academia,Bakugo Katsuki and Midoriya Izuku seem to be on opposite paths regarding what it means to bea Pro Hero. However, after many trials and tribulations on both ends, they soon learn that their aspirations from All Might are the kind of Heroes they want to become.
Throughout the series, they learn to become different versions of All Might, one that represents save to win and win to save. While Katsuki focuses on winning, Izuku focuses on saving those in need.
How Izuku Represents the Save and Rescue Version of All Might
From a young age, Deku always wanted to save others
At the start ofMy Hero Academia,it was abundantly made clear that Midoriya Izuku, also known as Deku, and Bakugo Katsuki, would represent different versions of what it means to be a Pro Hero. At the start of the series, Midoriya Izuku always admired the way All Might dove in to save countless individuals from disasters with a smile.
This heroism was shown in Episode One of the series. While Deku always admiredAll Might’s overpowering strengthin battle, he was always captured by how All Might would save those in need. In this Episode, Deku is met with the crushing news that Quirkless individuals will not be able to become Heroes, as All Might conveys thatthe Symbol of Peacemust always rescue the innocents with a smile.
Consequently, the Sludge villain that had previously targeted Deku was not controlling Bakugo after All Might lost the bottle that held him. Although Deku was told that he could not be a Hero just moments ago, he did have the personality of one as his body moved on its own to rescue and save Bakugo Katsuki from the Sludge villain. In doing so, Deku unknowingly attempted to save Bakugo with a smile similar to All Might’s.
While Deku always leaps into battle, his first priority is always to save and rescue; this has been shown countless times, when he attempted to save Bakugo from theLeague of Villainsduring theForest Training Campand when he saved Eri during the Shie Hassaikai arc. However, during the Provisional Hero License Exam arc, he confirmed his similarities with All Might.
This notion of saving and rescuing those in need, even villains, will follow Deku throughout the series and into the Final War. During the Final War with Shigaraki, although Deku needed to defeat him andput an end to his destruction, Deku still wanted to save Shigaraki from All For One.
Although Deku represented the save and rescue version of All Might, there was one thing Deku had that All Might did not. Unlike All Might, who always fought his battles with All For One alone or with Gran Torino, in the Final War, Deku had the support of his classmates and other Heroes that All Might did not have. All For One called this Midoriya Izuku’s weakness, something which All Might lacked.
Do your best!
However, this weakness supported Deku in this battle; because everyone assisted Deku during this battle and believed in him, Deku was able to land the final blow. Through this, Deku could save andwin the battle against Shigaraki and All For One.
How Katsuki represents the Win version of All Might
Bakugo always seeks a perfect win, representative of All Might
Bakugo Katsuki has always aspired to be a capable hero like All Might. Like Midoriya Izuku, the childhood friends grew up admiring All Might and collecting merch, which they held dear. However, Bakugo always saw the version of All Might, which represented an undeniable win, a perfect victory.
However, after Bakugo is kidnapped and saved by Dekuand Kirishimaand it is revealed that All Might is to retire, Bakugo begins to feel burdened by being the one who “ended All Might.” It was also during this time that Bakugo came to the conclusion that All Might had given his Quirk to Deku; thus, the two battle it out in Ground Beta.
At this point, Bakugo questions whether his aspirations differ from Deku’s and whether becoming stronger and winning battles are wrong. However, once All Might intervened, he was able to make them realize they could both be heroes who save and win.
Throughout the series, Bakugo continued to compare himself with Deku, measuring their strength and wanting to surpass one another. During theParanormal Liberation War, Bakugo realized Deku was taking on too much responsibility, fighting alone, which could have killed him. Through his body moving on its own, Bakugo leaped into action, taking the blow meant to impale Deku, thusawakening his Explosion Quirk.
At this point, Bakugo still felt inferior to Deku, as Shigaraki and All For One began to taunt him during the Final War. Shigaraki then landed a crushing blow to Bakugo’s heart, which left him unable to battle. However, he wassaved thanks to Edgeshot’s ultimate move, Zenith. Once Bakugo had woken up and resumed battle, he had more understanding of how his Quirk worked.
In the battle against All For One, Bakugo finally proved to himself and others that he is a force to be reckoned with. As mentioned, Bakugo and Deku represent All Might as Save to Win and Win to Save. Deku won his battle against Tomura and saved him in the process. Bakugo, during the battle with All For One, saved All Might when All For One was about to kill him and thus defeated All For One in the process. While Bakugo and Deku focused on different versions of All Might as Heroes, they did everything they could to save those in need and win the battle.
