Just as it would be shallow to reduce a superhero to its aesthetic qualities, it is just as foolhardy to disregard the role that such aesthetics play in making a hero stand out above their peers. Izuku Midoriya fromMy Hero Academiahas had all the essential qualities of a hero since day one, but getting the right look has been one of the series' most patient journeys, and one well worth the ride.
Recently, we wrote aboutDeku’s evolution over six and a half seasonsof television, from a boy without powers in a world where everyone has a “quirk,” to one of the strongest heroes in the world. But whereas that feature was focused on examining his growing powers and how they reflect his character arc, this is an examination of his aesthetic presentation and how that reflects the same.
The First Costume Isn’t the Best, But Why?
Rarely will a hero’s first attempt at a costume look great. Even Spider-Man - a comic book character to whom a homemade suit is a huge part of their identity - usually starts any adaptation with something cheap-looking before the real suit is “earned”. What’s curious about Deku, then, is that his homemade starter suit - a gift from his mom - had a lot of charm to it right from the beginning. The problem was how it was presented and how quickly it was discarded.
Outfit Alpha: Promising Start, Poor Execution
In a narrative sense, the outfit isn’t ideal because it isdesigned to evoke All Might’s unique hairstyleand signature grin, thus symbolizing Deku’s instinct to imitate his hero. Thus, in theory, it’s something for him to grow out of. This is kind of a shame because, while it does bear a resemblance to All Might, it also distinctly gives him the look of a rabbit, something that as little as one season later feels quite apropos given his power. This boy hops around a lot.
Additionally, it looks plain cute, and none of his expressiveness is lost. Sadly, as great as Deku looks in a full-cast lineup, that hood and mask of his are barely worn beyond the first season, making their presence in subsequent iterations somewhat vestigial. The bright minty green might not be to everyone’s taste, but it lays a strong foundation that eventually leads to something great. It might not be the best, but it was definitely a missed opportunity and deserved better than it got.
Deku’s Next Costumes Got Serious
Costume Beta: A Real Hero’s Attire
For most fans, Deku’s first real costume came in the latter half of Season 2, after the Support Group made modifications to the first, and as much as I praised the first costume, this was a big upgrade. The darker green plays off the red and white accents, and looks striking whether during the day or night. Altogether,it looks more professional and battle-ready, the sole caveat being the lack of Deku wearing his hood and mask, which instead just hang behind his head and around his neck.
Costume Gamma: Deku’s Slimmer, More Agile-Focused Design
“Balance” is a word that gets thrown around a lot in designs because it’s important to consider where one’s eye will be drawn and how evenly distributed certain colors and accents will be. Gamma is perhaps one of the most ingenious upgrades to Deku’s outfit, not only for looking great on its own but for how it reflects his journey as of that point in Season 3. Since he’s trying to take pressure off of his arms, this costume is designed to de-emphasize them.
By extending the new gloves over his arms and making his hands look smaller, the design draws the viewer’s eye toward his midsection and down to his legs. Deku’s shoe game is always on point but with his new"Iron Soles" courtesy of Mei Hatsume, his kicks are a centerpiece of his design like never before. It’s the biggest departure from Deku’s aesthetic link to All Might yet, but there was plenty more to improve.
Costume Delta: Bringing Attention Back to the Fists
The only thing keeping Gamma from being one of the top outfits is the fact that Delta is just a little bit better. Giving Deku’s legs an added spotlight was a smart move, but big gloves have always been a staple of his design, so the introduction of the Air Force Gloves was a welcome one. Apart from their practicality, they serve to make Deku’s fists look larger from a distance, yet again balancing the costume’s proportions and reflecting his improved control of All For One.
Deku’s Newest Fits Are His Best
Honorable Mention: The Stealth Suit
Deku’s covert suit fromthe third film,World Heroes' Mission, looked incredible. All black with green accents distributed beautifully. It’s a shame it was relegated to the opening setpiece alone.
Costume Epsilon: Deku’s Dark Era
Epsilon is hard to beat for a few reasons. For one thing, Deku finally dons his mask and hood again after neglecting them for practically the whole series. Better yet, a new color - yellow - is added to the equation, which might have thrown the balance into disarray were it not accomplishing the same role as Deku’s typically unused mask. Gran Torino’s cape might be a bit short on him but it also serves as a scarf that lends a far more striking silhouette than the mask ever did.
The Air Force Gloves and arm braces are gone,but the “Mid-Gauntlets” that take their placecompliment the red of Deku’s belt and shoes. Almost all the white is replaced with colors that blend strikingly. Even as our hero struggles alone at his lowest point, his suit continues a gradual upgrade. The frayed edges are just the deliciously edgy cherry on top.
Costume Zeta: My Hero Academia Saved the Best for Last
Of all Season 7’s treats, Deku’s new suit was one of the coolest, with the most balanced and refined color design of the lot, and - at long last - the abandoning of the mask and hood. Gran Torino’s cape is a permanent fixture of the suit, as evidenced by the accents of yellow throughout. The Air Force Gloves are back but with new Mid-Gauntlets in place of the white arm braces, and even the kneepads have accents of green instead of all-black. It is a straight-up masterpiece.
My Hero Academia’s leading manalways stood out, but the design work that went into painting a picture of his growth never stopped improving. The changes were subtle for sure, taking years, but as time went on the suits consistently became better, more balanced, and further distinct from Deku’s inspirations without forsaking them entirely. In a show with plenty of style, Deku certainly earns his place as one of the coolest-looking heroes there is.
My Hero Academia
In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the “One-For-All” quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.
