In the society of the popular shonen My Hero Academia, there is a clear line drawn between heroes and villains. The regular implication is that heroes are associated with good, and villains are naturally evil. In reality, things aren’t that clear-cut. Hero society is deeply corrupt, glosses over serious problems, and discriminates against categories of people like the Quirkless or those with mutant Quirks.
The glamor of heroics may hide it, and originally, so does the presence of the Symbol of Peace. While the villains in MHA can be incredibly dangerous, many of them have good reasons for turning to a life of crime. It doesn’t always make them likable, or even right, but it does make their actions logical in the context of the universe.
10 Twice Seeks Someone To Accept Him Despite His Mental Health Issues
Jin Bugaiwara’s Quirk, Twice, has the potential of taking down countries and he’s considered one of the most dangerous members of the League of Villains. His path to villainy is one that’s almost tragic. After being involved in an accident that isn't actually his fault, he loses his home and his job. Feeling abandoned, he starts using his Quirk for companionship, then as a tool to commit armed robberies.
His clones eventually turn on each other, and the ensuing massacre drives Twice insane. Now suffering from a form of Dissociative Identity Disorder, Twice searches for acceptance – something he finds in the League of Villains. This is why he is so loyal to them, even when faced with the possibility of death.
9 Magne Is Fighting For The Freedom To Be Herself
From her first appearance in the Forest Training Camp Arc, Magne proves herself to be dangerous and deadly. Cruel and brutal, she is guilty of nine armed robberies, three murders, and twenty-nine attempted murders. But her character stands for transgender rights and she only wants to be herself without judgment. Magne becomes a villain to be free, which is why she refuses to be Overhaul’s underling and attacks him. It is a decision that costs Magne her life, as he kills her using his highly destructive Quirk.
8 Himiko Toga’s Villainy Is Largely A Consequence Of Quirk Discrimination
Himiko’s Quirk, Transform, is an incredible asset for the League’s operations, allowing her to take the shape of anyone as long as she ingests their blood. It’s also a Quirk that’s considered villainous, which is what leads her to a life of crime despite her young age.
She is rejected by her family, verbally abused, and given no support to handle the specific nature of her skill. Her fascination for blood is likely a consequence of her Quirk but could have been handled medically if her family had been supportive. She simply wants to live in a world where she can be herself.
7 Dabi’s Desire For Revenge Stems From His Father’s Abuse
Pro Heroes aren’t always good people, and the best example of that is Enji Todoroki, known as Pro Hero Endeavor. Obsessed with surpassing All Might, he marries Rei for her Quirk, then abuses both his wife and their children. As a result, his eldest son, Touya, gets in a horrible Quirk accident which leaves him with burn scars all over his body.
Believed to be dead, Touya takes up the name Dabi and dedicates his life to revenge. Consumed by hatred, he also targets his brother Shoto, whom he sees as Endeavor’s perfect successor. He also wants to teach society a lesson he learned very early – that there are no real heroes.
6 Tomura Wishes To Kill And Destroy Thanks To An Abusive Childhood
Tomura Shigaraki wasn’t always a monster. Once, he was a child named Tenko, and he dreamed of becoming a hero like his grandmother Nana Shimura. But that isn’t a good thing, as his father, Kotaro, is resentful of Nana for abandoning him. Kotaro abuses Tenko and the rest of his family does nothing to help.
As a result, Tenko’s Quirk Decay manifests in a horrific manner, killing everyone. In the aftermath, Tenko is found by All for One and manipulated into becoming the terrifying Tomura Shigaraki.
5 The Hero Killer Stain Feels He Has To Purge Society Of False Heroes
Some villains have an ideology that starts from a logical premise but loses steam somewhere along the way. The Hero Killer Stain is the perfect example. He originally wants to become a hero but abandons his schooling, disillusioned by the workings of hero society. His stint as the vigilante Stendhal doesn’t end any better, and after a clash with Knuckleduster, he turns his blade onto heroes he perceives as ‘false.’
His reasons make sense, and his motivation is rooted in reality, but it doesn’t completely connect with his actions. He believes the only real hero is All Might, which means most of the people he kills are genuinely good people. In the end, his ideals, while logical, end up wasted on a string of nonsensical mass-murders.
4 Spinner Fights Out Of Loyalty And Respect To Stain’s Ideals
Stain may not have been a great person, but he is incredibly charismatic, and his voice reaches many unhappy people in society. His message echoes Himiko and Dabi’s motivations, and it also makes Spinner join the League. Spinner isn’t the best fighter of the League, nor does he have the most remarkable Quirk, but his loyalty and respect to Stain’s ideals are genuine.
In fact, he’s practically obsessed with Stain, to the point of wearing an outfit that is reminiscent of the Hero Killer’s own clothes. Ironically, his respect for Stain makes him have a stronger sense of morality than the rest of the League, and possibly, than Stain himself. In some ways, he is similar to Twice, as he cares deeply for the League, who he sees as an unexpected found family.
3 Re-Destro Wants To Make A Better World For People With Difficult Quirks
The descendant of the villain Destro, Rikiya Yotsubashi isn’t exactly the most likable character. If anything, the opposite is the case, and his arc serves to make the League of Villains far more likable than they used to be. But Rikiya’s motivations aren’t completely off base. As Re-Destro, he wishes to fulfill his ancestor’s ideals, believing Quirks should be celebrated, not suppressed or controlled. He’s not completely wrong, as, in the society of MHA, it often seems like the only way to be free is to get a Pro Hero license.
The harsh laws aren’t without their logic, but the existence of I-Island suggests that it’s completely possible for people to use their Quirks in public without censure. His goal makes sense, which is what allows him to gather the Meta Liberation Army so quickly, even drawing Pro Heroes to his side. Of course, this doesn’t make him a good person. It’s unknown what kind of place Quirkless people would have in his version of the world, but it may be worse than what they normally have to face.
2 Lady Nagant Turns Against The Hero Public Safety Commission’s Corruption
Even heroes can become villains if they are pushed too far. That is exactly what happens to Lady Nagant. Originally an extremely popular Pro Hero, she works closely with the Hero Public Safety Commission. This proves to be her undoing, as the Commission uses her as a tool in numerous assassination missions. Eventually, Lady Nagant can’t take it anymore. The blood on her hands becomes too much and she snaps, killing the then-president of the Commission.
1 Kurogiri Is Programmed By All For One To Obey Shigaraki
Many members of the League of Villains have a tragic backstory, but Kurogiri is easily the most tragic villain of all. That is because, unlike everyone else, he doesn’t get a choice at all. Kurogiri is a nomu, created from the body of hero student Oboro Shirakumo. He is programmed to obey and protect Tomura Shigaraki by All for One. While he technically doesn’t have a motivation that belongs to him, that’s exactly what makes him so important – the fact that he was cruelly twisted into becoming a monster by All for One and Doctor Kyudai Garaki.
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