My Hero Academia Vol. 4 by Kohei Horikoshi
In My Hero Academia Vol. 4, the stakes get even higher as Izuku Midoriya and his classmates continue their journey toward becoming pro heroes. After the intense competition of the Sports Festival, it’s time to face the next phase of their training, which brings with it new challenges, revelations, and a closer look at the dangerous world of heroes and villains. This volume continues to build the characters’ growth and introduces new threats that will test the very foundations of what it means to be a hero.
Key Highlights of My Hero Academia Vol. 4:
- The Internship Arc Begins: After the Sports Festival, the students of Class 1-A are given an exciting, but risky, opportunity: internships with real pro heroes. For the first time, Midoriya and his classmates are placed directly into the action as they accompany professional heroes on real missions. This arc is a major turning point, as the students gain hands-on experience in the real world of heroism. Midoriya, in particular, gets a chance to work with his idol, All Might, and this experience helps him grow both in power and in understanding the complexities of heroism.
- Midoriya’s First Internship: In this volume, Izuku Midoriya is eager to prove himself, but he’s also still struggling with the power of All Might’s Quirk, One For All. His first internship is with Gran Torino, a seasoned hero who has been a mentor to All Might in the past. Gran Torino’s unorthodox training methods and blunt attitude challenge Midoriya in ways he didn’t expect, forcing him to confront his limitations and push past them. As Midoriya faces his first real-life missions, he starts to understand the true nature of being a hero—not just fighting villains but saving people, making quick decisions, and thinking on his feet.
- The Pro Hero World: The internship arc gives readers a deeper insight into the world of pro heroes, their relationships with their sidekicks, and the complexity of their roles in society. Pro heroes are not just fighting crime—they’re managing public relations, protecting civilians, and keeping the peace in a society that’s built around Quirks. This volume showcases some of the most iconic pro heroes, such as Endeavor, Best Jeanist, and Ryuukyu, and how they operate in their everyday lives. The sheer scale and complexity of the pro-hero world show the challenges that young heroes like Midoriya will face as they enter this field.
- The Rise of Villains: The shadow of the League of Villains looms larger in Vol. 4, as the heroes and students face the reality of how dangerous their world has become. The League of Villains, led by the enigmatic Tomura Shigaraki, continues to grow, and Vol. 4 reveals more about their motives and operations. This volume also introduces Stain, the Hero Killer, a powerful and ideologically driven villain who becomes a significant figure in the series. Stain’s mission to eliminate “false” heroes is an attack on the very foundation of the pro hero system, and his actions will spark massive consequences for both the heroes and the villains.
- Shoto Todoroki’s Struggles: Shoto Todoroki’s complex backstory and his internal struggle with his father, the pro hero Endeavor, continues to play a crucial role in his development. In Vol. 4, Todoroki is forced to come to terms with the expectations placed on him and the emotional toll his family history has taken on him. He’s a brilliant student with immense power, but his personal conflict with using his fire abilities, which were forced on him by his father, makes him hesitate. His time with Class 1-A during the internship arc allows him to open up more, as he gains greater understanding of his own Quirk and what it means to be a true hero.
- Katsuki Bakugo’s Character Development: While Bakugo remains as hot-headed and competitive as ever, Vol. 4 reveals some growth in his character. During the internship, Bakugo works with Best Jeanist, a top-tier pro hero. Bakugo is determined to prove that he’s the best, but his arrogance often leads to conflicts with others, especially the heroes he works with. However, beneath his brash exterior, Bakugo begins to show signs of deeper respect for his peers and starts to understand that being a hero requires more than just raw power. This subtle character development sets the stage for his eventual maturation as a hero.
- The Danger of the Hero Society: As Stain’s actions make clear, the world of heroes is not as perfect as it seems. There are heroes who are driven by selfish desires or fame rather than a genuine wish to protect others, and this corruption is something that both the students and the pro heroes must reckon with. The introduction of Stain challenges the concept of heroism in the My Hero Academia universe, as he critiques the current state of the hero society and calls into question what it really means to be a “hero.”
- New Quirks and Powers: This volume introduces new heroes and villains with unique and often surprising Quirks. The heroes the students work with during their internships each have their own distinctive powers, adding new dimensions to the story. Whether it’s Ryuukyu’s dragon-like abilities, Best Jeanist’s fiber manipulation, or Gran Torino’s speed and agility, the diversity of Quirks adds richness to the world-building and the action. The introduction of new villain powers also ups the ante, showing that the students of Class 1-A are facing opponents with abilities that challenge their growth.
Why You’ll Love My Hero Academia Vol. 4:
- Real Hero Training: The internship arc is a highlight of this volume. It’s exciting to see the students of Class 1-A working alongside pro heroes, learning not just about fighting villains, but also about the responsibilities and complexities of being a hero. Midoriya’s time with Gran Torino provides valuable lessons that will shape his development as a hero, while other students get a chance to learn from their own mentors.
- Introduction of Memorable Villains: The rise of Stain, the Hero Killer, is one of the most exciting parts of Vol. 4. His ideology and motivations shake up the world of heroes, and his actions will have far-reaching consequences. His conflict with the hero society adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, as the students begin to understand that being a hero isn’t just about fighting villains—it’s also about fighting for what’s right.
- Character Growth: Midoriya, Todoroki, Bakugo, and other students continue to develop in exciting ways. Midoriya’s continuing struggle with One For All and his desire to be a true hero come to the forefront as he trains alongside Gran Torino. Meanwhile, Todoroki begins to deal with his complicated family issues, and Bakugo’s pride and arrogance begin to soften as he learns more about what it means to be a hero. These personal growth moments make the series resonate on an emotional level.
- Action and Drama: There’s no shortage of action-packed sequences in Vol. 4. From the intense battles with Stain to the thrilling moments of the students proving themselves during their internships, the volume is full of dramatic and suspenseful moments. The pacing ensures that readers are hooked from start to finish.
- World-Building: The volume expands the world of My Hero Academia, offering more insight into the hero society, the various pro heroes, and their roles in maintaining peace and order. The internship arc offers a window into the larger, more complex world that Midoriya and his classmates will one day enter, while also revealing the darker, more dangerous aspects of this world.
Conclusion:
My Hero Academia Vol. 4 is an exciting continuation of Midoriya’s journey, filled with intense action, deep character development, and the exploration of what it truly means to be a hero. The introduction of the internship arc offers a thrilling new chapter in the students’ training, while the arrival of new villains like Stain forces both the heroes and the students to question the true nature of heroism. Whether you’re drawn to the action, the character arcs, or the philosophical questions raised by the villains, Vol. 4 offers everything fans love about the series and sets the stage for even greater challenges ahead.
