Summary
Despite being set in the country of Japan, many ofMy Hero Academia’sinfluences are derived from America. From the concept of superheroes to the very system of hero licensing and hero society, most of Japan’s modern hero laws have been derived from the American system. With so many concepts rooted in this country, it’s evident that theUnited States has a significant rolein the series.
Apart from America’s historical role inMy Hero Academia, the country has also offered Japan’s number one hero a safe haven during times of turmoil, along with offering aid to the archipelago whenever needed. However, America’s role inMy Hero Academiaruns much deeper than merely being an ally to Japan, as it won’t be far off to deem the country the birthplace of modern hero society.
The Birthplace of Modern Hero Society
Many Modern-Day Hero Laws Originated in America
While the officialMy Hero Academiaseries never exactly delved into the history of the hero world, the series’ prequel,My Hero Academia Vigilantes, gives a deep insight into the historical elements of the world ofMHA. In the prequel, it is revealed that the US was the first country in the world to introduce aformal hero licensing program. This allowed hero work to finally be regulated and viewed as a professional career in society.
After the success of this system in the United States, several countries throughout the world adopted this system or modeled their own based on America’s example. Japan was one of the many countries that took on the system and molded it based on its own needs. The success of this system is evident from the widespread hero network witnessed in the archipelago.
A Respite For Japan’s Future No. 1 Hero
All Might Sought Refuge in the US
America may have played a significant role inMy Hero Academia’shistory, yet it also served as a safe haven for All Might during his prime years. Rightafter Nana Shimura’s death, All Might became the next successor of One for All. However, Japan became too dangerous for him to survive there, which is why he was forced to seek refuge in the United States for a few years. During this time, All Might became acquainted with David Shield, who later became his sidekick and personal support equipment engineer.
Moreover, it was during this time that All Might inspiredStar and Stripe to become the greatest heroin America. It won’t be wrong to say that All Might directly played a role in creating the strongest woman in the world. America served much more than a safe haven for All Might, as he learned quite a number of significant lessons during that time, along with learning the powers of One for All and gaining experience as a hero. His acquaintances in the United States served him quite well in his later years as well.
Star and Stripe’s Homeland
America Is Home to the Strongest Woman in the World
America has already played a major role inMy Hero Academia’shistory and all my backstory, yet the country’s role in the story’s narrative isn’t over. America rose up to the occasion once more in the form of Star and Stripe’s helpduring the War arc. After All Might’s call for aid to the world right before the beginning of the War Arc, the US was the first to heed his call. While Star and Stripe jumped into action before getting the green light from her superiors, it’s likely that the country would have agreed to Japan’s request eventually.
Even though Star and Stripe perished in the fight against Shigaraki, her noble sacrifice left a significant impact onMy Hero Academia’snarrative. From inspiring Japan’s own heroes to fight the villainous threat to leaving behind significant data on Tomura’s fighting style and quirks, Star and Stripe’s sacrifice was clearly not in vain. Moreover, her last-minute plan of puttinga rule on New Orderto destroy all of All For One’s stolen quirks also bought Japan’s heroes quite a lot of time, and it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Star and Stripe indirectly played a major role in Shigaraki’s eventual defeat.
Real-World Influence
American Comics Inspired My Hero Academia’s Creation
The United States is already a significant player in the world ofMy Hero Academia,yet America has also played an interesting role in the series' creation. Author Horikoshi has stated on multiple occasions that superhero comics originating in theUS served as an inspirationfor creatingMy Hero Academiaand its vibrant hero world.
Several quirks and powers of heroes, along with their personas, can also be traced back to Marvel Comics, which were the blueprint for Horikoshi’s magnum opus. This inspiration is exactly why America plays a major role inMy Hero Academia’snarrative, as incorporating the country into the series' premise was a way to pay tribute to the many superhero comics that inspired MyHero Academia.
