Villains Who Could Be Rehabilitated In My Hero Academia

Not all villains in My Hero Academia are inherently evil; many are products of a corrupt hero society.
Characters like Toga and Twice showcase how society’s treatment can lead to villainous behavior.
Anticipate potential redemption arcs for characters like Spinner and Dabi as the series nears its conclusion.

One of the main recurring themes in all of My Hero Academia is how not everything is black and white, and that some of the villains of the story are products of the corrupt Hero society they live in. And this has applied to every type of villain, from some of the minor ones up to the big antagonists of the series.

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At the end of the day, My Hero Academia is an optimistic shÅnen franchise that wants the best for its characters, and this includes most of the villains that got dealt a bad hand in life. So, now that the manga is slowly reaching its conclusion, there’s a fair share of popular antagonists that will most likely be rehabilitated by the end. And here’s the list of the most likely ones.

Himiko Toga

A Clear Example Of A Misunderstood Villain

First Appearance: Manga (Chapter 57) Anime (Episode 31)

Ever since her backstory was presented during the My Villain Academia Arc, Himiko Toga not only grew in popularity, but she also became the main example of how Japan’s Hero society can ruin the life of someone who may have gotten a weird or antagonistic quirk. Toga is not a bloodthirsty girl because she wants to, she was just born that way.

One of Ochaco Uraraka’s main objectives throughout the series has been not only to defeat Toga but also to try to comprehend her struggles. It is currently unknown if Toga is actually alive or not, but the heartwarming conclusion of her battle against Ochaco has hinted at the possibility of her rehabilitation and her reinsertion into society after the final war.

Twice

The Most Likable Villain In The Series

First Appearance: Manga (Chapter 77) Anime (Episode 43)

Similarly to Himiko Toga, Jin Bubaigawara, aka Twice, is someone who ended up as a villain because of the constant suffering caused by his quirk. He was another clear example of how this society was not fit for people with unconventional powers. His involvement with the League of Villains made the group more interesting, as he was one of the funniest and most charismatic antagonists in the entire series.

But despite Hawk’s efforts, Twice could sadly not be saved and was killed by the winged hero. This is a real shame because he was one of the first villainous characters who would’ve been rehabilitated before the end of the story. However, due to his Double quirk (And Toga’s Transform), there’s a slight possibility that one of Twice’s clones will live on to give this popular character a more cheerful conclusion.

Spinner

A Victim Of Mutant Discrimination

First Appearance: Manga (Chapter 57) Anime (Episode 31)

Another subplot in My Hero Academia is the discrimination of people with mutant-type quirks, of which Shuichi Iguchi (also known as Spinner) has been the most relevant example. The constant discrimination against him and his people has caused Spinner to join the League of Villains, to the point that he even bonded and became friends with their leader, Tomura Shigaraki.

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Despite Spinner’s noble desire to change society for the better, he has been used as a tool of mass destruction by All For One, who have filled him with various quirks that turned him into the mindless monster that most people always thought he was. Because of his relatable past and tragic fate, Spinner will most likely be exonerated by other characters with Mutant quirks, like Mezo Shoji.

Dabi

If His Father Can Be Redeemed, So Can He

First Appearance: Manga (Chapter 57) Anime (Episode 31)

The Todoroki Family has been at the center of the emotional narrative of My Hero Academia, and all of it was caused by Japan’s current No. 1 Pro Hero, Endeavor. As a father obsessed with power, Enji Todoroki ended up physically and mentally abusing his wife and his kids, which led to the creation of the supervillain, Dabi (formerly known as Toya Todoroki).

Due to this tragic backstory – and with a little bit of influence from All For One – Dabi became one of the deadliest villains in the story, someone who has killed many innocents. However, his despicable actions motivated his entire family to join together to stop him once and for all. So, if Dabi is still alive, there’s a good chance that his family will forgive him and try to rehabilitate him in one way or another.

Overhaul

He Hasn’t Been The Same Since His Previous Defeat

First Appearance: Manga (Chapter 115) Anime (Episode 62)

It’s important to make a distinction between villains who deserve to be rehabilitated and villains who will most likely be rehabilitated by the end of the series, regardless of the audience’s opinion. This applied to Dabi, and it also applies to Kai Chisaki, who’s also known as Overhaul. After all, he was a truly evil person who abused a young girl to eradicate quirks from society, while holding onto his own powerful quirk.

However, after he escapes from Tartarus prison alongside Lady Nagant, it’s clear that Overhaul is now a shell of the man he used to be. After his defeat at the hands of Deku and his humiliating encounter with Shigaraki in which the villain removed both of his arms, Overhaul is mainly obsessed with his boss’ well-being. Not to mention that brief exchange with Deku even implied that he’s deeply sorry about what he did to Eri. So, he may have a change of heart before the story ends.

Kurogiri

A Good Guy Was Turned Into A Nomu Against His Will

First Appearance: Manga (Chapter 11) Anime (Episode 8)

A lot of antagonistic characters in this series are mere tools that were created and used by All For One. And this is exactly what happened with Oboro Shirakumo. He was once a young hero in training with a jovial personality that inspired his friends and classmates, including Shota Aizawa himself. But sadly, Oboro was killed in a battle against a villain.

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All For One would later steal his body and experiment on it to turn him into the powerful Nomu known as Kurogiri. He has no recollection of his previous life and has been subjected to being Shigaraki’s guardian against his will. Considering that he has been seen talking to Eraser Head and Present Mic after his arrest, his old personality will likely reappear once again, and Kurogiri will become Oboro Shirakumo once and for all.

Gigantomachia

He Is Basically A Mindless Animal

First Appearance: Manga (Chapter 57) Anime (Episode 31)

Gigantomachia is undoubtedly the most powerful and dangerous of All For One’s villainous underlings. As the bodyguard of the main antagonist of the series, he has always followed him as if he were a loyal dog, without much thought or emotion behind his actions. The truth is that as dangerous as he may be, Gigantomachia acts like an animal with no agency that is just following its owner’s orders.

It would be unfair to judge him as if he was any other villain with a full conscience. On top of that, Gigantomachia recently betrayed All For One thanks to the effects of Hitoshi Shinso’s quirk. His master attacked this monstrous bodyguard in return, so their sudden separation means that it’s more likely for Gigantomachia to get a more positive ending.

Tomura Shigaraki

It Was All For One’s Fault After All

First Appearance: Manga (Chapter 11) Anime (Episode 8)

As one of the two main villains in My Hero Academia, the fate of Tomura Shigaraki has been the subject of debate among fans for years. Since he has been responsible for countless deaths and destruction, many believe that he does not deserve to be exonerated from his crimes. But, since he was a victim of abuse and was manipulated by All For One, others think that he will be rehabilitated in the end.

But recent developments in the manga have revealed that All For One has been behind almost everything that happened in Shigaraki’s life, including the very existence of his Decay quirk. Tenko Shimura has always been a tool for All For One’s plans, who wanted to take over a younger and more powerful body to perform his evil deeds. Deku’s main goal during the current arc has been to reach and rehabilitate Shigaraki and, after all of these revelations, it is most likely that he’ll get a relatively positive resolution.

My Hero Academia

GenresSuperhero, ActionRelease DateApril 3, 2016StudioBonesJapanese TitleBoku no Hero AcademiaNumber of Episodes138